July
2006 Articles
June 2006 Archives
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Map
Chips, Underwater Cameras, and Attractive Lures by
Adam Johnson
At one time only the elite anglers had sonars. Now they are standard
equipment in every boat. A tremendous amount of those sonars have
built-in GPS units. In the newer models you can install a map
chip that will display the bottom contours of the body of water
you’re fishing. More...
(posted 6/8/06) |
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Every
once in a while
By Jim Konsor
Every once in a while a hunt really does go according to the plan.
That was my thought as I reflected on the hunt I'll never forget.
If you want to know the how, when and where...read on.More...
(posted 6/8/06) |
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The
Open Water Fan Club
By Mark Strand
Even in the very early spring, even in the north, even when most
anglers are still jigging through the ice, there is this open
water fan club. Gotta launch the boat, even if you’re going
against the grain and rushing the season. More...
(posted 6/8/06) |
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March 2006
Online Articles
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This
spring snow goose season will probably have the same problem this
year as in years past: smart birds. Each spring many avid waterfowl
hunters spend hours strategizing how to effectively harvest the
alleged smartest of all waterfowl, the snow goose. More...
(posted 3/15/06) |
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Understanding fish behavior and learning
specific fishing techniques and tactics are obviously important.
But, there’s another part of the equation most anglers
overlook - the mental game. More...
(posted
3/2/06) |
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Sit Still For More Perch
By Bob Jensen
As the ice-fishing season continues, the fish change a little
bit. If we want to continue to catch them, we need to change our
lure presentation a little, sometimes a lot. More...
(posted
3/2/06) |
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Looking
Forward To Open Water
By Bob Jensen
This year I’m looking forward to the open water fishing
season earlier than ordinary. This year has been very weird for
ice-fishing. After a great start to the ice-fishing season, we
now have about half the ice that we should have at this time of
year.
More...
(posted 3/2/06) |
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Mid-Winter
Walleyes
By Bob Jensen
As we enter the mid-winter time of year, ice-fishing can change
a little bit. The most important ingredient for ice-fishing success
continues to be the same as any other fishing: You’ve got
to find the fish if you want to be successful. More...
(posted 3/2/06) |
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What
is the difference? Cover or Structure
By John Campbell
Walleye fisherman and bass fisherman have debated for years
about what is more important structure or cover. Structures
for most fishermen are creek beds; drop-offs, humps, ridges,
points and similar changes in the shape of the bottom are structure.
More...
(posted
3/2/06) |
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Wind
Chill & Staying Warm
By Todd Heitkamp
Think of the last time you went ice fishing, were you properly
dressed for the weather? All too often many people are underdressed
or wrongly dressed for the conditions. There are things that
we can easily do when it comes to properly dressing ourselves
or our family to make our next trip on the ice, more enjoyable
and safer. More...
(posted
3/2/06) |
February 2006
Archives
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North
Dakota Trap Attack Story
By Mark Strand
Pre-event recon outside tournament boundaries gave Kevin Schick
and Steve Webb confidence to set up away from clusters of competitors
and win the 2006 Gander Mountain Super Trap Attack on Devils Lake.
More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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Gripping
& Jiggling By Mark Strand
Other than in beer commercials, where the models seem to have
no idea how to hold onto a fishing reel, everybody holds a spinning
outfit the same. Ditto for the ‘underspin,’ a closed-face
version of the spinning reel. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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Trophy ‘Eyes
of Deerhorn Lodge By Bob Riege
Deerhorn Lodge is nestled on the shores of Attiti Lake in Saskatchewan.
It is owned and operated by Curt and Juanita Enns. The Enns
also own and operate Kississing Lake Lodge in Manitoba. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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Kawaweogama
Down Under
By Bob Riege
Ginny and I arrived at Kawaweogama with a tail wind. Randy our
pilot from Ignace Airways was amazed at how fast we made the flight
instead of a 50 minute flight we were at the dock in 20 minutes.
More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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LOOKING
FORWARD TO OPEN WATER
By Bob Jensen
This year I’m looking forward to the open water fishing
season earlier than ordinary. This year has been very weird
for ice-fishing. After a great start to the ice-fishing season,
we now have about half the ice that we should have at this time
of year. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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SIT
STILL FOR MORE PERCH
By Bob Jensen
As the ice-fishing season continues, the fish change a little
bit. If we want to continue to catch them, we need to change
our lure presentation a little, sometimes a lot. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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MID-WINTER
WALLEYES
By Bob Jensen
As we enter the mid-winter time of year, ice-fishing can change
a little bit. The most important ingredient for ice-fishing
success continues to be the same as any other fishing: You’ve
got to find the fish if you want to be successful. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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RIGGING
FOR ICE FISHING
By Bob Jensen
Sometimes, as we become more and more adept at fishing, we have
a tendency to forget about the very basic things. That’s
true in open water and ice-fishing. More...
