Woods & Water (267)
The Minnesota DNR has been making great strides towards improving our environment and habitat in pretty much all phases of the outdoors. The Lessard/SAMS amendment has been instrumental in the funding of many worthwhile projects that the DNR has undertaken since the amendment’s inception in 2008.
A record number of people visited Minnesota state parks and enjoyed trout fishing in lakes and streams in 2015, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The agency noted other accomplishments in 2015, including a growing deer herd and increased deer harvest, an improved fleet of aircraft for fighting wild fires, more acres devoted to wildlife management areas and more fishing opportunities.
The DNR made strides in improving groundwater management, protecting waters from invasive carp and enhancing pheasant populations and hunting-land access.
“Whether you hunt, hike, camp, or just appreciate the state’s abundant natural resources, Minnesotans can take satisfaction in seeing more recreation opportunities and enhanced conservation efforts in 2015,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us to increase pheasant and deer populations, which are key priorities in 2016, but I believe we’re on the right track.”
Among this year’s highlights from the DNR:
A record number of people visited state parks in 2015, with overnight stays up 11 percent from the previous year and daily permit sales up 17 percent. The DNR launched Parkfinder, a new mobile-friendly app that helps visitors learn about park locations and amenities. Also, a record number of anglers purchased trout and salmon stamps in 2015. The DNR allocated $1.2 million in matching grants to 51 shooting organizations to enhance trap shooting opportunities for the public and the growing youth clay-target league. In northwestern Minnesota, a new fishing boardwalk was opened on the Tamarac River in Waskish, providing a more enjoyable fishing access at the mouth of the river at Upper Red Lake.
The agency acquired 6,413 acres of new lands as part of 40 existing and new wildlife management areas in 28 counties. These WMA lands provide important habitat for game and nongame wildlife species and public access to hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching.
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It looks as if it is business as usual for the local “hard water” fishermen as there have been many fish houses popping up on Fountain Lake in the past week. There were about 20 houses on the lake in the City Beach area last Sunday. I haven’t heard many fishing reports as of yet, but from some of the folks I’ve talked to it has been a little slow. If the trend from past years holds true the “hard water” fishermen should be getting sunfish, crappie and perch on a regular basis with an occasional walleye, northern or bass thrown in.
Although it is usually holds true that early ice fishing is best, I have to wonder if that still holds true when early ice is towards the end of December or if that has a negative effect on things? Either way you look at it, the lakes in the area are frozen, but with the snow cover that we’ve had I’d have to say “tread lightly” and I for one wouldn’t be driving my vehicle on this ice. I have always been a little overly cautious when it comes to ice fishing, but one experience a fellow told me about made me even more leery about driving on the ice.
A few years ago I was up at my cabin in the fall and decided to take a drive to a small lake close by our cabin, which is one of my favorite things to do that time of year. At the access I met this gentleman who said he’d heard about this lake and was going to give it a try. As we spoke, the topic of ice fishing came up and this guy said he had given it up after he lost his pickup. It seems he was ice fishing near Chamberlain, South Dakota and the ice was deemed thick enough for vehicle traffic. Unfortunately, shortly after ice-over they experienced some rain, then snow, then a warm-up followed by more snow. This created pockets of unsafe ice and as he was driving to his hot spot the ice started to crack and his pickup went through. Luckily for him he was able to get out before it sunk further into the water. After telling me the story he went to his car, an older model Ford Taurus, and reached under the seat to produce a photo album. He showed me pictures of the towing company retrieving his brand new pickup from the depths of the lake. I could tell it was a traumatic experience for him because his truck was gone and the insurance didn’t cover it, so all he had was pictures and a lesson learned a little too late.
Until next time, be careful when you do decide the ice is thick enough to venture out because with the weather we have been experiencing ice safety will be nothing but unpredictable.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, n not only during the holiday season but for the rest of the year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
How do you know if your lutefisk has gone bad?
Written by Jim LutgensIn my last column I mentioned it would be nice to have a little snow for Christmas. I got my wish, just enough snow to cover the ground. Unfortunately it seems we got the bonus package and ended up with a few more inches of snow than I had envisioned. In all reality it just wouldn’t be winter in our fair state without a snow storm or two to loosen up the old shoveling arm and keep the back in shape. I did use my trusty “scoop” for most of the snow, but when it starts piling up the scoop almost gets to be too much like work.
I have a snow blower, but for some reason I find that shoveling the first substantial amount of snow just seemed like the thing to do, but now that I have piled the stuff high on both sides of the driveway my snow blower will have to spring into action for the next snowfall.
The temperatures, on the average, are much more winter like and this is good news for those who have been patiently waiting for the lakes to freeze and the ice to get thick enough for hard water fishing. One of the problems I can foresee is the nice blanket of snow that covered the ice when it was actually not safe enough to venture out on. Circumstances like this can cause pockets of thin ice and make it dangerous for much more than foot traffic. With that said, you need to venture out carefully and take safety precautions like claws and maybe even some sort of floatation device; at least until you know the ice is safe.
Another Christmas has passed us by and we have already welcomed in a new year. This is the time of year that can leave a person with a substantial amount of leftovers when, if not consumed in the first couple of days, can lead one to ask questions like: how long do I keep this stuff before throwing it out and how can you tell if lutefisk has gone bad? Those are just a few things to ponder while moving on with winter.
The snowmobilers are happily cruising about the countryside and evidently by the look and sound of it there must be a trail in my area of town. On Thursday, New Year’s Eve day, we were blessed with sunshine and a fresh snow cover which made the countryside look like the cover of a Christmas card. Yes, there always seems to be something magical in a fresh snowfall, at least in my little corner of the world. When I venture outside on a crisp winter morning to start the vehicles I am usually greeted with the sight of fresh critter tracks. We have numerous birds, squirrels and rabbits that hang out in our yard and whenever I see those tracks it takes me back to my youth, at least for a fleeting moment.
As kids, we spent a lot of Saturdays exploring the slough by my childhood home looking for signs of wildlife. This is what I loved to do, and the sight of something as magnificent as a snowy owl perched atop a dead tree on the edge of the slough that we kids called “ours” is forever etched into my memory. We never set out to harm any of those critters because it was much more important to us to just be able to say we saw a critter like a fox or got the bejeebers scared out of us by almost stepping on a pheasant that was hiding in the swamp grass. I did take my trusty Red Ryder BB gun along, but it was only for protection, from what I don’t know. It was fun to try and shoot the heck out of a cattail and it was a challenge to see who could hit it the most from a certain distance. That was fun, harmless fun, enjoyed by a bunch of kids who didn‘t need anything more than an imagination and a desire to see what entertainment nature could provide us.
