Woods & Water (267)
As we adjust ourselves to the fact that winter is here for the duration we can now focus on the many outdoor activities that we have available. Although some feel the need to head for warmer climates during the winter months I have never found that to be an option I would choose. I have chosen to remain in Minnesota because I look forward to the changing seasons and what each one brings to the table. I know a few folks may think that I am a little weird for embracing winter but there are many things about this season that I really do enjoy.
Now I have to tell you that shoveling snow is not one of my favorite tasks but even that chore is not without its benefits. Shoveling snow on a moonlit winter’s evening can actually be enjoyable (note the word fun was not used) at times.
Our neighborhood seems to have a good healthy population of squirrels and rabbits that like to frequent my backyard. Yes, seeing those critter tracks in the snow remind me of my days as a youth trekking through the slough between Bridge Ave. and Goose Lake. I loved spending time outdoors in the winter just walking that slough and even if none of my friends wanted to go I would venture out alone, all the while looking for critter tracks with my trusty Red Ryder BB gun in tow. There were a few times when I would actually stumble upon a field mouse or a rabbit. Whenever that would happen the last thing on my mind would be shooting anything. I just enjoyed seeing those little critters in the wild and was more interested in seeing where they lived and following their tracks to see where they were going. There were a few times when I’d stumble upon a pheasant that would scare the heck out of me when it took off flying. There were a few times when I actually followed the tracks in the snow and spotted the pheasant hiding in the slough grass. To me this was an awesome discovery and I’d tread lightly trying not to scare the bird from its hiding place.
Not only do I have an abundance of wildlife frequenting my yard but I also seem to have some neighborhood cats that like to stalk the birds at my feeder. A couple of weeks ago something deposited a dead woodpecker on my front steps and there is only one critter that I know of that would do that and that is a cat. I don’t know if the cat owners of the neighborhood are unaware of the damage their cats can do to the bird population or if they just plain don’t care. I enjoyed watching that woodpecker at my feeder each day so when that happened it left a void. There are acts of nature that are part of the life cycle of all things wild and then there are things that are preventable like letting cats run loose in the neighborhood.
Getting back to the good parts of winter, the warming houses at some of the parks should be opening soon for ice skating and with a little more snow sledding and skiing are other activities to enjoy. I have to mention, of course, the ice fishing season has started judging by the houses that are popping up on Fountain Lake. I am still not sold on the overall safeness of the ice with the cold then warm and rain but I have heard that it is at least 4-inches in a lot of places. Always be sure to use caution when venturing out on the ice.
There is still plenty of time for those hunters that haven’t switched to ice fishing yet. The seasons for most go until at least the end of the year. The muzzleloader season for deer ends on December 13th followed by the end of the archery season on December 31st. The season for both hunting and trapping goes until March 15th for raccoon, red & gray fox, badger and opossum.
One of the best things about small game hunting is that it affords our youth plenty of opportunity to enjoy the sport. Pheasant, grouse and partridge hunting goes until January 4th while small game such as squirrel and rabbit can be hunted until February 28th. Small game hunting is a great way for a young hunter to hone his or her skills and enjoy the outdoors experience.
Winter is indeed a time to enjoy the outdoors and hunting and fishing are just two of the ways that you can do that. As kids we used to have toboggan and skating parties with a campfire and hot chocolate which always seemed to taste a little sweeter when sipped in the outdoors by an open fire. Taking a walk on one of our area trails on a crisp, sunny winter day can be not only exhilarating but a great way to exercise and enjoy time in the outdoors.
Until next time, be careful when venturing out on the thin ice and if you’re hunting – hunt safe. It’s always time well spent when you spend it in 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.
This is the time of year when I usually get that warm feeling inside whenever I start to think about my days as a youth and the holidays. There always seems to be something special about a snowy day when I am inside with the warmth of the furnace keeping me comfortable. It is always just a little better if you know that you don’t have to venture out in the wind and snow although there was a time when I lived for just that time.
I can recall many a winter night spent outside playing in the snow and cold. I had a newspaper route for quite a few years and there were many nights that I had to deliver the paper in almost blizzard conditions. Thursday was collection day and Saturday was the day I would have to bring my collected money to the Minneapolis Star office on Main Street. You didn’t want to be short because that would be deducted from my piece of the pie. The only thing that would make me upset was when I ventured out in bad weather and a customer would not answer the door even though you knew they were home. It didn’t take me long to figure out that they were probably a little short on cash that week but they were good folks and I knew that they’d catch up the following week.
Contrary to what we say and hear about the “good old days” not everyone had a chicken in the pot or a new Buick in the garage. My folks didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up but we were a close family that had food on the table, a warm cozy house to come home to and that was all that really mattered.
With another Thanksgiving behind us and the shopping frenzy in full swing I like to look back and remember how I spent that day growing up. We would usually spend that holiday with my mother’s side of the family and that was usually at my Aunt Ruby and Uncle Harvey’s which was right next door to ours. They had a nice TV and after the turkey feast we would go into the living room and watch the game. I can remember this one year when the Lions were playing the Packers and hall of famer Bobby Lane was the quarterback for Detroit. The Lions had a great defensive back named Dick “Nigh Train” Lane who was a hard hitting defensive back who was one of my favorite players those days. After the meal my two Uncles, Harvey and Orville would lay on the floor to watch the game all the while belching and passing gas justifying their actions by saying that their way of showing their appreciation for the great meal that we had just partaken of. I guess that memory sort of stuck with me for some reason.
Looking back just a few years I can remember a particular time when my old neighbor Bob stopped by to see me and show me some pictures he had taken of the walleyes he had caught in the Shellrock River on Thanksgiving Day. He had attended church that day and as he passed by this bridge on the way home the idea struck him that with the weather being so nice he should try doing a little fishing. After he had gone home and changed he grabbed his fishing pole and tackle box before heading back to the river. He said that it took him about an hour and a half to limit out on nice 16-18 inch fish. This goes to show that when it comes to fishing you may get that feeling that something just might work and when it does it makes you feel pretty darned good.
------------------------------------
DNR reminds parents of ice danger to children
A mix of warm and cold weather across Minnesota has created inconsistent ice on lakes, rivers and ponds. The Department of Natural Resources is warning parents to keep an eye on their children this holiday season as they visit friends and family who live near bodies of water.
