New Wolf Laws Take Effect Immediately

This photo was making the rounds on the web last week. It's legit. The wolf was hit by a car in Upper Michigan and weighed approximately 100 lbs. Looks a lot bigger though with it's full winter coat being on display. Figured this fit well with the new Montana Law being passed. Good luck to all you fur bearers out there.

A wolf management bill that won swift and overwhelming bipartisan support in the Montana Legislature was signed into law today by the state's new governor.

Gov. Steve Bullock said the law, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Flynn, will allow hunters to purchase up to three wolf licenses and lowers the price of a nonresident wolf license from $350 to $50. The measure will also fortify state wildlife officials' science-based efforts to manage Montana's recovered and growing wolf population, the Governor said.

"This legislation leaves management of the gray wolf where it belongs, in the hands of scientists, not politicians," Gov. Bullock said.

The legislation was amended by law makers to allow hunting and trapping of wolves near national parks and allows wildlife officials to close such areas after established wolf harvest quotas are met.

In signing the legislation, Gov. Bullock asked FWP to ramp up education programs aimed at averting the harvest of collared wolves near national parks.

Gov. Bullock also directed his staff to determine the best way to reengage the wolf advisory council. The council was originally formed to lead the state's productive wolf conservation and management plan discussions more than 12 years ago.

The new law also allows for wolf hunters to use their license after 24-hours of purchase, instead of a five-day wait; authorizes the use of electronic calls ; and removes the requirement for wolf hunters to wear hunter-orange clothing after the general deer and elk hunting seasons have ended.

The recovery of the wolf in the northern Rockies—an area generally comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming—remains one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. The recovery goal for wolves in the three states was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs—successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years. In the mid 1990s, to hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released wolves into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. By 2002 the recovery goal was reached and the wolf population has increased every year since.

Today, at least 1,774 wolves in 287 packs and about 109 breeding pairs, live in the region. The minimum Montana wolf population estimates at the end of 2011 include 653 wolves, in 130 verified packs, and 39 breeding pairs. New official population estimates are expected in March.

Montana's wolf hunting and trapping seasons are open through Feb. 28. So far, hunters have taken 115 wolves and trappers have reported taking 84 wolves. For more information, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click "Montana Wolf Hunt".
 

Michigan to Celebrate Free Fishing Weekend

Nothing like working hard over the weekend only to have a good buddy text you the photo off how his weekend was going. Thanks Steve! Awfully nice fish though!

On Saturday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 17, everyone in Michigan - including residents and non-residents - can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations still apply.

These two days make up the Winter Free Fishing Weekend - an annual effort to promote Michigan's plentiful fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will bundle up and head out to fish for free on their own, the Department of Natural Resources is pleased to point out that there are numerous organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Some of these events include:

Catch Us If You Can at Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake and Lake St. Helen in Roscommon County Feb. 16, all day
This event encourages participants to catch one of the nearly 100 tagged fish on three participating lakes. Anglers who catch tagged fish will win prizes.

Ellsworth Shiverfest in Antrim County Feb. 16 and 17, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day
This annual outdoor festival highlights winter activities, including fishing, snowshoeing and sledding.

Ice Fishing Class at Runkle Lake in Iron County Feb. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CST)
This free class is offered to youth and adults. Bait will be supplied by the DNR and equipment will be available on a limited basis. DNR staff will provide instruction on techniques and methods for fishing in the area.

Ice Fishing Derby at Seven Lakes State Park in Oakland County Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This event, sponsored by the Izaak Walton League of America, Fenton Chapter and Seven Lakes State Park, will provide some equipment and lots of prizes. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.

Please note all events are subject to weather conditions.

There are many other Winter Free Fishing Weekend events scheduled in various locations throughout the state, including in the counties of Bay, Clinton, Gogebic, Ingham, Monroe, Montcalm, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford. For more information visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing.

