Walleye are one of the most coveted fish for anglers. They not only hook your family on wild meat that is loaded with essential nutrients and proteins, they are also a way to get your family outside and celebrate your ancestral history. Walleye are some of the oldest fish that humans harvested in North America … for 3,000 years in fact!, Yet, catching them can be quite a challenge. You have to understand their seasons, habitats, behaviors, diets, water temperature and depth selection, and more! That’s a lot of patterns to keep track off. So how can you increase your walleye smarts and share in the tradition of wrangling in a few walleye for dinner? Have you ever thought about visiting a fisheries biologist?
What’s a fisheries biologist you say? They are a special kind of wildlife biologist that specialize in studying aquatic ecosystems. These scientists focus their studies on fish populations (like the walleye!) and discover their relationships with their biological community. And have you seen the special tools they use to study these fish populations? They are pretty neat. Some look like they came right out of a ghostbuster movie!
But these scientists don’t just study for the biology. By evaluating and monitoring walleye and other fish populations, they can suggest and improve their aquatic habitat and populations. Their research also determines the legal number of a fish species that anglers are allowed take from the environment. This all supports the wise use of natural resources … and promotes a healthy and balanced ecosystem that keeps us healthy too! Pretty cool career, huh?
And doesn’t chatting with a wildlife biologist sound like a great opportunity to better your walleye fishing skills? Consulting your walleye biologist can help educate you in the anatomy, habitats, seasons, behaviors, diet, and environmental factors that walleye depend on as well as their environmental importance. Now that is a caboodle of useful information for any angler!
To “school” your fishing buddies in walleye biology:
For all kinds of other helpful information and resources on how kids can learn where-to and how-to go fishing, explore our companion KidsFishing.US website. To discover more about becoming a future angler, visit our educational partners that helped make this video, webpage and lesson possible by clicking on their logos below.
And if you decide to fish, you really need to get serious about being a safe angler. So take the complete online boating and water safety course using the link below.
Official Boater Safety Courses
and Boat Safety Education Materials
Fishing is not just a sport …. It is a technique that can give you many life skills: coordination with your motor skills, savviness with tools and gear, communication with your fishing partners, connections to your natural world, knowledge in surviving the wilderness, the value of patience, and the ability to sustain yourself with wild meat! So if fishing can reward you with so many skills, why not start your fishing adventures with a fish that is a wild time to catch … the walleye!
Catching this freshwater fish on the hook has actually stumped and tested many anglers – including experts. The walleye is crafty, mysterious, and picky in nature. That’s why anglers identify this species as one of the “most prized” fish. And if your family is new to the mysterious walleye, fear not! With a little preparation, your family can be putting walleye in the boat regularly.
First, every successful angler needs a fishing license! This is your ticket to fishing your natural resources and harvesting this tasty fish for your dinner table. To get your state fishing license, go to Take Me Fishing. While retrieving your license, it is always a good thing to check up on your state's fishing regulations. Regulations are laws that limit the number of a species we can take from our environment. By following the laws, we conserve our fish populations and ensure we can continue fishing in the future.
Next, go find yourself a fishing coach if you can! These are experts who can provide you with invaluable information. They can help you locate the fish, provide gear, and coach you on how to catch Ol’ Marble Eyes! It is also their goal to ensure you wrangle in some walleye, and have a safe and successful trip! To find your fishing mentor, have your parents ask:
Click here to find out more info about fish coaches!
Next, you will want to decide which fishing method you would like to use! Each method will target different water depths and presentations of the bait. Some methods may be more appropriate to use at different times of the year. So make sure you consult an expert or do your research before using a method.
Not sure which method to choose? Watch the video to see how two teens catch the mysterious walleye by trolling the Great Lakes with their fishing guide. You and your family will discover all there is to know about this technique and more! And you can set yourself up for success by visiting the “Learn More” tab or by downloading the lesson activity below!
For all kinds of other helpful information and resources on how kids can learn where-to and how-to go fishing, explore our companion KidsFishing.US website. To discover more about becoming a future angler, visit our educational partners that helped make this video, webpage and lesson possible by clicking on their logos below.
And if you decide to fish, you really need to get serious about being a safe angler. So take the complete online boating and water safety course using the link below.
Official Boater Safety Courses
and Boat Safety Education Materials
Recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and your state boating license agency, and approved by Transport Canada
When anglers are asked which fish species they would rank at the top of their list of fish to catch …. most will tell you, “Walleye of course!” This gamefish is commonly considered to be the “golden prize” of our North American water bodies. They are not only pursued by expert sport anglers, but also recreational anglers.
