Minnesota Mixed Bag: Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show begins Friday

Duluth, Minn. — The Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show arrives at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, Dec. 12-14, giving users of Minnesota’s outdoors a look at fish houses, winter clothing, ATVs, and much more.

The show will also feature panel discussions about ice fishing and other outdoor pursuits. Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel returns, too, to teach showgoers about ice safety, while the Frozen Basin offers attendees a chance to catch rainbow trout. Visit the Ice Box and talk with the pros about ice fishing. Featured speaker will be Jenny Anderson.

Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. Admission is $10 for adults 18 and older; $6 for those ages 6 to 17; and free for kids age 5 and under. For more information, visit arrowheadiceshow.com

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

West-central Minnesota’s Lake Reno site of angling pressure study

Minnesota native Mary L. Webster elected as 38th president of the Boone and Crockett Club

State legislative auditor looking into Minnesota DNR’s new licensing effort

FRESHWATER FISHING HALL OFFERS YOUTH WRITING CONTEST WITH CASH PRIZES

Hayward, Wis. — The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame reminds young people to submit entries to the Lindsay Sale-Youth Writing Contest by Jan. 10, 2026. The Hall encourages stories about your most memorable fishing trip. Prizes are available for 1st place ($300), 2nd ($200) and 3rd ($100.)

Winners will be announced by May 15 and winning stories will be published in the Spring issue of the Hall’s “Splash” newsletter. The contest is open to youth between the ages of 12 and 15 (parental consent required). Limit one entry per person. All stories must be the work of the entrant, without the use of AI. Stories need to be between 200 and 500 words long, and entries will be judged by qualified outdoor journalists, photographers, and educators.

Complete contest details are available online at: www.freshwater-fishing.org/lindsay-sale-tinney-award-entry-form/

GREAT LAKES STATES TO BENEFIT FROM WATERCRAFT CLEANING STATION DEPLOYMENT

St. Paul — Wildlife Forever will soon install more than a dozen waterless, free-to-use, watercraft-cleaning stations at public boat ramps across the Great Lakes area, helping boaters and anglers prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the project will support local, state, and federal efforts to educate and provide public access tools to mitigate existing and future AIS threats throughout the region.

Installation is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Through Wildlife Forever’s Clean Drain Dry public service and awareness initiative, the newly installed self-service boat-cleaning stations will give users fast and reliable access to proven tools and technology that support best management guidelines.

To learn about Clean Drain Dry initiative AIS-prevention tools and services, contact Zach Burnside, Wildlife Forever’s conservation program manager, or visit CleanDrainDry.org

MINNESOTA DNR EAGLECAM NOW LIVE

St. Paul — The popular Minnesota DNR EagleCam launched its new season Dec. 2.

The EagleCam shows the nesting behavior of a breeding pair of bald eagles, featuring the same active nest as last season. This season, however, viewers will enjoy an improved view of the nest, as the camera has been repositioned and an antenna has been added to offer a sharper image.

Since 2013, the Nongame Wildlife Program has provided the DNR EagleCam as a way for people to easily connect with nature as they witness the fascinating lives of breeding birds.

The previous EagleCam, located at a different site, is also live and continues to display the territory once occupied by the original EagleCam nest, which fell in April 2023. It provides viewers an opportunity to see other wildlife that occasionally visit the site.

Both cameras can be viewed on the DNR website and on the DNR YouTube channel. Viewers can also find information on bald eagles and learn about the work of the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IS DEC. 14 THROUGH JAN. 5

Zimmerman, Minn. — This year marks the 126th anniversary of the nationwide Christmas Bird Count, a survey of winter bird species annually, from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. The citizen science project is organized by the National Audubon Society and involves tens of thousands of volunteers from Alaska to Antarctica, including a group of volunteers at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, just north of Zimmerman, which will occur Dec. 18.

Reports from participating groups across the country are tallied by Audubon and other birding organizations. Data are used to track long-term trends in bird populations and distribution.

For more information, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/

IOWA’S BUSIEST DEER SEASONS HAVE ARRIVED

Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa’s most popular deer-hunting seasons started last weekend, when more than 100,000 hunters took to the timber for the long-awaited gun seasons.

Iowa’s first gun season ran Dec. 6-10. The second gun season is Dec. 13-21. While hunters are split about 50-50 to which season they hunt, the trend has been moving toward the second season due to the flexibility of hunting two weekends. Hunters are expected to harvest 55,000 to 60,000 deer during these two seasons, which is 50% to 60% of Iowa’s total deer harvest.