I’m generally quite skeptical about research on trace levels of human-made chemicals in the environment because often the claims are not backed up by the evidence. An increase in levels of some oestrogen-mimicking plastic is correlated with a drop in the population of some fish and we jump to the conclusion that one caused the other. The difficulty is that the experiments you would want to do to nail the issue are so damned hard.

So hats off to Dr Karen Kidd at the University of New Brunswick in Canada for putting together the most impressive experiment in this field I’ve ever seen. Some might question the wisdom of deliberately polluting an entire lake with synthetic oestrogen for three years, but the upshot is some really solid scientific evidence.

It turns out the synthetic oestrogens excreted by women taking the birth-control pill do have a dramatic effect on some fish. Kidd presented her results to the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Boston on Saturday.

The team carried out the work in an area of 58 designated research lakes in northwest Ontario. These lakes are unpolluted and free of human activities such as watersports and fishing. From 1999 to 2000 the team built up a comprehensive picture of the ecology of “lake 260″ by catching fish and invertebrates.

From 2001 to 2003, they added synthetic oestrogen to the lake by pumping it from the back of a boat three times a week. The idea was to create oestrogen levels in the lake similar to those recorded in lakes and rivers near towns and cities that receive treated sewage.

They then monitored the lake until 2006 and at the same time carried out similar tests on nearby lakes that had not been laced with oestrogen. Any changes that only happened in lake 260 could then be linked to the oestrogen addition and not natural variation.

The results? There was no effect on the bacteria, algae or invertebrates, but a dramatic effect on some fish species. That tells the scientists that, as expected, estrogen affects the fish directly and not via a lower level in the food chain.

In fathead minnows, males began producing an egg protein called vitellogenin (normally predominantly found in females) at 9,000 times the usual rate. In addition, their reproductive development almost came to a standstill. “There was complete disintegration of the testes,” said Kidd. “We lost over 90% of the individuals in the lake.” The story was similar, although slightly less dramatic, in another species, the pearl dace.

In a third species, the predatory lake trout, there was a 10,000-fold increase in vitellogenin in males, but strangely no disruption to reproduction. The species did suffer a 30% decline, though, probably due to a fall in the number of prey in the lake.

The good news is that three years after the team stopped adding estrogen, the fish populations have recovered. So the effects of estrogen pollution can be reversed. There is now a strong case for better sewage treatment to break down synthetic estrogen before they make it into the environment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/feb/17/imgenerallyquitescepticala

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We had set out on the New River in Perch’s big raft on this last-gasp cast-and-blast adventure about 8 a.m., with a boatload of fishing rods, shotguns and high hopes.

First, we took up our walleye-fishing station below Fosters Falls.

This is not a secret spot.

Before the park facility opened, four rigs were queued behind the locked gate, and we were first in line only because we arrived nearly an hour-and-a-half early.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has established an aggressive management program for the river’s walleyes. Each winter biologists use electroshock gear to borrow some fish before the spawn, collecting eggs and milt in a hatchery, then later stocking the river with the resulting tiny walleyes.

While the river has been producing lots of fish under 20 inches the past few years, keeper fish over 20 inches are relatively rare.

A tagging element has been added to the program this year. Each returned tag will net the lucky angler a $20 reward.

It was nice to hope for a tag, but Perch mostly just wanted to get a feel for the fishery before he starts taking clients of his New River Angler guide business on the stretch.

As Chuck, a professor of environmental biology at Virginia Tech, longingly eyed a pair of geese on the shoreline, Perch and I pitched small jigs.

The anglers in other boats used their preferred methods, including the popular technique of dunking live minnows.

Nothing was working so we didn’t stay long, heading off in search of geese and more fishing spots.

Friday was the final day of the Canada goose season and Perch and Chuck were hoping to fare better than they had on opening day in September, when they floated two stretches of the New and saw few birds.

They would do a lot better.

Not far down the river we rounded a bend and surprised a good bunch of Canadas on the water.

Chuck and I had at them and managed to knock down four, a good start.

Then it was back to fishing.

In a fairly slow run, I felt a tap on my jig and I set the hook into something big and strong.

“Maybe it’s a 10-pound walleye,” Perch said, excitedly.

My guess was a big flathead catfish. We were both wrong.

