CONOVER —?Northern Waters Angling and Archery in Conover will host its fifth annual predator hunt Friday, Feb. 15, beginning with a registration meeting at 6 p.m. at Northern Waters.

Ending ceremonies will be held at Northern Waters at noon Sunday, Feb. 24. All animals should be brought in at this time for photo opportunities and door prizes.

Whitetails Unlimited will help sponsor the tournament and will donate door prizes.

This tournament is made up of two-man teams, with an

The Sayner-Star Lake Lions Club will hold its 11th annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament this Saturday, Feb. 9, with fishing to take place on the ice of Plum Lake from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The tournament will feature $700 in cash prizes and nearly $4,000 in door and raffle prizes to be awarded to an expected field of 300 anglers. The awards ceremony is set for 4 p.m. in the Sayner Community Center.

For more information, call (715) 542-3501 or contact the Sayner-Star Lake Chamber of Commerce at 542-3789.

The state Natural Resources Board approved the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) recommendation to offer more than 8,500 bear harvest permits for the 2013 Wisconsin black bear season.

“We will issue 8,560 permits for the upcoming season, with a harvest goal of 4,000 bears,” said Kevin Wallenfang, DNR big game ecologist. “These numbers are slightly reduced compared to 2012, but will offer above average harvest opportunities.”

According to Wallenfang, four years of increased permit levels was successful in reducing bear numbers in the North, but populations remain high in other parts of the state. Therefore, Zones A and B will see a reduction of permits, but there will be an increase of permits in Zones C

The 49th annual Vilas County Musky Marathon final standings recently were released, as a total of 91 muskies were registered by area residents and visitors, according to Janet Christianson of Vilas County Tourism & Publicity.

There were four released divisions during the mara­thon, which took place from May through November.

“It’s important to note that while many anglers do take the opportunity to register their muskie in the marathon, the number registered does not represent the total number of muskies caught in Vilas County in 2012,” said Christianson.

The Men’s Released Division registered 66 muskies or 72.5% of the muskies

The U.P. Trappers Association will hold its eighth annual Mid-Winter Trappers Workshop at the Hermansville Community Center from 9 a.m. until the late afternoon Saturday, Feb. 2.

Young and beginning trappers will have an opportunity to learn to trap weasels, muskrats and raccoons at the event.

Duane Halvas will teach youths how to trap weasels and Bob Whitens will teach youths how to trap muskrats and raccoons.

Other veteran trappers will be in attendance

The Outdoor Women’s Group will meet Thursday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. for a day of skiing and snowshoeing at the ABR?trails southeast of Ironwood, Mich.

Carpools will leave the Eagle River Pick ‘N Save parking lot at 9:15 a.m. and from the Plantation Restaurant north of Woodruff at 10 a.m.

Participants should take a sack lunch. Equipment rent­als and lessons will be available.

For reservations, call Norma at (715) 477-1984 by Feb. 4. For more information, visit abrski.com.

The Northwoods Wildlife Center’s (NWC) annual Photo Contest and Gala will be held at the Campanile Center for the Arts in Minocqua, Saturday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Photo entries will be accepted through Sunday, Feb. 10, in four different categories: North American Wildlife, Nature, Pets, and Youth.

Prize money is awarded to the winner in each category. The top three winners in each category will be mailed a certificate, and each of the first-place winners will receive prize money. Each photo entry fee is $10, which will go to help NWC carry out its mission to educate, rehabilitate and research the wonderful

The second annual Snowshoe Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to dusk at the Tara Lila Trails, located off Sundstein Road in Eagle River.

The event will feature guided snowshoe tours, free snowshoe demonstrations, door prizes, raffles, food, refreshments and campfires.

Candlelight snowshoe outings also are planned at twilight.

Event organizers are celebrating Tara?Lila’s partnership

There were 135,155 successful applicants in the drawing for 2013 Wisconsin spring wild turkey permits through the spring turkey preference drawing.

A total of 234,765 permits will be available for the spring 2013 turkey season, and the remaining permits will be available through over-the-counter sales in March.

Postcard notifications to successful applicants were sent out last week. Hunters can also check on the status of their permit application online through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)?Online Licensing Center or by calling the DNR Customer Call Center from 7 a.m. through 10 p.m.,