So why are people in such a tizzy over this fish species? Well for one, walleye are REALLY tasty. Their white meat is often described as sweet and succulent, and because it has little fat and oils … it does not have a pungent “fishy flavor”. Many anglers cannot wait for this tasty fish to be off the hook and on their fork! But these popular gamefish are not only tasty … but are mysterious as well. Walleye are considered to be elusive … like ghosts that haunt our waters because anglers have a difficult time finding these fish. This is because walleyes are picky about where they like to hangout. So the more you research about their habitat and biology, the more success you will have in finding them on your next fishing adventure!
Hmmmm … so where should you start? IDENTIFICATION. Any angler in pursuit of a new fish should know what their target species looks like. That way you can keep your eyes peeled for them and enjoy the overall fishing experience. Walleye are the largest member of the perch family (Percidae) in North America. Their bodies are generally an olive-yellow color that is mixed with black mottling. There are five or more vertical black bands on their backs while their bellies are white. Walleye also have large mouths with sharp teeth and very big eyes that help them find prey in dark waters. It is easy to confuse these fish with their close relatives, the Sauger. So look for a white tipped tail fin to distinguish walleyes from sauger.
Next, you need to know their distribution and habitat so you know where to fish! Walleyes can actually be found in medium to large-sized rivers and lakes almost everywhere in North America. They natively occur in the Midwest and were introduced in other eastern and western states from stocking programs. To figure out which water bodies have walleye in them near you, use Take Me Fishing’s online map as your guide. Walleyes can be found in rivers all-year-round. “Old Marble Eyes” will gather near dams, docks, logjams, weed beds, and other underwater structures in rivers. In both rivers and lakes, their favorite spots to congregate are on gravel and rock piles because that is where their prey fish like to hangout as well.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the season! This can tell you WHEN to find your fish. Spring and Fall are great times to go walleye fishing because they will be on the hunt for baitfish. In the Spring, males and females will be spawning (laying eggs) in shallow waters and will need the extra energy. In the Fall, walleye will be feeding on prey in warm shallows to fatten themselves for the winter. In the summer and winter, you can find walleye deeper in the water column, which can be more challenging to anglers, but just as fun!
Ahh … you are almost set to finding the elusive walleye. But you may have some questions still running through your head:
For all kinds of other helpful information and resources on how kids can learn where-to and how-to go fishing, explore our companion KidsFishing.US website. To discover more about becoming a future angler, visit our educational partners that helped make this video, webpage and lesson possible by clicking on their logos below.
And if you decide to fish, you really need to get serious about being a safe angler. So take the complete online boating and water safety course using the link below.
Official Boater Safety Courses
and Boat Safety Education Materials
Recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and your state boating license agency, and approved by Transport Canadahttps://www.boat-ed.com/
Anthropologists say that storytelling is central to our human existence. Today, we engage with stories by reading books, talking on the phone, watching movies at home, or catching up with the news. But did you know that the oldest stories ever recorded by humans were about …. hunting?
The oldest story in the world is actually cave art from 44,000 years ago that depicts tiny hunters facing off against wild pigs and buffalo! Archaeologists have found cave art depicting primal hunts all over the world! In the Baja California peninsula, there are 7,000 year old murals of ancient people hunting wild deer and sheep with arrows. And in France, there are cave drawings of paleo hunters pursuing mammoths with spears.
But why tell stories about hunting? What’s so special about it? In Paleolithic times, ancestors braved a harsh landscape full of predators and megafauna with only stone tools and fire. And since clans could burn through a lot of calories in a day, they needed to consume food that was packed with proteins and essential nutrients … especially when plants were scarce in the winter. So people did not hunt just for the meat … but for survival.
One of the very first paleo hunter-gatherers who lived in North America specialized in hunting huge woolly mammoths. These people were called the Clovis people due to the special “Clovis” spearpoints they used to take down these big megafauna. Hmmm …. spears against prehistoric elephants? … Now doesn’t that sound like a wild adventure? Ah yea! But it also could be an extremely dangerous one. Those elephants could hit you, pick you up with their trunks, or trample over you. There was a lot of danger involved. But Clovis people did it, and it rewarded their clan with healthy, wild, nutritious meat. Other parts of the animal were also put to good use: the hides were used to keep them warm in the winter and cover their shelters while the bones could be fashioned into useful tools. Wouldn’t that have felt good? Knowing you were helping your family survive? Their hunting adventures also probably made for some great stories too!
