The unseasonably mild spring could affect Minnesota's fishing opener in May.

Temperatures have been well above normal, and more warm weather is forecast for this week, including 60 degrees in northern Minnesota. The Twin Cities area likely will have the first snow-free March since officials began keeping records more than 120 years ago.

"We're anticipating an early ice-out," said Dave Bohlander, Department of Natural Resources area fisheries supervisor in Brainerd. Farther north, in Bemidji, "I'd say we're running seven to 14 days ahead of schedule," said Henry Drewes, regional fisheries manager.

Combine that with a slightly later-than-normal fishing opener on May 15, and walleye anglers could have a harder time finding fish. Walleyes may have spawned by the opener, meaning they could be dispersed instead of concentrated in shallow waters.

"They would be in early summer patterns rather than late spring patterns," Bohlander said.

Ice-out dates If you're taking bets on your favorite lakes, here are some average ice-out dates for some major lakes: Pepin, April 9; Minnetonka, April 13; Gull, April 21; Mille Lacs, April 24; Leech, April 27; Vermilion and Lake of the Woods, April 29; Saganaga and Rainy, May 3.

Walk-in hunting A bill to create a "walk-in" hunting program in Minnesota -- where landowners would be paid to open their lands to the public -- was introduced in the Legislature last week. It met no resistance in the Senate, where it will be amended to an Omnibus Game and Fish bill.

Under the bill, authored by Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, money for a two-year pilot program would come from the DNR's Game and Fish Fund, basically hunting and fishing license fees. Details, like how much money will be spent, have yet to be worked out. Also, if the pilot program is successful, officials will have to figure out a permanent funding solution, possibly a surcharge on hunting licenses. Officials hope the state can tap federal money that has been set aside for such programs.

The bill's fate in the House is more uncertain. "I think it's a long shot," said Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, the bill's author there. He said Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, who chairs the key Environment and Natural Resources Finance committee, opposes the idea.

If the House doesn't pass it and the Senate does, it would go to a Senate-House conference committee, where it possibly could be approved, Hackbarth said.

More on land acquisitions We'll find out this week if the anti-land acquisition mood in the Minnesota House extends to the Senate.

The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill last week that included $4.2 million for land acquisitions for wildlife habitat and parks. Those dollars were removed from a companion bill in the House a week earlier.

The money is in a bill spelling out expenditures for the Environmental Trust Fund, generated by the Minnesota Lottery. The Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources recommended how the $26 million should be spent. By law, the money is to be used for natural resources.

The full Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill this week. The House diverted the acquisition money to park and trail maintenance, and conservation group leaders are concerned similar action could occur in the Senate. They say buying land is an important option to preserve and restore wildlife habitat and provide public recreation.

"I support land acquisitions," said Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, author of the bill.