This week in Midwest outdoor news: From time to time we share outdoor related news relevant to our fellow outdoor enthusiasts located in the Midwest. Here are this week’s highlights for May 4th, 2018.
Crappie Fishing
Daryl Bauer, of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), has several tips for targeting crappie this time of year. While Daryl is speaking of Nebraska in particular, these tips apply throughout the Midwest.
April and May are the best months to catch crappies
“Crappies tend to move into shallow water near the shore in the spring, making them easily accessible to all anglers, whether they are in boats or on the bank,” said Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Bauer said crappies start moving on warm afternoons shortly after ice-out as they seek protected areas where the water may be warmer. Bays and coves protected from the wind are crappie habitat, especially where there is some shallow-water cover such as wood, aquatic vegetation or rocks.
As spring progresses, the crappies will stay shallow for their spawning activities. In many Nebraska waters, the same bays and coves that harbored crappies soon after ice-out will continue to hold fish right through the spawn period.
outdoornebraska.gov – read more
Iowa Outdoor camps for boys
If you live in Iowa, have a boy (or boys) age 12-15 who is interested in the outdoors, you can register your child for one of two Hunting and Conservation Camps.
Popular outdoor skills camps expected to fill quickly as registration opens
Iowa boys age 12-15 have two opportunities this summer to learn skills associated with Iowa’s traditional outdoor pursuits at the hands of experts.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Hunting and Conservation Camp (HACC) uses a hands-on approach to teach outdoor activities including wildlife identification, fly tying, fishing basics and skills relating to hunting deer, turkey, waterfowl and pheasants.
The boys will have the opportunity to shoot shotguns, rifles and muzzleloaders, try their hand at archery, learn game care, how to clean fish and the basics of trapping.
Participants will leave with their hunter education certificate.
The catch? There are only 30 spots available at each camp.iowadnr.gov – read more
National Parks
An article from the Department of the Interior highlights alternatives to some of the most popular National Parks. Take a few minutes to read through these 10 parks and their alternatives. This is a great way to find new places to explore.
10 Alternatives to Popular National Parks
There’s no better vacation than a trip to a national park. While iconic parks get a lot of love (and crowds), there are more than 400 sites across the country in the National Park System. That’s more than 400 opportunities for connecting with the outdoors, witnessing an amazing wildlife moment, learning important lessons from history, and sharing adventures with friends and family.
As you plan your next adventure, check our top 10 alternatives to popular national parks. Some hidden gems are short drives away from their more visited siblings, while other lesser known destinations offer similar experiences — but all are perfect places to #FindYourPark.doi.gov – read more
Minnesota & Wisconsin public feedback
If you live in one of these states and fish the Mississippi River, you have an opportunity to give your feedback regarding size and bag limits at several public meetings planned throughout the month of May.
Minnesota, Wisconsin DNRs to discuss bag, size limits on Mississippi
Minnesota and Wisconsin natural resources departments will hold five public input meetings in mid-May to kick off a multi-state review of bag and size limits for gamefish on the Mississippi River between Hastings, Minn., and the Iowa border.
The public meetings will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. as follows:
- Monday, May 14, Twin Bluff Middle School, 2120 Twin Bluff Road, Red Wing, Minn.
- Tuesday, May 15, Wabasha-Kellogg High School, 2113 Hiawatha Drive, Wabasha, Minn.
- Wednesday, May 16, Prairie du Chien City Hall, 214 E. Blackhawk Drive, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
- Thursday, May 17, WI DNR Service Center, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, Wis.
- Tuesday, May 22, Winona Middle School, 1570 Homer Road, Winona, Minn.
While the meetings will include a brief overview of existing and historical regulations for gamefish species on this stretch of the Mississippi, most of the time during each session will be devoted to gathering input.news.dnr.state.mn.us – read more
Kansas fishing reminders
If you live in Kansas and enjoy fishing, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) offers these tips for purchasing your license, auto-renewing your license, reading up on the rules, and using survey data to plan your next fishing trip.
KDWPT Offers These Tips For Anglers
In an age of information overload and ever-changing news, it can be frustrating to locate accurate information when you need it. This is especially true for anglers whose success can often hinge on getting the “right” information in a timely manner, because anyone who has ever wet a line knows: fish don’t wait for you.
For a quick (and accurate) rundown of what you’ll need before hustling out to the water this fishing season, follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT)’s tips below.
ksoutdoors.com – read more
Colorado public feedback
Do you live in Colorado and love the outdoors? Would you like the opportunity to give your input and feedback directly to Colorado Parks and Wildlife? If so, consider applying for a spot on the Colorado Sportsman Roundtable.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for the Colorado Sportsmen’s Roundtable
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for a two-year volunteer term for members of the statewide Colorado Sportsmen’s Roundtable. In order to maintain regional representation on the Roundtable, CPW is seeking two members from the northwest region, one from the northeast, and three from the southwest. For details on regional boundaries, please see a map of the regions on CPW website.
Sportspersons engaged in hunting, fishing, and/or trapping and are interested in collaborating with Parks and Wildlife in addressing management issues in Colorado are encouraged to apply. The interested public should submit an electronic application by 5:00 p.m. May 18, 2018.
“Our Roundtable members are a very important part of our decision-making process,” said CPW Director Bob Broscheid. “Through the delegates, we get an accurate feel for what sportsmen and women are thinking early in the process, helping guide discussions and decisions about a variety of wildlife management issues.”
Sportsmen’s Roundtable members serve as delegates for regional hunters, trappers and anglers, bringing feedback and comments directly to CPW leadership by a variety of means, including two in-person meetings each year.cpw.state.co.us – read more
