Manitowoc County Fish & Game Protective Association will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at City Limits.

The annual meeting is a public meeting for all citizens interested in what the County Fish & Game Protective Association does in Manitowoc County.

Speakers from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (wildlife, fisheries, forestry and law enforcement) and state legislators have been invited.

Some county officials who work with County Fish & Game will explain what they are doing to make Manitowoc County one of Wisconsin’s best outdoors communities.

For many of you, FORWARD Endowment will explain what role they play in the outdoors. Attend and listen to how you can help the future of the county outdoors by getting involved in the FORWARD Endowment, and all the other clubs. Hearing them will help you understand how they help the county outdoors with special projects.

Last week’s column:Mild winter easy on the heating bill, bad for outdoors enthusiasts: Your Manitowoc outdoors report

Scoping the Great Outdoors: Read on for more outdoors news from throughout Manitowoc County and beyond.

Woodland Dunes to identify 50 animal signs during first ‘Blitz 50’

Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve, 3000 Hawthorne Ave. in Two Rivers, will present “Blitz 50: Animal Signs” from 9 a.m. until noon Jan. 20.

As part of the Dunes’ 50th year, it will be offering a “Blitz 50” during each season, which entails identifying 50 things within a specific category in the preserve.

To kick off the year, the preserve will be looking for 50 animal signs with DNR Wildlife Biologist Jeff Pritzl. Registration is required by Jan. 18 and space is limited. All ages are welcome. Those attending should be prepared to be outside and walk in winter conditions.

To register, email Jess at jessicaj@woodlanddunes.org or call 920-793-4007.

Rifle & Pistol Club holds open trap shooting on Sundays

Manitowoc Rifle & Pistol Club, north of Two Rivers between State 42 and County O on Viceroy Road at 7227 Sandy Hill Lane, is hosting open trap shooting from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons.

The open trap shooting is open to the public and sponsored by the club on a weekly basis through the end of April. Membership in the Manitowoc Rifle & Pistol Club is appreciated, but not required. A fee of $5 per round of trap shooting is charged. 12-gauge target ammunition is available for purchase at $9 per box of 25 shells for use on the range. There are no team requirements. Scores are retained on an individual basis for reference by each participant. Enjoyment and camaraderie through participation in a safe shooting sport is the goal.

More about the Manitowoc Rifle & Pistol Club may be obtained through the Facebook page or the website at manitowocrifleandpistolclub.com.

Antler collection for Leader Dogs for the Blind continues

This was my second year collecting deer and elk antlers for Deb Delie, a puppy raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

The puppy raisers use the antlers for chew toys for the puppies. Antlers do not splinter like bones do, so they make the perfect toy for the puppies.

I got quite a few antlers this year now that more and more people are finding out I am collecting them for the puppy raisers.

Besides the deer antlers, earlier this year I was also given a single elk antler.

I know hunting season is the best time to collect the antlers, but people can bring them to me any time of the year. The antlers are good to go even if they are from an old mount.

If you are cleaning out your garage and come across some antlers, please save them for me and I will see that they get to Deb.

Thank you to all who brought antlers in the past year.

Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club’s archery league shooting begins Jan. 16 and 18

Even if you didn’t make the open archery shoots at the Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club, you can still participate in their indoor archery league.

League shooting starts from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 16 and Jan. 18. Questions can be directed to Jeff Schneider at 920-323-2854.

Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club is 2 miles north of Reedsville on Pleasantview Road.

Maribel club’s indoor archery league runs every Wednesday night

Maribel Sportsman’s Club’s indoor archery is running every Wednesday night from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a fun league where you shoot against your own score.

Contact Rodney Gove at 920-901-2654 with any questions. Maribel Sportsman’s Club is next to Interstate 43, exit 164, State 147, Maribel.

More Scoping the Great Outdoors:Click here for more outdoors columns by Bob Schuh

Free Fishing Weekend coming up

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hosting Free Fishing Weekend Jan. 20-21 to share the fun and excitement of winter fishing.

No fishing license or trout and salmon stamps are required. Anglers can fish in state waters where there is an open fishing season.

All other fishing regulations apply, including limits on the size and number of fish that can be kept and any seasons when anglers must release certain fish species.

As a reminder, anglers cannot fish spring trout ponds during the winter Free Fishing Weekend. Review the trout regulations and the 2023-2024 Hook and Line regulations for more information.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.