It is not that I have not enjoyed camping. I take that back. I enjoyed camping for the first day or two, but three weeks is too long to live in a camper no matter how much a person enjoys camping. Saturday, we made the big move to the new …
Minnesota's ruffed grouse spring drumming counts were higher than last year across most of the bird's range, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "The grouse population is probably still near the high end of the 10-year cycle because drumming counts this spring were …
We're now into week two of the state government shutdown, and all but a few "essential" categories of state employees are off duty. One of the job categories identified as essential is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' conservation officers (game wardens), partly for the dual role they play as …
Most hunters I know have at least one dog, as do most farmers. If a person is both a hunter and a farmer, it is almost guaranteed they will have a dog or two. Dogs serve a multitude of functions from retrieving birds to herding cattle. If a person is …
Some Minnesota state parks will open for day and overnight use as soon as Friday, July 22, but other facilities will not be open until the weekend, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials said today. DNR employees returned to work Thursday, July 21, after the agency and state government …
My morning routine consists of sitting on the front porch, looking over the lake, watching the birds and other wildlife while I drink my coffee. If I spend a half hour or so doing this, I am more prepared for the less relaxing parts my day may bring. The heat …
Minnesota hunters have been able to purchase 2011 deer licenses beginning yesterday (Aug. 1), the same day the state's hunting regulation booklet is available online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Booklets will be available in mid-August. This year's archery season opens Saturday, Sept. 17. The general firearms season opens Saturday, Nov. 5. The …
A season of change is coming for Minnesota waterfowl hunters. Opening day, opening day shooting hours and the annual youth waterfowl hunt all will be earlier than in the past. Bag limits for wood ducks and hen mallards will be higher than last year. And north and south hunting zones …
Youth and their parents need to act quickly to participate in numerous opportunities this fall to venture out in field, forest and wetland on hunts specially designed to spark kids' interest and involvement in the outdoors. "We're on a very short timeline for people to get registered for this fall's …
Hunters participating in Minnesota's bear season, which opens Sept. 1, are asked to avoid shooting radio-collared research bears. The bears are marked with large colorful ear tags or colorful streamers. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) researchers are monitoring about 35 radio-collared black bears, most of them in northwestern Minnesota, …
Saturday, Zane, our grandson, asked if he could come over and spend the night. Of course we said yes. Damon dropped him off in the middle of the afternoon as I was getting ready to build shelves in the entryway closet. He suggested we go fishing instead. As much as …
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds those interested in hunting deer in Itasca State Park during the muzzleloader season that a special hunt permit is now required and the deadline for applying for this permit is Sept. 8.
With the recent find of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Winona County and the city of La Crescent, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds Labor Day Weekend campers that only firewood purchased at a state park or from a DNR-approved vendor may be brought onto any DNR-administered lands.
Some of my travels over the past week have taken me past wetlands and small lakes, the kinds of places where you would expect to see ducks. They're an object of growing interest, now that we're past Labor Day and beginning to see the thermal ups and downs that tell …
A severe winter followed by a wet spring contributed to a significant decline in Minnesota's pheasant counts. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the pheasant population index declined 64 percent from 2010 and is 71 percent below the 10-year average. Contributing factors include:
