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Rob Drieslein

Outdoor Insights: Why can’t deer build immunity to CWD?

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

My son and I were lamenting how the deer permit area we hunt in southeast Minnesota suddenly has become ground zero for new chronic wasting disease infections.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 17, there were 81 new CWD cases in Minnesota this year, a 69% increase from the 48 found in 2023. All but one have been in roughly a half dozen DPAs in the southeast, and the DNR has called the increase “statistically significant.”
For years, the state has done a solid job of suppressing and preventing CWD from becoming the disaster we see across the Mississippi, but I fear 2024 marks a tipping point in this losing battle.

Outdoor Insights: Why can’t deer build immunity to CWD? Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Minnesota deer hunters safer than others when it comes to firearms accidents?

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

In a recent analysis of Wisconsin hunting incident data, columnist Pat Durkin wrote that older hunters were involved in more firearms-related accidents than younger hunters. The piece prompted me to review recent Minnesota history.
The data here show less bias toward older hunters than Durkin saw in Wisconsin, but they revealed another trend that I found interesting: Deer hunters comprise a surprisingly low percentage of firearms accidents.

Outdoor Insights: Minnesota deer hunters safer than others when it comes to firearms accidents? Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Minnesotans overwhelmingly stand up for the outdoors again

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

Last week, I spoke with Paul Austin, executive director of Conservation Minnesota. He shared a couple of points that illustrate just how thoroughly Minnesotans supported the out-of-doors via the Nov. 5 amendment to re-dedicate lottery profits to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
As reported, people who did not vote for the amendment counted as “no” votes, and even given that, 77.5% of state voters said “yes” to the amendment.

Outdoor Insights: Minnesotans overwhelmingly stand up for the outdoors again Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Participate in “gut pile” study this Minnesota deer hunting season

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, Opinion /

Good luck to firearms deer hunters starting this season, and reminder that it’s not too late to participate in the ongoing “gut pile” study. I checked in with Ellen Candler last week regarding the status of the Offal Wildlife Watching Project, which she launched as University of Minnesota grad student in 2018.
The effort has received funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which voters had the opportunity to renew on Tuesday night.

Outdoor Insights: Participate in “gut pile” study this Minnesota deer hunting season Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Fishers rebound in Minnesota, and making up for lost time in the hunting woods

Featured, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

An update to the 2024-25 trapping season has piqued my interest: Minnesotans can now trap fishers statewide. Dedicated readers of this space have seen trail camera images that my dad has obtained of fishers on his property in southeastern Minnesota the past few years.
A valuable furbearer, fishers were nearly extinct in Minnesota by the early 1900s, but they’ve staged a comeback in the forested region, and in the past 20 years, they’ve shown an increasing adaptability and tolerance of people.

Outdoor Insights: Fishers rebound in Minnesota, and making up for lost time in the hunting woods Read More »

Outdoor Insights: New nonprofit, the Outdoor News Foundation, working to create permanent outdoor enthusiasts

Featured, Featured, Featured, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Opinion, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

For years, you’ve read about declining hunting and fishing license sales and the ramifications that holds for the future of natural resources management, not to mention the potential loss of the outdoors pastimes we hold dear.

Outdoor Insights: New nonprofit, the Outdoor News Foundation, working to create permanent outdoor enthusiasts Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Here’s why renewing Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund matters this November

8 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion /

In addition to the people and parties seeking your support on Nov. 5, there’s a constitutional amendment that this outdoors scribe considers nonpartisan. If it passes, Amendment 1 would extend dedication of 40% of state lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for 25 years. Here’s exactly how it will read on your ballot.

Outdoor Insights: Here’s why renewing Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund matters this November Read More »

A quick chat with Scott Hed, a man front and center in battle over Alaska’s Bristol Bay

Home Page News, National Fishing, Nature Page & Night Sky, Quick Chats /

Some of North America’s most effective conservation advocates rarely see their name quoted in the pages of Outdoor News. They’re the men and women who criss-cross the continent, appealing to donors, pitching their mission to sporting clubs, or requesting 90 seconds of a key politician’s time.
They eschew the limelight while quietly plugging away on their laptops in the dark corner of an airport while awaiting a red-eye, or negotiating an endorsement via cell phone while catching an Uber ride. Hailing originally from a small town in southern Minnesota, Scott Hed is one of those people, and he might be the most effective conservation advocate you’ve never heard of.

A quick chat with Scott Hed, a man front and center in battle over Alaska’s Bristol Bay Read More »

Outdoor Insights: Mallard trends disturbing at best in Mississippi Flyway

2 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Opinion /

Overall, continental duck numbers are down from historic highs (highs that many waterfowlers consider paper ducks) although they showed a 5% increase from 2023. Wigeon and green-winged teal showed the biggest increases from last year.

Outdoor Insights: Mallard trends disturbing at best in Mississippi Flyway Read More »

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