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MUSKY TALK - Our January meeting of Crossroads Chapter 54, of Muskies Inc. will be Thursday January 7, at Eagles Club in Owatonna at 7 p.m. Our speaker is Noah Binsford, "with get the net guide service." He guides on the Mississippi River between St. Cloud and Brainerd. He is a third generation of river fisherman. He is a multi-species guide, but muskies are his specialty. We will have a chance to learn more how to fish muskies in rivers. There is no “fall turnover” in rivers.
Our meetings include updates, speaker, door prizes, raffle and lots of musky talk. Need not be a member to attend.
Bring a friend and help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.
Until next time, be careful when you do decide the ice is thick enough to venture out because with the weather we have been experiencing ice safety will be nothing but unpredictable.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, n not only during the holiday season but for the rest of the year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
In 2008 the Lessard-SAMS bill was voted on and passed by the citizens of our great state. The Outdoor Heritage Fund was part of that Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Over the years a few groups with special interests have, in some way, tried to divert funding from the outdoor legacy part of the amendment to different areas that are already covered in the amendment. I had a chance to sit down and talk to Bob Lessard, who the bill was named after, and Gary Leaf of Sportsmen for Change, who was instrumental in getting the amendment passed. At that time they were concerned about a legislator from the Twin Cities who was trying to change the interpretation of the bill in order to channel some of the Outdoor Heritage Fund money into the parks fund to improve a Minneapolis area park. Leaf said that this will be an ongoing thing that we need to watch closely so that it doesn’t end up like the Minnesota State Lottery. The lottery profits were originally supposed to go towards natural resources and the environment but in the end over half of the money goes into the general fund. This obviously didn’t work the way that it was intended to, but thanks to folks like Gary Leaf and Kevin Auslund of Sportsmen Take Action, Minnesota sportsmen are being made aware of any attempt to divert the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
The Minnesota DNR’s designation of new WMA land is proof the Outdoor Heritage Fund is being put to good use.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently designated an additional 2,067 acres of newly acquired land as part of 22 existing and new WMAs spread across 19 counties. In total, there are about 1,500 WMAs located in 86 of the 87 counties in Minnesota.
“These WMA lands provide important habitat for game and nongame wildlife species,” said Ed Boggess, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director. “Enhancing our system of public land strengthens habitat, as well as our Minnesota outdoors tradition by making sure everyone has access regardless of a person’s connections or how much property they own.”
Conservation groups including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and The Nature Conservancy, and individuals, who partner with the DNR, played a major role in helping to acquire and protect these new WMA lands.
“We are thankful for the work of these groups and individuals for helping current and future generations continue to enjoy these lands,” Boggess said.
Priority has been placed on enhancing contiguous parcels of WMA land to provide important, high-quality habitat. As public land, it can be managed for the long term and allow fish and wildlife populations to cope with changing environmental conditions.
Funding
Of the 2,067 new acres of WMA land, 1,297 acres were paid for with funds from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and approved by the state Legislature. The Outdoor Heritage Fund is one of several created by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the constitution in 2008.
In addition to Legacy funds, other major funding sources were the $6.50 surcharge on each small game hunting license sold, and the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Matching Program that equally matches private donations of cash or lands. The RIM matching dollars came from the sale of the critical habitat license plates. The $30 per year charge for each of these colorful plates generates over $3 million a year that can be used to equally match private donations.
The RIM matching dollars are used to acquire or develop critical habitat in the state. To see plate designs and information on ordering them, visit the license plates page. Those looking to find existing public hunting, fishing and trail access can use the DNR Recreation Compass feature online or can purchase DNR Public Recreation Information Maps available from the DNR gift shop, Minnesota’s Bookstore or several sporting goods and map stores around the state.
The maps may also be purchased online. These newly dedicated WMA lands will be posted and developed over the spring and summer months next year and will be fully ready for the 2016 hunting season. The newly designated WMA lands will be added to the Recreation Compass and the PRIM maps in the future.
For more information about WMAs, visit the wildlife management area page.
A few folks are trying open water fishing and having good results but some others not so much. I do believe that pretty much can be said about the sport of fishing under any circumstance. Thanks to my grandson Trevor I was able to enjoy a meal of fresh walleye this past week. I have also heard of a few folks who have been getting quite creative in their fishing like drilling holes in the thin ice while sitting on a fishing pier or venturing out a few feet from shore on paper thin ice in search of fish.
Until next time, be careful when you do decide the ice is thick enough to venture out because with the weather we have been experiencing ice safety will be nothing but unpredictable.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the holidays. They are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
This is the time of year when most of the stores you may go into have that pleasant aroma of cinnamon and pine floating through the air, giving one a warm cozy feeling that can only be experienced at this special time of the year. Christmas music can be heard playing almost everywhere you go and I really do love Christmas music, choirs singing and, to me, the sound of little children singing Christmas carols is always something special. Top it off with a little snowfall on Christmas Eve, which the kid in me longs for, and this is the season called Christmas. We must never forget the real reason that we celebrate it each year.
Looking back at my youth I can remember the excitement of going to town during this joyous season, looking in the various store fronts and having that feeling of excitement that only a kid can get when anticipating Christmas. It really wasn’t Christmas until the Santa in the Skinner Chamberlain Department Store window was up and waving at passersby. The lights of the downtown were strung across the street in an exciting display of colors.
I was a little disappointed the other evening when I happened to drive through the downtown area after dark. With all of the nice improvements that have been made to our downtown, instead of the bright, colorful lights that once adorned Broadway, there are now what seem to be token blue and white lights decorating only part of the downtown. This almost made it seem as if I were in a Batman movie driving through the streets of Gotham City. Maybe I am old-fashioned and not up with the times, but it just doesn’t seem like the season without a little color.
When I was a kid I can remember the excitement of Friday, which used to be the big night for shopping, especially at Christmas time. Somewhere along the way someone decided that Thursday night would also be a good night to stay open late during the holidays. I can remember looking at the corner box on the front page of the Tribune to see when that magical day called Christmas would be upon us. As I got older and had a family of my own the little box on the front page took on a different meaning. All of a sudden my wife and I were responsible for making sure our little ones had a good Christmas. That was quite a change from my youth when all I did was sit back and dream about the toys I hoped to be getting. Looking back at the days of my youth there were a few lean years when Santa couldn’t put much of anything under the tree, but that never made it any less exciting because we had a close-knit family, which more than made up for not having a lot of material things.
My mother would wrap Christmas presents on the old ironing board which she would set up in her beauty shop at home. I would be allowed to help, which I thought was a pretty big deal. I waited patiently for the time when she would tell me to leave the room because that’s when I knew there must be a present that she was wrapping for me! There was a no touch-no shake rule when it came to a present with your name on it. This however didn’t stop a kid from making a quick weight and volume check when nobody was around.
