Recreational fishing
FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice speaks during a press conference at the State Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on a new West Virginia law that bans transgender athletes from competing in female sports, asserting in a court filing Thursday, June 17, 2021, that the ban violates federal law. Justice signed the bill despite warnings from some lawmakers that the NCAA could retaliate and decide not to hold college tournaments in the state. Justice had said that while it concerned him that the state could miss out on a sporting event, he believed the benefits of the law “way outweigh the bad part of it.” (F. Brian Ferguson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP, File)
Indoor mask mandate ends on West Virginia's 158th birthday

By John Raby Jun. 20, 2021 02:39 PM EDT

West Virginia expands prizes of lottery for vaccinated

Jun. 02, 2021 07:09 AM EDT
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's vaccine lottery for those who received a coronavirus shot will include prizes ranging from hunting rifles to $1...

Minnesota breweries, distillers offer vaccination incentives

May. 28, 2021 03:08 PM EDT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Several Minnesota breweries and distilleries are offering a shot and a beer to adults to encourage them to get vaccinated against COVID...

Minnesota offers giveaways for getting COVID-19 vaccine

By Mohamed Ibrahim May. 27, 2021 08:31 AM EDT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz hopes giveaways including Minnesota State Fair tickets, fishing licenses and state park passes will help pick up the pace...

Minnesota to give away prizes to people who get vaccinated

May. 26, 2021 07:09 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says the state plans to offer up swag in an attempt to get more people vaccinated for the coronavirus. ...

Arkansas: Lotto tickets, gift certificates for vaccinated

May. 25, 2021 03:45 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark (AP) — Arkansas will begin giving lottery tickets and gift certificates for hunting and fishing licenses to people who get the coronavirus...

Maine vaccine incentives: gift cards, baseball, fishing

May. 11, 2021 08:27 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is rolling out free fishing licenses, baseball tickets and L.L. Bean gift cards to encourage more residents to get vaccinated...

Report: Outdoor activities soared during pandemic

Feb. 25, 2021 06:00 AM EST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — It may be no surprise that outdoor activity in Wisconsin increased last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new report Thursday from...

MMA professional development center marks anniversary

Feb. 07, 2021 09:04 AM EST
BUCKSPORT, Maine (AP) — Maine Maritime Academy’s Center for Professional Mariner Development is celebrating its first anniversary after an inaugural year that...

Fishing fair to return in fall after a 2020 COVID-19 break

Jan. 31, 2021 09:10 AM EST
GRAFTON, Ill. (AP) — The popular Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair at Pere Marquette State Park will return after skipping 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

In this Oct. 10, 2020, photo provided by Zane Goucher is Goucher, left, and his daughter Annabelle Goucher bow hunting for deer near Dansville, Mich. Zane Goucher says he hadn't gone hunting in 22 years but took up the sport again because the coronavirus outbreak provided incentive to spend more time outdoors with his children. (Zane Goucher via the AP)
Hunting licenses soar as virus-weary Americans head outdoors

By John Flesher And Anna Liz Nichols Nov. 17, 2020 11:44 PM EST

Illinois' trout-fishing season opens on Oct. 17 at 50 sites

Oct. 05, 2020 07:40 AM EDT
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois' fall trout fishing season opens on Oct. 17 at more than 50 ponds, lakes, and streams across the state. ...

This photo provided by the family shows Carlos Manuel Sandoval with his wife, Rosa, in their kitchen in south Phoenix in the early morning hours of Dec. 25, 2015, after a Christmas Eve celebration with their family. The man known as Don Manuel never stopped hearing the siren call of the sea after he and his family moved to Arizona from their native Guaymas, a port on the southwestern Mexican state of Sonora on the Sea of Cortez. He had three children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandkids. Sandoval died June 30, 2020, from complications of COVID-19 at age 65. (Courtesy of the Sandoval Family via AP)
Lives Lost: Man of the sea made the Arizona desert his home

By Anita Snow Aug. 07, 2020 01:34 AM EDT

Fish with a warden sessions offered through September

Jul. 06, 2020 02:00 AM EDT
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is offering anglers a chance to fish with a game warden in order to get fishing tips or...

Monitors to return to East Coast fishing boats on July 1

Jun. 24, 2020 02:10 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Monitors who collect important data about fisheries are set to return to East Coast fishing boats in a week. The...

Airport staff takes a passenger's temperature amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Cancun, Mexico, Saturday, June 13, 2020. In Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located, tourism is the only industry there is, and Cancun is the only major Mexican resort to reopen so far. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz)
Mexico desperate to reopen 11 million-job tourism industry

By Mark Stevenson Jun. 14, 2020 11:16 AM EDT

A boat arrives at Bud N' Mary's marina in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, during the new coronavirus pandemic, Monday, June 1, 2020. The Florida Keys reopened for visitors Monday after the tourist-dependent island chain was closed for more than two months to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Keys reopen to visitors as Miami-area beaches closed

By Curt Anderson And Lynne Sladky Jun. 01, 2020 11:44 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, May 10, 2020, file photo, Cam Kim wears a face mask while hitting from the driving range at Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. Golf is seeing an increase in participation since the coronavirus outbreak began taking off in the United States. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Americans finding ways to stay active while keeping distance

By Eric Olson May. 25, 2020 10:00 AM EDT

Some recreational fishing set to reopen in Washington

May. 23, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — After two months of closures because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns, many of Washington state’s coastal waters are set to reopen for...

A pair of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth flanked a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 133rd Air Wing out of Fort Snelling as it flew south from downtown Minneapolis, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, to honor frontline health care workers. The Minnesota National Guard conducted flyovers across the state to recognize the frontline health care workers of the COVID-19 pandemic response. (Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP)
Minnesotans urged to fish close to home to slow COVID-19

By Steve Karnowski May. 06, 2020 04:05 PM EDT