Outdoors

Why we hunt deer
Four years ago, Mrs. Trout Whisperer and I dug a hole in our yard. We then went to the store and bought expensive healthy soil to put back in the hole. Then we fenced the hole and finally we drove to the local greenhouse and purchased a bunch of strawberry plants that we plopped in the now titled, “garden.”
Oh, during that first May, no blossoms, I was so sad. But that fall we mulched them plants. The following spring we un-mulched that bed of fruity potential and then on a warm day in May, our first strawberry blossoms opened.
About mid to late July, some of those plants had strawberries almost two thirds ripe and to think in just a few days we would be noshing on our low to the over worked, overpriced ground, with little delicious red berries.
Funny thing happened tho, chipmunks decide they weren’t waiting for the berry to be entirely ripe, so they just munched the red ripe redness and left the unripe gnawed remains for us.

by Nick Wognum
This should be a good year for deer hunting in northeast Minnesota.
After three mild winters the herd has rebounded and while there may be more spikes than 30-pointers, hunters should be happy.
“I’m very optimistic with where the deer population is at,” said DNR wildlife manager Tom Rusch in Tower. “People are going to see improvement overall from last year and most saw improvement from the year before.
“We’re rebuilding and depending where you hunt and the unknown is the weather, this should be a good year. If we get the crappy opening weekend weather that will have an impact. But we should hit the rut really well with bucks in the chase phase and more deer on the landscape.”
Rusch is predicting a 20 percent increase overall for the firearms deer harvest. With more antlerless and hunter’s choice areas, there should be venison in more freezers this winter.

by Chad Richardson
International Wolf Center communications director -

Ariel Kalinowski, Ryan Milton, Joseph Foster, Harry Dammann, Tracker Koivisto, Sawyer Klingsporn, Aili Bee, Thia Lossing, Carl Sunblad, Kenny Aase, Darien White, Jacob Mackai, Josh Polman, Jon Hakkala, Cody Rasmussen, Natalie Nelmark and Inga Lakey. Phpotos by Chad Loewen

Ryan Grahek, Blaine, MN took this great northern pike during his camping trip with brothers Jordan and Jake to Basswood Lake. Photos from Babe’s Bait & Tackle

Fishing report
by Captain Russ from Babe’s Bait & Tackle -

A North Arm timber harvest in the Burntside State Forest has finally been given the green light after more than a year of review and months of public comment.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has approved proceeding with the sale of a 62-acre timber thinning project on state forest lands, just north of Camp DuNord to improve forest health and reduce wildfire hazard.
The harvest would remove about one-third of the mature trees in scattered areas, leaving the largest, best formed and healthiest trees.
“This thinning proposal came out over a year ago and was put on a list for harvest,” said DNR outreach supervisor Amy Kay Kerber.
“The comment period closed without much comment. In the process of putting it up for sale we received communications from Camp du Nord and some adjacent landowners so we reopened the public comment period. It was a long period that opened in February and closed August 1.”

Fire crews on the Superior National Forest began burning piles of woody debris in various locations on the Forest last week and will continue while conditions are conducive.
Piles to be burned are located in timber sale units, next to privately owned lands, and in several campgrounds including: Fenske Lake Campground, South Kawishiwi Campground, Salo Lake, Birch Lake Campground, and the Sawbill Campground.
By reducing the amount of material available to burn in these areas, the Forest Service reduces the risk of wildfires that could spread quickly, become difficult to control and potentially threaten private lands and residences.
Conducting these burns enables the Forest Service to reduce wildfire hazards during a time when visitor use is relatively low.
All of the planned activities will be conducted with the safety of the public and firefighters as the highest priority and will occur only when appropriate resources are available.

Results from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ 2016-1017 wolf population survey suggest Minnesota’s wolf population has increased 25 percent since the 2015-2016 survey.

After remaining stable during the past four years, the survey estimates that within Minnesota’s wolf range there were approximately 500 wolf packs and 2,856 wolves. The survey’s margin of error is about plus or minus 500 wolves. The 2015-2016 survey estimated the number of packs at 439 and the wolf population at 2,278.

Minnesota’s wolf population remains well above the state’s minimum goal of at least 1,600 wolves and also above the federal recovery goal of 1,251 to 1,400. The DNR has consistently managed wolf populations at levels that exceed both state and federal minimums.

The Forest Service recognizes that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, are a tool that can provide exciting new options for the public to explore the National Forests and are a tool for the agency to accomplish its mission.

However, the Forest Service wants to ensure the public understands there are restrictions on the use of drones on the National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and that there are federal penalties for illegal use.

The purpose of these restrictions is to provide for the safety of air operations, protect natural resources, and protect the rights of other citizens.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has primary authority over drones and other UAS. The following are some key FAA regulations for the use of drones, but drone operators should check for additional guidelines on the FAA website or at an FAA office.

by Captain Russ from Babe’s Bait & Tackle