I have always loved the many special smells of Christmas like that of pine from a real Christmas tree, candles scented with cinnamon and even the dreaded lutefisk as it was boiling on the stove. When it came time to eat I really didn’t give the fish too much thought as long as I was one of the kids sitting at a different table. Once I was old enough and brave enough to sample the first bite of my Norwegian heritage, things changed. I was anointed as a true Scandinavian fish eater and welcomed to the main table.
There was this one Christmas early on I remember clearly because we were spending Christmas Eve, like always, at my Grandpa and Grandma Herfindahl’s on Bridge Street. Christmas Eve not only meant presents but all of the wonderful goodies that were there for a kid to graze on. That evening Santa came to pay us a visit and us kids were excited to see him of course ,but for some reason to me he sounded an awful lot like Uncle Benny who was mysteriously absent from the event. We received some presents from Santa and to question it any further, even at a young age, would be looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.
I’ll soon be trolling through the grocery store aisles in search of the elusive “lute” and most likely its cousins herring and oyster. A true Norwegian just has to have the fish for Christmas and we always top off our family gatherings with a bowl of oyster stew.
My father-in-law, Orville Johnson, would start off the lutefisk season at Thanksgiving and continue it on through the New Year. Although I like the “magic fish” I only have it at Christmas and maybe a couple of times after before shelving it for another year; I just don’t want to get too much of a good thing.
Some naysayers may want to know how you could possibly “spoil” lutefisk, but if you want it flaky there is a trick. Years ago it was shipped in salt brine and had to be soaked for a few days to get rid of the excess salt and lye. I still soak it for about two or three days which seems to make it firm up nicely when cooking. If you don’t cook it just right it can turn to jelly and, although it couldn’t possibly ruin the taste, that quivering jelly-like glob of fish is just not as appealing to eat.
Until next time, I wish you all a very “Merry Christmas” and a joyous New Year.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
We have, to say the least, been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather for December. There have been a few times in past years when we have had similar weather and I can recall one time not too long ago when someone was waterskiing on Fountain Lake in a Santa Claus suit in December. Now, if you are an avid ice fisherman, I am sure you probably do not see the humor in this, but after all it is Minnesota where you can always expect the unexpected when it comes to weather.
I, for one, am not a die-hard ice fisherman, but I’d guess you could say I dabble in it from time to time. For the more enthusiastic hard water fishermen this might be compared to me waiting anxiously for the ice to be off of the lakes and the open water season to be under way. I have witnessed a few die-hard fishermen taking advantage of the open water, but I have not heard how they fared.
There was a time when I was “that guy” taking advantage of open water up until the lakes iced over. There particular time I bought a brand new bait casting reel and (for that time) a state-of-the-art Browning graphite rod at a closeout sale at Bergland’s Sporting Goods and was anxious to try it out. It was mid-November and I was in the process of shingling my garage, but I had to stop and go to my niece’s birthday party. That was when I got this brilliant idea to go to the lake and make a few casts before I left for the party. It was cold and windy so I only fished for a short while, but still managed to catch a small northern. After that I was satisfied I had made a good buy and headed back home to drop off my fishing pole and pick up the family. After getting my tackle box and fishing pole out of the backseat I leaned my pole against the car and while I started to take the box into the house the wind suddenly gusted and my rod started sliding forward while the door on the car blew shut almost all in one motion. The rod broke off just inches above the handle. Needless to say I was pretty devastated by the sad state of affairs I had created for myself. After moping around for a few days I decided that there was no fix to the rod and decided to mail it in to the manufacturer explaining what had happened and asking them if they could possibly fix it, offering to pay for any repairs.
A couple weeks went by before this long tube arrived in the mail; I opened it to see if they had indeed fixed it but they actually did one better. They replaced it with a new one and on the invoice it said: “replacement for factory defect.” I couldn’t have been happier that a company like Browning would do that for a customer. I used that rod for many years before it finally met its demise by being stepped on in the boat by one of the grandsons. I could never get mad about it so I just looked at it as retiring one of my favorite fishing rods and moved on. My grandson (Dylan) being the nice kid that he is insisted on replacing it, although you could say it was payback for me breaking one of his rods. Here is a little tip for the other grandkids: never let Grandpa get a snag out for you; he might end up breaking your fishing pole.
I have always loved fishing our lake and other small lakes in the area around our cabin because it involves a small boat. This is how I grew up fishing and “old time” fishing has always been my favorite way to go. Unfortunately time has taken its toll on my body and arthritis in the joints makes me much less nimble than I once was. Getting in and out of a boat takes some doing these days and whenever I am getting ready to make my exit it takes some serious planning on my part.
The old saying, “the best laid plans” can surely apply to a couple of my no-so-smooth exits from my small fishing boat. The first was a few years ago while fishing with my oldest son Brian on one of our favorite lakes in the fall. It is strictly a northern pike lake where we have always had good luck. After a couple hours we decided to take a little break so we pulled up to shore and began to exit the little craft. Brian was in the front so he got out and held the boat while the “Skipper” attempted to exit. Unfortunately, as I rose from my seat, my knee buckled and I lunged forward, falling out of the boat and landing in the “cold” water. Luckily the only thing that happened was that I got soaked and nothing was hurt but my pride.
The next incident was a year ago with my grandson Dylan. He was rowing the boat and when we decided to call it a day he turned the boat and backed it up to shore so that the transom, or wide end, was on shore. Dylan said this would probably make it easier for me to exit said boat. Unfortunately my body had other plans; as I stood up my heel caught under the seat, I lost my balance and my other leg buckled as I twisted in mid-air and landed on my back, in the water, with my feet still in the boat. I just lay there for a few seconds trying to plan my next move to get up without tipping the boat over. Finally with Dylan’s help I was able to get ashore.
Now I have to feel that in both instances Brian and Dylan did an admiral job of trying to hold in the laughter that was surely much deserved. Yes, this was not an example of boat safety at its best.
Until next time, take advantage of the mild weather we have been experiencing and maybe even grab the fishing pole and make that one last cast to open water.
Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the upcoming holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
In the game of hockey, players vie for “ice time,” or playing time, but in winter there is also another type if ice time; it’s the time of year when our lakes and streams ice over and become safe for the folks to venture out on them. So far this winter season I’d have to say that there are no bodies of water in our area with ice thick enough to be safe for even foot traffic. Although the weather has been well below freezing at times, any ice that may be covering our area lakes is definitely not safe for venturing out.
When is ice safe?
There really is no sure answer. You can't judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors — plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climate conditions.