Last winter season (November to April), three people died after falling through the ice.
“Kids are adventurous and want to go out and play while mom and dad are cooking or visiting with friends. Right now, a thin coating of ice has formed on many lakes and ponds. An inch or two of ice is not safe,” said Capt. Todd Kanieski, DNR regional enforcement manager.
He added, children should not go out on the ice without adult supervision, even when conditions improve.
“Parents should also tell their children to stay away from any frozen water bodies around the home and that no ice is ever 100 percent safe,” Kanieski said.
Thanksgiving was set aside as a time to give thanks for what we have been blessed with but we should also take time during the upcoming holiday season to remember those that will not be home with their families but are serving our country. Please remember to keep those troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Each year when winter first appears and the lakes begin to ice over there are those few who like to be the first ones on the lake. I know the rule of thumb for any avid ice fisherman is the earlier the better, but please don’t throw caution to the wind. The Minnesota DNR urges people to stay off the ice at this early stage.
The guidelines for safe ice as set by the DNR are as follows:
• 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
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. Double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on white ice.
Before heading out on ice:
1. Contact a local bait shop or lakeside resort to ask about ice conditions.
2. Check ice thickness once you get there.
Temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and rough fish all affect the relative safety of ice. Ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water; it can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away. Check the ice at least every 150 feet.
Check ice thickness using the following: www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.
With the winter kill that we experienced last year on Albert Lea and Pickeral Lakes, I don’t anticipate any fishing villages popping up during this year’s hard water fishing season. I can only assume that Fountain Lake will play host to the village people this year and there will be a lot of traffic on the lake. I also believe that Beaver and St. Olaf Lakes will see an increase in traffic this winter.
Although the Minnesota DNR tells us that a winter kill is good for the environment and makes for a healthy lake, I just don’t like the thought of starting over time and time again. I guess that at my age I don’t want to start over too many more times.
Winter kill is one thing and “reclaiming” a lake is another, but to me both occurrences leave a little void that takes away the unknown factor that is part of why I fish. What if there was a 10-lb. walleye swimming the depths of a lake that nobody envisioned being there? This is what makes fishing fun for me; call it the X factor or just the belief that at any given time fish you’ve been searching for your whole life could be the one nibbling on your hook at that very moment.
As a kid I would read fishing and hunting stories in the old Field and Stream magazines that my cousin Tom had given me and dream of living those experiences someday. While growing up I always had a vivid imagination and would frequently find myself fanaticizing about visiting the many places where those stories took place. My imagination coupled with my love for the outdoors made me feel rich in ways that money couldn’t buy.
Looking back on those days one article sticks out in my mind and that was the one that talked about steelhead fishing in upstate New York. The black and white picture that accompanied the story showed fishermen standing elbow to elbow as they lined the banks of the river in the article. Judging by the landscape I thought this could be anywhere in Minnesota and where were the skyscrapers and concrete? Once I realized that there were indeed forest and streams in New York State I also believed that this kind of fishing looked like an accident waiting to happen and I also vowed to myself that no matter how much I like to fish, this kind of fishing would never work for me.
Give me a quiet little lake with little or no boat traffic and I am in my element. I have never been one-dimensional when it comes to fishing. Some folks fish strictly walleye while others may hunt muskies or bass but I, on the other hand, will fish for what’s active at the time or for whatever I can entice to bite on the “secret” bait I have on the end of my line.
This year’s ice fishing season will soon be going strong and I am looking forward to spending a little time on the ice with my oldest grandson Trevor. It’s his turn to find the fish and take grandpa along for the ride.
Until next time, have a happy Thanksgiving and remember to always use caution when venturing out on the ice this season.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Here it is! Winter is upon us and although I wasn’t ready to greet “Old Man Winter” with open arms, I will make the best of it; that’s what we Minnesotans do. I am not a “snowbird” nor do I have any plans of ever becoming one because this is where I have chosen to live and the best part of the package, for me, is the four seasons. Although winter probably takes the most getting used to I can still find some good things to say about it.
Judging by the way it has started I am beginning to wonder if this will be another one of those years where we get just enough snow so we will have to shovel the walk pretty much every day. I know we all dread the idea of moving snow and I am on board with that, but that again is a part of what we do as Minnesotans. Driving cautiously on slick roads is one of the unwritten rules that we must adhere to and after the first snowfall of the season we must reintroduce ourselves to the art of driving on these snowy, icy roads. This is where some folks get into trouble; going too fast for the conditions is the main cause of winter time accidents. There are enough assorted media types telling us how to do things that we have been doing our whole lives so I’m not getting involved in giving out any more free advice.
In getting back to the positives of winter I have to say that the first light snowfall always brings out the kid in me, which I’m sure it might also do for a lot of folks. I always enjoy moonlit winter nights when the winds are calm and the moonlight lights up the countryside making everything seem so peaceful. There are also the little critter tracks in the freshly fallen snow that are a sign there is wildlife about. This, to me, has always been something that, upon seeing, makes me feel just a little closer to nature. As winter drags on, however, the novelty eventually wears off and shoveling snow and bundling up for the cold becomes more of a chore for many.
I have written many times about venturing out into the slough on Bridge Avenue north of town and how I always enjoyed the little tracks in the snow and trying to identify the critter that made them. Ahh, those were the days of youth when venturing out on a cold winter’s day was full of fun and adventure. I’d wear long Johns, my five-buckle overshoes, a parka, stocking cap, scarf and choppers; and to a kid getting cold was just not an option or something you would ever want to admit to your buddies. I could always tell when it was time to start heading home because my pant legs would be frozen and banging together making a “clacking” sound like a couple of pieces of wood hitting together.
It was all fun with the only downside being warming up in front of the heat register when your cold skin, which was usually a few degrees away from frostbite, and it would start to thaw out. It was like having your leg falling asleep with that prickly feeling you get when it starts coming out of it but with a burning sensation thrown in. I am sure there are quite a few folks who remember that feeling growing up.
