Javier Serna

Grand Rapids, Minn. — The first year of Minnesota DNR’s new spruce grouse survey shed new light on these northern birds that sometimes show up in the bags of ruffed grouse hunters. A partnership of volunteers, as well as DNR, National Forest Service and tribal staff combined to map out a range for the birds […]

Grand Rapids, Minn. — Ted Dick isn’t going out on a limb after the disappointment of last year’s ruffed grouse season. After the hunt last year didn’t live up to the hype of summer drumming counts, which were 2.1 drums per stop statewide, Dick, the Minnesota DNR’s forest game bird coordinator, wasn’t taking any chances

St. Paul — Minnesota’s new northern pike zone regulations are on their maiden voyage, having began with this year’s open-water season. But it could take more than a decade before the desired effects will be seen. While there’s been skepticism expressed (in Outdoor News and elsewhere) from people who don’t believe the regulations will work

Grand Rapids, Minn. — Certainly, conditions could change between now and the end of Minnesota’s bear-hunting season, but black bears will head into the baiting season, which opens Friday, Aug. 17, fairly well satiated from mostly above-average berry production throughout most of the bear range this summer. The general line from most state wildlife managers

St. Paul — Reactions were mixed as deer hunters began to digest the final version of the Minnesota White-Tailed Deer Management Plan, the first such state plan that was release July 24 by the Minnesota DNR. A more thorough review of the 50-page document and supporting materials also revealed in more detail the changes that

St. Paul — The risks and effects of the Legislature’s unprecedented move to raid the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund of $98 million over the next 20 years have been examined by the commission charged with recommending how the funding is spent. On July 18, several members of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources,

Duluth, Minn. — The U.S. Coast Guard announced this week that it would be stepping up enforcement measures to stop boat operators from illegally taking passengers for hire without the proper licenses on Lake Superior and other waters of northern Minnesota. Apparently, a similar enforcement campaign last year on the Chicago-area waters of Lake Michigan

St. Paul — Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council members have begun poring over the next round of proposals – there are 45, totaling more than $264 million. It’s estimated there will be about $100 million available for appropriation recommendations in this round, which is for fiscal year 2020. It’s possible the estimate may be revised after