Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine is taking it outside with trips and more to move you

MADISON - Spring is here. Don't let that lingering ice on the lakes convince you otherwise. The April/May issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine is ready to get outdoors and joins the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in encouraging people to join field trips around the state to places they might not have known even existed. The Foundation offers 150 field trips this year ranging from tagging butterflies to taking a dip to discover native mussels. A companion piece is meant to get people flocking to the 2014 Great Wisconsin Birdathon in May.

The sad but true passenger pigeon story is brought to life in, "Remembering a lost bird." It's been 100 years since the passenger pigeon became extinct and commemorative events are being planned around the state.

"Wisconsin turtle populations at a crossing" provides advice for helping turtles make safe spring travels to nesting sites. "Building a path along Wisconsin's 'Gift of the Glaciers'" suggests other volunteer opportunities with the Ice Age Trail Alliance Mobile Skills Crew.

"Your fish wish answered" unwraps the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative and how it just might improve angler chances of landing a keeper. "A healthy dose of flavor" makes a case for eating Wisconsin fish as a source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

The author of "Talking turkey with my nephew" recalls a successful Learn to Hunt Turkey program that leaves a young man smiling. Looking for land to hunt on? The magazine has you covered for that, and other outdoors exploration, in "Public Access lands Atlas opens the doors to the outdoors."

The "Back in the Day" column is sure to get people talking baseball and more since it features photos of celebrity anglers like Ted Williams who wet a line in Wisconsin waters. "Traveler" takes us to a The Clearing in Door County. Fire-up the grill again with some barbecue sauce advice in the recipes column. Then gear up for the spring fishing season with a newspaper-style insert, "The Wisconsin Fishing Report 2014."

Remember to consider Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine as a thoughtful and inexpensive gift that gives all year. Share what you value about the outdoors with family, friends, customers and professional colleagues. Six colorful issues are delivered to reader's doors all year for less than $1.50 a copy. Year-round the magazine shares ways and place to enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors for only $8.97. Subscribe toll-free at 1-800-678-9472, online at www.wnrmag.com or by mail. Subscription blanks and single issues are also available from our circulation office at P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.

Six private and three tribal hatcheries get grants to increase walleye production capacity

MADISON - Six private and three tribal fish hatcheries will get a total of $2 million in one-time grants for projects that will increase their capacity to produce larger walleye for stocking in Wisconsin by 470,000 fish per year, state fisheries officials say.

The hatcheries are receiving the grants from the Department of Natural Resources as part of a competitive grant process funded through the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative.

"This is a big victory for everybody who loves walleye," says DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. "These grants invest in shovel-ready projects that will expand the capacity of private and tribal hatcheries to produce larger walleye for stocking in Wisconsin's waters well into the future."

Grant recipients are required to stock walleye produced in their new facilities into Wisconsin waters, and DNR has received $500,000 through the initiative to buy 1 million of these larger fish. Almost 200,000 of these should be available for stocking this fall from grant recipients whose projects will be completed this year, with the rest coming as projects are completed through 2018.

The grant awards are an important part of Wisconsin's plan to boost walleye fishing by stocking more of the larger walleye in lakes where natural reproduction isn't sufficient. The plan, known as the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative, is a $12 million funding package developed by Gov. Scott Walker and DNR to boost walleye stocking statewide of the larger fish known as "extended growth" walleye.

Such fish, which are 6 to 8 inches long, have been shown to survive at significantly higher rates in some settings than the 1.5 to 2-inch fish typically stocked. DNR's stocking strategy is to stock these larger walleye in some walleye waters with the hope of restoring naturally reproducing populations, and in others to increase walleye numbers in lakes that will continue to rely on stocking to provide fishing opportunities.

The initiative was funded by the Legislature for two years and provides increased operating funds to DNR grow the larger, more expensive fish; allows for $8 million in upgrades at state hatcheries; invests in expanding capacity at private and tribal hatcheries; and provides money for DNR to purchase larger walleye for stocking from private and tribal hatcheries.

Already, the extra funding the initiative provided in 2013 enabled state hatcheries to produce more than four times the typical number of larger walleye for stocking in fall 2013.

The competitive grant program for private and tribal hatcheries required applicants to submit proposals including the number of fish they will produce and the price, and to commit to stocking those within Wisconsin for at least three years.

Grant recipients are required to stock walleye produced in their new facilities into Wisconsin waters, and DNR has received $500,000 through the initiative to buy 1 million of these larger fish. Almost 200,000 of these should be available for stocking this fall from grant recipients whose projects will be completed this year, with the rest coming as projects are completed through 2018.

The 13 applications DNR received for the hatchery capacity grants were reviewed by a technical review panel that included DNR staff with expertise in walleye and cool-water species hatchery production and management, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries expert and a University of Wisconsin - Extension fisheries expert.

Applicants were ranked based on criteria including their experience in raising walleye or other cool-water fish, cost effectiveness, and having a shovel-ready project that would significantly increase their production of walleye.

The hatcheries receiving the grants and the grant amounts are:

• Gollon Bait and Fish Farm, Dodgeville, $423,535
• Northside Enterprises, Black Creek, $136,344
• Coolwater Farms, LLC, Deerfield, $76,600
• Sokaogon Chippewa Community, $298,900
• Hayward Bait and Bottle Shoppe, Hayward, $125,000
• Central Wisconsin Fish Farm, LLC, Stevens Point, $29,841
• St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, $283,255
• Taal Lake Hatchery, New London, $194,371
• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, $432,154