I am not so sure there are as many kids that spend much time outdoors in the winter these days as there were when I was growing up. This is where a kid gets to use his or her imagination and have some unstructured fun. I sometimes feel that with the hectic schedule that we have in the society that we live in today our kids don’t have enough time to be kids. Too many things seem to be planned out for them and there can be such a thing as too much structure. Kids really need to have some time to themselves to spend with friends just doing kid stuff.
Hunters register 54,000 deer during first weekend
Minnesota hunters registered 54,000 deer during the first three days of firearms deer season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Final numbers from the weekend show that the number of deer registered dropped 30,000 from 2013. So far this year, including special hunts and the archery season, hunters have harvested 67,000 deer, down from the 2013 to-date harvest of 100,000.
“Comparing this year’s harvest to harvests in previous years doesn’t necessarily reflect hunter opportunity or the number of deer on the landscape in 2014,” said Leslie McInenly, DNR big game program leader. This year’s lower harvest is by design because regulations were implemented to place more deer – particularly does – off limits to increase Minnesota’s deer population.
Until next time, break out the icy melt, snow shovels, mittens and stocking caps because it looks like winter’s here to stay.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
The shift from autumn to winter is creeping steadily closer to reality with the changing temperatures and the occasional threat of snow looming in the forecast. The onset of winter can have some good sides to it like the opportunity for some “hard water” fishing. This is something that many of us look forward to and for the most part the early ice-over can be the best time for ice fishing. The low water levels that are once again prevalent in our area lakes concern me when it comes to Pickeral and Albert Lea Lakes. With no water flowing over the dam between Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes this could signal another freeze out for that lake. Hopefully it doesn’t happen but it could be cause for concern.
The firearms deer hunting season is in full swing and there seems to be a fairly good number of deer in our area. Hopefully the area hunters do well and all of them have a safe hunt. Hunting is a great sport and whether you are a deer hunter, pheasant hunter or waterfowl hunter there is WMA land for hunters to use. We in Freeborn County are particularly lucky because there are 11 wildlife management areas for public use.
Small game hunting is a great way to introduce our youth to the sport of hunting, something that can last a lifetime. Our Minnesota outdoors heritage is based on hunting and fishing and without our youth involved these sports as we know them today may eventually change, and not for the better. We need to ensure that these sports will be there for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.
I have written many times about hunting the slough north of town with my trusty Red Ryder BB gun and although it wasn’t a “real” gun I treated it as one and when I finally moved on to a .22 and a .410 I already had safety awareness. My gun training was learned by hearing “never point a gun at anyone” or “always point your gun towards the ground when walking or when climbing over a fence”. Now the fence thing wasn’t fool proof so I learned to set the gun on the other side of the fence that I was climbing over.
While exercising hunting rights in the woods and fields appeals to many people, with it comes some responsibility, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. That includes ethical hunting practices, respecting the resource and passing on core values to preserve Minnesota’s hunting heritage for the next generation.
“The time shared between a youngster and a mentor is invaluable,” said Col. Ken Soring, DNR Enforcement Division director. “There simply is no better way to introduce a young person to safe, ethical and responsible aspects of hunting than with the close supervision of an adult mentor.”
A past president and current treasurer of the local Des Moines Valley chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Cody Duroe, Jeffers, Minnesota, is a 47-year-old who has been hunting since he was a teen. His father was not a hunter so he learned through friends. He knows the importance of mentoring.
“My 12-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son take turns sitting with me with a 20-gauge shotgun in one of our deer blinds,” Duroe said. “It’s a great opportunity to teach hunter core values to preserve Minnesota’s hunting heritage for the next generation.”
Duroe’s children receive several lessons while taking in the sights, sounds and smells of fall.
Once the firearms deer season is over the public land will be a great place to hunt for rabbit or squirrel. You may hunt rabbit and squirrel right up until the 28th of February. This is a good way to start a youth out and it doesn’t require anything more than a .22 or .410 for a kid to enjoy the outdoors and learn about the sport of hunting. I am still curious as to why there is such a shortage of .22 ammo in the stores these days. You almost have to know someone that works in a sporting goods store in order to get your hands on a couple of boxes of shells.
Speaking of squirrels, as I sit here writing this column I am staring out the upstairs window at a squirrel sitting on a branch chewing on what looks like a walnut. We do have our share of squirrels in the neighborhood and each evening as I arrive home I manage to scare a pair of rabbits that seem to have taken up residence in our yard. To me this is a good thing because I have always enjoyed watching wildlife and even though these critters are “city dwellers” they are still entertaining to watch.
Until next time, get outdoors and enjoy the fall before the snow begins to fly.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Here we are, well into my favorite season of the year and I almost haven’t had time to stop and smell the leaves. It’s been a pretty busy time of year with hockey and work, but I’m still taking a little time to savor the moment.
There are some evenings when I can catch the distinct smell in the air of someone burning leaves. That is a smell I have always enjoyed because it was always been a part of what fall is to me. Unfortunately in the city, the smoke became too unbearable for most folks and the city has, for some time, had an ordinance banning the burning of leaves within the city limits. I sure do miss that smell and occasionally someone else must miss it also because I have from time to time detected that unmistakable odor emulating from someone’s backyard.
I have a fairly good sized pile of twigs and tree branches that old Mother Nature has seen fit to deposit in my yard over the summer months. I will be burning them in my backyard fire pit, which I still actually need to build. I know that it will be about as close as I will ever get to burning leaves again so you could probably call it the next best thing.
I am hoping to find the time to clean up the overabundance of leaves that are falling from my seemingly ever-bearing maple trees in the back yard. As I was driving home from work the other evening it was cool and the sky was clear and winds were calm and I had the window down, taking in the smell of fallen leaves that only fall can provide. I’d suppose that if I had hay fever and allergies this would not be my time of the year.
I have noticed a pair of rabbits that have taken up residence in my backyard. I would venture to guess there will be more than two before too long if they can avoid the numerous felines we have roaming and hunting in the neighborhood. The squirrels are also in abundance this fall, but that is nothing new to my backyard; the good thing is they have built nests in the neighboring trees and they are no longer residing in my shed or garage.
