? Warrior trap team wins first conference challenge The Brained Warriors trap shooting team has won its first conference challenge by out-scoring six other rivals. Senior Brayden Campbell was top gun, breaking 44 out of a possible 50 targets.

The anglers who enjoy Minnesota's sky blue waters are a powerful engine for the state's economy, according to a new survey data released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Direct spending of resident and nonresident anglers in Minnesota totaled $2.4 billion in 2011, the latest year for which information is available. That amount included $1.4 billion on equipment, $925 million on trip-related expenditures and $41 million on various items such as magazines and fishing organization membership dues. Angler spending supports about 35,000 jobs.

MINNEAPOLIS - Four federal indictments have been filed against a total of 10 individuals in connection with illegal poaching and marketing of walleye and other protected fish on the Red Lake and Leech Lake Indian reservations. All ten people were charged with one count of transportation, sale, and purchase of fish taken in violation of the Lacey Act.

Authorities are bringing state charges against 21 individuals following a major investigation into the illegal sale and dumping of thousands of protected game fish in north-central and northwestern Minnesota. The three-year special investigation, known as Operation Squarehook, involved about 60 officers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and tribal authorities from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. This is Minnesota's largest case of illegal fish commercialization in two decades.

Orphaned polar bear cub getting care in Anchorage ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An orphaned polar cub is making its temporary home at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage. U.S.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday to restore federal protections for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region that were lifted last year.

A draft comprehensive conservation management plan and environmental assessment for more than 84,000 acres of federal land that the state of Minnesota leases in the Beltrami Island State Forest and Red Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has been released by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lake Mille Lacs area hosting ATV fall convention The All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota's (ATVAM) annual fall convention is Sept. 14-16 in Isle and will include festivities ranging from organized rides to ATVAM's highly anticipated auction.

TOWER, Minn. (AP) - Hunters killed at least 50 wolves during the opening weekend of Minnesota's first managed wolf hunt, the Department of Natural Resources said. The region's wolves were taken off the endangered list last January. Minnesota has set a quota of 400 wolves for the season, including the early hunting-only season and a hunting-and-trapping season that begins Nov. 24. Before Saturday's opener, the DNR predicted hunters would take about 70 wolves in the early season, just a 2 percent success rate for the 3,600 hunters who had early-season licenses.

Breeding mallard numbers average; Canada goose population highAnnual spring breeding waterfowl index surveys indicated average numbers of breeding mallards, lower numbers of blue-winged teal and other ducks and large numbers of Canada geese in Minnesota, according to the DNR.