Outdoor Notes - Aug. 17

'Fishing to End Hunger' walleye tournament to be held Oct.3-4

Kids Against Hunger-Brainerd Lakes Area is holding its Second Annual Walleyedan's "Fishing to End Hunger" Tournament Oct. 3--4 at Bar Harbor in Lake Shore.

This year, the tournament has approval from the DNR for 120 teams in the fishing contest. Like last year, the contest will have two parts: a traditional team walleye contest and a team donation raising contest. There also will be a Silent Auction on Oct. 3 that will be open to the public. The fishing contest will be on Oct. 4.

"We are so very fortunate that the community has embraced us as a charity. We anticipate that this tournament will be bigger and better than last years, which was huge success," said John Poston, Kids Against Hunger executive director, in a news release.

For more information about this topic contact Andrea Fercho at 218-961-0055 or email at Andrea@kidsagainsthungermn.org .

Deer and wolf lottery application deadline is Sept. 4

Those who want to harvest antlerless deer throughout much of Minnesota this hunting season are reminded they must apply by Thursday, Sept. 4.

Antlerless deer permits are issued by lottery. Many deer hunting permit areas that have not been in the lottery classification in recent years are in that classification this year. "The message to deer hunters is to review the hunting and trapping regulation book now," said Paul Telander, DNR wildlife section chief. "That way, you'll know whether where you hunt requires entering a lottery to harvest antlerless deer."

Hunters who want to participate in special firearm deer hunts need to apply for permits that are issued by lottery, and the application deadline is Sept. 4. More information on deer permit areas and special hunts is in the DNR hunting regulations handbook, found online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/deer .

Wolf licenses are also issued by lottery. Wolf hunters and trappers must apply by Sept. 4. Information on wolf hunting is available on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf . Wolf management information is available at www.mndnr.gov/wolves .

Corps of Engineers hosts annual Leech Lake kids' fishing derby

ST. PAUL - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, hosted its 24th annual Kids' Fishing Derby at the Leech Lake Dam Recreation Area on July 19. There were 202 youth and their families in attendance for a day of water safety and fishing education.

The goal of the event was to introduce youth to the outdoors, specifically the sport of fishing, and the importance of "catch-and-release," while also providing a strong water safety message. The event promoted the use of PFDs, or Personal Floatation Devices, and provided area youth the opportunity to become acquainted with local park rangers, law enforcement officials and conservation officers.

Because of the donations from local businesses, companies, organizations and individuals, event organizers were able to fit each participant with their very own PFD. Law enforcement officers spent time fitting each participant with a PFD and shared the importance of water safety. During the derby, participants and family members enjoyed hot dogs, chips, pop and ice cream provided by many donors. Enough donations were received to ensure that every child left with a prize, including two grand prizes for each age group.

Winners were named in each age group with the top three finishers as follows:

Age 1-4: 1. Noah Bagley 2. Ellayna Hauser 3. Lauren Anderson

Age 5-9: 1. Brooklyn Hanson 2. Austin Prebeck 3. Travis Tracy

Age 10-14: 1. John Myers 2. Tyler Koslucher 3. Leighton Sorteberg

The nearly 650 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps' Fiscal Year 2011 $175 million budget, nearly 2,800 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $271 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil .

Crow Wing Lake LID to meet Aug. 23

The Crow Wing Lake Improvement District (LID) will hold its annual meeting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 23 at the St. Mathias Park Community Center.

Crow Wing Lake Residents are invited to come for a complimentary brunch. An election of officers will be held. The Crow Wing Lake Association will hold its fall meeting following adjournment of the LID Meeting. Nominations for new the LID Board may be sent to

Crow Wing Lake Association/LID, P.O. Box 136, Brainerd, MN, 56401.

Carlisle and Genson Win PMTT on Mille Lacs

The Professional Musky Tournament Trail visited Mille Lacs Lake for the third and final qualifier event of 2014 schedule, Musky Hunter Magazine's Fall Meltdown.

On Saturday only one musky cooperated and was caught from the 87 boats registered to compete in the event. The musky that was caught measured 34.50 inches and netted big fish of the day prize for $500.

On Sunday Ryan Carlisle of Moundsville and Steve Genson of Stone Lake, Wis., were the only team to catch two muskies and ended up winning the tournament.

In second place, were Joey Rozanski of Arbor Vitae, Wis., and Mark Gillich of Milwaukee, who boated the largest musky ever caught in the 16 year history of the Professional Musky Tournament Trail - a 55.50-inch fish, which also was big fish of the day for Sunday worth $500.

In third place with a 53-inch musky were Ethan Rogers and Robert Strand of Bemidji. In fourth place were Dave Holzmer of Cottage Grove and Josh Wetzstein of Wanamingo, with a 36.75-inch musky.

Upcoming events at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Saturday

How Arrowheads Were Made from 10:30-11:30 a.m. This demonstration of "flint knapping" is an entertaining and educational look at what some say is the "oldest craft in the world" of making tools and weapons out of stone. Meet at the Interpretive Center.

Kids' Activity: Pop Can Casting from 2-3 p.m. Learn about some of the fish that people like to catch at Kathio State Park, and take home a fishing rig that you will make from a pop can.

Meet at the Interpretive Center.

Sunday

Trail Walk: Woods, Wings & Wildlife from 10:30-11:30 a.m. On this half-mile trail walk we will discuss the Kathio forest as well as the birds and other animals that make this place their home. Meet at the Interpretive Center.

Mille Lacs walleye reproduction is topic of presentations

Walleye reproduction in Mille Lacs Lake will be the subject of Department of Natural Resources presentations and discussions.

The events are intended to share biological information and answer citizen questions related to past, present and future walleye reproduction.

The presentations will be held in two locations. The first will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Isle High School auditorium, 730 Fifth Ave. S., in Isle. A second presentation will be from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the New Brighton Community Center, at 400 10th St. NW in New Brighton.

"We all care about Mille Lacs," said Tom Jones, DNR regional fisheries treaty coordinator. "To that end, our goal is to create a deeper and more common understanding on the specific issue of whether there is a walleye reproduction problem."

The DNR is calling the events Hooked on Mille Lacs: On the Road. They complement the agency's new Hooked on Mille Lacs Lake quarterly newsletter. At these and future gatherings, local DNR fisheries biologists will present on important and timely Mille Lacs topics. A facilitated group discussion on the evening's topic will give people the chance to ask questions and make suggestions for future discussions.

"The plan is to regularly meet with citizens to take an in-depth look at a specific issue," said Jones. "This is new. It's different. It will allow for more public interaction than in our past meeting formats."

Jones said the meetings are part of an emerging agency approach to more broadly communicate fish population information, research findings and rationale for management decisions. There is no charge for admission.

To learn about Mille Lacs Lake management, visit www.mndnr.gov/millelacslake .