Field reports: Grouse drumming count results due soon; little change expected
Ruffed grouse drumming counts should be announced within a couple of weeks by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources. It will be interesting to see what the counts turn up.By: Sam Cook, Duluth News Tribune
- Young owls
Ruffed grouse drumming counts should be announced within a couple of weeks by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources. It will be interesting to see what the counts turn up.
Last year, the counts of drumming males increased dramatically in Northeastern Minnesota and less dramatically in Northwestern Wisconsin, and it was a decent hunting season.
Martha Minchak, DNR assistant area wildlife manager in Duluth, said counts were down just slightly along seven routes in the Cloquet management area (Carlton County, southeastern St. Louis County and Pine County).
“Three were up moderately. Three were down moderately. And one was down dramatically,” Minchak said. “I think it’ll be similar to last year. There were plenty of birds out there, but the leaves held on for a long time, and when leaves left the trees and the weather turned nice, people had moved on to other things.”
Tom Rusch, DNR area wildlife manager at Tower, said he heard a lot of drumming this spring. His office, however, did not run their drumming-count routes because they were too busy fighting wildfires.
Lots of fishing contests coming up
Several fishing contests in the Duluth area will be held this coming weekend. Here’s a list of them:
In addition, free vessel safety checks will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. June 11 and from 2 to 5 p.m. June 12 at the Sail and Power Squadron’s dock.
Tagged fish contest all summer at Ashland
Chequamegon Bay will hold its annual Tagged Fishing Contest from now though Oct. 31.
Participants must purchase a 2010 Tagged Fishing Pin, $5, before catching a tagged fish. Twelve fish have been fitted with Department of Natural Resources tags. The top prize is $1,000 on a smallmouth bass. For more details, call the Ashland Chamber at (800) 284-9484 or check out www.ashlandbasskickin.com.
Edmondson to lead photo workshops for teachers
Duluth photographer Dudley Edmondson has been selected to lead photo workshops in Northeastern Minnesota for a new DNR project aimed at getting students outdoors.
Edmondson is one of nine workshop leaders statewide in the just-announced “Digital Photography Bridge to Nature” project of the non-game wildlife program of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and several other agencies.
The Legislative-Citizen’s Commission on Minnesota Resources has funded the project for two years with $160,000. The project hopes to reach 1,000 teachers in 80 workshops. Teachers will then be able to check out kits of 12 digital cameras, card readers and wildlife field guides. Project organizers say they hope to reach 30,000 students.
The workshops will teach digital photo skills and wildlife photography and will identify sites where nature photography can be conducted.
Edmondson is a free-lance photographer and author of “The Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places” and has done extensive photography of raptors in the Duluth area.
Funding requests sought by Heritage Council
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council seeks requests for funding for fiscal year 2012. The requests are due July 15. The Council anticipates recommending more than $80 million for programs that “restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.” The funds will be available beginning July 1, 2011.
This call begins the third round of recommendations by the council. To date, more than $140 million in on-the-ground habitat programs has been appropriated.
The Council, composed of eight citizens and four legislators, makes recommendations to the Legislature for funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The fund was established as result of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment, passed in November 2008.
Info: www.lsohc.leg.mn.
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