Episode 511 – Upland birds, firearms deer preview, forest land easements, daughter heads afield

Managing Editor Rob Drieslein kicks off the show with Minnesota Editor Tim Spielman on how the prolonged heat and drought are affecting upland birds and deer, as well as hunters. They also discuss changes to the trapping season in Minnesota, which includes opportunities for fishers and pine martens in southern Minnesota this winter. Then Web Editor Eric Morken, an avid deer hunter, offers his perspective on whitetail numbers as the state bears down on the Nov. 9 firearms deer opener. Brittnay Vanderwall from the American Forest Foundation joins the show to outline the Family Forest Carbon Program and its easements available to some of the region’s private landowners. Tim Lesmeister helps wrap up the show with thoughts on Drieslein’s first hunting experience with his daughter as well as the bizarre report of a woman with 100 raccoons in her yard.