OUTDOORS
Worth the effort
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 …
Deer licenses now on sale; regulation changes announced
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 …
Duck season offers more options, opens one week earlier
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 …
Fall youth hunt deadlines approaching fast
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 …
DNR asks bear hunters not to shoot radio-collared bears
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, …
The ones that got away
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 …
Itasca State Park either-sex muzzleloader deer hunt regulations and season dates have changed, permit application due Sept. 8
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.
Firewood restriction in effect on state land
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.
2011 waterfowling parade has begun
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 …
Minnesota's pheasant index falls 64 percent from 2010
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:
Public invited to comment on experimental fishing regulations
Reviews of existing or newly proposed experimental fishing regulations on Minnesota waters will be the subject of 11 open house public meetings being conducted across the state in the coming weeks by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The meetings will focus on special regulations for sunfish, crappie, largemouth …
DNR says this is a great year to start hunting grouse
Ever hunted ruffed grouse? If not, this is the year to start. The tasty, fast-flying forest game bird is at high population levels. This means opportunities to see and harvest grouse are about as good as they get. And when they get good in Minnesota, they are the absolute best …
Hunter walking trails provide easy access to great grouse hunting areas
Another great year of ruffed grouse hunting is upon us and it's time to make plans and hit the woods. Whether you're a first-time ruffed grouse hunter, a seasoned veteran or a family planning an active outing, finding places that offer easy access to Minnesota's most-popular game bird will be …
Voices changing in the neighborhood
Over the last 10 days or so, I've been spending a lot of time on ladders, giving the old homestead a much-needed coat of paint. Up there at a level even with the tops of our flowering crabs and ash tree, and almost into the upper reaches of the pines …
A Ducky Start to 2011 Season
Another duck hunting opener is "in the books," as the expression goes, and this one may have "stopped the bleeding," to use another. From a number of unscientific but reliable reports, this year's unconventional and controversial opener may have done just what its Minnesota DNR planners intended: make more ducks …
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