Episode 591 – Opener weekend, Minnesota cougars, new Bald Eagle stamps, Capitol shenanigans

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show with tips for the May 9, 2026 Minnesota walleye and pike opener, then recap last week’s big story involving a wild cougar with kittens in Minnesota – the first time that’s happened in a century. Then Ed Hahn from the National Eagle Center joins the program to talk about the U.S. Postal Service first-day-of-issue event happening on May 14 at the Eagle Center in Wabasha. Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Wildlife Federation, jumps into the program to discuss an action alert his organization sent out this last week urging state sportsmen and women to contact their legislators and urge quick passage of the Outdoor Heritage Fund bill at the State Capitol – $191 million in dedicated outdoors funds is on the line. Lesmeister and Drieslein circle back with chatter on a crossbows officially being permanent during the archery deer season, 13 counties deciding to go shotgun-only for deer hunting, and when beavers attack in New Jersey. They also remember waterfowl artist David Maass who passed away last week at the age of 96.