Would you be curious to hear one? Then come sit by the fire and watch this video! You will be able to experience your ancestral heritage and listen to wild Clovis kid hunts from 10,000 BCE. And if you would like to learn how you can share your own hunting story with your peers, investigate the “Learn More” tab or lesson activity below.
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
For 1 million years, humans have had the ability to harness fire, which makes it one of the most significant tools in human evolution. It provided warmth on cold days and nights, frightened away nocturnal predators, and allowed us to sleep on the ground instead of trees. But most of all, fire allowed us to cook our foods. This discovery was paramount to our ancestors’ survival ….
The Clovis people were one of the first Paleo Indians to eat cooked-foods in North America. They were a group of hunter-gatherers who migrated from Asia to our continent in 10,000 BCE. The men were skilled hunters who specialized in using “Clovis points” or spearheads to bring down gigantic behemoths from the last ice age, such as the woolly mammoth. These eight-ton prehistoric elephants had enough meat to feed the clan throughout the winter! Can you imagine? Using spears to fight a 15-foot-tall animal? What a dangerous adventure it must have been … These paleo hunters also pursued other wild game: bison, deer, elk, sometimes pronghorn or mountain sheep, and surprisingly, horses and camels. North America actually used to have unique species of horses and camels, but they went extinct 11,000 years ago due to human arrival and climate change.
So what did the rest of the clan do? While the men were out hunting, the women and children foraged in marshes and forests for nuts, berries, roots, and other plants. This was the best method to sustain your clan. Prehistoric hunts were risky … and chances of success were slim. So the clan heavily relied on foragers to bring back wild foods, or in trades with other clans. Altogether, this made the Paleo diet. According to studies, half of this diet was meat while the other consisted of nuts, seeds, fruits, edible roots, and other plants.
But could they have just eaten this stuff raw? Was cooking really that important?
Oh yeah! Cooking revolutionized the Paleo diet. First of all, fire helped detoxify some foods of poisons as well as sanitize them from harmful parasites and bacteria. Also, preparing and cooking meals over a fire ensured that our ancestors extracted as much energy from the food as possible. Think of it like this … when you prepare your meals, you may have to chop, slice, and pound the foods. Then you heat your foods, which break down the connective tissues in meat and softens the cell walls of plants. So in a way, cooking is like you are “predigesting” the food. And when you eat cooked-foods, your body spends less work breaking down the food and absorbing the fats and nutrients. This is a huge plus to clans. There are a lot of calories that are burned by clan members. So by roasting their meals over a fire, each person could extract more energy for their bodies and brains.
Huh … but what did clans do when they were not able to harvest meat – an energy-dense food? And how does all of this compare to modern-hunting and cooking today? You don’t have to stew on those questions any longer. Just check out the video to see what two teens discover in their Clovis Kid Cook-off. Or if you are hungry for more, forage in the “Learn More” section or download the lesson activity to ignite your wild game cooking skills.
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
THE PALEO DIET … this is something you may have heard before. It’s a special course of only vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and of course lean meats. And it’s all the rage today! But have you ever wondered where it came from?
The Greek word “Paleo” means ancient … and boy is this diet ancient. About 12,000 years ago to be exact. This was around the time when the first people migrated to our continent. They were called the Clovis people, and were hunters and gatherers who foraged the land for plant foods and harvested large wild game. How large? VERY large …. Clovis hunters were specialized at bringing down wooly mammoths!
Wooly mammoths were prehistoric elephants that roamed the tundra landscapes of North America. They evolved in Asia during the Pliocene Era about 3 – 5 million years ago, and eventually migrated to our continent 1.8 million years ago. They were adapted to live in harsh artic conditions, and had furry pelts and tiny ears to minimize heat loss. Mammoths were two times taller than your dad, and weighed about EIGHT TONS. Just one mammoth could feed your clan all winter long … and give you fur and bones to make clothes, tools and shelter to survive.
Mammoths sound pretty critical for Clovis people … but they are one of the largest animals from the ice age! So how in the world did Clovis people manage to get mammoth meat for their diets? While some paleo hunters scavenged mammoth meat from wild predator kills, most hunters brought them down with their spears. Ummm … hunting with a stick? That had to be a lot of work, right? Definitely. Using a spear meant you had to get really close to the animal, which could be very dangerous. Think about it! The animal could hit you, pick you up with it’s trunk, or trample you .… Hunting with spears was a lot of risk. Yet, because clans depended greatly on the meat, they had to make innovations and be creative. So they created Atlatls! Atlatls attach to the end of a spear and allow you to throw them faster and longer than you could by hand. Now that’s pretty smart.
