Outdoor notes

The Citizens Advisory Committee for the Crow Wing State Park management planning process will meet at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 17 at the Brainerd Public Library. The group will discuss revisions to the park's mission, vision and goals and begin discussing natural resource issues and possible solutions.

Issues to be discussed include: wildlife management, erosion control, old growth forest management, fisheries, rare and endangered species, aggressive exotic species, restoration issues and water quality.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information call 829-8022.

State lands to be offered for sale

The DNR has 11 properties it will offer for sale at a public auction and by sealed bid July 17-19. The lands, which are located in Beltrami, Big Stone, Clearwater, Cook, Itasca, Lake of the Woods and St. Louis counties, have a combined value of more than $260,000.

The lands currently for sale include the former DNR fisheries headquarters near Ortonville, the former DNR forestry office and warehouse site in Blackduck, a commercial tract in Hibbing and several parcels of recreational and hunting land.

Revenues generated from the sale of the lands will go into school and university trust fund accounts or the DNR's land acquisition account to be used for acquiring land for resource management projects and other public use.

For detailed information about the lands, including legal descriptions, sale dates and terms and conditions of sale, contact the DNR's Information Center at (888) 646-6367.

Fishing museum open despite report

LITTLE FALLS -- The Minnesota Fishing Museum will remain open through the summer despite a televised report that said it was closing, said LeAnn Doucette, assistant director.

Last week a story aired on KSTP-TV that said the museum had run out of money and would be forced to close. But Doucette said the museum does not plan to shut its doors any time soon. "Things are tight, and we have some decisions to make, but we're not closing," she said.

There are no financial grants for this type of museum, Doucette said, and a funding request in the most recent legislative session was ignored because it wasn't a bonding year. She said the museum has not secured the corporate sponsorships it had hoped to get. But it has continued to add items of interest, including a Hugo boat manufactured by Hugo and Janet Gross of Onamia. The wooden boats were popular on Lake Mille Lacs for many years.

The museum, located on West Broadway, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Trappers to host summer convention, rendezvous

BEMIDJI -- The Minnesota Trappers Association will meet for its 2000 Summer Convention/Rendezvous on August 11-13

at the Beltrami County fair grounds. The public is invited to attend.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 11 and August 12 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 13. Camping space is available and showers and toilets are on site.

Rendezvous events include a wild game feed, band and dance, fur fashion show, North American trap collectors swap meet, trapping demonstrations, skinning, fur grading demonstrations on all days, two live auctions, bond fires, Paul Dobbins trapping demonstrations, raffle drawing, kids games and trap setting contests. Trapping suppliers from throughout the nation will be on hand. There will be food booths, tannery booths and tanned fur skins of all kinds. For more information contact: www.mntrappers.com; axele@bresnanlink.net

Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour heads for Leech

Competitors on the Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour will have their final chance to qualify for the Tournament of Champions when the tour stops at Leech Lake on Saturday, July 22. Weigh-in is set for Walker City Park beginning at noon.

In the tour's last stop at Lake Minnetonka on July 7, pro Jason Berg and amateur Tom Peterson won top honors with eight fish weighing over 31 pounds, good for $8,500 in prize money.

Pro Gary Lake with 279 points and amateur Peterson with 268 points lead the overall standings. The top 40 anglers will compete at the Tournament of Champions on Lake Vermilion on August 18-19.

DNR enforcement looking for academy volunteers

The DNR hopes to add 10 conservation officers to its ranks early next year when it begins its sixth Conservation Officer Academy on August 30 at Camp Ripley.

The academy includes practical training exercises that place candidates in situations they might encounter in the field. To accomplish this, the DNR needs actors to enhance the realism of the training scenarios provided to the candidates. Those selected are eligible for mileage reimbursement, meals and a nominal consulting fee.

Who makes a good role player? Anyone who enjoys the outdoors. "Senior citizens, students, or people with free time would work out well," said Lt. Roger Tietz, division training coordinator. "We provide each actor with a script, all they have to do is play the part of the person who utilizes the outdoors."

To register call (320) 616-2518.