Outdoor notes

The 20-pound wild turkey shot by Baxter hunter Joe Pohlkamp (see front page) was captured Jan. 7, 2001 near the city of Elgin in Olmsted County. At the time of capture the bird weighed 16.5 pounds. It was three years old this year.

"What surprises me," said DNR area wildlife manager Gary Drotts, "is I thought the bird was from the original release, but he's from the second release, which took place five miles east of where he was shot. So this bird moved to where the first release took place. Turkeys are social, they intermix."

To date, at least seven birds have been shot in area 249; four where registered in Little Falls and three in Fort Ripley. The first 20 hunters, therefore, had 35 percent success rate. Statewide, success rates runs 30-35 percent. In Little Falls, DNR wildlife manager Beau Liddell reports one area where 21 birds were taken, for a success rate of 70 percent.

New fishing regulations take effect May 10

Beginning May 10, special or experimental fishing regulations will be in place on Annie Battle Lake (Otter Tail County), Bass Lake (Todd County), Cedar Lake (Morrison County), Mink Lake (Wright County), Pimushe Lake (Beltrami County), Big and Little Pine (Otter Tail County), Somers Lake (Wright County), Steiger Lake (Carver County) and Zumbro River (Wabasha County). New northern pike regulations are in effect on 66 lakes and one stream. Statewide regulations now apply on Platte Lake (Crow Wing/Morrison counties), where special regulations governed northern pike.

New regulations are summarized on pages 27-42 of the 2003 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet. Unless noted, all other general regulations apply to waters with special and experimental regulations.

New statewide bag limits on crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish also begin May 10.