You have to wonder though … Were there other animals they hunted? And how come we don’t see mammoths around anymore? Did Clovis kids impact our wildlife today? Harvest those answers for yourself by watching the video. And if you hustle over to the lesson activity below, you and your peers will investigate how to conserve a "recently discovered" woolly mammoth herd!
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
Okay, adventurer. Are you ready for this? We are going to travel back in time 12,000 years to explore how our ancestors survived … in 3…. 2…..1!
Whew! That was quite the trip … Now what do you see around you? Back in 10,000 BCE, there were no cars to help you travel, no electricity for lights or gadgets, no houses for shelter, or grocery stores for food. Instead, there is a harsh landscape. Half of the continent is buried under ice sheets from the ice age. And as the glaciers receded, they left behind a cold and windy tundra landscape that is filled with paleo megafauna: huge wooly mammoths, saber tooth tigers, giant beavers, sloths, and dire wolves.
Okay. So how did our ancestors survive in a place like this? It’s so scary!
Back then, sea levels were much lower and exposed a dry piece of land called the Bering Land Bridge that humans and many terrestrial animals migrated across. One of the first people to cross this bridge and brave this landscape were the Clovis people. These Paleo-Indians were skilled hunters of big-game … especially of wooly mammoths. By collecting meat from these large animals, they could sustain their clan for months on meat. You know why? Because wooly mammoths were BIG prehistoric elephants. They weighed about 8 tons and could get up to 15 feet tall. That’s almost as high as a house! So what made Clovis hunters so special that they could bring down an animal this gigantic?
Huh … well the secret is actually in their name. “Clovis” people had a tool in their arsenal that proved very efficient in taking down large animals. It was called a “Clovis point,” which is a spearhead that is made out of flint. Hunters would knap this silica rock into sharp points and attach them to wooden sticks to create a spear.
Even so … fighting with just stick and stone could be really dangerous. So why risk your life for just a couple of meals? And what are the costs and rewards to doing this? The answers to those critical questions are only a spear throw away! Just click on the video below to find out. Or check out the “Learn More” section or lesson activity below to continue your caveman discovery.
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
You may have seen a ring-necked pheasant in your backwoods or farm fields. They are pretty common in North America and are quite eye-catching!
Roosters have a kaleidoscope of iridescent feathers: with coppery breasts, green heads, red faces, long tail feathers, and a distinctive white band around their necks. Did you know though that these birds are not native to North America? They actually come from the forests of Asia! So how did they even get here? The bird was originally introduced to our country when a United States General transported 60 pheasants from Shanghai to the forests of Oregon in 1881. Soon after, more states introduced this exotic bird to their landscapes, and hunters across the country began to harvest this species. Pheasant populations continued to boom until the mid-1900s when the growth of cities and agriculture removed most of their critical habitat from the landscape: grasslands. But thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture and other modern management programs, pheasants thrive across the country in grasslands managed and restored by these programs.
Pheasant hunting is in our heritage, and is an outdoor recreation that many people include in their lifestyles today. Huh, so what’s the big deal? Why are people so into game bird hunting? In general, hunting is a way we can protect our environment by keeping our wildlife populations at healthy levels. If there are too many of a species within a habitat, there may not be enough resources for all the animals to survive … leading to a population crash! Uh oh… but by hunting, we are able to monitor and maintain healthy wildlife populations within an ecosystem. And because pheasants are non-native species, they can cause negative impacts on other species. For example, studies have discovered that ring-necked pheasants are nest parasites of many ground-nesting birds. They will often deposit their eggs in other nests, which means their hatchlings will compete or push out other younglings, or even cause a nest to fail. But by hunting, we are able to keep pheasant populations in check and reduce their impacts on other native species.
Game bird hunting is also quite the adventure for families! For one, you get to spend time with human’s best friend … dogs! Since birds are small and can be difficult to spot in grassy, brushy, and woody areas, a dog can sniff out the birds and keep you on the right track. Pheasant hunting can also give you lots of cardio and exercise. To find the bird, your hunting party and dog will trek across several fields and hillsides to find them. But it’s also quite thrilling. A bird can flush up at any moment. And because birds are fast moving targets that can fly in the air, they provide a unique shooting challenge. But you know what is a great plus? When you harvest a pheasant, you are also gaining healthy, wild meat that is full of essential nutrients and proteins. Since wildlife are free-ranging, they eat their natural diet and are free of hormones and other chemicals that are poor to your health!
Ah, but most importantly, hunting gives us the opportunity to give back to Mother Nature! When hunters purchase their gear or hunting licenses, a portion of that money goes toward the research and management of wildlife and habitat across the country. This is due to the Pittman-Robertson Act, which requires that 11% of all money goes toward conservation. So when you are out in the field, you can feel good about protecting and conserving wildlife for your families and others in the future! What an incredible win-win.