I have talked to some folks who have been stopping and looking at the small fish that can be seen swimming in Albert Lea Lake. This bodes well for the future of fishing in our area if the lake can indeed avoid another total freeze-out. I have been told by a spokesman from the DNR that Pickeral Lake should be fishable again in another couple of years. I know that the last time it was stocked it didn’t take very long for the pike to get to a decent size.
The only down side to all of this positive talk about the fish population is the possibility that another freezeout can happen at any time. Being the Minnesota sports fan that I am, I kind of get the same feeling about this that I do when the Twins go on a winning streak or the Vikings win a couple of games in a row – I seem to be waiting for the inevitable to happen, but hopefully not any time soon.
With the beginning of the deer hunting season upon us. the DNR reminds us of the reduced bag limit for this year’s season.
Hunters in most of the state are not allowed to use bonus permits to take antlerless deer during the 2014 season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“Bonus permits are only allowed in seven of 129 deer permit areas this year,” said Maj. Greg Salo, DNR Enforcement Division operations manager. “You cannot use a bonus permit to tag a deer if it was harvested outside of these seven areas.” Salo added that bonus permits are also allowed in some special hunts and encouraged hunters to review the regulations as described in the 2014 regulations synopsis.
Permit areas that allow use of bonus permits in 2014 are:
• Intensive deer areas 182, 346 and 349.
• Managed deer areas 114, 287 and 343.
• The metro deer area 601.
By design, more deer will be off limits this year as a one-deer bag limit rules most of the state and opportunities to take more than one deer are few and far between. The DNR implemented these regulations to help increase Minnesota’s deer population.
— — —
Our little granddaughter Ava has been in ICU at St. Mary’s in Rochester with a respiratory virus, but with the great care she received she is now on the mend and back home. When something like this happens it makes you realize just how precious and fragile life really is.
Until next time, get outdoors and enjoy the fall before the snow begins to fly.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
We are well into the fall season and so far, so good. The weather has been pretty cooperative so the farmers have been able to get into the fields to harvest their crops. This fall has also been pretty good to the duck hunters and there seem to be enough deer around to keep the bow hunters going. I’d like to think that there are still enough nice days ahead to get in another day of fishing before the water starts to harden.
There is still time to latch onto that lunker you have been looking for. Late fall is a great time for catching the “Big One” that has eluded you all summer. It’s a fact there are more big fish caught in the fall than any other season of the year. In late fall the fish are hungry and are trying to “bulk-up” for the winter season when their metabolism slows.
Although you may not find the sheer numbers of fish in the fall, when you do catch one it may very well be that elusive big one you have been seeking. A few years back I caught a dandy walleye on Spider Lake in early October that up until last year was a personal best. Last fall my grandson Dylan and I had great pike fishing on a mid-October fishing trip to our cabin and he caught his personal-best northern on that trip.
Many musky fishermen hit the lake hard from October until ice-over because they know their chance for that trophy fish increases in late fall. A few years back I had a permanent camp spot at Best Point on Lake Tetonka and decided to do a little October fishing. I trolled the outside weed edges of a large flat using a “Little Joe” spinner and a minnow. Although I had visions of that lunker walleye, I instead found the northern fishing to be great and ended up catching my limit of nice pike.
That same day I noticed only one other boat on that large lake and he was fishing for bass. I knew the spot he was fishing very well because I had fished there many times before. I was actually headed to that spot when I spotted him there and decided that a lake this large has plenty of other places to fish. About a week later I read in the Minneapolis paper that the state record largemouth bass had come out of Tetonka on the same day I was there. That is probably the closest I will ever get to a state record, but it reinforced my belief that Tetonka was a good fishing lake and fall is a great time for big fish.
Speaking of fish, the DNR is in the final phase of reclaiming State Line Lake and has issued the following news release:
Rehabilitation project enters final phases with rough fish eradication
A multi-year cooperative effort to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat on State Line Lake near Emmons, is entering its final phases.
For many years the lake has been infested with carp and other rough fish, and exhibited poor water quality. Carp aggressively forage through bottom sediments, uprooting aquatic plants and reducing water quality.
“Once a lake becomes dominated by carp and black bullheads, the ecosystem goes out of balance,” said Jeanine Vorland, DNR area wildlife supervisor. “We are using a multipronged approach to get rid of the rough fish, restore aquatic habitats and improve the lake.”
The cooperative effort includes partners from Freeborn County, State Line Lake Restoration. Ducks Unlimited, the Worth County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Vorland said water levels on the lake were lowered last fall to allow for construction of a new dam and fish barrier. The work on the new outlet has been completed. The lake has remained low during the summer to allow vegetation regrowth. With the new fish barrier in place, the lake and some tributaries will be treated with rotenone to eliminate fish remaining in the lake. Vorland expected the treatment would be on Oct. 9 or 10, weather permitting.
Following treatment, lake water levels will be restored and the DNR will restock the lake with compatible game fish and pan fish next spring.
A majority of the funding for this project was provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund. This fund was created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008, which increased sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent. The fund receives one-third of the sales tax dollars and may only be spent to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for game fish and wildlife as approved by the Minnesota Legislature.
State Line Lake covers about 450 acres and at normal water level has an average depth of 3.5 feet.
— — —
Has anyone noticed that there is an election going on? I can’t remember the last time I have heard or read so many negative things said about the opposing candidate by their respective parties. Whatever happened to running on your own merit and telling the voters what you hope to accomplish if elected? Then there was a candidate and his wife who were reportedly wrestling with a homeowner over a campaign sign. Really?
Until next time, enjoy the fall and take advantage of some late season fishing weather.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
This past week I was able to spend a few days at our cabin with my son Brian. We originally planned to do some work on the cabin, but our stay wasn’t going to be long enough to start any large projects. It is sometimes better to relax and not have an agenda; this was one of those times, and it made for an enjoyable few days.
Brian is not one to just sit around and do nothing, he has to be busy all of the time; I guess he has always been that way even as a child. On the first day the weather was cold with a biting northwest wind, but we enjoyed a nice campfire and reminisced about other fall trips. Looking back, this was actually one of the better trips as far as the weather goes.
On our second day we headed to a pristine little lake a few miles from our cabin. The lake has no cabins but it does have some rustic national forest campsites that are available on a first come basis. There is no cost for camping with the only stipulation being your stay can be no longer than 14 days and you leave the campsite as clean as you found it. There were folks camping in a couple of different locations on the lake and this time of year they come to this area primarily for the grouse hunting, which has been pretty good this year.
