May 7, 2004

Gay marriage ban proposal at least temporarily halts dedicated funding plan By Tim Spielman Associate Editor St. Paul What do a ban on gay marriage and dedicated funding for conservation have in common? Nothing, according to Sen. Dallas Sams, DFL-Staples, author of a bill that would set aside 3/8 of one percent of the state …

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LAKE MILLE LACS Not much has changed from a week ago. The water hasn’t warmed much in the past week so the crappie and perch bite continues to be slow. The fish being caught continue to be good-sized and hitting minnows in the bays, harbors, and channels. The best bite takes place during the afternoon

Contributing Editor Mention muskies and most people immediately think of a lake up north somewhere. The Chippewa Flowage, for instance, home of the world record; or Vilas County’s Trout Lake, where some of the state’s biggest muskies currently live. On those lakes, muskie season won’t open until May 29. Here in southern Wisconsin, though, the

May 15: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Birding Festival “Conservation of Colonial Birds”, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more info and a schedule of the day’s activities call the refuge at 608-539-2311 or visit the website at www.midwest. fws.gov/trempealeau May 15: Northwoods Archers Youth Day, 10-12 p.m., Northwoods Archers Clubhouse, Medford. For more info call

“Duckling survival had the largest impact on population growth rates,” Coluccy said. “This has implications for management and habitat programs.” Compared to nesting birds on the prairies, nest success accounts for most variability, followed by hen survival and duckling survival. In the Great Lakes states, duckling survival was ranked highest in importance, followed by non-breeding

The first releases by the DNR were conducted in northwestern Minnesota. These projects have resulted in a breeding population of more than 1,700 birds, more than one-third of the Midwest population. For more details on the Saturday release, call (507) 831-2220.

Associate Editor La Crosse, Wis. A Mississippi River drawdown, similar to one that occurred two years ago on Pool 8 of the river, is slated to occur in mid-June on Pool 6. That includes portions of the river north and south of Winona, Minn. “We’re doing a minor’ drawdown within the existing set of conditions,”

April 7: Slab Crappie and Sunfish Secrets by “Tackle Terry” Tuma, 7 p.m., Gander Mtn, St. Cloud. For more info call 320-654-6600. April 10: Trophy Gear’s Fly Fishing 101, 9-12 p.m. Topics include: equipment, casting, etc. Bring what equipment you have. Trophy Gear, Cambridge. For more info call Jaysen, 763-552-3030. April 10: Slab Crappie and

Madison The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers transferred ownership of the Fox locks to the state of Wisconsin in late April, and that move will allow the state to leverage $22 million in federal, state, and local funds to assist in the rehabilitation and maintenance of the locks system. “After almost 20 years of economic,