When I finally got the fish close to the boat we could see that it was a large carp, which had been foul-hooked behind the dorsal fin.

It wasn’t like we were in a hurry so I asked Perch if I could try to land the thing. Eventually I did, and it weighed 18.1 pounds. That’s a lifetime best, albeit one with a big asterisk because of the foul hooking.

Soon Perch landed the day’s first walleye, a 16-incher.

A while later something bumped my jerkbait and I saw the golden flash of a walleye in the current. It was undersized, but I couldn’t have been happier to finally get that monkey off my back after several previous failures.

The geese kept us busy, too.

Spooked after months of hunting pressure, most would fly before we got within range, but we got enough shots to come close to filling our limit.

As temperatures climbed, Perch said he wouldn’t be surprised if we hooked a smallmouth, and not much later we both saw a nice one nip at his plug without getting hooked.

I got luckier when something tapped my jerkbait in a bouldery run.

When the strong fish got close to the raft it flashed broadside in the current and I could see that I was fast to what was possibly the biggest smallmouth of my life.

Unfortunately the big bass was hooked precariously to the last treble on the plug.
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Personally, this is one of my favorite times of the year. The reason that I say that is it’s the time of the year for me when I spend quite a bit of time on the road traveling from sport show to sport show all across this great land of ours.

Presenting seminars on outdoors related subjects such as fishing and hunting is something that I have done for many years and really enjoy doing.

Getting to meet old friends that I may have met years ago at a show is really great. Also, I get to spend some time with my other outdoor writer friends who tour the seminar circuit this time of the year themselves. These shows give us a chance to spend some time together swapping stories and adventures that we have experienced the past season. It also gives us a chance to plan our trips together for the upcoming year.

For you sportsmen out there, going to a sport show is a chance to shake off the cobwebs of the long winter season and spend a day engulfed in the latest products that are available for your particular sport. Whatever is may be, fishing, hunting, camping or boating, you can bet that you will find them represented at most sport shows.

What’s nice about attending one of these shows is that you can get a chance to try some of these new products hands-on before you decide to buy them. This is nice because it gives you a chance to get a feeling if you really like it or not. This can really help you make that decision before laying out that cash.

Another great aspect of sports shows is being able to get a chance to search out a good vacation sight for the upcoming season. You will find that many resorts and lodges from all over the United States and Canada will have booths set up at these shows so that you can find out information about what they offer.

I know many anglers that go to Canada fishing during the warm weather months will actually book their vacations at some of these shows. By doing this, they help insure that they will get the dates they want. Also, you can get some great sport show packages that these lodges offer that can save you some extra bucks.

One thing that I want to mention is that when talking to one of these lodge operators, do not be afraid to ask all kinds of questions. Ask about the fishing, the facilities, what’s actually included in the trip package. Also, make it a point to ask about their cancellation policy if something should come up where you could not make the trip.

See what kind of meal plans they offer, if any, and make sure all pricing is inclusive. You don’t want to find out later that there are hidden charges in the trip you never knew about.

If you do decide to book a trip, get everything in writing. If you find that the lodge will not do this for you, move on and find one that will.

Another highlight of spending the day at a sports show is the food that is usually available. At most of your larger shows, you will be able to find everything from homemade moose jerky to Indian smoked fish, all within a just few feet of each other. Don’t be surprised at some of the more exotic foods that you may find there also.

Over the years, at the many sports shows I attend, I have tasted the likes of lion stew and seafoods like broiled escargot, just to mention a few. Be open-minded when you sample these foods. Don’t have a negative attitude until you taste it. You just might find something you really like the taste of. Again, the food samples at these shows are usually quite plentiful so enjoy yourself.

One of my personal favorites of sport show season is the free seminars you can attend. For both fisherman and hunters and boaters, these seminars that are given by professional folks in the know about their particular sport can be very educational as well as enjoyable. You will find that most of your quality sport shows will offer some type of a seminar schedule that usually occurs every day of the show’s run.

Over the many years that I have been doing seminars at shows all across the country and also in Canada, my fondest memories are of all the wonderful people that I have met.

I truly enjoy when I get a chance to speak with someone who attended one of my seminars in past years and they make it a point to stop by and say hello. In fact, at many shows I do I’ll look for faces in the audience that I can recognize from the past. Spotting one, I’ll make a mental note to make time after the show and once again say hello. It’s really neat to talk with these folks year after year and share some memories. Many of those youngsters are now grown young adults. It’s great to see them.

