I have to say that we have been blessed not to have had a lot of snow and freezing rain so far this year. Actually, I do believe that it is one of the more pleasant parts of 2020. I have seen on Facebook that some of my friends have been enjoying our local state park. I know a few folks who go there just to walk on the trails that they have for us to enjoy. One person posted pictures of herself and a friend enjoying a campfire. People have also posted pictures of deer, which are quite abundant in the park.
This just goes to show that there are many ways to enjoy our parks and trails if you feel inclined to take advantage of them. Although I am an avid fisherman, I also realize that there are so many other ways to enjoy the outdoors. Watching wildlife is right at the top of my list when it comes to favorite things to do in the outdoors. Sunrises and sunsets also rank right up there on my list of things that I enjoy. Hunting for small game is a great way to get exercise and also introduce our youth to the sport of hunting.
Hunting pheasants, ruffed grouse, squirrels or rabbits offers opportunities to enjoy the Minnesota outdoors as temperatures fall and snow blankets the landscape.
“Small game hunting remains a great way to stay active or even start a new hunting tradition as weather changes and winter sets in,” said James Burnham, hunter and angler recruitment coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Anyone looking to learn more about how or where to hunt can find more information and how-to guides on the DNR’s learn to hunt pages.
Snowy fields and pheasants
From grasslands to frozen wetlands, pheasant hunters can find good numbers of birds during late-season hunts. Pheasants that had found cover in standing crops now congregate in tall grass or cattail marshes.
As it gets colder and cattail sloughs and wetlands begin to freeze, hunters should be able to reach areas they couldn’t before. Hunters should always put safety first and stay off thin ice.
“Pheasant hunting involves a good amount of walking, so it’s easier to stay warm, and it’s a fun way to get into the fresh air and sunshine when days are shorter and we tend to spend more time indoors,” Burnham said.
On Dec. 1, the daily bag limit increases to three roosters, with a possession limit of nine roosters. The season is open through Sunday, Jan. 3. Shooting hours are 9 a.m. to sunset. More information is available on the DNR pheasant hunting page.
As we settle in to our stricter guidelines for dealing with the Covid virus, we must be aware of the social distancing thing, but also the mask mandate. I know that some folks feel that that their rights are somehow being violated by a mask mandate. Really? It’s not that hard to put a mask on when you go into a store or are around people while out in public.
I’ll give an example of blatant disregard for this mandate. Four young people, late teens-early 20’s, came into the convenience store that I was at and two were wearing masks while two weren’t. One of the non-wearers strutted around the store like he was something special, almost flaunting the fact that he wasn’t going to wear a mask. I’ve known a lot of people that are just plain bada#*, but he definitely wasn’t one of them.
I know that the workers are told not to be confrontational, but a store down in Mason City that has its own mask mandate in place seems to have the answer; when a guy wearing no mask went to check his items out, the clerk politely told him that she couldn’t check him out because he wasn’t wearing a mask. I’d say that is a pretty simple solution. Remember, the mask isn’t exactly for the person wearing it, it’s about being considerate of the other guy.
Until next time: I hope that everyone has a chance to take advantage of our many parks and trails that we have in the area. Just a reminder to use the ice safety guidelines put forth by the DNR, which will make your first hard water fishing venture a much safer one.
Please show your support for the troops that are serving our country, some of whom are deployed and will not be home during this holiday season. These servicemen and women are making that sacrifice, so that we may enjoy the many freedoms that we have today.