OUTDOORS NOTES

Public meetings to gather comments on the pending draft report and Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Headwaters' Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation will be held at seven sites - including Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Aitkin.

Reservoirs being evaluated in the study include the Whitefish Chain and Gull, Leech, Cass, Winnibigoshish, Pokegama and Sandy lakes.

The meetings:

Sept. 8 - 6-8 p.m., McGregor High School Auditorium, 148 S. 2nd St., McGregor.

Sept. 9 - 1-3 p.m., The Blandin Foundation, 100 Pokegama Ave. N., Grand Rapids; 6-8 p.m., Drum Room, Leech Lake Tribal College, County Road 75 (2 miles north of Highway 2, near the Palace Casino), Cass Lake.

Sept. 10 - 1-3 p.m., Ideal Town Hall, 35458 Butternut Point Rd., Pequot Lakes; 6-8 p.m., Rotary Room, Walker Area Community Center, 105 Tower Ave., Walker.

Sept. 11 - 1-3 p.m., 40 Club Convention Center, 1 mile west of Aitkin on Highway 210; 6-8 p.m., Nisswa Community Center, 25628 Main St., Nisswa.

Potential system-wide and site-specific impacts and benefits of the proposed operating plan, along with the inherent trade-offs will be the focus of the meetings, which will be held in an open-house format with a short presentation followed by opportunities to ask questions and gather comments from those attending.

For more information, contact Steven Clark at (651) 290-5278 or steven.j.clark@ usace.army.mil.

Firearms safety scheduled in Brainerd

A firearms safety course is scheduled starting Sept. 9 at the American Legion Club, 708 Front St., Brainerd.

The course involves six classroom sessions and a range day at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. Classroom sessions are scheduled from 5:45-9 p.m. Sept. 9 and 6-9 p.m. Sept. 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25, with the final test Sept. 25. Range day is at 9 a.m. Sept. 20.

Cost is $15 per student and due by Sept. 9. To pre-register, call 829-7582.

Wildlife refuge announces hunt

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge near McGregor, with with the DNR, has scheduled its second annual deer hunt for hunters with disabilities.

The hunt - Oct. 2-5 - will be open for buck or doe. Applications must be postmarked by Sept. 12, and for those selected, the refuge will be open for scouting Sept. 27.

Hunters are responsible for travel to and from the refuge, sleeping accommodations while at the hunt (limited accommodations are available at Camp New Hope), purchasing their license and providing for their personal needs (warm clothes, guns, ammo, attendants). Hunt organizers will assist hunters in getting to and from their hunting site, providing volunteers to assist with the handling of harvested deer (if requested) and meals.

Those interested in applying should request an application packet by calling Walt Ford, refuge manager, at (218) 768-2402.