When you head out to one of these sport shows, keep in mind that it is a place where the whole family can have a good time. Whatever the outdoors person in your family enjoys, it’s a good bet they will find it. This is especially true of your bigger sport shows.

So now’s the time my friends to start circling those ads you see in the newspapers and magazines advertising an upcoming sport show. For the next few months or so you can get out and enjoy the time of your life. You’ll also get those juices flowing as we head closer to another spring in the outdoors.
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=191165

What follows is based on the DNR’s 2007 catch-and-keep category. Study this information, and try fishing some new spots. Detailed information about this program is found in the annual Michigan Fishing Guide.

Five hundred Master Angler fish were caught and kept in 2007. The listings below will detail the fish species, the state record in pounds and ounces and year it was caught, the minimum weight required for a Master Angler award patch, the 2007 record (by weight), the angler’s name, his/her hometown, where he/she was fishing and in which county.

Atlantic Salmon

The 1981 record weighed 32.62 pounds, was 41 inches long, and the minimum requirement for a Master Angler Award is 12 pounds.

Only one fish was recorded last year, and Paul Barriger of Grand Blanc caught a 12.69 fish in Lake Huron off Chippewa County while trolling.

Black Buffalo

The 2004 state record weighed 33.25 pounds, was 36.50 inches long, and the minimum weight for this species is 10 pounds.

Again, only one fish was entered, and it was caught by Anthony Starks of Sparta after he landed a 28.81-pounder from the Grand River In Ottawa County while bow fishing.

Black Crappie

The 1947 state record weighed 4.12 pounds. The minimum weight now is 1.75 pounds.

The 2007 record 3.19-pound black crappie was caught by Julius Bockheim of Byron Center. He caught it in Blodgett Lake in Kent County. Key waters to try are Henderson Lake in Ogemaw County — because it produced two large fish last year — and Notawa Lake in Calhoun County, which produced two trophies.

Bluegill

The 1983 state record weighed 2.75 pounds, and was 13.75 inches long. The current minimum entry weight for this species is one pound.

Ronald May of Grant caught his 1.88-pound ‘gill while fishing Croton Pond on the Muskegon River In Newaygo County. Other good bets include Hodenpyl Pond in Wexford County and AuSable Lake in Ogemaw County.

Bowfin

The 1981 state record weighed 14 pounds, was 35 inches long, and the minimum weight for recognition is seven pounds.

Donovan Kirkendall of Mattawan used a bow and arrow to take a 10-pound bowfin from Eagle Lake in Allegan County. Eagle Lake produced five big fish, Manistee Lake at Manistee gave up two and the Maple River in Gratiot County produced two Master Angler fish.

Brook Trout

The 1996 record fish weighed 9.50 pounds, was 28.10 inches long, and the minimum weight now is two pounds.

Madison Grandas of Flushing caught a 3.75-pound brookie from the Maple River in Emmet County. Other solid hotspots include Keweenaw Bay on Lake Superior (three fish) and Neds Lake in Schoolcraft County.

Brown Bullhead

The 1989 record weighed 3.62 pounds, was 17.50 inches long, and the minimum weight requirement for this species is 1.50 pounds.

Ryan Mathews of Jackson caught his 2007 record weighing 1.94 pounds while fishing with a minnow in Frenchman Lake in Chippewa County. One other big fish was caught here, and anglers also can try Lake Cadillac at Cadillac.

Brown Trout

A new 2007 record brown weighed 36.81 pounds, and was 43 inches long. It is the third largest in North America. The minimum weight is 16 pounds.

Casey Richey of Frankfort caught his all-time state record while trolling a Rapala on Lake Michigan at Frankfort on Mother’s Day. Other top bets are Lake Michigan near Manistee and Frankfort, Lake Huron near Rogers City and the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City.

Burbot

The 1980 state record weighed 18.25 pounds, was 40 inches long, and the minimum weight requirement is five pounds.

The top burbot for 2007 was taken by Edward Kessel of Christmas, and his fish weighed 14.75 pounds. He caught it in Lake Superior off Alger County while ice fishing. The closest good bets for burbot are both arms of Grand Traverse Bay and Crystal Lake at Beulah. The upper Great Lakes are good.

