Outdoor notes

Winter is the time of year when runaway dogs kill the most deer. Minnesota law allows conservation officers and peace officers to shoot domestic dogs that are chasing deer, and dog owners who let their dogs kill or pursue deer are guilty of a petty misdemeanor and will be fined up to $500 for each violation.

"Keep your dogs under control at all times," warns DNR Chief Conservation Officer Mike Hamm. "Dog owners will be fined if their pets harass big game and our officers will shoot any dog that chases deer."

In winter, deer have low energy reserves. Even if a dog doesn't catch a deer the stress of being chased can be enough to kill the deer later because of its weakened condition.

Persons who see runaway dogs should call their local conservation officer or the Minnesota State Patrol.

Walker pro to direct Pro/Am Bass Tour

Chip Leer, long-time professional angler and co-founder of WildSide Diversified, an angler education and fishing promotion company based in Walker, has been named director of the Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour.

The Minnesota Pro/Am Bass Tour is a 100-boat, dual-angler tournament series with five qualifying tournaments and a championship. Each qualifying tournament has a $10,000 first-place pro payout and the championship awards $100,000. The MNPABT will award over a quarter million dollars in 2004, making it one of the richest tournament circuits in the Midwest.

Registration for the 2004 season is open. The final schedule will be set in January. For more information, log onto mnbasstour.com or call (651) 251-2264.

RCL championship heads to Quad cities

The 2004 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship has been scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 2 on the Mississippi River at Moline, Ill.

Pros and co-anglers qualify for the championship during the regular season tour. Two hundred pros and 200 co-anglers comprise a full championship field, with pros going for as much as $400,000 cash while co-anglers compete for $150,000. Tom Keenan, Hatley, Wis., won last year championship.

Bush administration to uphold wetlands protection

The Bush administration has declared that it will not pursue new rules that would weaken protection of wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act.

Wetlands protection under the Clean Water Act has been a concern for conservationists since the Supreme Court issued a decision that could accelerate losses of isolated wetlands and small bodies of water.

"Ducks Unlimited is pleased with the Bush Administration's decision to maintain this important component of federal wetland protection," DU President John Tomke said. "Protection of key habitat for waterfowl is central to our mission and critically important to North America's migratory bird populations."

The announcement came four days after President Bush met with Tomke and other conservation leaders to discuss major issues facing wildlife conservation.

Outdoors question of the week

Why does snow make different sounds when you walk on it at different temperatures?

"The quality and amount of snow as well as the air temperature all influence how noisy snow will be underfoot," said Retta James-Gasser, a naturalist at Gooseberry Falls State Park. "Snow has air trapped between each flake. When stepped on, those air spaces absorb sound. Dry, fluffy snow has more air trapped between each flake, resulting in quieter footsteps. Wet, hardened, old snow has less air trapped between each flake and less sound is absorbed, resulting in noisy, squeaky snow. The amount of snow effects sound, too. More snow means more air is trapped and the total blanket is quieter. However, snow only makes sound when the temperature dips below 14 degrees. Above 14 degrees the snow melts just enough to slip silently under your boots. So your boots can be a good indicator of just how cold it is outside."