(posted
2/1/06) |
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Photos for February 2006 |
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photos for larger image and description. |
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January 2006
Archives
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Ryan Gets
His Deer By Duke Doering
When my next-door neighbor in Rapid City, 14-year-old Ryan Jensen
mentioned to me in September that he was going deer hunting
I was interested in what he had to say because I liked the idea
of young boys going hunting.More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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First
Ice
By Tom Hayes
I have been contributing articles to The Outdoorsmen for coming
upon 2 years. I think the biggest aggravation I have caused
Brian and Roger is that it is pretty hard to get a story out
of me about ice fishing. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Strategies
for buying a boat this off-season
By Scott Fairbairn
You saved your pennies and were all set to invest in that once-in-a-lifetime
boat. But you waited too long, got sidetracked by fall hunting,
and before you knew it, hard water arrived. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Multiple
Personality Pike By Jason
Durham
Watching a thick pike approach a minnow through a three-foot
by three-foot darkhouse hole can make your knees shake. An aggressive
fish will dart in and strike a bait at full speed, engulfing
the frantically writhing target before the angler has a chance
to react. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Why Fish
Move – and We Should Too by Gary Roach
So you’re on the ice, the fish are biting, then they’re
gone. The sonar is blank and the underwater camera gives you
a nice view of the bottom but nothing else. Where did they go?
Or better yet; why did they move? More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Ice-Fishing
For Walleyes By Bob Jensen
Ice-fishing is similar to open water fishing
in at least one way: There is a wide assortment of lures available
to ice-anglers. Some open water lures catch fish through the
ice, but there are a few lures that have mostly ice-fishing
appeal. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Rigging
For Ice Fishing By Bob
Jensen
Sometimes, as we become more and more adept at fishing, we have
a tendency to forget about the very basic things. That’s
true in open water and ice-fishing. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Trolling
On Ice By Bob Jensen
Most anglers know that trolling is an effective open water fishing
technique. Successful ice-anglers know that “trolling”
is also an effective way to catch more fish through the ice.
Here’s how you troll on the ice. More...
(posted
1/11/06) |
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Subscription
Promotion Winner!
Arnie
Hippen of rural Flandreau, SD was the winner of the New
Benelli nova pump shot gun given away during our most
recent subscription promotion! Arnie was happy to be drawn
from the many subscribers and plans on putting the shotgun
to good use. He enjoys pheasant hunting and plans on trying
goose hunting this spring and next fall with his new Benelli
Nova!
You can win a Ruger 10/22 just by subscribing
to The Outdoorsmen Magazine! |
Submitted
Photos for January 2006
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photos for larger image and description. |
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December 2005
Archives
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Pistol
Hunting - Getting Up Close and Personal
by Tim Lesmeister
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t hunt deer
for a trophy. I hunt for fun. If a monster buck should step
out in range I won’t hesitate for a second to pin a set
of cross hairs on his chest.
More...
(posted
12/7/05) |
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Fish
and Fronts By Todd Heitkamp
Most fishermen have heard the old wives’ tale, “Wind
from the east, fish bite the least – wind from the west,
fish bite the best.” Well do you believe that statement?
For some fisherman, they hold this dear to their heart due to
past experiences.
More...
(posted
12/7/05) |
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Tailrace
Walleyes this Fall
By John Campbell
The fall is a great time to get to a river near you and catch
some walleyes as they start to move up towards the head of the
pools or start staging along the various breaks as they head towards
the dams. More...
(posted
12/7/05) |
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T.R.'s
Tips: Choosing Stand Sites By
T.R. Michels
An understanding of deer behavior and travel patterns can help
you choose a hunting site. Because deer feed primarily during
low light conditions they have two primary rest periods, late
at night and during mid-day.
More...
(posted
12/7/05) |
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FALL
WALLEYES IN RIVERS
By Bob Jensen
Although some anglers don’t get involved in fall fishing,
many anglers realize that, throughout the Midwest, some of the
best walleye fishing of the year takes place in rivers. More...
(posted 12/7/05) |
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Winterizing
Your Boat
By John Campbell
To many of us fall marks the beginning of getting that boat
ready for the long cold winter. Soon the ice will be too thick
to get the boat in the water and all of us who own boats need
to get them winterized. More...
(posted 12/7/05)
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November 2005
Archives
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Dealing
with Hunting-Dog Injuries
By Martin Coffman, DVM
Cuts are common in hunting dogs. Briars, barbed-wire, broken
glass, or even sharp
broken saplings can slice a dog’s skin as it hunts. Appropriate
field care of wounds can decrease healing time and make the
veterinarian’s job much easier. More...
(posted
11/7/05) |
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Becoming
a Multi-Faceted Angler
By Jason Durham
Talk to a few individuals who approach angling as a religion and
after a short conversation, they’ll classify themselves.
“I’m a jig fisherman” or “I pull cranks”.
Both are obviously productive means for catching fish. More...
(posted
11/7/05) |
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GET
READY FOR ICE-FISHING
By Bob Jensen
The outside air temperatures are in the 50’s and 60’s,
the trees are in the middle of their autumn colors, goose and
pheasant hunting is here or near, and some folks are already thinking
about ice-fishing.