Oh yeah … pheasant hunting is a good deal when you look at all the pluses. And young people around the country are beginning to experience it for themselves. Watch the video to discover how teens and families like yours can have a successful pheasant hunt. Ready to give it a whirl? Why don’t you take a hunter safety course (see link below) or click the “Learn More” button to prepare yourself for your pheasant hunting quest! And if your teacher downloads the lesson activity below, you will explore the wildlife and habitat managements that hunters help fund!
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
Hunting is a natural way we can participate in the circle of life. But how hunters choose their shots is CRITICAL.
Picture this: You are softly walking through a wheat field on a crisp, autumn morning. It is a beautiful day to be out hunting. A dog sniffs in the tall brush ahead, seeking out your quarry …. a wild pheasant. Suddenly, you hear a cackle before a large pheasant flushes into the air. You quickly turn the safety off and take aim with your firearm … but the bird is too far away for you to make a clean shot. You put the safety back on, lower the shotgun, and continue on your hunt.
You may be wondering, “Okkkkk cool …. But why didn’t the person take the shot? Isn’t a shot just a shot?” If we fired a shot whenever we saw our game, we could end up wounding or even losing the animal. Now THAT wouldn’t feel good. That’s why ethical hunters strive to cause minimal suffering by only taking a clean shot. It’s a part of the Hunter’s Ethical Code. As hunters, it is our responsibility to be respectful to other hunters, landowners, non-hunters, and of course, our natural resources
But how do you know if you can make a clean shot? One of the most essential skills you can have as a hunter is good marksmanship, which means you can accurately and consistently hit your target where planned. And boy … is being accurate and consistent VITAL to making a clean shot and having a successful hunt.
Hmmm … doesn’t this sound like we’d need a lot of target practice? You would be correct!! Practicing with your firearm before hunting is always a good choice. It will help you understand your capabilities, build confidence in yourself, and improve your judgements in making an ethical shot. And shooting ranges are great places for anyone to develop their firearm accuracy skills and have a family adventure! Many ranges offer chances to work with trained instructors and safety professionals who can help you become proficient at shooting with handguns, rifles, and shotguns. You can test your skills by firing at bullseyes and 3D targets, or even challenge yourself to hit moving clay targets. And it’s all in a safe and fun environment! Now that’s a plus!
Ah yeah! There are TONS of shooting opportunities you can have at a shooting range. But what if someone has never shot a firearm before? …. Where can they start? Perhaps think about practicing with a shotgun … Shotguns are great firearms for beginners because they spray several pellets when fired. This means they give you a wider area of coverage and a higher chance of hitting the target. Because of this, you can use them to target small, fast moving animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and flying game birds!
Don't believe it? Watch the video to see how two teens who have never fired a shotgun before do at hitting clay targets. You will discover the nine secret shotgun shooting techniques and more! And to hone your shotgun accuracy skills:
Oh and don’t miss this fun lesson activity below! It will prep you for your future hunting expedition by giving you the entire package to hunter ethics.
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
Hundreds of thousands of young people become certified hunters each year. But you may be thinking … “Hunting requires us to use firearms. That can’t be safe, right?”
Hunting with a firearm is actually the 3rd safest sport in the country according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. This outdoor sport has lower injury rates than other popular sports like golf, volleyball, and football! Now how did that happen? Easy … in order to become a certified hunter, people are required to pass a hunter safety course.
The main goals of hunter education are to keep you and others safe in the field while hunting, and to reduce chances of accidents! For example, in a hunter safety course you can discover:
Ahaaa! So really … hunter safety can give you all the knowledge and tools you need to have a safe and rewarding adventure out in the field. Now let’s get started!
Note: Some states have a minimum age requirement. Double check your state requirements before signing up! If you are too young to participate in hunter education, there are LOTS of ways you can still pursue this outdoor sport. Try sitting on a hunt with a family member who is a certified hunter, or participate in youth events held by your local sport clubs. Also, youth mentored hunts are great ways for you to go hunting with a hunting guide without even needing a hunter certification. Just contact your state DNR to find out more!
Follow these simple steps and you will be well on your way to becoming a responsible hunter for your health, family, and planet! To get a head start on your hunter safety skills, watch the video and see how young people who have never handled firearms before do on their field day. Or unlock more firearm safety skills in the “Learn More” section below and download the lesson activity so your class can get a head start on firearm safety!
Approved by IHEA-USA and your state hunting agency