Michigan has celebrated the Winter Free Fishing Weekend annually since 1994. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 36,000 miles of rivers and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a natural match.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Fishing-Specific Weather App Released from Bassmaster

Bassmaster Magazine and Bassmaster.com, the industry-leading fishing magazine and website, have joined forces with www.scoutlookweather.com, the only major U.S. weather service owned and operated solely by fishermen and hunters, to release a powerful new fishing-specific weather app for Android and iPhone markets.

The move to create a free mobile app was spurred by the overwhelming need of fishermen worldwide to have better mobile weather tools that integrate maps, solunar, wind and other information to facilitate planning and help catch more fish.

“Bassmaster is delighted to offer this feature-rich app to every fisherman, regardless of whether they are chasing bass or any other species of gamefish. ScoutLook has become the go-to weather resource for outdoorsmen, and this app will help deliver on Bassmaster’s key goal to help people catch more and bigger fish,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S.

The Bassmaster Fishing Weather App simplifies planning for professional and recreational anglers alike by merging world-class weather information, wind mapping, solunar times, tides and moon, and hourly barometric changes all in one free app.

Fishermen who wish to add logging capability to these key tools can download the Bassmaster/ScoutLook Fishlog app (www.scoutlookweather.com/mobileApps.php), which includes all the functions of the basic app, plus a simple logging tool. Catch a fish, snap a photo, and capture all weather conditions at the moment and time of the catch automatically.

The Fishlog app, available for a one-time fee of $3.99, enables the user to edit, manage, view and sort logs online at www.scoutlookweather.com. Export logs to Excel, or sort by any weather or moon condition, lure type or water condition, to see what works best, as well as when and why those are optimum conditions.

The new free app displays a map with the user’s precise position and weather conditions. With ScoutLook’s unique DriftPoint Wind Map users can “see the wind” for up to 72 hours at any fishing location for optimal planning.

FishMarX is a GPS marking tool used while on the water to save important points of interest. Return to the exact places, or check the weather before heading back. Save beds, boat launches, buoys, channels, creek mouths, dropoffs, gravel, flats, mangrove holes, parking areas, rip tides, river/stream outlets, timber, trailheads, weedbeds and more.
Any location saved on the app is stored and saved in a free online account at www.scoutlookweather.com.
To download the Bassmaster Fishing Weather app free for your Android or iPhone, visit http://www.scoutlookweather.com/mobileApps.php.  

Live Eagle-Cam From Minnesota DNR

My kids wake up and want to see what "Baldy" is doing. Great work Minnesota DNR!

Once pushed to the brink of extinction, the American bald eagle has become a poster child for the value of endangered species laws, and now a pair of the iconic birds will be playing a part in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) efforts to get more young people and families excited about the great outdoors.

Starting Feb. 5, live video from a nesting pair of bald eagles will be featured on the DNR’s website at http://www.eaglecam.dnr.state.mn.us/. A video camera was installed above the nest late last year with help from an Xcel Energy crew with a boom truck, and Floyd Security. Located in the Twin Cities metro region, the eagle nest already contains three eggs that are expected to hatch sometime in early to mid-February. The DNR is not disclosing the exact location of the nest to prevent it from drawing crowds that might disrupt the eagles.

“Unlike a lot of major metropolitan areas, the Twin Cities still has some pretty spectacular natural areas where wildlife such as eagles can flourish,” said Keith Parker, the DNR’s Central Region director. “We’re hoping that people will get excited watching this eagle family and get out to one of our state, county or city parks to experience nature first-hand.”

The eagle camera was paid for by DNR’s Nongame Wildlife program, which is largely funded by donations, especially those made when Minnesotans file their state income and property taxes. Lines on the Minnesota income tax form and property tax form, marked with a drawing of a loon, give taxpayers the option to donate to the program, a feature often referred to as the “chickadee check-off.”

The Nongame Wildlife program works to protect and preserve more than 800 species of animals in the state that are not traditionally hunted or harvested. In addition to bald eagles, populations of species such as trumpeter swans, loons, and American white pelicans directly benefit by contributions to the check-off. Citizens can personally help Minnesota wildlife by donating on their tax forms, or directly online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/checkoff.html