More...
(posted
11/7/05)
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HOT
FISHING IN THE FALL
By Bob Jensen
We often think of fall fishing as being a cold weather deal, but
in the past several years, warm weather has extended deep into
the autumn. I remember fishing in shirt sleeves in central Minnesota
in November just a couple of years ago. More...
(posted
11/7/05) |
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Understanding the Wind By Todd Heitkamp
In the last issue, I discussed lightning and the danger it poses
to ones safety if not taken seriously. Now, as we head into the
Fall, many thoughts start turning toward hunting. More...
(posted 11/7/05) |
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Smallmouth
Bass in Angostura Reservoir
by Duke Doering
A Rapid City woman, Mary Geitz, caught
what was nearly a state record Smallmouth Bass in Angostura Reservoir
recently. The fish was 5 pounds, as it turned out the state record
is 6 pounds, 2 ounces. She was boat fishing with her husband,
Lynn, and son Tyler, when she caught the nice smallmouth bass
on a minnow. More...
(posted 11/7/05) |
October 2005
Archives
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Fall-fishing:
A Value-added Component to Autumn Hunting By
Gary Roach
This fall,
force yourself to sneak in a couple hours on the water. Every
year about this time, the fishing writers and magazines publish
stories proclaiming the missed opportunities of fall fishing.
“It’s some of the best fishing of the year, and
the lakes are empty!” they write. And year after year,
the lakes remain relatively void of anglers despite a good bite
under the surface. More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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The Hunt for
Trophy Fish
By Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
Who has ever dreamed about catching a trophy walleye of lifetime?
We all yearn to see an 8, 9, 10 pound fish or even larger splashing
on the surface as we slip it into the net! More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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Crossover
Appeal by
Mark Strand
With certain fishing lures, a glorious history pigeonholes them.
When most anglers see a Fat Rap, they immediately think bass.
Hold up a red-and-white spoon, and visions of northern pike, or
perhaps pickerel, come to mind. More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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Fall
Transitions by Adam
Johnson
Fishing in the fall is a lesson in transitions. The shallow
water is cooling off and gamefish that found comfort in the
cool confines of the deeper water don’t mind moving shallow
in search of food. More...
(posted 10/5/05)
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Bird
is the Word
by Jason Durham
With the proliferation of remarkably lifelike and creatively composed
plastic bodies accompanied by their ability to hold scents and
flavors, a long time favorite panfish bait has been mistakenly
left in the tackle trays.
More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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Pheasants
Forever’s 2005 Pheasant Forecast
The 2005 pheasant season should prove to be a year to remember.
Across nearly the entire pheasant range, pheasant numbers are
up thanks to quality Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands,
Pheasants Forever chapter habitat projects, a series of mild winters,
and advantageous spring weather. In fact, South Dakota experts
report their pheasant population to be at a 40-year high. More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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Fall
Fishing by Gary Howey
Well it’s that time of the year again! The kids are preparing
to go back to school, temperatures are up and fishing has "really"
cooled down. More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
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The
Making of a Dove Hunter
by Tom Hayes
The week after the Good Lord invented Dirt, He invented the
Mourning Dove. The Southern States welcomed this creation into
the world and declared it a “game bird” and summarily
went about setting up season dates, bag limits and legal means
of taking them. More...
(posted 10/5/05) |
September 2005
Archives
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Shallow
Water Fall Fish By Bob Jensen
So much of the time anglers think of fishing in the fall as being
a deep water deal, and much of the time throughout the Midwest
it is.
More...
(posted 9/8/05) |
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Keep Your Fishing
Costs Low By
Bob Jensen
This summer has been a weird one for many anglers. The weather
early on was wet and chilly in many areas throughout the Midwest,
then when it decided to warm up, it got really hot.
More...
(posted 9/8/05) |
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Technology
In Fishing By Bob Jensen
The thing about fishing that appeals to so many people is that
it can be as simple or as complex as we want to make it.
More...
(posted 9/8/05) |
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July 2005 Archives
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On
Becoming An “Elder” By
Tom Hayes
I was invited on an ice fishing trip recently by a couple of guys
from work. I know them fairly well but had never met their friends.
More...
(posted 7/12/05) |
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Special
Friendships By Pat Chicoine
As we start the downhill slide of another very mild South Dakota
winter I would like to share a story from a recent ice fishing
trip out on Lake Poinsett in east central SD. More...
(posted
7/12/05) |
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Panfish For The
Season Starter By Bob Jensen
In some areas of the Midwest, fishing season for some species
of fish is still closed. In other areas, you can fish for whatever
you want to fish for. Regardless of where you live, you can
chase panfish. More...
(posted
7/12/05) |
June 2005 Archives
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Winchester is offering the first new varmint cartridges
in 30 years by L.P.Brezny
While handgun rounds have been developing like they were going
for half price, and rifle cartridges for deer and elk are over
flowing on the dealers shelves, varmint hunters have been largely
left in the dark for far to long, or at least that’s the
way Winchester sees the situation. More...