For new, clear ice only
• 2" or less - STAY OFF
• 4" - Ice fishing or other activities on foot
• 5" - Snowmobile or ATV
• 8" - 12" - Car or small pickup
• 12" - 15" - Medium truck
• Note: these guidelines are for new, clear solid ice.
Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.
White ice or "snow ice" is only about half as strong as new clear ice, so double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on white ice.
Even though I am by far not the youngest kid on the block, I can still remember my days as an adventurous youth and the excitement that the first sign of an ice-over on the local slough would bring. The local slough had a creek flowing under it and moving water under the ice always makes things a little more risky.
The first ice on the ‘crick” was usually thin and crystal clear. I always found it quite fascinating to watch the water flowing beneath that clear ice and I really didn’t give much thought to falling through until it happened – which was almost inevitable. Walking next to the swamp grass and rushes could easily result in an overshoe full of water and that was usually my downfall. I am not sure if I ever did return home dry after spending time at the slough but regardless, it always seemed worth it. As winter moved on the ice got thicker and became more snow covered and it was always fascinating to me to follow the critter tracks. Guessing what animal made those tracks was a game shared by myself and whichever of my friends happened to be sharing the day with me on one of my winter adventures.
Children are naturally curious and that curiosity coupled with a deceiving first covering of ice can be dangerous. With that being said please remind your children to stay clear of the lakes and streams until they are safe enough to venture out on and even then they should never venture out on lake-ice alone.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, meaning my small backyard, I have what is close to resembling a wildlife sanctuary of sorts. Over the summer I accrued quite a brush pile of twigs and branches thanks mostly to high winds and the two large maple trees that I have in the backyard. My plan was to have a nice campfire in my portable fire pit one nice fall day to clean up my yard. This however didn’t happen; mostly due to the strong steady winds we were experiencing this fall. The upside to that brush pile still being there is that it has become a sort of haven for the neighborhood wildlife. We have some resident rabbits and numerous squirrels that, with their winter coats are almost the same size as some of the neighborhood cats. This is great and these furry critters are definitely fun to watch. Speaking of watching; earlier this fall I spotted a turkey vulture sitting atop a telephone pole in my neighbor’s backyard; this caused me to wonder what it was so intently watching.
I have just recently decided to put up a suet block in the tree next to our deck in the back yard and although it isn’t a constant, at least once a day I have visitors in the form of sparrows, black capped chickadees and nuthatches. There is also a downy woodpecker that makes at least a daily appearance. I love watching the critters and I especially enjoy watching the birds. In the spring and early summer a suet block can only last about a day because of the numerous blackbirds so I choose not to put anything in it but as soon as those pesky birds decide to move on I will once again be putting the block out.
Until next time, take advantage of the mild weather that we have been experiencing and also take a little time to enjoy the wildlife that you may find right in your own backyard.
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Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the upcoming holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
It seems as if winter just appeared out of nowhere after we experienced our first snowfall this past week. The first blanket of snow always seems to bring out the kid in me. For some reason I get that cozy feeling I used to get as a kid whenever the first snowfall of the season arrived. As a kid I didn’t really worry about having to shovel or if the car had enough anti-freeze because my dad took care of all of that. As I grew a little older I would help him shovel the walk and driveway, which at that time I viewed as fun. Little did I realize that when you are an adult the reality of winter is not all fun and games, but can actually be considered work.
I can still remember the times my dad would put the tire chains on when a snow storm was imminent. Unlike today, we didn’t have a lot of advance storm warnings and the forecasts weren’t as “perfect” as they are today. I sometimes think the old Farmer’s Almanac does a better job of forecasting than all of today’s sophisticated technology. There used to be a lot of “old wives tales” or signs of nature that people went by when anticipating the upcoming winter months.
A few of the old-time weather sayings were as follows: the higher the clouds, the finer the weather; clear moon, frost soon; rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning; Ring around the moon? Rain real soon; Rain foretold, long last, short notice, soon will pass; Red sky at night, sailors delight, Red sky in morning, sailors take warning; If it rains before seven, it will clear before 11; If three nights dewless there be, 'twill rain, you're sure to see; With dew before midnight, the next day sure will be bright.
According to folklore, the black and brown caterpillars of the tiger moth species can predict just how cold and snowy it’s going to be for the upcoming winter when spotted during the fall season. The caterpillars have black bands at each end of their bodies, and a reddish-brown section in the center. Folk wisdom has it that when the brown band is narrow, winter weather will be harsh. How accurate is this? Surveys have found that woolly worms’ weather predictions have been accurate 80% of the time since the 1950s. I have to wonder if that caterpillar doesn’t have a better percentage than all of today’s modern technology.
When bees and butterflies have disappeared from the flower beds, you can expect some heavy weather coming your way. The folklore goes that if they're not in their usual spots, something is up. "When sheep gather in a huddle, tomorrow will have a puddle." It's believed you can expect a storm if these animals crowd together and shield each other. Indians taught early settlers to watch the size of the muskrat and beaver huts. Big huts meant a bad winter. Likewise, oversized nests made by rabbits, hornets and birds were a sign of a long, tough winter according to Native Americans.
These are all interesting theories that have been passed down by our ancestors and in all reality some of them are amazingly accurate. I have always been fascinated by watching critters in their natural habitat and of trying to understand what they do and why they do it in different kinds of weather.
Whenever I spend time at the family cabin I enjoy watching the birds and their actions. During this October we just put in the books at the cabin, I observed an unusually high number of those caterpillars mentioned earlier in the column. At the time I didn’t realize the significance of that stripe or I would have taken note so I could see how close it came to predicting the winter. This is just one of the many wonders nature has to offer us.
I really do believe we can learn a lot by watching wildlife and how the weather affects their actions. I have always felt the barometer has an impact on fishing; in fact, I have on many occasions caught more fish just before a rain as the barometer peaks and starts its downward slide. At times I have also noticed that just before a rain storm the birds, squirrels and chipmunks that frequent the feeders at our cabin seem to become silent and almost disappear as if seeking shelter. To me this is a sign the weather is about to turn. There is also that certain smell almost like compost or damp stale foliage that seems to be in the air just before a rain.
These are all interesting signs of weather, some folklore, some just cute sayings and others just too true to be ignored. Whatever the case may be, nature surely holds plenty of interesting and exciting things for us to observe.
Until next time, I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and can find time to enjoy a little time in the outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
A few days ago I was heading West on Hammer Road and as I looked out over the slough toward the place that we knew as “Skunk Hill,” I began to think about all the fun I’d had roaming that slough as a kid. Winter was usually when I would spend many hours exploring the slough.