We had taken our small boat to this lake and were fishing “old school” meaning no electronics just troll the weedline, which has always been my favorite way to fish. We managed to boat quite a few northern that day, but none in the bragging range. We did have a few “line breakers” that must have been monsters according to my unwritten rule (if you don’t see it the fish it can be as big as you want).
One of the campers had brought his boat and he was doing the same thing we were; just trolling the weed lines. When we passed each other we stopped the boats to compare fish stories and he was happy to share the fact he had boated 11 fish so far with 29 and 27-inchers being the largest. I could tell just by the excitement in his voice that this young man really enjoyed fishing and on a beautiful day with great fishing, what’s not to like?
All in all it, was a great day spent bonding with my son on a beautiful little Northern Minnesota lake.
— — —
This upcoming trapping season the DNR has agreed to allow trappers the use of traps such as conibair or body-grip and snare type devices on public walk-in land. I have spoken with Kevin Auslund, president of the nonprofit sportsmen’s group Sportsmen Take Action about this on a couple of different occasions and he shared with me his feelings on the matter, and what he felt could be a good compromise. He stated that the Walk-In Access program is primarily for pheasant hunting (although deer, turkey, duck and other small game is allowed). Our dogs, kids and we hunters shouldn’t have to deal with 7x7 and 10x10-inch jawed conibears, kill snares and tongue traps on these properties.
On Friday, Oct. 3, a compromise offer was extended to Governor Dayton that would keep lethal traps capable of killing dogs from being used on the Walk-In Access (WIA) public hunting program in exchange for allowing conventional leg-hold traps on these private landowner properties leased by the state for hunting pheasants and other game. This compromise was offered by Kevin Auslund, president of the nonprofit Sportsmen Take Action, as a guest Commentary article published in Outdoor News to its 50,000 readers. Mr. Auslund describes this offer as a “Win-Win” compromise where landowners (and to whom they give permission) could still trap Walk-In Access lands with leg-hold traps, but dogs would be protected from lethal body-grip traps, snares and tongue-catching pipe traps that would not be allowed on these WIA properties.
Mr. Auslund went on to say, “On Oct. 11 I discussed the WIA trapping issue with Gov. Dayton in the lobby of the Worthington Event Center on how the DNR will allow nearly any type of lethal trapping on Walk-In Access lands. He seemed surprised. I proposed on behalf of Sportsmen Take Action and Minnesota’s hunter dog-owners that leg-hold traps of the long-spring and coil-spring variety are acceptable to us because of the ease in removal but that body-grips and snare type devices that can kill or injure dogs is unacceptable to Minnesota’s pheasant and waterfowl hunters. He appeared to be receptive to these concerns and said he would discuss this with Tom Landwehr.”
You can learn more on this issue by visiting Sportsmen Take Action at www.sportsmentakeaction.org (see YouTubes on traps and Key Issues section entitled “Dog-Killing Traps”).
I feel that a sportsman should be able to hunt with his or her dog on public land without worrying about the animal being killed or injured when being caught in a trap.
The fall colors are at peak in our area of the state so it’s a great time to slow the pace and maybe take a drive in the country or visit a park and enjoy the moment.
Please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
Have you ever taken a walk in the woods on a crisp fall day and taken in that certain smell that only fall seems to provide? It is hard to describe, but growing up in the country offered me close access to many of those wonderful smells. It won’t be long before we will hear the sound of leaves crunching underfoot as we walk through our yards.
I love spending time in the north woods in late fall with the rustling crunch of leaves beneath my feet. To me there is a certain closure that comes with fall, but not being a deer hunter may have something to do with that. I have always liked small game hunting and fall, of course, is the time to do that. I have mentioned many times how important it is to get our youth involved in the outdoors experience. There are many ways to introduce our youth to the outdoors and small game hunting is one way to do that.
Fishing is another activity that can introduce kids to the outdoors experience, and it is relatively inexpensive to boot. I will be spending a few days up north with my oldest son Brian and we will do a little fishing and maybe some grouse hunting if time allows. This has been an annual fall ritual for us for quite a few years and last year was the first time that we missed in some time.
Fishing in the fall can always be hit and miss, but if you hit the right time and right place it can be pretty awesome. Last year, for example, my grandson Dylan and I spent MEA weekend at the cabin and we had some good northern fishing on a little area lake not far from our cabin. Now that I think about it, Dylan has actually done quite well in the northern fishing department this year as well.
Over the years Brian and I have fished in some pretty bad weather with mixed results. As I’ve said many times, it’s not always about the catching, but the whole outdoors experience. There were times when we fished in snow squalls, which are common in late fall in Northern Minnesota. There have been a few times when I’ve been on a lake when a front came through; it can happen without hardly any warning at all. There were a couple times when we headed for shore and sought shelter while the storm ran its course. These squalls never seemed to last more than a few minutes and then it would clear and we would continue fishing. It was not uncommon for two or three of these squalls to occur in a single afternoon. Over the years I have learned to accept the fact that this is just a part of fall fishing.
The first time my family was introduced to Spider Lake was in the late ‘70s; it was towards the end of September and for most of that week it was overcast and rainy, but we still fished hard. Brian was pretty young when we fished Spider Lake for the first time. One of the high points of the week for me was catching my first muskie. I can remember that time like it was yesterday because Brian and my mother were both in the boat with me and Mom netted the fish for me. When we got it in the boat, the battle was really on because muskies tend to get a little crabby when you take them out of water and drop them in a boat. As the fish jumped around on the bottom of our little boat it must have scared the heck out of Brian because his little eyes were as big as silver dollars.
My mother loved to fish and she and my wife Jean would take turns going out in the boat while the other would watch my youngest son Brad, who wasn’t very old at the time. Although the fishing wasn’t all that great, my mother did catch some fish that week and that made us all happy. I know everyone enjoyed that week and when I look back on it and all those memories, it gives me a warm feeling inside.