(posted
6/27/05)
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Jigs
For More Fish
By Bob Jensen
Fish like to eat jigs. Spring, summer, fall and winter, fish
like to eat
jigs. It doesn’t matter if you’re chasing walleyes,
panfish, bass, pike
or muskies, they will all readily inhale a jig. More...
(posted
6/27/05) |
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Catch
Walleyes Early In The Season By
Bob Jensen
Throughout the Midwest, the early season walleye bite starts
at
different times. The farther north, the later the start. Some
states
allow anglers to start chasing walleyes whenever possible, other
states
require us to wait until the season opens officially.
More...
(posted
6/27/05) |
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Fellowship
of Christian Sportsmen Plus
The concept of Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen
Plus was started 6 years ago. Three men were fly fishing on
Lake Pactola, in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
Read
More...
(posted
6/01/05) |
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The
Deer Shack By Tom Hayes
Actually, what we now call the Deer Shack used to be the Bunkhouse
back
when the Ranch was operating at full capacity and horses had
not been
replaced by 4 wheel drives and snowmobiles. More...
(posted
6/27/05)
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May
2005 Archives
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Summertime
Crappies by Adam Johnson
I had envisioned a quiet morning
on the water chasing largemouth bass in the bulrush with a topwater
lure. Conditions were right. The wind was a whisper and the
weather had been stable for a few days straight. More...
(posted
5/10/05)
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Troll
For More Fish By Bob Jensen
There are three basic ways to present a bait to a fish. An angler
can cast, drift, or troll. Each of these presentation techniques
has merit, but in many situations, you just can’t beat
a trolling presentation. More...
(posted
5/10/05)
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Shallow
Bass on Plastic Baits
By Bob Jensen
Many bass anglers consider early summer to be their favorite
time of year to chase largemouth bass. The bass have completed
their annual spawning ritual and are starting to go on a serious
bite. More...
(posted
5/10/05)
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The Kings of the Nushagak by
Tim Lesmeister
When the float plane landed it softly brushed the surface of
the river before settling in. It was a picture perfect landing,
which can be expected when floats take the place of wheels and
the landing surface is water instead of tarmac. More...
(posted
5/10/05)
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April 2005
Archives
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Fishing
the Illinois River by
Scott Fairbairn
At heart I’m a jig fisherman. I grew up jig fishing on
the Mississippi River and most of the lakes in Minnesota and
I’m very comfortable with a jig rod in my hand –
especially chasing sauger on the Illinois River. More...
(posted
4/29/05)
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Spot-on-the-Spot
Fishing By Mark Strand
It's not enough, a lot of times, just to find a big piece of
structure. Next time you ask somebody where they caught those
nice fish and they tell you "out on that big reef,"
realize you aren't getting much information. More...
(posted
4/13/05)
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In
Search of Big Pike by
Adam Johnson
Hooking up with a big northern pike can provide a fishing lesson.
Having a 10 to 15 pound pike on the end of the line can teach
you if your fishing abilities are finely tuned or if there are
some areas in your program that need some refinement. More...
(posted
4/6/05)
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Plastics,
the Whole Plastics, and Nothing but the Plastics for Early-Season
Bass by Jerry Curtis
Remember when anglers used plastics for the sake of using plastics?
These days, too many anglers, even my fellow bass chasers, have
relegated plastics to trailer or tipping status only.
More...
(posted
4/29/05)
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Start
in the Weeds for Walleyes This Spring
by Perry Good
Weed walleyes are the Rodney Dangerfields of Midwestern gamefishing.
Maybe it’s because they consort with those rough-and-tumble
bass, but for whatever the reason, most anglers just don’t
give them any respect. More...
(posted
4/29/05) |
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Boat
Control for More Fish
By Bob Jensen
Anglers across the Midwest are in the process of getting their
boats ready for the upcoming fishing season. Many anglers consider
their boat to be simply a transportation vehicle for getting to
and from a spot, and a boat certainly is that. However, a boat
is also a base of operation. More...
(posted 4/13/05)
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Big
Walleyes on Slip-Bobbers
By Bob Jensen
Whatever you call them, corks, bobbers, floats, call them a
great tool for presenting a bait to a variety of fish. Although
some consider bobbers to be a tool for inexperienced anglers,
many of the best fishing guides rely on bobbers when the bite
is tough. More...
(posted 4/13/05)
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Catch Fish
in Rivers By Bob Jensen
Rivers flow throughout the Midwest, and most of them have great
populations of a wide variety of fish. Many anglers realize
the productivity of rivers; in fact, some anglers limit their
fishing to rivers. More...
(posted
4/13/05)
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Chase
the Other Fish
By Bob Jensen
Too many anglers consider themselves to be single-species anglers.
Many, many times I’ve heard a person proclaim that they
are a walleye-fisherman, or a bass-fisherman, or a cat-man,
or whatever. More...
