Plovercoming The Odds: Three Piping Plover Chicks Make It Safely Onto State Beach!

Giving their parents fits every step of the way, the three piping plover chicks that hatched in the parking lot of Roger Wheeler State Beach yesterday took an overnight, stop-and-start route that finally saw them climb a sand-covered, plywood ramp and skitter onto the beach at about 11 AM today.

After covering a distance that for a person would probably be the equivalent of running a marathon or four, it doesn't get any easier for the chicks now. Whatever the location of their new nest on the beach, the downy young birds won't be flying for about a month. They will follow their parents' lead in foraging for marine worms, crustaceans, and insects – and hopefully surviving human disturbance, unleashed dogs and stray cats, and natural predators such as crows, racoons, skunks, and foxes.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/14/Plovercoming-The-Odds-Three-Piping-Plover-Chicks-Make-It-Safely-Onto-State-Beach

https://www.ri.gov/press/view/33448

Fishing Summer Patterns

With water temperatures rising above the 70-degree mark, this has the fish moving off the shorelines and out to their deeper summer patterns. Summer pattern means deeper weed beds, weed lines and off shore structures.

Finding and fishing off shore structures can be very rewarding as many anglers don’t like fishing deeper water or don’t know about these locations. Finding that is when there is some wind involved as well, this always seems to help the bite in these areas.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/13/Fishing-Summer-Patterns

DEM Encourages Citizen Scientists To Report Sightings Of Wild Turkey Broods

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is asking the public to report sightings of wild turkey hens – both with brood and without – to help with research efforts. The Department is currently evaluating the state's wild turkey population which is believed to be growing based on the number of young reaching maturity and an increase in harvests reported during the spring hunting season which ended last month. The 2018 spring harvest was 190 birds, an increase of more than 20% from the 154 taken during the 2017 season.

Information gathered from the public is helpful in determining the number of young birds that survive after common causes of mortality such as predators, weather, and road kill are taken into account. The Division receives hundreds of brood reports annually that assist biologists with monitoring recruitment, population dynamics, and distribution of the wild turkey flock in Rhode Island.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/12/DEM-Encourages-Citizen-Scientists-To-Report-Sightings-Of-Wild-Turkey-Broods

https://www.ri.gov/press/view/33434

KIDS Outdoors class schedules for the weeks of June 11th - June 20th

Latest KIDS Outdoors class schedules for the weeks of June 11th - June 20th time frame, Outdoor education classes for the New England States entailing fishing ed, hunters ed, boating ed, ATV ed and others.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/kids-outdoors

DEM Offers Free Summer Clamming Workshops

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is hosting a series of free recreational clamming workshops this summer. The workshops, led by DEM's Aquatic Resource Education (ARE) program, are opportunities for participants to learn how to dig for clams and the management strategies that have kept Rhode Island in the clamming industry for so long.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/11/DEM-Offers-Free-Summer-Clamming-Workshops

https://www.ri.gov/press/view/33412

Spring and Summer Fish Kills in New Hampshire

Fish kills are not an uncommon sight in spring and summer, and most are due to natural processes, not pollution. Small lakes and ponds in New Hampshire that have a lot of shallow, vegetated habitat and a high abundance of panfish can be susceptible to fish kills. Multiple factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, dissolved gases (particularly oxygen) become increasingly less soluble as the water temperature rises. This can happen very quickly on a sunny, calm day in late May or early June. When oxygen levels decrease to 4 parts per million, it can be lethal to fish, or at a minimum, cause the fish some stress. Most oxygen available to fish comes from algae. During nighttime and cloudy weather, limited sunlight causes algae to switch from photosynthesis to respiration, consuming oxygen needed by fish.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/11/Spring-and-Summer-Fish-Kills-in-New-Hampshire

https://nhfishgame.com/2018/06/08/fish-kills/

Vermont’s Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 9

Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 9 this year, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season.

“Vermont’s Free Fishing Day gives resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to go fishing without a license for the day in Vermont lakes and streams,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “Fishing is an activity that can be shared with friends and family or easily taught to newcomers while enjoying quality time together.”  

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/08/Vermont%25E2%2580%2599s-Summer-Free-Fishing-Day-is-Saturday-June-9

Bluegill Fun

One of the most fun fish to catch is the sunfish or bluegill. Their short body size is deceiving for how hard they fight, and those proportions will have this fish as one of the hardest fighting in the freshwater.

