Sunday, May 18th, 2025

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Sunday, May 18th, 2025

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Pat Miller

A case for fishing the Minnesota River — where ‘you never know what you may hook into’

Along its 332-mile journey beginning in Big Stone Lake at the Minnesota-South Dakota border, the Minnesota River bends and snakes its way through farms, forests, fields, and swamps until it meets the Mississippi River south of the Twin Cities near Fort Snelling.
About two-thirds of its way to the Mighty Mississippi, the Minnesota flows through the rural countryside and tangled bottomlands near Henderson, Blakeley, Belle Plaine, Jordan, and Chaska, and for more than 60 years, Dave Wagner has been walking its banks and dropping a line into its water.

A case for fishing the Minnesota River — where ‘you never know what you may hook into’ Read More »

Resorters across Minnesota are springing into action to get ready for fishing opener

Minnesota’s walleye-fishing opener is fast approaching (May 10), and most of the state’s anglers have spent the past few weeks sharpening hooks, inventorying their jigs, putting new line on their reels, and checking their cold-weather rain gear in anticipation of that first day on the water.

Resorters across Minnesota are springing into action to get ready for fishing opener Read More »

Minnesota graduate student is unraveling the mysteries surrounding bowfins

A vast smorgasbord of fishy options is available to Minnesota’s anglers, but most of the state’s fishermen and women concentrate on a handful of species when they head to the water.
For many, the walleye is at the top of the list, but crappies, bass, sunfish, pike, muskies, catfish, trout, and a few others receive attention during certain times of the year. One species oft scorned by Minnesota anglers is the bowfin (dogfish). Categorized by state officials as a native rough fish and for which no fishing regulations apply, anglers may treat the fish as they wish.

Minnesota graduate student is unraveling the mysteries surrounding bowfins Read More »

As older deer hunters ‘age out,’ who will replace them?

For almost half a century, Rick Deuel, of Steamboat Lake, south of Cass Lake, eagerly awaited the Minnesota firearms deer-hunting season.
“Deer season was great. As a kid, I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go deer hunting,” Deuel recalls. “The entire family got together, went ‘up north,’ and hunted. I couldn’t wait for them to come back in the evenings so I could hear how everybody did.”
When Deuel reached the magical age of 14, he officially became part of the family’s deer-hunting party, and his enthusiasm for the hunt continued for the next 50 years. In recent seasons, however, his outlook has changed a bit.

As older deer hunters ‘age out,’ who will replace them? Read More »

For one Minnesota family, public-land deer hunt is a 70-Year Tradition

When Virgil and Mary Ann Baltes moved to Blackduck, Minn., in 1953, they became friends with folks who homesteaded forest property southeast of the city. A few years later, Virgil, a couple of his brothers, and his brother-in-law were invited to hunt deer there. They quickly accepted the invitation.
“The way I remember, that was the start of the Balteses hunting that land,” said Virgil’s son Jim. “And this year, we will be back again.”

For one Minnesota family, public-land deer hunt is a 70-Year Tradition Read More »

Minnesota DNR fire teams stay on alert during the spring season

Many locations in northern Minnesota received abundant rainfall during the middle of May, and no one was happier to see the precipitation fall than Ben Lang.
As the DNR’s fire team leader for the Bemidji area, Lang monitors the landscape and responds when a report of a wildfire is received. This year, spring conditions arrived early, and Lang and his crew had little time to rest. Recent rains, however, have reduced the workload, and Lang doesn’t mind having a break.

Minnesota DNR fire teams stay on alert during the spring season Read More »

For Minnesota’s Mark Thorson, a simple approach to angling is an effective, enjoyable way to go

A generation ago, anglers depended upon their skills, instincts, and observations to figure out where to find and how to stay on fish. Many of today’s fishers, however, do not need to rely on those attributes. Modern-day electronics and sophisticated motor options have largely eliminated the need to solve the puzzle.
“A $100,000 boat, forward-facing sonar, and (position-holding) trolling motors are wonderful and I don’t begrudge anybody who uses them. But I learned a long time ago that the fish don’t care how much you paid to go fishing,” said Mark Thorson.

For Minnesota’s Mark Thorson, a simple approach to angling is an effective, enjoyable way to go Read More »

Death of sperm whale off Florida coast could provide clues to help species

People in southwestern Florida recently were given a rare opportunity to see nature in its rawest form when a 44-foot-long sperm whale became stranded on a sand bar 50 feet offshore along the Venice coastline March 10.
Strong westerly winds and accompanying heavy surf pushed the massive animal toward the shore, and when it encountered the sand bar, the visibly struggling whale was unable to move in any direction.

Death of sperm whale off Florida coast could provide clues to help species Read More »

Months after brain surgery, Minnesota 12-year-old Chasity Skerik scores the buck she sought

The past few months have been eventful for 12-year-old Chasity Skerik, her mother Leah, her dad Greg, and the rest of her family.
About a year ago, the Bemidji, Minn., seventh-grader experienced seizures that were later determined to be caused by a tumor on the right side of her brain. In April, she underwent seven hours of surgery to remove that tumor and, after the medical professionals determined that it wasn’t cancerous, Chasity worked through six weeks of rehabilitation before finally receiving the all-clear to resume the activities of a constantly on-the-go kid.

Months after brain surgery, Minnesota 12-year-old Chasity Skerik scores the buck she sought Read More »

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