(posted
4/6/05)
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Try
Plastic for More Fish By
Bob Jensen
Jigs are great for catching fish: Almost any fish will eat a
jig. Tradition has most anglers tipping their jigs with minnows,
leeches, or nightcrawlers, and for good reason. More...
(posted
4/6/05)
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in the Weeds for Walleyes This Spring by
Perry Good
Weed walleyes are the Rodney Dangerfields of Midwestern gamefishing.
Maybe it’s because they consort with those rough-and-tumble
bass, but for whatever the reason, most anglers just don’t
give them any respect. More...
(posted
4/6/05)
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March 2005
Archives
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Kent Hrbek
Outdoors... A Different Type of Outdoors
Show by Roger W. Janssen
Once there were a couple of Minnesota boys who had successful
careers but knew there was something more satisfying out there.
Their challenge was to find a way to make a living in a place
where both have a passion, the outdoors.
More...
(posted
3/8/05)
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Locking
Down the Pattern by Adam
Johnson
We often read about how important it is to vary a presentation
to see if it can be improved upon. Slight color modifications
might trigger more bites or changing to a different plastic
body might solicit more strikes. More...
(posted
3/8/05) |
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| Spring
and its different meanings
by Brock Antijunti
Well, it is that time of year again. Spring….that
is what I am talking about. Spring has many different meanings
to all of us. More...
(posted
3/8/05) |
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| Boat
Control for More Fish by
Bob Jensen
Anglers across the Midwest are in the process of getting their
boats ready for the upcoming fishing season. Many anglers consider
their boat to be simply a transportation vehicle for getting
to and from a spot, and a boat certainly is that. More...
(posted
3/8/05)
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February 2005
Archives
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Secrets
of the Bass Tournament Pros
by Jerry Curtis
Competitive fishing has made me a better angler. Yeah, tournaments
generate some controversy, but I’m a better angler thanks
to fishing hundreds of competitive angling events during the
past 25 years. More...
(posted
2/24/05)
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Coming
Up With the Answers
by Gary Roach
The sportshow season has ended and the tournament season has
begun. I did a bunch of seminars this year and as usual, I was
asked some good questions by audience members. More...
(posted
2/24/05)
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Ice
Jig Fine Points by Mark Strand
Open up a well-stocked jig box. Pretty, ain’t
they? Now, choose the right weapon for the situation at hand.Then,
match that jig up with the right bait or plastic and make
it dance in a manner that fish respond to. More...
(posted
2/18/05)
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Winter
Get Away
by Tom Hayes
A few years ago, our son graduated from SD Tech and went to
work for a company that thought he would look good traveling
the streets of Austin, Texas. More...
(posted
2/2/05) |
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Find
Fish Early In The Year
by Bob Jensen
More and more anglers are getting ready to go fishing in open
water. Early in the open water season fishing can be a hot
or cold deal. More...
(posted
2/18/05)
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SPRINGTIME
BASS by Bob Jensen
Fishing for largemouth bass starts at different times
in different areas of the Midwest. In some states there is
a bass season, in other states we can chase bass year ‘round.
More...
(posted
2/18/05)
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Channel
Cats by Gary Howey
They’re big, they’re ugly and they lurk
on the bottom of most bodies of waters in the upper Midwest.
More...
(posted
2/18/05)
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Lessons
learned from the past fishing season
by Bob Jensen
The 2004 open-water fishing season is in the books for most
anglers. Of course there will still be a good number of anglers
fishing the open water below dams, and ice-fishing is not
far away, but for most open water anglers, it’s time
to call it a season. More...
(posted
2/2/05)
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Walleyes on spoons
by Bob Jensen
Throughout the entire ice-fishing season, spoons are a great
way to catch walleyes. In fact, spoons in different sizes
will catch perch, lake trout, and northern pike through the
ice also. More...
(posted
2/2/05)
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Icing
Perch by Bob Jensen
In the open water season, it seems that most Midwest anglers
like to chase walleyes. But during the ice-fishing season,
perch get a lot more attention. More...
(posted
2/2/05)
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January 2005
Archives
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Hunting
Dog Conditioning is Important Year-Round
By Rhett Kermicle
The time most hunters seem to think about getting their dog
into shape, if they think about it at all, is right before the
hunting season begins. More...
(posted
1/28/05)
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TRY
PLASTIC FOR MORE FISH - By Bob Jensen
Jigs are great for catching fish: Almost any fish will eat
a jig. Tradition has most anglers tipping their jigs with
minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers, and for good reason. More...
(posted 1/28/05) |
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GETTING
ON THE WATER - By Bob Jensen
As the weather warms,
the water beckons to boaters. Some of those boaters will be
anglers, some will be pulling skiers and tubers, and some
will be cruising. More...
(posted
1/28/05)
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CATCH
MORE FISH RIGHT NOW - By Bob Jensen
Anglers are always looking
for ways to be more successful fish catchers. There are a
number of things we can do throughout the year to fool more
fish. More...