Channel Catfish

The 1964 state record weighed 40 pounds, was 41.50 inches long, and the minimum weight in the catch-and-release category is eight pounds.

Anthony Grochowski of Herron was drift fishing with a crawler harness on Grand Lake in Presque Isle County when he landed a 21.44-pound catfish. Lake St. Clair led this category with four entries followed by Saginaw Bay with three entries.

Common Carp

The 1974 state record weighed 61.50 pounds, was 47.50 inches long, and the current minimum weight is 20 pounds.

Douglas Depcinski of Bay City caught the largest 2007 carp, and it weighed 32 pounds. It was caught while trolling on Saginaw Bay. Other hotspots like Wixom Lake produced six entries last year. Platte Lake also is good.

Flathead Catfish

The 1943 state record weighed 47.50 pounds, was 44 inches long, and the current minimum weight is 10 pounds.

Muskegon Lake at Muskegon produced a 36.50-pound fish for Johnny Hayes of Grand Rapids. The Grand, Muskegon and St. Joseph rivers produced several Master Angler award fish last year.

Freshwater Drum

The state record fish was caught in 1973, and weighed 26 pounds, was 37.50 inches long, and the minimum weight for entry is seven pounds.

Kenneth Clark of Whitehall was casting on White Lake in Muskegon County when he hooked and landed the 21.63-pound fish. Other good places to try are Platte Lake in Benzie County, Hamlin Lake at Ludington, Spring Lake in Ottawa County, and Lake St. Clair in Macomb County.

Green Sunfish

The 1990 state record weighed 1.53 pounds, was 10 inches long, and the minimum weight requirement is 0.75 pound.

Daniel Catto of Cadillac caught his 0.90-pound fish while casting with a worm on “No Name Lake” in Midland County. The only other green sunfish came from the Grand River in Ottawa County.

Lake Herring

The record for this species was caught in 1992, and weighed 5.40 pounds, was 25 inches long, and the minimum weight for entry is 2.50 pounds.

Liam Dearlove of Flushing trolled Grand Traverse Bay at Traverse City when he hooked a 3.56-pound herring on a spoon. It was the sole entry.

Lake Trout

The state record for this species was set in 1997 with a 61.50-pound fish that was 49 inches long, and minimum entry weight is 18 pounds.

Donita Frasier of AuTrain was trolling Lake Superior off Alger County when she caught a 41.40-pounder. Lake Superior provided seven entries, and Higgins Lake in Roscommon County and Green Lake in Grand Traverse County and Lake Charlevoix at Charlevoix each produced a big fish.

Lake Whitefish

The 1993 state record weighed 14.28 pounds, was 31.75 inches long, and the minimum weight restriction is six pounds.

Only two fish were entered, and Cecil Wares of Tawas City caught his 7.75-pound fish on a minnow while fishing Tawas Bay. The other fish came from the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.

Largemouth Bass

The 1959 state record weighed 11.94 pounds, was 26 inches long, and the minimum entry weight now is six pounds.

Michael Eisenberg of Mattawan caught his trophy 8.12-pound fish on Paw Paw Lake in Van Buren County while casting a spinner. Other good spots are Glovers Lake in Manistee County and Doc and Tom Lake near Clare.

Longnose Gar

The 1995 state record was for a fishing that weighed 18 pounds and was 63 inches. The minimum weight to qualify is five pounds.

Jeffrey Haddix of Stanton used a bow and arrow to take the largest specimen in 2007. It weighed 8.08 pounds, Dickinson Lake in Montcalm County. Other good bets are Baseline Lake in Allegan County and Platte Lake in Benzie County.

Longnose Sucker

The 1986 state record weighed 6.88 pounds, was 22.50 inches, and the minimum weight for Master Angler status is two pounds.

Jack Powell of Cadillac caught the largest (and only entry) on worms from the Manistee River in Manistee County. It weighed 3 pounds.

Great Lakes Muskellunge

The 1984 state record weighed 48 pounds, and the minimum weight entry for this species is 20 pounds.

Mark Dawkins of Clawson caught his 37.55-pound fish while trolling Lake St. Clair in Macomb County. The two best bets for big fish are Lake St. Clair in Macomb County and the Black River in Cheboygan County. Three fish taken from the Black River were taken with a spear.