Memories make the trip for me, whether it’s time spent sitting around a campfire with snow on the ground or time spent fishing (catching is nice too), it’s all good. Brian and I still talk about a fall trip to Spider when the highlight of each day was returning to a warm cabin after a couple of hours on the lake.
As I anticipate spending the next few days up north I have visions of that lunker lying in wait for me to drag my lure past it. If that fish fails to see my lure then I’ll just have to throw another log on the fire and savor the moment.
Until next time, get out and enjoy the fall colors. The leaves in our part of the state are 25-50% of peak so now is a great time to take a drive down a country road or take a drive or walk around one of our area lakes and enjoy the view. If you do take that drive in the country, remember that it’s harvest time and some farmers may be on the road driving from field to field.
Please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
From the reports that I have been hearing from duck hunters in our area of the state, hunting has been very good. Judging by the number of vehicles at the access on Pickerel Lake this past Saturday morning there were a lot of hunters on the lake. My grandson Trevor and his party did quite well on Saturday and both he and his brother Taylor hunted on Sunday with good success.
We are fortunate to live in an area that has many lakes and wetlands that provide plenty of habitat for waterfowl. There are also many Wildlife Management Areas in the county that give sportsmen access to hunting land not only for waterfowl, but for deer, pheasant and small game hunters alike.
In our quest to hunt ducks and pheasants we shouldn’t overlook the value of small game such as squirrels and rabbits, especially when it comes to our youth. Looking back to my youth I can remember many times when I’d head out into the slough north of town armed only with my trusty Red Ryder BB gun and a vivid imagination. I knew that I wasn’t about to take down any critters larger than a sparrow, but it sure was fun to pretend.
As I grew older I was asked if I’d like to tag along with my two uncles, Harvey and Orville, along with cousins Tom and Bob to do a little pheasant hunting. Uncle Orv said he had an old .410 double barrel shotgun that he could let me use. This one particular instance was in November and we walked the corn field that stood next to where the disc golf course in Bancroft Bay Park is today. I believe my cousin Tom and his dad, Harvey, got a couple of pheasants that day and although I didn’t get a shot off I can still remember how much fun I’d had and how proud I was that they had asked me along. There were other times when we hunted for squirrel and rabbit in that same woods where the disc golf course is now.
These were fun times that not only had a great influence on a young aspiring outdoorsman, but left many lasting memories that still bring a smile to my face whenever I think about it.
With the continuing loss of CPR land due to land owners choosing not to renew contracts and/or choosing to tile wetlands and plow under grasslands, the following news release from the DNR is a welcome breath of fresh air.
DNR acquires new forest lands for wildlife habitat and public use
Hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife populations now have 304 more acres of state forest land available in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, in three southeastern Minnesota counties.
Acquiring these lands is a part of a plan by the DNR’s Forestry Division to consolidate the fragmented hardwood forest in southeastern Minnesota. The long-term goal is to acquire 4,700 acres in the area to protect rare forests. A newly acquired 64-acre addition to the Richard J. Dorer Hardwood State Forest near Winona is a great example.
George and Margaret Sainsbury homesteaded the property in 1876 and raised 14 children on the site. Their descendants sold the family homestead along with a public access to the DNR this June. “This property has many outstanding natural features,” said DNR Forester Jim Edgar. “It includes mature hardwood forest, old field tree plantings, and a grand view of the Mississippi River from its hilltop bluff. Also located here are an old stone retaining wall and a long-unused bluff top quarry. The quarry was used many years ago to provide materials for the construction of nearby roads and river improvements.”
The purchase of the 304 acres over the past two years was made possible with funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds created by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which was approved by voters in 2008. The total cost was $1.2 million.
State forests: All state forests are open to public hunting and trapping, as well as other uses such as hiking, wildlife watching, and cross country skiing. State forests not only provide wood resources for Minnesota, they are also critical to providing food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife species. Of the 3.1 million acres of state forest land in the state, only 49,000 acres are in southeastern Minnesota.
State forest locations: Those looking to find existing public hunting, fishing, and trail access can use the DNR Recreation Compass feature online.
Recreation Compass maps of the newly purchased state forest lands will be available after managers complete posting and developing the lands over the next several months.
The leaves in the northern part of the state are at full peak or past but you can still take a drive down a local country road and enjoy the view as the colors are definitely beautiful in our area of the state.
Please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
More...
The Minnesota waterfowl season opened this past weekend and according to the Minnesota DNR the outlook is very good.
“The number of breeding ducks this spring was very high based on the continental duck breeding population surveys,” said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist. “In addition, recruitment, or the number of young ducks that hatched, was also good this year based on reports we’ve heard. These young ducks comprise a large percentage of duck hunters’ bags during the fall.”
Wetland conditions were favorable and the total continental breeding population of all ducks combined was more than 49 million ducks, which is 8 percent above last year and 43 percent above long-term averages, Cordts said. However, duck numbers can fluctuate widely at this time of year for a variety of reasons.
“Some species like blue-winged teal and wood ducks are very early migrants and many move south even before the season opens, which is normal,” Cordts said. “But many other species like ring-necked ducks and mallards will continue to increase in number as migrants move down from Canada during the season.”
Canada goose hunting should also be good early in the regular waterfowl season.
Although I have never been a waterfowl hunter, all four of my grandsons enjoy the sport very much and Trevor, the oldest, is pretty hardcore when it comes to any sort of outdoors activities related to hunting or fishing. I actually believe that goose hunting is probably his favorite and although some don’t like to eat goose, he has no problem with it. He has even made jerky from it and I can attest to the fact that it is mighty tasty.
About three years ago I tagged along with my son Brian and his three boys for a mid-October hunting and fishing trip to our cabin. It was cold with a light mist of snow and rain mix for most of the four days that we were there. These conditions were okay for duck hunting, but not so much for fishing. Each morning Brian and the boys would get up before sunrise, get in our little boat and head across the lake to their duck blinds. Grandpa got to sleep in a little longer before getting up and starting breakfast for the hunters.
On couple of our days there I would drive Brian and Trevor to the beginning of the trail that runs through the state land on the back of our property. They would walk the trail on the state land looking for grouse and this would eventually bring them back to the cabin. While they were hunting, grandsons Taylor and Grant spent their time keeping the campfire going.