(posted
1/28/05)
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Fishing
after the Spawn - by Gary Howey
Early spring fishing is didivded into three
periods: Pre-spawn, Spawn and Post-spawn. Many anglers fish
all of these periods in the same way, fishing the same areas
using the same equipment and the same presentation. More...
(posted
1/11/05)
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Kids
& Fishing: A Perfect Match
- by Gary Howey
The last two weeks, our articles talked about fishing for
bass and
walleye in the spring. To some it was something they already
understood while to others it was all-new. More...
(posted
1/11/05)
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December
2004 Archives
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Crappie
Delight In Your Backyard
- By Brock Antijunti
One of the most elusive fish we have ever encountered, is the all famous
crappie. They are so unpredictable in their patterns of behavior. Some
are day biters, and some are night time dependent on location. More...
(posted
12/29/04)
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How
To Hit Waterfowl Targets
- By L.P.Brezny
Learning the 75 % rule first and foremost. There is a children's story
about a little steam engine that says “ I think I can, I think
I can”, and after a time the little engine did what was considered
almost an impossible task. More...
(posted
12/29/04)
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The
Kings of the Nushagak
- by Tim Lesmeister
When the float plane landed it softly brushed the surface of the river
before settling in. It was a picture perfect landing, which can be expected
when floats take the place of wheels and the landing surface is water
instead of tarmac. More...
(posted
12/22/04)
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Seeking Ice Walleyes
- by Mark Strand
Conduct your own search for walleyes, one of the prized fish of the
Ice Belt. The conversation, for a brief time, sounds like we’re
talking about the Internet. More...
(posted 12/15/04)
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Sight vs. Sonar Response
- by Mark Strand
Sometimes, it’s not the fish’s response to our bait but
our response to the fish that determines the outcome of each encounter.
More...
(posted
12/15/04) |
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Caribou Hunting
in Alaska - by Jason Lesmeister
There are a number of reasons hunters come to Alaska to chase caribou.
Most often they just want to see the huge herds of caribou that roam
the migration routes. More...
(posted 12/15/04)
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GIFT IDEAS FOR THE OUTDOORS-PERSON
by Bob Jensen
We have entered that time of year when some folks experience a little
more tension than necessary. The reason for the tension is gift shopping.
More...
(posted 12/9/04)
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Bowfishing
the Big Missouri River
by Brock Antijunti
It was a few years ago, I got a bow set up with some line & a spool….cheap
department store set up. I have always seen buffalo, carp, & suckers
mid summer swimming along the surface almost anywhere I have went to
go fishing. More...
(posted 12/2/04) |
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The Hornady
17 HMR -
by L.P.Brezny
It started like so many new ideas, being it seemed to be the cartridge
that wasn’t. That is to say a whole lot of hype, but darn little
evidence that it was even a reality on the market. More...
(posted 12/2/04) |
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Crankin’
the Middle Depths - by
Mark Strand
There is an old saying in fishing that, at the beginning of each outing,
you can assume the fish are deep, shallow or somewhere in between. More...
(posted 12/2/04) |
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Once in a Lifetime Bighorn
Hunt - by Dr. Tad Jacobs
The moment I took the step I felt it. I have had the feeling
before. I suspect most hunters who have spent enough time in the field
know what I am talking about. It is that sixth sense when you know
you are not alone. More...
(posted 12/9/04)
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Hastings
Metro Gun System - by L.P.Brezny
It was early on a Sunday evening when I got the call from Doug a local
building forman for a major developer in my area. Doug's voice was stressed
as he explained that he was badly in need of my services... More...
(posted 12/2/04) |
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Chase the other
fish - by Bob
Jensen
Too many anglers consider themselves to be single-species anglers.
Many,
many times I’ve heard a person proclaim that they are a walleye-fisherman,
or a bass-fisherman, or a cat-man, or whatever. More...
(posted 12/22/04)
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Kid
Fishin’
- By Tom Hayes
A couple
of weekends ago I was sitting in the little room in the corner of the
basement that I am allowed to call “my room”. I was feeling
sorry for myself because a Friday night storm had dusted us with about
8 inches of blowing and drifting. More...
(posted 12/29/04) |
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Your Next Boat
- by Bob Jensen
This is the time of year when many anglers are considering
a new boat or a first boat. This can be a fun and exciting experience,
but it can also be a little confusing. More...
(posted 12/22/04)
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Lessons Learned
from the Past Fishing Season - By
Bob Jensen
The 2004 open-water fishing season is in the books for most anglers.
Of course there will still be a good number of anglers fishing the
open water below dams, and ice-fishing is not far away, but for most
open water anglers, it’s time to call it a season. More...
(posted 12/9/04)
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Trolling
on Ice - by Bob Jensen
Trolling on open water is a popular and effective way to find and
catch fish because you’re constantly covering water. This increases
the odds of showing your bait to more fish, and the more fish that
see your bait, the better the odds of getting bit. More...
