OUTDOORS NOTES

Registration is open for the second Minnesota Fishing Challenge, presented by Mills Fleet Farm.

The tournament, to benefit Minnesota Teen Challenge, is scheduled June 5 on Gull Lake. Trophies will be awarded in walleye, bass, pike, panfish and mixed-bag divisions.

Each two-person team will submit an entry fee of $100 that covers a banquet the night before the tournament, special awards and prizes. Each team then raises a minimum of $500 from friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. Last year, teams averaged more than $1,000, and the 87 two-person teams raised more than $100,000 for Minnesota Teen Challenge. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible.

There will be a maximum of 100 two-person teams. Register at www.mntc.org/fishingchallenge or call (612) 238-6184 for registration forms.

Minnesota Teen Challenge serves teens and adults with addiction problems.

Nominees sought for MDHA Ethics Awards

The DNR, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and Turn In Poachers are asking hunters to share stories of exemplary hunting behavior by nominating hunters for the 17th annual Minnesota Deer Hunter Ethics Awards.

The awards will honor deer hunters who have exhibited conduct during the 2009 season that can serve as a positive example to all hunters. Awards for youth and adult divisions will be presented at an upcoming MDHA event held in their vicinity.

Anyone may nominate a hunter by writing a letter or e-mail explaining the actions of the nominee and why that person is worthy of recognition. Youth and adults are eligible; nominees must be Minnesota residents. The incidents for which hunters are nominated must have occurred during any of the 2009 Minnesota deer hunting seasons (archery, firearm or muzzleloader).

Nominations will be accepted until Jan. 22 and should be sent to Ethical Hunter Award, MDHA, 460 Peterson Road, Grand Rapids, MN 55744-8413, faxed to (218) 327-1349 or e-mailed to kimhanson@mndeerhunters.com. For more information, go to the MDHA's Web site at www.mndeerhunters.com.

Temporary off-highway vehicle trail closures

DNR forest trails and access routes will be closed to off-highway vehicles at times during November to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders during the 2009 firearms deer hunting season.

The trail closures apply to the use of all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and off-road vehicles, such as jeeps and four-wheel drive trucks, by recreational riders on state forest trails or non-designated forest access routes.

Licensed deer hunters may still use these routes in conjunction with their hunting activity before legal shooting time, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and after legal shooting hours.

Effective dates of the recreational riding restrictions will be through Nov. 22 for the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series deer season and through Sunday for the Minnesota 200 Series deer season.

For more information, see the 2009 firearms deer season zone map posted online at files.dnr.state.mn.us/outdoor_ activities/hunting/deer/2009/zone_map.pdf or call (651) 296-6157 or (888) 646-6367.