Northern Muskellunge

The state record for this trophy is 49.75 pounds, and it was 51 inches long, and the minimum weight requirement is 20 pounds.

Kenneth Rowe of Gladwin caught a 33-pound fish from Secord Lake in Gladwin County on a minnow while ice fishing. Sanford Lake in Midland County and Upper Crooked Lake in Barry County gave up big fish.

Northern Pike

The 1961 state record pike weighed 39 pounds, was 51.50 inches, and the minimum weight requirement for entering a fish is 18 pounds.

Brian Frederick of Albion caught his 25.30 pike while ice fishing with a shiner minnow on Winnipeg Lake in Calhoun County. Other top spots for big pike are the Dead River in Marquette County and Pere Marquette Lake in Mason County. Muskegon Lake is another great spot for big fish.

Pumpkinseed

The 2004 state record weighed 1.35 pounds, measured 11 inches, and 0.75 pounds is a minimum weight to enter this species.

Kyleigh Nelson of Linwood caught the state’s largest in 2007 with a 1.25-pound fish while still-fishing George Lake in Ogemaw County. George Lake seems the best spot although Shear Lake in Oscoda County is good.

Quillback

The 2000 state record for this rather obscure species is eight pounds, was 25.25 inches long, and the minimum requirement is three pounds.

Only one specimen was entered, and Kevin Zoulek of Shelby took his 6.31-pound fish from Stony Lake in Oceana County. It was shot with a bow.

Rainbow Trout

The 1975 state record was 26.50 pounds, was 39.50 inches in length, and the minimum weight is 17 pounds.

Faina Shor of Farmington Hills caught the only entry in this category, and it weighed 17.25 pounds. It was caught on Lake Michigan off Berrien County.

Redear Sunfish

The 2002 state record weighed 1.97 pounds, was 12.75 inches long, and the minimum weight for entry is one pound.

James Williams of Morenci caught his 2007 record that weighed 1.75 pounds from Boots Lake in Hillsdale County. Also good are Nottawa Lake in Calhoun County or Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale County.

Redhorse

The state-record redhorse was caught in 1991, and it weighed 12.89 pounds and was 29.25 inches long. The minimum weight is four pounds.

Crystal Feldpausch of Riverdale caught a 2.75-pounder while still-fishing with a worm on the Chippewa River in Isabella County. Other spots are the Pere Marquette River in Mason County and the St. Clair River in St. Clair County.

Rock Bass

The 1963 state record weighted 3.62 pounds, was 20 inches long, and the minimum weight requirement is one pound.

Cody Burns of Alpena caught his 2007 record of 2.75 pounds while fishing Shupac Lake in Crawford County. Other solid choices are Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Green Lake in Grand Traverse County, and Torch Lake in Antrim County.

Round Whitefish (Menominee)

The 1992 state record weighed 4.06 pounds, measured 21.50 inches, and the minimum weight is one pound.

Marc Soles of Scottville caught his 2.25-pound trophy while still-fishing on Lake Michigan off Mason County. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan produced all the fish.

Smallmouth Bass

The oldest state record (1906) weighed 9.25 pounds, measured 27.25 pounds, and the minimum weight for an entry now is five pounds.

Thomas Tiethof of Zeeland caught his 7.25-pound smallie from Lake Skegemog in Kalkaska County. Other solid choices are Lake St. Clair in Macomb and St. Clair counties, Boardman River and Grand Traverse Bay in Grand Traverse County, and Elk River in Antrim County.

Splake

The 2004 state record weighed 17.50 pounds, was 34.50 inches long, and the minimum entry weight is six pounds.

Holly Wirgau of Rogers City caught the only entry in this category — a fish weighing 8.50 pounds — from Thumb (Louise) Lake in Charlevoix County. It is the best spot in the state for this species.

Walleye

The 1951 state record weighed 17.19 pounds, was 35 inches long, and the minimum weight for this species is 11 pounds.

Michael Frisco of Coloma caught the state’s best walleye weighing 15.47 pounds while fishing the St. Joseph River in Berrien County. Other hotspots to try are Muskegon Lake and River in Muskegon County, Saginaw River in Saginaw County and Manistee Lake in Manistee County.