(posted 12/9/04)
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East River Deer
Season Opening, Remember Season Extensions
PIERRE, S.D. – Hunters licensed for units in
the northern/western section of South Dakota’s East River deer
season area have already had a few days of hunting, and on Saturday,
Nov. 27, hunters licensed for southeastern East River deer units can
start their hunt. More...
(posted 12/2/04)
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Parents
reminded of thin ice danger to children
In the wake of a 4-year-old Park Rapids boy falling
through thin ice Wednesday evening, safety officials from Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are warning parents to caution
their children to stay off water bodies that may now have a thin coating
of ice. More...
(posted 12/2/04)
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Did
You Ever Wonder Why?
- by Tom Hayes
A hot mid-summer afternoon is not generally considered the perfect time
for a walleye fishing outing, but when two busy schedules align you
go fishing. More...
(posted 12/2/04) |
November 2004 Archives
Bass Limit Change Proposed For Five
Northeast Lakes
PIERRE, S.D. - Daily black bass limits might change to three
daily for South Dakota lakes Enemy Swim (including Campbell Slough), Roy,
Cochrane, Clear (Marshall County) and Pickerel under a recent Game, Fish
and Parks proposal. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
Resident Deer Depredation Application
Available
PIERRE, S.D. – Game, Fish and Parks officials say
paper and online applications are available for South Dakota’s 2004-05
resident deer depredation pool. Paper applications must be postmarked on
or before Nov. 26. Online applicants have up to midnight on Monday, Nov.
29. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
Reminder Of Regulations For Road Hunting
PIERRE – Hunters targeting public road rights-of-way
during South Dakota’s 2004 hunting seasons are reminded about the
law regarding hunting from those public areas. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
Hunters may arrange to donate extra
venison (2004-10-20)
This year, Minnesota deer hunters may arrange to have their extra venison
donated to programs that distribute food to the needy. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
Additional suspects sentenced for damages
to state forest wetland (2004-10-12)
Two more men received jail time and additional fines for
driving off-road vehicles in a state forest last year and heavily damaging
wetlands. More...
(posted
10/30/04)
Survey Finds Iowa Turkey Numbers Slightly
Lower
CHARITON - Iowa's turkey population remained fairly steady
from 2003 to 2004, but heavy spring rains had an impact on poult survival,
according to the 2004 Turkey brood survey. The survey found the average
number of poults with a hen was lower than last year, and was about 10 percent
below the 10-year average. More...
(posted
10/30/04)
North Dakota Pintail and Canvasback
Seasons
Close Nov. 2
North Dakota duck hunters are reminded the 39-day hunting
seasons on pintails and canvasbacks close Tuesday, Nov. 2 at sunset. More...
(posted
10/30/04)
Department Taking Orders for 2005 OUTDOORS Calendars
Now is the time to order the North Dakota Game and Fish
Department's North Dakota OUTDOORS calendar, the official source for all
the season and application dates you need to know in the year 2005. Along
with outstanding color photographs of North Dakota wildlife and scenery,
it also includes sunrise-sunset times and moon phases. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
THERE ARE PLENTY OF DEER AND UNLIMITED
PERMITS AVAILABLE
Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska deer hunters should have
plenty to smile about this year.There are lots of deer out there again this
year> Archers have already been having good success during the first
part of the archery season, and plenty of deer hunting permits, including
an unlimited number of archery permits, are still available for Nebraska’s
2004 deer hunting seasons. More...
(posted 10/30/04)
Game and Parks Commission Corrects
Local Newspaper Mountain Lion
LINCOLN, Neb. – A recent newspaper story stating that Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission employees are releasing mountain lions in the state
and pervasive rumors of the same continue to amaze and confound Commission
officials. More...
(posted
10/30/04)
October 2004 Archives
16,000 North Dakota
Antlerless Deer Licenses Still Available
Interested deer hunters still have time to purchase doe licenses for North
Dakota's 2004 deer gun season, according to Carrie Whitney, State Game and
Fish Department licensing supervisor. More...
(posted
10/4/04)
Waterfowlers should be aware of Eurasian
watermilfoil
As waterfowlers head out this fall, they should take extra time to keep
from spreading non-native, invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil,
according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). More...
(posted 10/4/04)
Two northeast Minnesota metro lakes
opened to liberalized fishing
Two lakes in Lamprey Pass Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Forest Lake
will be opened to liberalized fishing prior to a reclamation project that
calls for removal of fish by chemical treatment. More...
(posted 10/4/04)
Catfish Unleashed in Iowa
by Joe Wilkinson
Working the wood, wire and foam cage up the ramp, Chris Mack tipped
it forward. As he popped the clasp, the door fell open. Inside, a dark,
writhing mess of whiskers, spines and fins splashed in the six inches of
water that remained. Catfish heaven to many anglers. More...
(posted 10/4/04)
Hunters Young and Old Learn Safety
Before Heading to the Field
by Joe Wilkinson
Some of you will be taken by surprise. Others know better. You just put
it off. Iowa's fall hunting seasons are upon us...but there will still be
night-before-opening-day calls, asking how you can get your license, without
taking hunter education training. The answer will be simple. You can't.