There are a variety of ways of catching them, the most fun is with a jig and a float. Using the Clam Dropkick jig and hanging the jig in a horizontal position, adding the Maki Mino XL offers a large tantalizing combination.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/08/Bluegill-Fun

Field Day for Women at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is holding a Hunter Education field day for women on July 29, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, NH. Participants must first register for and complete the online Hunter Education course at: https://www.huntercourse.com/usa/newhampshire. Once students pass the online exam, they will receive a voucher with a link to register for the field day.

Note: The cost of the online exam is $29.99, which you only pay once you pass.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/08/Field-Day-for-Women-at-Owl-Brook-Hunter-Education-Center

Moose Lottery is June 9, 2018 at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is pleased to announce that the drawing for Maine’s moose permit lottery will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. hosted by Main Street Skowhegan at the historic Skowhegan Fairgrounds in Skowhegan, Maine as part of their weekend-long Moose Festival.

Since 1999, the Department has rotated the lottery location throughout the state. Prior to 1999, it was always held in Augusta. In more recent years, lotteries have been held in Greenville, Presque Isle, Bethel, Kittery and Caribou.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/06/Moose-Lottery-is-June-9-2018-at-the-Skowhegan-Fairgrounds

KIDS Outdoors New England Class Schedules June 5 - June 13

Latest KIDS Outdoors class schedules for the weeks of June 5 – June 13th time frame, Outdoor education classes for the New England States entailing fishing ed, hunters ed, boating ed, ATV ed and others.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/kids-outdoors

Sign up for NH Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Fall Workshop

Women interested in learning outdoor skills in a beautiful setting can sign up for New Hampshire’s fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend workshop, which will take place September 7-9, 2018, at Rockywold / Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness, NH. The workshop fee of $335 includes two nights of lodging, plus all meals, instruction, and equipment use. Participants must be age 18 or older.

Participants select four sessions from more than 30 different outdoor skills workshops, including archery, fishing, fly fishing, camping, field dressing game, hiking, kayaking, rifle, shotgun, nature photography, outdoor survival, campfire cooking, mountain biking, map and compass, and more.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/05/Sign-up-for-NH-Becoming-an-Outdoors-Woman-Fall-Workshop

Family Fun Abounds In June With Great Outdoors Pursuit

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced the June schedule of events for the state's popular Great Outdoors Pursuit. The public events include guided hikes, a fish hatchery tour, and free admission to the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/01/Family-Fun-Abounds-In-June-With-Great-Outdoors-Pursuit

Online Survey: Report Wild Turkey Brood Sightings

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking for the public’s help in tracking wild turkey broods in New Hampshire this spring and summer. It’s easy to take part. The survey opens June 1. If you observe groups of turkeys with young between June 1 and August 31, 2018, report your sightings on NH Fish and Game’s web-based turkey brood survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018_Brood_Survey.

“The information survey participants provide helps us monitor the turkey population,” said Kent Gustafson, NH Fish and Game Wildlife Programs Supervisor. “This survey provides reports from all over the state and adds to the important information biologists gather to monitor changes in turkey productivity, distribution, abundance, turkey brood survival, and the timing of nesting and hatching.” In 2017, summer brood survey participants reported seeing a record number of 1,784 broods. The average hatch date statewide in 2017 was June 21.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/01/Online-Survey-Report-Wild-Turkey-Brood-Sightings

Annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) urges residents to keep a tally of all sightings of hen turkeys and poults (young-of-the-year) from June 1 through August 31 as part of the Wildlife Division’s Annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey. Results from this survey allow DEEP biologists to accurately determine turkey productivity and reproductive success by estimating the average number of turkey poults per hen statewide, assessing annual fluctuations in the turkey population, gauging reproductive success each year, and evaluating recruitment of new birds into the fall population.

Connecticut’s wild turkey population has been relatively stable in the past several years, but at a lower level than the peak population that occurred in the mid-2000s. Despite some declines, the state’s population remains healthy and productive.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/06/01/Annual-Wild-Turkey-Brood-Survey

Free Fishing Weekend Is This Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3

This weekend is Maine’s free fishing weekend and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is encouraging everyone to get outside and enjoy a day fishing with family or friends on one of Maine’s many waters.

