March 12, 2004

At the show, you’ll find a number of resorts offering great muskie fishing, taxidermy specialists, and a full line of boats, tackle, and electronics. Don’t miss seminars by muskie experts such as Steve Herbek, Paul Hartman, Bruce Shumway, and Dick Windels. Be sure to stop by the Outdoor News booth at the expo. Show hours …

Blaine, Minn. The Minnesota Muskie Expo gets under way at the National Sport Center in Blaine on March 12 and runs through March 14. Read More »

March 21: Musky Magic XVI, 11-5 p.m. at the New London Middle School.

April 2-4: Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, at the Radisson South Hotel in Minneapolis, Minn. For info call 612-926-5128, e-mail at mwfly@mwfly.com or go to www.greatwaters2004.com. May 15-16: Green County Conservation League Gun Show, Green County Fairgrounds, Monroe. Sat. 9-5 p.m., Sun. 9-3 p.m. For more info call 608-897-4030.

Editor Madison The outlook for any spring turkey season couldn’t get much better than what hunters are awaiting this year, according to Keith Warnke, DNR upland ecologist and turkey program coordinator. Wisconsin wild turkeys have pulled off at least two consecutive years of above-average nesting success, and the DNR has issued almost 185,000 carcass tags

Associated Press Washington, D.C. In a last-minute turnaround, Senate Republicans scuttled their election-year gun legislation on Tuesday, March 2 after Democrats added amendments to extend an assault weapons ban and require background checks on all buyers at private gun shows to the package. The 90-8 vote against the bill handed Democrats and gun control advocates

Editor Madison Five of the 50 waysides closed by the state Department of Transportation (DOT) in response to the current budget shortfalls include boat landings used by fishermen to reach lakes or rivers. Another four DOT waysides that have been closed provided walk-in types of access for fishermen. One of the most heavily used boat

Field Editor St. Paul Conservationists are optimistic a proposed constitutional amendment to dedicate a quarter-cent of the state sales tax is moving ahead in the Legislature, but are concerned the “4/16ths” House bill contains clauses that may allow money to be diverted away from fish and game purposes. They are hoping the Legislature will refine

A recent extended thaw melted snow and combined with rain and sleet to boost water levels on Lake Michigan and Green Bay tributaries, attracting the first wave of fresh-run steelhead. While the southern streams along Lake Michigan are wide open, or starting to open up, some of the northern rivers were a mix of open

Associate Editor St. Paul While legislation aimed at nonresident anglers from North Dakota brews in the Minnesota Senate, state officials have taken a new route in the fight against nonresident hunting restrictions in North Dakota: They’re suing the Peace Garden State. The office of Gov. Tim Pawlenty made the announcement Tuesday afternoon; shortly thereafter officials