Now I have to say that I have always found having a campfire in late fall or winter to be something special. Maybe it’s because sitting around an open campfire in the woods makes me feel like I can almost envision what the fur traders and outdoorsmen endured many years ago.
Yes, spending time in the woods is great but a blazing campfire on a late fall/early winter day with a little snow on the ground can be pretty peaceful and invigorating at the same time. This is an experience that I have been lucky enough to enjoy quite a few times over that past few years and for some reason it makes me feel like a true outdoorsman and definitely brings a person just a little closer to nature.
— — —
I must have done something right yesterday because I received a phone call right away in the morning telling me that I had won a cruise. Wow! Unfortunately, I hung up before the person on the other end could give me the exciting details. About an hour later I received a call informing me that the warranty on my vehicle was about to expire so I had to act soon. I have over 240,000 miles on my pickup, so I think that ship has already sailed, probably on that same cruise. The day before that I had received a call from credit card services offering to cut my rates; must have been another lucky day, and to top that off some guy called yelling something about seniors into the phone, but I had to hang up on him because as excited as he sounded I was afraid he might hurt himself trying to talk. It must really take the stress out of telemarketing when everything is pre-recorded; this also takes away my fun of asking them stupid questions that they can’t answer.
The leaves in the northern part of the state are almost at full peak, so it’s a great time to take a drive north or just drive down a local country road and enjoy the view as the leaves start to turn in our area of the state.
Please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
As I sit here writing this column from the comfort of our cabin, I am looking out at the lake that seems to resemble a mirror as it reflects the colors of the trees as they make the transition to fall. The trees are changing fast and I know that by the end of the week the colors will be even more plentiful in this part of the state.
I enjoy the early mornings at the cabin in the fall as the birds come to the feeders to begin their day the sun slowly rises giving more light to the golden leaves of the trees that are already getting colorful. Another plus for fall is the lack of bugs, (mosquitoes) which were more than plentiful this summer. My friend Mark came up to spend a few days fishing and just enjoying the outdoors. We took a trip to my favorite lake, which is Spider but unfortunately although the weather was great I can’t say the same for the fishing. It didn’t really matter because just being able to spend the day on that beautiful lake made it all worthwhile.
One of the many things that I like about this area of the state is that there are so many beautiful lakes and most of them don’t get fished very hard. I have always loved to lake hop; and this area of the state has an abundance of lakes to explore. To me there is nothing more fun than fishing a lake for the first time; I’d guess it’s all about exploring the unknown. Last fall my grandson Dylan and I decided to try fishing a lake that is just a few miles north of our cabin and one that I had driven past quite a few times over the years. On this particularly cold fall day we did manage to catch a few small northern in the short time that we were there. There was something about our trip to that lake that made Dylan want to revisit it again this summer, unfortunately we never got the chance but I know that the next time that he and I are up here I will make it happen.
The area of the state where our cabin is nestled in is north of Deer River and about 35 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. Highway 38 runs north out of Grand Rapids and is rightfully named Scenic Highway 38 for the way it winds through the Chippewa National Forest and around the many lakes that are visible from the road. This is what makes this area so special to me, always having that option of fishing a different lake or just driving down a scenic highway and taking in the scenery.
Pheasant population up slightly; habitat loss still poses biggest threat
Despite a short-term increase in the number of Minnesota pheasants, habitat loss continues to be the primary factor in the long-term decline of the state’s pheasant population, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR’s August roadside survey for pheasants showed a six percent increase in the pheasant index from 2013, an increase that occurred in spite of a severe winter, a slow start to spring and heavy rains in June.
This year’s statewide pheasant index was 28.7 birds per 100 miles of roadside driven. The highest pheasant counts were in the southwest, south-central and west-central regions, where observers reported 28 to 62 birds per 100 miles driven. Hunters will find good harvest opportunities in these areas.
Looking over longer periods of time, the 2014 pheasant index is 58 percent below the 10-year average and 71 percent below the long-term average.
Weather and habitat are the two main factors that drive pheasant population trends. Weather causes annual fluctuations in roadside indices. Available grassland habitat for nesting and brood-rearing drives the longer-term pattern.
Like other Midwestern states, the loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres is the primary reason there’s been a steady decline in Minnesota’s pheasant harvest since 2006.
Until next time; fall is a great time to do a little small game hunting, and don’t forget the fishing because fall is a great time to catch that lunker you’ve been looking for or you may just want to spend some time at one of our many area parks or lakes.
I will be heading to another of this area’s beautiful lakes tomorrow and the best thing about that is I have a choice. This great country that we live in gives us that right and that right was earned through sacrifice so please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we enjoy today.
Now is a good time to start planning a weekend drive to check out the fall colors that are in the not too distant future. I can’t think of a more scenic drive than heading east to the Mississippi River by Wabasha. If you can’t wait that long there’s Gooseberry Falls by Duluth that will surely be colorful in just a couple of weeks. Actually you won’t need to drive too far if you have a little patience and can wait until the colors change locally. To me there is more to fall than just hunting and fishing, and at times it seems as if the good Lord has painted this colorful landscape just for our enjoyment.
As a kid I always enjoyed traipsing through the slough with my trusty Red Ryder BB gun hunting imaginary Indian Warriors or evil bad guys who were trying to ambush me on the way to the infamous “skunk hill.” Whenever I and some of the neighborhood kids would be looking for an adventuresome place to go we would usually always turn to the slough. With the onset of fall came school so our adventures would usually have to be on Saturday and mostly in the morning.
When we grew older our horizons expanded, thanks in part to our bicycles. Now at times our adventures would occasionally lead us to explore a “crick” or slough that was part of some farmer’s pasture. Anyone that has spent any time in the country knows what a “cow hump” is and how much fun it is to navigate through them.
As a kid I loved going to the stock car races which were held at the fairgrounds on Friday nights. My mother was a big race fan so she would take me and any of my friends that wanted to go. We all had our local heroes and every one of us had our favorite driver. I have to believe that when we were younger it didn’t have as much to do with the driver as it did the car and how cool it looked.
