Target shooting will be prohibited at Dogwood Wildlife Management Area from April 1 to June 31, 2026, due to early season intensive grazing that provides wildlife habitat benefits. Recreational users are encouraged to use the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex during this closure period.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the 2026–2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), approved by the National Park Service. The five-year framework guides outdoor recreation planning and investment while maintaining Montana's eligibility for the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program.
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering 280 unique outdoor field trips across the state in 2026. Trips range from hiking and kayaking to citizen science experiences, with options for all ability levels. Registration opens April 8th at noon on WisConservation.org.
The Sage-Grouse Implementation Team will meet April 8 at 10 a.m. at the Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission in Casper. The team, comprising state and federal agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations, works to maintain greater sage-grouse populations under Wyoming's Sage-Grouse Executive Order.
The Nebraska Master Naturalist Program offers Spring Core 24 Training on April 10-11 and 17-18 at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna. Participants will receive certification training combining classroom instruction with hands-on field experience guided by conservation experts in Nebraska ecology and conservation practices.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is hosting multiple advisory board meetings in April covering forestry, fisheries, off-road vehicles, and Belle Isle Park. The meetings include the Forest Management Advisory Committee, Lake Erie/Lake St. Clair Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Workgroup, and Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee, among others.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host an open house on April 9 in Havre to discuss the Fresno fishery management plan. Fisheries biologist Cody Nagel and Bureau of Reclamation staff will present updates on the 2025 netting results, Milk River Project information, and 2026 water forecasts.
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission will hold its bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at Fort Harrison State Park's Garrison Ballroom in Indianapolis, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting agenda and related materials are available at nrc.IN.gov/meetings-and-minutes/current-meeting-agenda.
The Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee closed indefinitely after heavy snow damaged roof trusses on February 21. Emergency stabilization begins March 23, with Mike Colleur from Colleur Construction and Will Rajala from WR Construction LLC removing 4-6 feet of snow from the compromised roof.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is advising outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution on trails and state parks affected by a record blizzard that dumped over 4 feet of snow in some Upper Peninsula areas March 15-16. DNR staff continue assessing conditions and warn of downed trees, power lines, and limited facility access in seven declared state of emergency counties.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved a preliminary FY27 budget of $110.6 million during its March meeting in Torrington, with Mark Jolovich elected as new President and Rusty Bell as Vice President. The budget includes an $8.3 million increase driven by inflation and infrastructure needs, while the commission also reviewed mule deer monitoring research conducted across 25 of 37 herds statewide.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has closed Open Fields and Waters public walk-in access properties and wildlife management areas affected by recent wildfires in Lincoln, Dawson, Keith, Arthur, Morrill, Garden, and Cherry counties. Hunters are urged to stay away for public safety and to allow recovery efforts to proceed.
Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell has been promoted to sergeant for Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5, where he will supervise 16 field officers across eight counties. Winchell has served as a conservation officer since 1995 and was recognized as the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Boating Officer of the Year for Indiana in 2024.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on multiple environmental assessments and proposals, including westslope cutthroat trout introductions, a Logan Public Shooting Range acquisition, Siskin Island Fishing Access Site development with the Trust for Public Land, and Upper Thompson Conservation Easement Phase 1 with Green Diamond Montana Timberlands LLC.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Historic Cane Hill announced winners of the 2026 Northern Bobwhite and Eastern Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp Art Contests. Mikki Young won the bobwhite category, while established wildlife artist Dan Andrews won the turkey category. The voluntary stamps have funded over $2.7 million in habitat work across 54 projects on Arkansas public lands.
The Michigan DNR's Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council will meet March 25 in Baraga to discuss oak wilt management, the new eHarvest digital tagging option for hunters, and wildlife committee recommendations. The meeting runs 6-8:30 p.m. EDT at Baraga Lakeside Inn.
Nebraska Game and Parks has temporarily closed Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area near Lewellen and Lake McConaughy due to active wildfire management. Public access and airspace above the area are restricted to support emergency responders and aerial firefighting operations.
The Oklahoma State Game Warden Association and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are accepting applications for their annual Wildlife Youth Camp, a free five-day residential program June 14-19 at Goddard Youth Camp. Teens aged 14-16 can apply by April 13 to participate in outdoor activities including archery, shooting, fishing, and wildlife law enforcement education.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed Sunday, March 15, as Conservation Officer Appreciation Day to honor Michigan's 250 DNR conservation officers. In 2025, these officers interacted with over 377,000 people through patrols and outreach, including search and rescue missions, emergency response during the March ice storm, and certifying over 49,000 youth and adults in safety training programs.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks celebrates 315 landowners who have participated in the Block Management Program for 30 years, providing public hunting access to nearly 6.9 million acres. The program, formalized in 1996, represents successful collaboration between FWP, landowners, and hunters to conserve Montana's hunting heritage and support local economies.