More...
(posted
10/4/04)
Nebraska Fall Turkey Hunting Season
Approaching, Get Permits Now
Lincoln, Neb. -- Nebraskas 2004 fall archery turkey season is open October
1 - November 12, and there are an unlimited number of permits for both the
archery season and the fall shotgun turkey season, which will be October
23 - November 12. More...
(posted 10/4/04)
Two Nebraska Rivers SRA Trout Lake
Stocked With 3,000 Rainbows
Lincoln, Neb. -- If the warm fall days make you wish you
were out fishing, theres still time to enjoy some trout fishing at popular
Two Rivers State Recreation Area (SRA) near Venice. More...
(posted 10/4/04)
September
2004 Archives
GFP Provides Q&A On Prairie Dogs
PIERRE, S.D. – Game, Fish and Parks officials have
devised a basic question and answer list to help people better understand
the recent issues that lead to the near listing of the black-tailed prairie
dog on the federal Endangered Species Act list. More...
(posted 9/25/04)
COLUMNS:
Bow Hunting can be like that.
By Tom Hayes
Archery deer hunters used to be a rare breed back in the days of stick bows.
To be able to take a deer with a bow meant hours and hours of practice and
being in the exact right place at the exact right time with the deer looking
the other way when it came time to draw the bow. More...
(posted 9/23/04)
Hunters Asked To Assist In Search
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota hunters are being asked
to assist in the search for an elderly North Dakota couple who were reported
missing from their Hettinger, N.D. home on Aug. 17. More...
(posted 9/22)
Archery Deer Season To Open Sept. 25,
Licenses Unlimited
PIERRE, S.D. – Except for the Black Hills deer management
area, South Dakota’s archery deer season begins Saturday, Sept. 25,
and archers are reminded that although there is an unlimited number of regular
archery deer licenses and no deadline, all licenses must be either purchased
at the Game, Fish and Parks Licensing Office in Pierre, applied for by paper
application via postal mail or applied for electronically with a credit
card at www.sdgfp.info. Archery licenses may be purchased throughout the
archery season (Sept. 25-Dec. 31). More...
(posted 9/22)
Rock
bass ties Minnesota record
A lot of anglers on Lake Winnibigoshish would throw back
a fish like this because they are seeking walleye, but William Young from
Waukesha, Wis. recognized a record-sized rock bass when he caught it. More...
(posted 9/16)
General CRP Sign-up To Be Held Aug.
30-Sept. 24
The Farm Service Agency Office in Huron, SD has announced
that a general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up will be held Aug.
30 to Sept. 24.
More...
(posted 9/16)
Outdoor Column: Thin Line between Courage
and Stupidity A wise man, it's been said, knows where courage
ends and stupidity begins. I confess I have not always recognized the difference.
More than once over the years, for instance, I've been on the water in conditions
that would have qualified me as more stupid than fearless.
More...
(posted 9/16)
Early color change, crisp weather jumpstarts
fall rush to Minnesota State Parks
Recent cool nighttime temperatures and frost in various areas of Minnesota
have resulted in the appearance of some early fall colors. According to
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this has prompted increased
visitation at its state parks. More...
(posted 9/16)
Hunters Should Check And Care For
Big Game Licenses
It may be a few weeks before the season opener, but hunters
who received a big game license are being asked to check their tags to
make sure everything is correct. More...
(posted 9/16)
Dove Season Open, Remember Special
Regulations
South Dakota’s 2004 dove season opened Wednesday,
Sept. 1, and hunters are reminded about state hunting regulations that
are unique to doves. More...
(posted 9/4)
Nebraska 2004 EARLY TEAL HUNTING
SEASON OPENS SEPT. 11
Nebraskas waterfowlers will have their first opportunity
of the year to hunt ducks when the 2004 early teal hunting season opens
September 11 in the southern part of the state, including the southern
Panhandle. The nine-day season will close at sunset September 19. More...
(posted 9/4)
Why
Anglers And Hunters Don't Wear Life Jackets
Game,
Fish and Parks officials say two hunter and angler focus groups commissioned
by the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water recently
revealed the top three reasons why sportsmen
don't wear life jackets while boating--and why some choose to. More...
(posted 9/4)
North Dakota Sharptails, Ruffed Grouse
and Partridge Seasons Open Sept. 11
Sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunters may have to
work a little harder to find birds this year, according to Jerry Kobriger,
upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department,
Dickinson. More...
(posted 9/4)
Wood Ducks in Iowa
In the dim just-before-dawn light, four wood ducks splashed into the water.
Within seconds, a couple more set down next to them. From our blind, about
25 yards up the slope, Greg Schmitt and I watched and listened as more
woodies glided, plopped and skidded onto this backwater of the Toolesboro
Bottoms, near Wapello. They were hungry. And they were headed for us.
More...
(posted 9/4)