Free fishing weekend takes place on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3, 2018 and any person, including non-residents, may fish for free without a license on Maine’s waterways, except those who have had their license suspended or revoked. All other rules and regulations, including bag and possession limits, apply. For more information on the rules and regulations on your favorite water, please visit mefishwildlife.com/fishinglaws.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/31/Free-Fishing-Weekend-Is-This-Saturday-June-2-and-Sunday-June-3

Migratory Bird Hunting Season Dates Set

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the dates for the 2018-2019 migratory bird hunting seasons, which include seasons for ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails, and crows. Specific details on season dates, bag limits, regulations, and other reminders are published in the 2018-2019 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which is available at www.ct.gov/deep/hunting. Printed versions can be obtained at DEEP and town clerk offices in the near future.

Reminders for 2018-2019 – The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp, which includes the Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit, costs $17 ($9 for junior hunters ages 12 to 17) and can be purchased at select DEEP offices, town clerk offices, and online at www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/31/Migratory-Bird-Hunting-Season-Dates-Set

There’s Still Room in Summer Youth Programs at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center

Free youth day programs are being offered once again this summer at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness. These programs give both boys and girls the chance to learn about shooting sports, bowhunting, and other outdoor skills. Sessions will be offered in July and August. Owl Brook is operated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Sessions are free of charge.

To sign up, visit https://nhfishandgame.com/EventWeb/Event/AllEvents?EventTypeID=169 and select the program/dates you are interested in attending.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/30/There%25E2%2580%2599s-Still-Room-in-Summer-Youth-Programs-at-Owl-Brook-Hunter-Education-Center

DEEP Announces Winner of 2018 Connecticut Duck Stamp Art Contest

In a contest filled with great artwork, a panel of judges recently selected Indiana artist Jeffrey Klinefelter’s depiction of  buffleheads flying across Barn Island Wildlife Management Area as the winner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) 2018 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp Art Contest. Jeffrey is a previous winner of the Connecticut contest, winning in 2015 with his depiction of canvasbacks in front of the Ledge Lighthouse in New London.

Jeffrey’s painting of buffleheads was chosen out of 29 entries submitted by artists from across the country, including a record 18 from Connecticut artists. Paintings were judged in six categories: suitability for reproduction, composition, habitat suitability for that species, anatomical correctness, eye appeal, originality, and whether a recognizable Connecticut landmark or habitat was used. Jeffrey’s painting will be the image for the 2019 Connecticut Duck Stamp.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/30/DEEP-Announces-Winner-of-2018-Connecticut-Duck-Stamp-Art-Contest

KIDS Outdoors New England Class Schedules May 29-June 6

Latest KIDS Outdoors class schedules for the weeks of May 21 – May 30th time frame, Outdoor education classes for the New England States entailing fishing ed, hunters ed, boating ed, ATV ed and others.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/kids-outdoors

Springtime Spinnerbaits for Largemouth Bass

Springtime means that the waters are warming and that in turn draws the fish to the shorelines for those warmer temperature waters as well as they start getting prepared for the coming spawn. Structure objects in the shallow waters are heat absorbers from the suns rays and these areas warm that much more quickly as well.

Certain areas hold more fish than others and finding these locations needs to be done quickly and effectively for having a good day on the water. One way to cover these different areas is to fish different looking areas with a spinnerbait.

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/25/Springtime-Spinnerbaits-for-Largemouth-Bass

Bobcat Caught on Game Camera in Brandon VT

This bobcat was caught in a series of photos on a game camera set up under a bridge in Brandon, Vermont.  The cameras are put out as part of a collaborative partnership between Vermont Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, and VTrans to better understand wildlife movement around road crossing structures.

“This bobcat passing under the road highlights the fact that wildlife are always on the move,” said John Austin, Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s lands and habitat program manager.  “They need to travel across the landscape to find food or water, to search for mates, or to find places to den or raise their young. Maintaining healthy and connected habitats is one of the most important things we can do to help wildlife continue to thrive in Vermont.”

https://www.kevindahlkeoutdoors.com/single-post/2018/05/25/Bobcat-Caught-on-Game-Camera-in-Brandon-VT