We kids would usually make one or two trips to Skunk Hill in the summer, but winter was when you could spend time without fear of getting wet. For some reason I was like a magnet to water and whenever we ventured there in the summer I would usually end up with wet tennis shoes. Winter had its challenges because if you ventured too close to the bull rushes there was always a chance you’d break through the ice and end up with an overshoe full of ice cold water.
There were a few times we walked the slough all the way from Bridge Street to where the creek connected to Goose Lake. On these adventures we were always looking to see what kind of fish we could spot swimming in the creek. Spotting fish or any type of wild critter was the main reason I enjoyed these adventures. There were many times I’d be at the bridge and a school of minnows would come through. These were the times that got me going and I can still remember the excitement when those minnows came through because I would hope they would swim into my homemade minnow trap.
None of us kids had anything that resembled a store-bought trap, but my neighbor Roger, who was a little older, had a pretty darned nice one. He was pretty mechanical and he had fashioned one out of heavy wire and screen. I knew from the moment I saw it that I had to make one myself. I found an old screen window from the horse barn that we had in the back yard. My mother told me I could use it, so after driving a nail in each corner I attached a wire to each and ran them to the center. After twisting the wires together in the middle I tied a rope to them and — voila — I had a minnow trap.
That was pretty easy right? Well, there were a couple of unforeseen obstacles that needed to be overcome before this could work. As I rode my bike to the bridge with my new minnow trap in tow, I was excited to give it the ultimate test. Once at the bridge the magic moment was finally there and I could feel the excitement as I dropped the net into the water. What happened next really “took the wind from my sails,” to quote my dad. Splash, the net hit the water and in an instant it floated out of sight under the bridge – wood floats. Even with this slight oversight I was determined to make it work. Rocks do not float, so I loaded it with rocks and dropped it in once again. This time it sunk to the bottom and I was ready for some unsuspecting fish to swim over the top of it.
After a short time a school of minnows appeared and began swimming over my trap. Unfortunately, the weight of the rocks made it pretty heavy, so lifting the net was a slow process; the rocks were of various weights and when I lifted it the net shifted to one side it tipped, dumping the rocks and the few dumb minnows I had tricked, back into the water.
Nobody said being a kid would be easy, so I headed home and back to the drawing board hoping my creativity would kick in and I would come up with a new and better plan. I finally did make one that didn’t involve wood, and it worked pretty well. There is never a better feeling to a kid than when he creates something and it actually works.
Hunters register nearly 120,000 deer through second weekend
Minnesota firearms hunters registered 118,599 deer through the second weekend of firearms deer season, up from 104,785 from the same period in 2014, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Final numbers from the first 10 days show that the number of deer registered rose 13 percent from 2014. Buck harvest during the first 10 days of the firearms season was up 18 percent from last year, indicating that the population has in fact grown from its low point two springs ago.
Zone 1 total firearms harvest was up 14 percent, Zone 2 was up 17.5 percent and Zone 3 was up 7 percent. Buck harvest was up significantly in all zones
Additional deer will be harvested during the northern rifle zone season, which continues through Sunday, Nov. 22; the late southeastern season, which runs Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 29; and the muzzleloader season, which begins Saturday, Nov. 28, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 13.
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Until next time, with winter just around the corner, take advantage of the weather and get outdoors to enjoy what nature has to offer...
Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have today.
This past October was a very good month for our family because my wife’s brother, Lynn Johnson, came to Minnesota from his home in Nome, Alaska. He was here from the end of September until the 2nd of November. Whenever he is here in the fall he pretty much has one thing on his mind – bow hunting for deer. He hunted with my son Brian a couple times, but mostly he was hunting with his longtime friend, Wayne.
He has a group of friends he has been bow hunting with for many years and they were able to get together a few times.
At different times he has brought back moose meat, caribou, musk ox, king crab and salmon, but when all is said and done he still likes venison the best. He loves the sports of hunting and fishing and in Alaska it’s not just a sport, but a way of life. Lynn and his wife Margaret have moved venison to the top of their favorites list when it comes to wild game. He did get a nice buck while he was home so being able to take venison back to Nome made this a very good trip.
He had brought some salmon they canned back to share with friends and family. Lynn also brought salmon fillets and at the last family get together we had before they went back we had a smorgasbord of food with everything from grilled goose steaks, rib eye steak and hot dogs. Lynn’s wife Margaret, who we call Sister, prepared baked salmon like only she can make and she topped off the meal with her made-from-scratch apple pies and caramel rolls. Yumm! It definitely wasn’t a cookout that the PETA folks would approve of.
It was good to see Lynn and Sister again and I was glad I was able to spend quite a bit of time with him on this trip. I’m sure Lynn really enjoyed it this time because he got to spend time with family.
It didn’t take Lynn long to get back into the hunting groove when he got back to Nome. I don’t think he was home more than two or three days when he started sending pictures of the caribou hunt he and some friends were on. They had to drive quite a ways north of Nome during what Lynn called a “ground blizzard,” which made the road tough to navigate. There was one part of the road called Golden Gate which is about 50 miles north and almost impassible during storms. After Lynn got back to Nome he tried to contact his friend who had been behind him pulling a trailer with two four-wheelers, but he couldn’t get ahold of him. Lynn got two caribou and after he had dressed them he decided to head back up the road to see if his friend was having trouble. He found there were a few vehicles that couldn’t make it past Golden Gate but his friend did, and was headed back to Nome.
I have always thought of myself as an outdoorsman of sorts, but my brother-in-law is definitely what I would call an adventurer. He has done many things during the years he has spent in Nome that would make for good reading in an Outdoor Life or Field and Stream magazine.
Hunters register 68,401 deer during first weekend
Minnesota firearms hunters registered 68,401 deer during the first three days of firearms deer season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“Hunters are seeing more deer this year as we continue to build deer populations across much of the state,” said Steve Merchant, wildlife populations and regulations program manager. “We’ve issued a conservative number of antlerless deer permits, and because of this, many hunters are seeing deer they can’t shoot. However, patience this year should translate to more harvest opportunities in the future.”
Final numbers from the first three days show that the number of deer registered rose 6.3 percent from 2014. Buck harvest during the first three days of the firearms season was up 8.5 percent from last year.
The DNR is projecting the 2015 total deer harvest to be between 140,000 to 155,000 deer. The 2014 total harvest after last year’s conservative season was just over 139,000.
In much of Minnesota, the deer season continued through Sunday, Nov. 15. Additional deer will be harvested during the northern rifle zone season, which continues through Sunday, Nov. 22; the late southeastern season, which runs Saturday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 29; and the muzzleloader season, which begins Saturday, Nov. 28, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 13.
Until next time, with winter just around the corner so take advantage of the weather and get outdoors to enjoy what nature has to offer...
