Outdoors

Boundary Waters Advisory Committee will present “Volunteers to Bring Back the Powwow Trail” on April 16, at noon at the Tuesday Group meeting Grand Ely Lodge.
Martin Kubik, lifelong BWCAW trails advocate, will talk about how volunteers, in collaboration with the US Forest Service and Frost River are working to restore the historic Powwow Trail, which was ravaged by the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011.
Emerging from ashes, this trail is now rising amidst of new, vigorous, green growth of healthy jack pine forest.
BWA Committee, a grass roots non profit has now worked since the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire to restore the favorite hiking trail.
Although the path was cleared by the Forest Service crews after the fire, the USFS ceased maintenance and thousands of trees fell across the path while a vigorous growth of jack pines has obliterated the trail, making it impassable.

Minnesota’s popular warm weather stream trout season opens Saturday, April 13, with quality fishing opportunities in every region of the state. Brook trout and splake fishing also opens on Lake Superior and its tributary streams that have no posted boundaries.

“The trout fishing opportunities are improving through investments in trout habitat, angler access, sound land use, and science-based management. Anglers help pay for this work when they buy fishing licenses and trout stamps.” said Jamison Wendel, DNR stream habitat consultant.

Minnesota has roughly 3,800 miles of designated trout streams. Its four coldwater hatcheries produce more than 1.7 million fingerlings and yearlings for stocking each year. Anglers fishing on designated trout waters must have a trout validation in addition to an angling license.

Applications for bear hunting licenses are being accepted now through Friday, May 3, wherever Minnesota hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense, and by telephone at 888-665-4236.

A total of 3,400 licenses are available in 13 permit areas. Bear licenses cost $44 for residents and $230 for nonresidents, and there is a $5 application fee. The 2019 season is open from Sunday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 13.

Lottery winners will be notified by June 1. The deadline to purchase licenses awarded by lottery will be Thursday, Aug. 1. Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available over the counter starting at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

An unlimited number of bear licenses will be sold over-the-counter for the no-quota area that includes east-central and far northwestern Minnesota. No-quota licenses are valid only in the no-quota area. Hunters with a no-quota license can harvest one bear.

A recent study examined the economic feasibility of introducing mass timber manufacturing to the state of Minnesota and/or Minnesota’s Arrowhead region. Specifically, the study examined cross-laminated timber (CLT) which is a wood panel system that has gained popularity after being widely adopted in Europe. The study concluded:

Ever wonder how the DNR sets deer hunting regulations? Or how you can provide input on deer management in your area?
Local wildlife managers across the state are inviting the public to come to open-house meetings to ask their deer questions and learn about the state’s most popular mammal.
In the Tower work area, the open house will be held Tuesday, March 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the DNR’s Tower area office located at 650 Highway 169, Tower.
These local, open-house-style meetings are a way to encourage discussions about deer and deer management, enhance local relationships and foster two-way communication between the DNR and the public.
The DNR began the meetings last year with the release of its statewide deer management plan.

Results of the 2019 moose survey indicate northeastern Minnesota’s moose population remains stable but relatively low for the eighth year in a row, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

“We’re encouraged that the moose population is not in the steep decline it was,” said Glenn DelGiudice, DNR moose and deer project leader. “In the short to medium term, we’re likely to keep seeing moose in the forests, lakes and swamps of northeastern Minnesota. But their long-term survival here in Minnesota remains uncertain.”

Survey results estimate northeastern Minnesota’s moose population at 4,180, statistically unchanged from 2018’s estimate of 3,030. The results reflect a 90 percent certainty that the moose population is between 3,250 and 5,580 animals.

The last significant population decline occurred between 2009 and 2012. Since then, the number of moose in northeastern Minnesota has been statistically stable.

It’s an old bridge, on a not too worn path. On the bridge itself it says, use at your own risk. Many don’t.
The sign, just the small metal placard, if it’s any indicator, has plenty of bullet holes through it. One bent corner and splotchy blotches where paint over the years has been chipped off by Lord only knows what.
Today along its extremely thin length it’s frosted in snow, one gorgeous dump of a hump in the middle of the bridge all plumped up and its oozing out of the rusted rails almost, but not quite leaking, and I think with one warm day or a stout wind, those unsupported snowy outcroppings are bound to go down.
Down below, in a narrow ravine, the serpentine stream’s course is totally snow covered with rounded bends as it wends its way out of my eyesight.

WHAT:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Alexander Birdsall will be out on Lake Waconia reminding anglers about the upcoming deadline to remove their ice fishing shelters. In addition, he will remind them to do their part in keeping lakes clean by picking up trash, even if it doesn’t belong to them, and provide tips for removing shelters in light of the record-setting snow during February.

In the southern two-thirds of the state, structures must be off lakes by the end of the day Monday, March 4. For structures on lakes in the northern third of the state, the deadline is by the end of the day Monday, March 18.

WHEN:
Thursday, Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:
In Towne Marina on Lake Waconia – 8 East Lake Street, Waconia, MN 55387.

WINNER of the Ely-Winton Rod & Gun Club fishing contest was Sam Kaderlik who took home $300 last Saturday with 5.3 lb. northern. Photo by Hailey Worth.

District 5 - Eveleth area