White Crappie

The state record was caught in 2000, and it weighed 3.39 pounds and was 19.50 inches long. The minimum entry weight is 1.75 pounds.

Larry Fath of Rhodes caught the only Master Angler specimen. It weighed 2.61 pounds, and was caught in Wixom Lake in Gladwin County.

White Sucker

The 1982 state record weighed 7.19 pounds. It was 28 inches long, and the minimum weight for this game fish is three pounds.

The top fish for the 2007 season was a 5.80-pounder caught by Larry Kilpatrick of Levering while fishing the Carp River in Emmet County. Other spots to try include the Manistee River in Kalkaska County and the Rifle River in Arenac County.

Yellow Bullhead

The largest specimen was caught in 2003, and it weighed 3.60 pounds and measured 26.80 inches. The minimum weight for entering is 1.50 pounds.

David Vandyke of Grand Rapids caught his 2.25-pound fish from Pickerel Lake in Newaygo County. Coldwater Lake In Isabella County and Dickerson Lake in Montcalm County are good spots to fish.

http://www.record-eagle.com/sports/local_story_048094811.html/resources_printstory

There were also quite a few tackle vendors on site. I bought three Strike King Series 3 crankbaits for $10 - just gearing up for the upcoming white bass run on Sardis Lake. I also bought three cards of crappie jigs from a new Memphis company called Uncle Ted’s Lures.

Any of you who are into crappie fishing know how hard it is to find decent jigs these days. But these jigs from Uncle Ted’s Lures actually look pretty good. If the wind ever stops blowing, I might get a chance to try them.

As always, there were plenty of boats and sea-doos at the show - and lots and lots of people. It was one of the more well-attended shows I can remember.

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Hadley, whose great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather fought in the Riel Rebellion, shot the moose with a 30.30 rifle during one of six hunts staged by the Métis Nation of Alberta.

“I guess I owed it to them to keep on with the rebellion — at least until we win something,” said the 58-year-old Valleyview businessman.

Since the Métis began the hunts last fall near Pincher Creek, Cypress Hills, Hinton, House River, Cochrane and Suffield, six hunters have been charged and three deer, two moose and an antelope have been seized.

Métis Nation of Alberta president Audrey Poitras says the aim of the campaign, which has now been suspended, is to get the issue of Métis hunting before the courts and force the Alberta government to resume negotiations on a new Métis “harvesting agreement.”

She said she hopes a new government will move quickly after the March 3 election to avoid long and costly litigation.

“I am hoping that once the election is over the premier will see fit to sit down and look at why we don’t have an agreement in place.”

Métis say they are fighting for Constitutional rights upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Powley decision.

In that ruling, the court directed governments to accommodate Métis hunting and fishing for food in 2003, but Alberta Métis claim the province is limiting their rights with a narrow interpretation of the ruling.

Poitras says Alberta’s 66,000 Métis view the issue as a rallying point and are standing up to fight for rights the province is denying them.

“It is more than just about hunting,” she said. “It’s about the recognition of the rights of a people.”

Alberta was initially one of the first provinces to react to the court ruling, which was based on a case led by Ontario Métis moose hunters named Steve and Roddy Powley. The Ralph Klein Conservative government negotiated an interim agreement in 2004 enabling Métis to hunt anywhere in the province for food.

But the deal was scrapped by his successor Ed Stelmach in the wake of criticism from hunting and conservation groups and the failure of the Métis and government officials to reach a new deal before a 90-day deadline set by the province last year.

Métis are now restricted from hunting out of season, except around specific communities with historical and contemporary Métis links.

The new interpretation of the rules gives the province the authority to determine who is Métis. It essentially bans Métis from sustenance hunting or fishing anywhere in the southern half of the province.

“Our Constitution says we have the right to hunt for food and the province gave us our rights and we never abused them, but they took them away for no apparent reason,” Hadley said.

“Even though the government of Canada says we’re entitled to these rights, the government of Alberta refuses to recognize them.”

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David Ealey, a spokesman for Sustainable Resource Development, said the two sides are in “disagreement about what the rules are under Powley.”

“We’re quite willing as a government to carry forward with negotiations with the Metis organizations, but right now there has not been anything active,” he said. “At the moment there wouldn’t be anything occurring because we’re in an election.”