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
The firearms deer hunting season is now underway in our area and, just judging by the number of deer I have seen around the area, it should be a successful one for local hunters. I hope everyone has had or is having a safe hunt.
Minnesota has 1,440 public wildlife areas with 1.29 million acres of habitat, from prairies and wetlands to forests and swamps, for Minnesota's wildlife species. There are recreation areas for upland, waterfowl, and deer hunters. Wildlife watching opportunities including: sandhill cranes, herons, prairie chickens, shore birds, waterfowl, and more. There are 13 WMAs in Freeborn County alone and you can find out more by going to the DNR Web site.
A few years ago I did a story and in it I mentioned there seemed to be fewer trappers in this area than there were years ago. I found out soon after that there are still a few folks who do trapping in this part of the state. A gentleman named Lloyd Kaplan who lived northwest of Ellendale at the time told me that although he was in his 70s, he still trapped. Lloyd said his season starts the last week in October for land trapping and a week later for water. He said the season actually starts a little too early for mink because their pelts aren’t prime until about the second week of November. After talking to Lloyd for just a short time I could already that he wasn’t in it for the money. I asked Lloyd, who was 72 at the time, why he still continued to trap. He said he was a heart patient and he felt there was no better exercise than trapping. He also said that walking through the water carrying a coon is no easy task. That is only one of the many reasons he does it, because he feels that by trapping skunks, possum, coon, fox and coyote, he is protecting the pheasant population which he felt was on the verge of a very strong comeback in the area at the time.
I don’t actually believe that most folks who are avid trappers are in it to get rich, but do it more so for the sport and the chance to be outdoors and close to nature. I’m not sure where the cost of furs is at these days, but the Minnesota Trappers Association can furnish you with a list of folks who buy furs. The price of a raccoon may vary depending on what part of the state you are trapping. For example a Northern Minnesota raccoon will bring a higher market price than one from Southern Minnesota.
The trapping season for raccoon, red fox, gray fox, badger and opossum runs until the 15th of March in both the North and South Regions. Trapping for beaver runs until May 15 in both zones while mink and muskrat run until February 29 in both.
In 2013 about 10,000 fur trapping licenses were purchased statewide. After a downturn in the market caused mostly by anti-fur campaigns it seems like there has not been as much publicity about trapping in recent years. It seems as if a lot of the celebrities that hopped on the anti-fur bandwagon a few years ago have moved on to other causes. That is not to say that the animal rights groups have given up; quite to the contrary they continue to protest.
In Minnesota owners of hunting dogs are up in arms, so to speak, about the use of traps called body grippers because they can trap and kill a full grown hunting dog. I wrote a column a while back about the push by sportsmen’s groups to change the law that allows this type of trap. The old standard foot traps can still trap a dog, but the foot can usually be removed without much damage to the animal.
My brother-in-law Lynn was home from Nome, Alaska this past month and although he was home to do a little deer archery hunting, he still had trapping on his mind. We drove to Runnings in Austin one day so he could pick up a few hunting necessities. While there he found some traps he said would be ideal for trapping wolves back in Nome. Although I know practically nothing about trapping, I could see that these things would hold a pretty good sized animal. I usually have trouble setting a mouse trap so these babies were way out of my league.
Plan safe backyard campfires this fall
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone to be safe with backyard campfires this fall.
All campfires should be:
• Clear of any combustible material five feet in all directions around the fire. Contained within a designated fire ring. To build one, scoop out a depression in the center of a cleared area and arrange a ring of rocks around it.
• Three feet or less in diameter and 3 feet or less in height. Legal—check if the local municipality requires a permit.
Additionally, it’s important to select a safe place for a campfire. Choose a level area not near dry grass, shrubs or logs, and free of overhanging branches. Always have a shovel and water available to extinguish a fire. Watch the fire at all times — even a light breeze can cause the it to spread. Finally, extinguish fires with water or dirt, and stir the embers repeatedly until every ember is out cold.
Until next time, winter is just around the corner so take advantage of the weather and get outdoors to enjoy what nature has to offer.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
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A couple weeks ago I was able to spend time at our cabin with family and I have to say I enjoyed every moment of that. I have enjoyed spending quite a bit of time at the cabin this year starting this past spring and finishing up just a couple of weeks ago. Some of that time was “alone time” with just myself and the critters, which at times can be very enjoyable.
There were times when I almost felt that the phrase “getting away from it all” was coined just for me. I really enjoy spending time at the cabin fishing with friends, my wife, sons or grandkids, but there are those special times when being at the cabin with no agenda and no clock to watch can be great. You wake up in the morning and have no plan. Maybe you decide to go fishing or maybe you just sit on the deck looking out over the lake all the while watching the birds feeding busily at the feeders. I am actually more active when I am up there because I can always think of things that need to be done, but I can peck away at them at my own pace.
Fall and spring are extra special because the weather is usually plenty cool and the fire in the woodstove makes the cabin feel nice and cozy. There is nothing better than sitting in that cozy cabin with a nice fire burning in the woodstove. I read more when I am at the cabin by myself than I do at any other time. Ahhh…. there is nothing better than the peaceful tranquility of the north woods with only the sound of wind rustling through the pines, squirrels chattering busily in the trees above, an eagle soaring overhead or birds calling to each other. Then there are the sounds of the night like loons calling, raccoons chattering in the darkness and, somewhere in the forest, the sound of wolves howling can occasionally be heard. From the lake nearby you can hear the sound of bullfrogs or even hear a beaver slapping its tail on the moonlit waters. We have also seen grouse, deer, a black bear, and a badger and other critters that have yet to be identified. There are times when you visit the outhouse in the middle of the night you may hear what sounds like a large critter rustling through the trees nearby. All of this combines to make the whole experience pretty special and if you throw in just a little bit of the unknown, it’s actually pretty exciting.
After our last visit to the cabin I returned home to face reality. We must have more dogs in our neighborhood than most. It seems like when one quits barking another one chimes in to take its place. One of my first nights back home from the cabin, a nearby neighbor put his dog out in the yard and headed to his night job. It is a large dog that starts barking as soon as its front paw hits the yard and doesn’t stop until it gets let back inside. It barked nonstop until almost 3 a.m. when a police officer arrived to check it out after receiving a call from someone other than me. Finally I was able to get a couple of hours of sleep before I had to get up for the day. The following weekend someone around the corner from us was having a big party, which I usually wouldn’t have a problem with, but to still be yelling and hooting and hollering at 3 in the morning is a little much. This is about the time I really started to long for those peaceful tranquil nights I enjoy at the cabin.
Mille Lacs ice anglers allowed to keep 1 walleye, 5 northern
Anglers may keep one walleye between 18 and 20 inches or one longer than 28 inches when ice fishing begins on Mille Lacs Lake this winter.
