Crow Wing Canoe Day coming up

Step into a canoe in Brainerd, step out into a fur trade encampment at Crow Wing State Park at the 14th annual Crow Wing Canoe Days and Fur Trade Encampment on June 4.

The event starts at 10 a.m. at Kiwanis Park in Brainerd. The canoe trip starts at 11 a.m. with arrival at Crow Wing State Park about 1:30 p.m. It is an open-house day at state parks so no vehicle permit is required.

Canoes can be rented for $30 and a $10 deposit. Call 829-8022 to make a reservation. A shuttle service will return paddlers to Kiwanis Park.

The Fur Trade Encampment is hosted by Crow Wing County Muzzleloaders. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. club members will demonstrate crafts such as mocassin making, primitive cooking, wood working and bead work.

Public lands meeting set for May 31

The Crow Wing County Lands and Forestry Advisory Committee will meet from 9 a.m. to noon on May 31 at the Brainerd Public Utilities building to discuss the "Management Plan for Tax Forfeited Lands" and to discuss a request from staff to reverse an earlier decision.

Tom Cowell, Crow Wing County Land Commissioner, has requested that an earlier decision on a classification for county forest trails be reversed. That recommendation would have placed county lands under a classification similar to the DNR's "limited" classification, which closes trails to motorized recreation unless posted as open.

Gun shop to host fun shoot

Eckelman's Gun Shop, Fort Ripley, will host a handgun show and fun shoot on its range June 11 beginning at 9 a.m.

Participants must be 18 or older. The entry fee is $10 and a per-match fee of $3 is charged. Shooters can register for one or all matches. Drawings will take place for a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Taurus .22 automatic. Manufacturer's representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

Walleye Alliance to sponsor youth outing

The Brainerd chapter of the Minnesota Walleye Alliance is sponsoring a "Youth Fishing Outing" on June 10 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Round Lake. The free outing is for kids ages 10-17. Boats, rods and reels, bait and life jackets will be available. Access to the lake will be made at the south shore public access off County Road 115, east of Highway 371.

To register call Paul Schreiber, youth activity chairman, at 829-5859 or Bob Williams at (218) 678-2689.

Winkelman to speak to DHA

Babe Winkelman will serve as celebrity spokesperson for the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.

It's been 25 years since Winkelman went into the outdoors business full-time. His programs "Good Fishing" and "Outdoor Secrets" reach enthusiasts throughout North America and 22 foreign countries. So why the partnership with Minnesota Deer Hunters Association?

"I love to hunt deer," Winkelman said, "but more importantly I believe in teaching others how to be successful hunters while maintaining respect for the natural world. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association echoes that belief in all it does."

CARA bill wins victory in U.S. House

The U.S. House of Representatives voted May 11 to pass the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. The final vote was 315-102. The majority of Minnesota's House members supported the bill, which would provide the largest infusion of federal funds for conservation and outdoor recreation in our nation's history -- an estimated $44 billion over the next 15 years.

The bill could potentially provide about $20 million annually to Minnesota. The funds could go for programs that protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout the state, including for the first time ever, federal support for nongame activities. A significant portion of the funds is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the North Shore of Lake Superior. And outdoor recreation is given a significant boost, with funding available for local and state park development, open space protection, trail development and a number of other activities.

CARA moves on to the U.S. Senate, where the Energy and Natural Resources committee plans to take it up in mid-June.

Volunteer efforts spruce up parks

More than 300 volunteers donated 1,500 hours to spruce up Minnesota's state parks on Saturday, May 6. The statewide effort was a unique partnership between employees and members of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, a group of 40 electric cooperatives and Minnesota state parks.

Volunteers planted more than 2,000 trees in northern and central Minnesota, spread wood chips on miles of trails, painted buildings, and spruced up state parks across Minnesota.

Crow Wing Power employees and customers cleared brush, cleaned trails and spread wood chips at Crow Wing State Park near Brainerd. Volunteers planted more than $1,700 trees at the new Petaga campground at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park near Onamia.

DNR names water patrol deputy of the year

Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputy, Lt. Ken Schilling, was recently presented with the DNR's Water Patrol Deputy of the Year Award for his many accomplishments in that field.

Schilling, who has been a deputy for Hennepin County since 1983, is head of that department's Water Patrol Unit. "Ken's accomplishments in boat and water safety made him a natural choice for this year's award," noted Kim Elverum, DNR Boat and Water Safety Program coordinator.

Take precautions when storing firearms

Spring and summer household projects are usually associated with building, painting and landscaping projects. But the DNR says it's also a good time to think about a home project for safe firearm storage for some of Minnesota's 1.5 million hunters.

"Most sportsmen clean and store an unloaded firearm at the end of hunting season," said Capt. Jeff Thielen, DNR Enforcement Education coordinator. "But unless firearms are stored securely, inquisitive kids will still be able to get them. It is a tragedy that has happened before so it is of utmost importance that you take some extra precautions when storing your firearms."

Approximately 48 percent of Minnesotans keep a firearm in their home (Minnesota Planning, 1996). Utilizing a trigger lock is something sportsmen can do -- now -- in their own homes and neighborhoods to protect the most vulnerable and innocent.