But Poitras contends there was no reason to scrap the initial agreement because claims some Metis were abusing the privilege were unfounded.

“It worked well for 2 1/2 years. What we should have been doing was building on it - not tossing it out.”

She puts the blame for the conflict on Sustainable Resource Minister Ted Morton, who campaigned during his bid for the Tory party leadership on a promise to scrap the deal if he won the contest.

Although Morton lost the leadership bid, Stelmach appointed him to a cabinet post that placed responsibility for the deal under his control, although his department maintains it was not his decision alone.

Robert Lee, manager of justice issues for the Metis Nation of Alberta, says the organization has hired Jean Teillet and Jason Madden, the lawyers who defended the Powleys, to represent hunters who have been charged.

Nathalie Kermoal, a native studies professor at the University of Alberta, says the court may take a dim view of the Alberta government’s arbitrary imposition of the new rules when a higher court made it clear there must be negotiations with Metis people.

“You have to negotiate with the people and come up with something they can agree on, but not impose things,” she said. “That’s the difference between the interim agreement, where there was consultation, and with what the Stelmach government has come up with.”

Kermoal says its also a matter of record that Metis hunted in southern and central Alberta although that position has been challenged by southern First Nations who claim it violates their treaties.

“When you look at Metis culture and how they lived in historical times, there was so much mobility among the people. They would move around many places for different reasons and a lot of it had to do with hunting.”

Hunting groups say they are primarily concerned that safety and conservation issues are addressed in a new deal.

Kelly Semple, executive director of Hunting For Tomorrow, said her coalition of hunting groups fears unregulated hunting will make it more difficult for the province to manage wildlife.
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The 1.5 inch-long Armoured Mistfrog had not been seen since 1991, and many experts assumed it had been wiped out by a devastating fungus that struck northern Queensland state.

But two months ago, a doctoral student at James Cook University in Townsville conducting research on another frog species in Queensland stumbled across what appeared to be several Armoured Mistfrogs in a creek, said professor Ross Alford, head of a research team on threatened frogs at the university.

Conrad Hoskin, a researcher at The Australian National University in Canberra who has been studying the evolutionary biology of north Queensland frogs for the past 10 years, conducted DNA tests on tissue samples from the frogs and determined they were the elusive Armoured Mistfrog.

Alford’s group got the results on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency also confirmed Hoskin’s findings.

“A lot of us were starting to believe it had gone extinct, so to discover it now is amazing,” Hoskin said. “It means some of the other species that are missing could potentially just be hidden away along some of the streams up there.”

Craig Franklin, a zoology professor at The University of Queensland who studies frogs, said the Mistfrog’s rediscovery was exciting.

“It’s very significant,” Franklin said. “We’ve lost so many frog species in Australia … Hopefully it’s a population that’s making a comeback.”

The light brown frogs, with dark brown spots, congregate in areas with fast-flowing water. So far, between 30 and 40 have been found.

The chytrid fungus was blamed for decimating frog populations worldwide, including seven species in Queensland’s tropics between the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Armoured Mistfrogs had been classified as critically endangered rather than extinct, but most researchers believed they had died out from the disease, Alford said.

Most of the Armoured Mistfrogs that Alford’s group has found are infected with the fungus, but the disease does not appear to be making them sick, he said.

Alford and his team plan to study the creatures to try and determine how they managed to coexist with the fungus, in a bid to aid future conservation and management of vulnerable frogs.

First for the bald-eagles in the regions, their awareness should be pointed out , promoted .  Capitalize on this resource.  Wildlife viewing enthusiasts will seek out and travel long distances in order to view this magnificent animal.  Large conspicious mammals are a draw.  Conservation offices can be best polled to verify the general geographic locations of moose, elk ,deer , bison and other large forest and woodlands creatures.   In addition stress the large areas of dominant migratory concentration sites to see any of a variety of large numbers of migratory birds.     Along with this are good examples of biomes ( manitoba tundra , boreal forests , prairies etc.)  which adds further bulk and depth to the values of the eco tourist experiences in the Lake Manitoba Interlake region with any number of lodges.   Lastly make good use of lakes , wetlands and rivers - in the lake manitoba narrows catchment areas to add further dimensions to the overall interest and travel memories of green and eco wildlife viewing tourists and visitors.

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