Most of us kids had our own “stock car” that we built ourselves. I was no exception and the car(t) that I built was nothing more than a 2x12 with some old wagon wheels to make it go. There was one kid (Lanny Waller) who an official Soap Box Derby car that his dad had built for him, which was the Cadillac of the group. We had been planning this big end-of-the-summer race for the last Saturday of August and finally decided on this big hill north of the airport that bottomed out close to the “crick” that flowed into Bancroft Bay. I rigged my cart on the back of my bike kind of tow truck style and headed north.
I believe that there were about six of us with cars and some spectators. Once we had the spot picked out we lined up for the first heat and waited for someone to give us the go sign. My cart was really fast and as I zoomed down the hill I was feeling pretty good until I hit the bottom. I controlled the steering with my feet and when I hit the first cow hump at the bottom, the 2x4 holding my wheels pushed back, pinching my ankle against the body. That hurt pretty bad, but the car was hurt worse in that the steering board broke and one of the wheels came off, axle and all. I don’t recall if anyone made it back unscathed, but I know that Lanny’s Cadillac broke its more elaborate steering setup and he was also finished.
Yes, the old cow humps did a number on our cars that day and really cut our race day short. I’d have to say that we didn’t put a lot of thought into what would happen when we reached the bottom. I’d guess you could compare it to jumping from an airplane without a chute with no plan for the landing part of it. Needless to say, it was a long ride back home with that broken cart in tow.
In a recent news release the DNR is encouraging folks to enjoy fall and hunt grouse this year. The grouse season opened on Sept. 13.
Picture yourself walking on a trail through stands of young aspen trees with blazing yellow leaves overhead. The fall air is crisp. Shotgun in hand, you’re enjoying a hike while hunting grouse – Minnesota’s most popular game bird.
Something akin to this scene will soon be reality for the nearly 100,000 grouse hunters in Minnesota. The season for ruffed and spruce grouse runs from Saturday, Sept. 13, until Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015; and for sharp-tailed grouse from Sept. 13 to Sunday, Nov. 30.
“Grouse hunting in Minnesota is some of the best in the nation,” said Ted Dick, forest game bird coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Minnesota has 17 million acres of forest land, much of it public, and an extensive system of nonmotorized hunter walking trails open to grouse hunters. This fall is a great time to get out there and hunt grouse.”
Spring drumming counts were up 34 percent compared to 2013, possibly signaling the start of an upswing in the 10-year grouse cycle that since 2009 has been in the declining phase. However, brood rearing success may have been affected by a cold, wet spring.
“When grouse hunting season starts we will get a better idea how successful grouse were at rearing broods,” Dick said. “So far, we’re hearing optimistic reports.”
Unlike some types of hunting, grouse hunting requires little investment. Hunters need only a blaze-orange hat or vest, a shotgun, a sturdy pair of boots, a valid small-game license and a willingness to walk.
Until next time; fall is a great time to do a little small game hunting, some fishing or just spending some time at one of our many area parks.
Please take a little time to remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.
As we approach the autumn season I have noticed a hint of what lies ahead in the air. It’s kind of funny how even on a fairly warm day I will get that certain feeling that tells me fall is almost upon us. The smell of the new season is starting to make itself known and there seems to be a hint of coolness in the breeze, even on the warm late summerlike days.
As a kid growing up north of town I always loved the smell of fall, which was somehow enhanced by my mom and my Aunt Ruby because of the big garden they planted behind our house each year. Our breezeway seemed to be the perfect place for ripening tomatoes and it’s also where they kept the squash, cucumbers, dill and other veggies they grew. If I close my eyes it seems as if I can still enjoy the smell of those vegetables ripening in that breezeway. Canning was a way of life back then and they canned everything from tomatoes to dill and refrigerator pickles. I have to say the refrigerator pickles were my favorite and my mother had this big old jar that took up half of the top shelf in the ice box (which is what we still called it).
I guess I could date myself a little and tell you that I remember the ice box my grandparents had when they lived on Bridge Avenue. The Albert Lea Ice Company was located on Main Street in the vicinity of where Godfather’s is now and that is where you could get ice for the ice box. I wasn’t very old before the ice box became a thing of the past; I still have an ice pick with their name on it. I can also remember when the coal man would bring coal to the house. Their house had a coal chute and a bin for storing the coal that was used to heat the house, and I can remember watching my grandpa as he shoveled coal into the furnace. I had to take cod liver oil for a while so my grandma would give it to me with orange juice, but that didn’t change the fact that it still tasted awful. Orange juice was a treat in those days because you had to squeeze the oranges with a “juicer” to get the juice and you didn’t even have to look for a made from concentrate sticker. Grandma’s kitchen always had the delicious smell of fresh baked bread and buns as they were taken piping hot from the oven. Then there were the fresh baked made-from-scratch pies, cakes and cookies that make my mouth water just to think about it. Yes, baking was a big part of life back then and as a kid I’d wait patiently for those goodies to come out of the oven, hoping to get a little sample before company arrived and put a huge dent in it.
I guess that must be a part of the “good old days” folks often refer to.
— — —
Bucks-only management strategy applies to archers, youth, and disabled hunters
As archery hunters prepare for the Sept. 13 Minnesota archery season opener, the Department of Natural Resources reminds them to become familiar with this year’s hunting regulations.
One change in particular may be a surprise to archery hunters, youth hunters, and hunters with disability permits: a bucks-only management strategy may apply to them as well.
In a bucks-only harvest area, all hunters may harvest one legal buck – no matter the hunter or the weapon used. In a lottery area, archers, youth and disabled hunters may harvest an antlerless deer without being drawn for an antlerless permit.
“It’s important that hunters review the hunting regulations handbook each year for changes,” said DNR Conservation Officer Sarah Sindelir. “Hunters play an important role in deer management, so as the state’s strategy changes, so do the rules for harvest.”
This season’s conservative approach to harvest is intended to protect more antlerless deer, which will likely reduce the statewide harvest and allow the population to rebound.
Hunters should consult the 2014 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook and deer season/area map for additional information. The handbook can be acquired at most electronic licensing agents, on the Minnesota DNR website at www.mndrn.gov/hunting/deer, or at a local Minnesota DNR office.
Until next time; fall is a great time to take a walk around the lake, do some fishing or just spend a day at one of our many area parks.
Please take a little time to remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.