The winter walleye regulation goes into effect on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and extends through Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources decision reflects the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee’s desire to keep winter fishing open all season.
“The clear consensus among committee members was to implement a conservative regulation allowing fishing to continue throughout the winter without the risk of closure,” said Don Pereira, DNR fisheries chief. “We believe this regulation meets that criteria.”
If winter walleye harvest approaches the established cap, catch-and-release will be implemented so angling can continue. The DNR made the decision after considering three regulation options it presented for committee discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Garrison. Discussion among committee members provided the DNR with good input and positive direction, reinforcing the DNR’s belief that the regulation protecting small walleye was the wisest choice.
“The committee stressed members’ support for a conservative management strategy that helps ensure the future health of the lake,” Pereira said. “The DNR fully supports that approach.”
Consistent with the committee’s discussion, the DNR also will reduce the limit of northern pike on Mille Lacs from 10 to five, with one fish longer than 30 inches allowed. Anglers may only keep a northern longer than 30 inches if they have caught two pike shorter than 30 inches and have both in immediate possession.
The pike regulation goes into effect on Dec. 1 and continues through Sunday, March 27, 2016. Its intent is to provide anglers with additional opportunity to catch and keep fish on Mille Lacs.
Until next time, fall is a great time to be outside just enjoying the whole outdoors experience. Spending time enjoying what nature has to offer can be a very rewarding experience.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
This past weekend I headed north to our cabin along with my wife Jean, son Brad and granddaughters Emma and Ava. On the drive up we spotted three eagles perched on a wooden fence in a field alongside the highway. There was also a bald eagle standing alone in the field not far from the other three. Emma was excited and thought that was pretty cool and it actually was quite a sight to behold.
To say that the weather was less than perfect would be a gross understatement. Cold temperatures are one thing, but winds gusting to 40 mph out of the northwest really put a damper on almost any plans of fishing. Brad really wanted to take the girls out in the boat because he wanted to introduce them to the fishing experience. About the only thing that was feasible on this trip was taking our small fishing boat out on our little lake for a short time. The wind had died down some late Friday afternoon so they donned warm clothes and Brad rowed the little boat around in hopes of finding fish; unfortunately there were no fish to be had but the girls seemed to be having fun regardless.
We had decided not to take the big boat to another lake because Brad knew the girls wouldn’t want to stay out for very long. He was right about Ava. The thrill of being in the boat soon wore off and she wanted to go back to the warm cabin. Emma, on the other hand, was a real trooper and she and her dad were soon rowing across the lake to take advantage of the wind by drifting the lake. Although there were no fish to be had on this day it was a heartwarming sight to behold. Brad had bought Ava a Barbie fishing pole and she was sure proud of that first fishing pole.
The thing that made it seem so special to me was the fact I know those girls will want to do it again and, by the look in Brad’s eyes, I know he can’t wait for next summer and a chance to repeat the experience in warmer weather.
We had a nice fire burning in the woodstove the whole time we were there and that kept the cabin nice and cozy. I was really proud of the girls and knowing that they were enjoying the time we were there made it all worthwhile. Both of the girls love to be outdoors playing and exploring. Brad took them on long walks along the driveway and Emma marveled at the colorful leaves that had just fallen off the maple trees scattered intermittently throughout the woods. She especially liked the red leaves and had to bring some in the cabin for Grandma to save. She also collected some pretty rocks and picked some long blades of grass to put in an empty water bottle and use for a centerpiece.
Yes, Emma is definitely an outdoors girl who loves exploring nature and is fascinated by rocks, bugs and any kind of plants or grass. She is not afraid of nightcrawlers and won’t hesitate to pick up a fallen butterfly or moth. I know Brad is anxious to teach her to fish and I am sure that once she gets the hang of it she will be hooked (pun intended).
That night I told Emma that if her dad agreed she could shoot the BB gun in the morning before we left for home. Brad worked with her the next morning and it wasn’t long before she was hitting the target once again; although this time with the BB gun. I have given each of the grandsons a Red Ryder BB gun on their 8th birthday, so Emma has a couple of years to go. I wonder if they come in pink?
After their little fishing expedition on the cold lake Brad told Emma she could practice her casting by putting some weight on the end of her line. It wasn’t long before she was hitting the target with almost every cast. I believe Ava will follow suit when she gets a little older because she wants to do everything that her big sister does.
My grandsons are getting older and spending time with Grandpa is not at the top of their list anymore; it’s funny what happens when they discover girls. I’m sure if I was a duck hunter I could be hanging out with some of the grandsons, but that is one sport that I have never had the urge to try. Whenever I talk to someone that is an avid waterfowl hunter they almost eat, sleep and breathe the sport.
I can see where hunting waterfowl can be addictive and hearing and seeing a flock of geese flying overhead on a cool, crisp cloudy day gives me kind of a lonely feeling, brought on by the late fall weather and the thought that we are almost the end of my favorite season.
I have taken all of my grandsons fishing many times and now it is time to teach those little girls about fishing. I don’t know who will benefit more from that experience, them or Grandpa. I really believe that hanging out with the grandkids makes me feel young at heart, even if the rest of my body doesn’t always agree.
MUSKY TALK
The November meeting of Crossroads chapter 54 of Muskies Inc. will be held Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at Eagles Club in Owatonna.
NOTE: Meetings are first Thursday of every month. Our speaker will be Nate Hodgins from DNR office in Windom. Our meetings include updates, raffle, door prizes and informative speakers. Also lots of musky talk. Need not be a member to attend. Bring a friend and help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.
Until next time, fall is a great time to be outside sharing the outdoors experience with our youth. It’s a rewarding experience that you can’t put a price tag on.
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Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
The sun always seems a little warmer in the fall
Written by Jim LutgensThe weather has settled into a more seasonal pattern with the cool-down we have now. Being a fan of more traditional fall weather, I found the record breaking temperatures we had this past Sunday a little hard to take. The weather now is what I consider ideal fall weather with the cool crisp sunny days and a teasing of frost in the overnight hours.
I enjoy looking back over the past few years and thinking about the times that my son Brian and I spent at the cabin in October. There were days when the temperatures never got out of the 30s and there were a few 60-degree days, but no matter the weather they were always enjoyable. I will be heading north to the cabin for one more time this season with my wife Jean, son Brad and his girls Emma and Ava. Jean and I are looking forward to spending time at the cabin with Brad and our granddaughters. I am sure I will share the experience in a future column.
