Outdoor Notes for July 1

Improvement district annual meeting July 21

Upper South Long Lake Improvement District annual meeting will be 10 a.m. July 21 at Paradise Resort Bar and Grill.

Apply by Aug. 17 for Camp Ripley archery hunts

Hunters can apply starting Sunday, July 1, for the regular archery deer hunts at Camp Ripley near Little Falls. The application deadline is Friday, Aug. 17.

Hunters may pick from only one of two hunting seasons: Oct. 18-19 (Thur.-Fri., code 668) or Oct. 27-28(Sat.-Sun., code 669). A total of 4,000 permits, with 2,000 per two-day hunt, will be made available. The bag limit for this year's hunt is two, and bonus permits may be used to take antlerless deer. Additional rules and instructions for this year's hunt will be posted in July at mndnr.gov/hunting/deer.

Hunters may choose from four options to apply for the Camp Ripley archery hunts:

• In person at any one of 1,500 license agents located throughout Minnesota.

• By telephone at 888-665-4236.

• Online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense

Tuma takes second Bass Snatchers Tournament

Keith Tuma, with an overall catch of 19 pounds, 11 ounces, won the second Baxter Bass Snatchers tournament of the year held recently on Minnewawa Lake near McGregor.

Nate Steinbauer placed second with 14 pounds and Dennis Lothspeich placed third with 14 points. Tuma won the Lunker Award with a 4 pound, 9 ounce bass.

Grandfather and grandson win big at Cedar Lake northern pike tournament

Leroy Frosty and his grandson Gavin took first place at the June 16 Northerns Inc. tournament on Cedar Lake with a total weight of 20 pounds, 11 ounces.

Placing second was Andrew Utter with 16 pounds, 8 ounces; placing third was Kevin and Lucas Hacker with 14 pounds, 2 ounces; placing fourth was Luther Wallin and Randall Clark with 13 pounds, 3 ounces; and placing fifth was Jim and Neal Falenschek with 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

The Lunker of the Day was an 11 pound, 13 ounce pike caught by Leroy Frosty.

Brad Parsons named state fisheries chief

Brad Parsons, a 31-year fisheries veteran and current central region fisheries manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, has been selected as the new fisheries chief for the DNR. He begins his new duties Wednesday, July 25.

"Brad brings a breadth of valuable experience to this important job," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. "His years working his way up as a researcher in the field and then serving as regional fisheries manager will help us manage the state's fisheries in ways that positively serve citizens, natural resources and local economies."

Parsons, a St. Paul Park resident, has been the DNR's central region fisheries manager since 2010. In addition to managing the region's eight fisheries offices, he has played a key role in management issues on Lake Mille Lacs, and the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. He also is the agency's point person with the citizen-based Walleye Workgroup.

Parsons began his career at the DNR researching a range of topics including walleye populations, angler harvest and attitudes, wetland ecology and predator-prey interactions. As fisheries manager for the central region he was responsible for an area including Minnesota's lake country, two major rivers, three major metropolitan areas and trout streams in the southeastern part of the state.

Parsons will oversee a $34 million annual fisheries section budget and a staff of 286 full-time and part-time employees. With personnel based in four regional offices, 29 area offices and 15 hatcheries, the fisheries section carries out research and management programs affecting state fish species and habitat.

Fishing is big business in Minnesota. Direct angler expenditures in Minnesota total $2.4 billion and support 35,000 jobs, according to a 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey. About 28 percent of Minnesotans go fishing, double the national average.

Parsons is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has an advanced degree in fisheries from the University of Wyoming. He is the author or co-author of numerous peer-reviewed publications and technical reports. He replaces Don Pereira, who retired on June 8.