The one thing that always stands out in my mind about fall is the heat of the sun. It can be 45 degrees, but if the sun is out it may seem 20 degrees warmer. I almost start to shiver just thinking about the times I’ve been on a lake in late fall with the sun beating down when a cloud suddenly appears, seemingly out of nowhere and covers the sun, bringing on an almost instant chill. Looking at the other side of the spectrum; when the sun comes out on a cool cloudy day it almost seems like a gift from the heavens.
Fishing in the late fall can be feast or famine and much of your fishing success depends on finding the baitfish. I did hear a good tip about fall fishing that seems to make good sense; when you see seagulls congregating in one area of a body of water, you will find the baitfish. The gamefish follow the baitfish, especially this time of year when they are bulking up for winter. I can’t think of a much more enjoyable experience than spending time on the lake fishing on a cool, crisp, sunny fall day.
With the waterfowl season going full tilt the DNR is reminding hunters of the dangers of hunting from a boat.
Late season waterfowl hunters are reminded that with water temperatures rapidly dropping across the state, wearing a life jacket is the best defense against the dangers posed by cold water, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said.
In Minnesota, one-third of all boating fatalities occur during the cold water season, when water temperatures are below 70 degrees. Cold water shock can cause even the strongest swimmers to drown in a matter of seconds if they fall in while not wearing a life jacket.
“If you ask the average duck hunter for safety advice, they will most likely recite firearm safety rules,” said Debbie Munson Badini, Minnesota DNR boat and water safety education coordinator. “But year after year, more waterfowl hunters die from drowning, cold water shock and hypothermia than from firearm accidents.
“The importance of water safety and life jacket use needs to be impressed upon waterfowlers in the same manner as the tenets of firearm safety,” Munson Badini said. “Duck hunters are boaters, too, and they are often boating on dangerously cold water.”
Since 2010, five Minnesotans have died in duck hunting-related boating accidents, including two minors. Last year, two drownings occurred; neither victim was wearing a life jacket.
Common causes of these fatal accidents included falling overboard, capsizing, or swamping due to overloading of passengers and/or gear, but in nearly all cases the accident would not have been deadly if the victim had worn a life jacket.
“The message is clear: Cold water kills, and life jackets save lives,” Munson Badini said. “Waterfowl hunters can hit two birds with one shot by simply wearing their life jackets.”
At the very least, all boats must carry one U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each passenger, and boats longer than 16 feet must also have a throwable flotation device immediately available. Children under 10 must wear a life jacket. Other water safety tips for duck hunters include:
Don’t overload the boat; take two trips if necessary. If wearing hip boots or waders, learn how to float with them on. Stay near shore and avoid crossing large expanses of open water, especially in bad weather. Share trip plans with someone and advise them to call for help if traveling party does not return on schedule. Use a headlamp, spotlight or navigation lights to alert other boaters to your presence in dark and/or foggy conditions.
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Speaking of safety; this past Sunday we had some of the steadiest strong winds that I can remember in recent years. On this day a person west of town was seen burning a brush pile when the winds were gusting to 40 at times. He may or may not have had a permit, but as dry as the fields are right now a little common sense would have been useful.
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Until next time, it’s a great time to be outside enjoying the fall days and enjoying our great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Our area farmers have been pretty lucky so far when it comes to the weather, which has been cooperating so the fall harvest is in full-speed-ahead mode. This is the time of year when we need to take extra caution when driving in many of our rural areas. With the farm work that is going on, farmers will be moving their equipment from field to field. I know some of us may get a little frustrated when following behind a big tractor or truck, but I always remind myself harvest time doesn’t last forever, but an accident can.
From what I’ve been hearing, area bow hunters haven’t been seeing that many deer, but I assume that will change once the weather turns cold and the corn is out. Now is the time of year when we can really start enjoying the fall colors. Taking a drive in the country can be a very exhilarating experience. I always especially enjoy this time of year as those who read my column must know by now. Taking a leisurely drive in the country on a sunny day can be very rewarding because there is plenty of wildlife to be seen and the countryside is painted with fall colors for our viewing enjoyment.
The other day I spent some time with my brother-in-law, Lynn Johnson, who is home visiting from Nome, Alaska and he, along with my son Brian and I drove out South Shore Drive to look at the new dam. It was pretty impressive and the amount of birds that were there waiting patiently for minnows or other fish was also pretty impressive. There was a pair of eagles sitting in a tree that overhangs the river, which made the trip worthwhile in itself. There were also egrets and herons standing in the water with seagulls hovering nearby. I noticed a flock of pelicans that were closely bunched up out on the main lake. That dam is definitely another step in the right direction when it comes to cleaning up the watershed.
I happened to speak with this person the other day who told me his son was really into fishing. He said the boy had spent most of the summer fishing the shores of Fountain Lake and just couldn’t seem to get enough. To me, this is what being a kid in the summer is all about, making your own entertainment and enjoying a sport that will stay with you your whole life.
Hearing this reminded me of myself when I was a kid. It seems I could never get enough of the good thing we call fishing. If I wasn’t able to go fishing, I was reading about it, which made for inexpensive entertainment. My love of the sport has stayed with me my whole life and I still get the feeling I did as a kid whenever I make a cast or watch a bobber as it drifts slowly in the breeze on a peaceful sunny day. At my age I still have that kid mentality when it comes to fishing, so I feel fairly certain it’s there to stay.
Whenever I see or hear of one of our youth who is “hooked” on fishing or is into hunting, it gives me a good feeling. It also tells me there will be future generations to carry on the preservation and maybe even the improvement of our outdoors heritage.
There are times a person wonders about the future of some of our fishing lakes and hunting habitat. The Lessard SAMS Bill has taken us great strides in the right direction, but we still need to do more. Mille Lacs Lake is an example of how something can sneak up on us. How did we let this happen? Now that it did happen the DNR is finding that there is no easy solution. It’s easy to blame the Indians of the Mille Lacs tribe for over-netting, but that is not the core of the problem. Man wants to manage everything instead of letting things occur naturally which, in some instances, is a necessity. The DNR has been playing with the slot limits and how many fish can be kept on this lake for quite some time, so I guess I can’t understand how it has gotten to this point.
Fishing used to be simple and for all practical purposes it still can be. You don’t need a 20-ft. boat and a 200-hp outboard to enjoy the sport of fishing. What you do need is a little imagination, some free time and a willingness to sit back and just take it all in. As a kid I didn’t need anything more than a can of worms, some hooks, weights, a bobber, line and a fishing pole that was sometimes optional if you couldn’t find a good branch. Yes, there is no better way to spend an afternoon than sitting on the shore of a lake watching a bobber. Fish are optional and not always necessary to make it an enjoyable experience.
Until next time, this is a great time to take a drive around the lake or in the country to enjoy the painted beauty of our great Minnesota outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.