DNR clarifies turkey baiting rule
In a news release today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources clarified the baiting rule as it applies to turkey hunting, which opens next month. Here's the statement:
"A person may not hunt turkey with the aid or use of bait or feed or in the vicinity of bait or feed if the person knows or has reason to know that bait or feed is present.
"An area is considered baited for ten days after the complete removal of all bait or feed.
"Bait or feed includes grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing turkey and that has been placed by a person. Food that has not been placed by a person and resulting from normal or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or other similar land management activities is not bait or feed.
"A person otherwise in compliance with this subpart who is hunting on private or public property that is adjacent to property where bait or feed is present is not in violation of this subpart if the person has not participated in, been involved with, or agreed to baiting or feeding wildlife on the adjacent property."
Posted by: samcook on 3/16/2010 at 9:15 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Want to make 10-grand catching walleyes?
The City Auto Glass Walleye Classic will be held May 22 on Lake Vermilion with headquarters at Fortune Bay Casino. Two-person teams will compete, with the top team taking home a guaranteed $10,000. Proceeds from the non-profit tournament go to scholarships for area kids. For registration information, go to www.cagwalleyeclassic.com.
Posted by: samcook on 3/15/2010 at 4:07 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
What's that sound?
I stepped outside early today to feed the dog and heard something I haven't heard in several months -- a robin singing. He was all cranked up, letting the world know he was back and ready to set up nesting territory. I didn't go looking for him. It was enough to know he was there -- a week or so before the usual influx of robins.
Robins are common enough critters. They're not as handsome as male cardinals. Their call is not as dramatic as that of a common loon. But that first morning you step outside or open a window and hear a robin, especially after a northern winter, you have to stop in your tracks and listen. OK, you think. Spring.
That today happened to dawn clear and warm merely added to the effect of the moment.
This comes on the heels of a splendid Sunday, the first day of sun after five days of drip, drizzle, fog and rain. A friend and I made a bicycle ride along the North Shore from Duluth to beyond the French River. We were among throngs who made their way to the lakeshore. Every river was pulsing tannin-stained water into Lake Superior. Anglers stood or sat all along the shore, trying to catch a trout or a salmon. A couple trolled out on the lake in boats. We saw a kayaker and two canoeists. Many other bikers pedaled up and down the scenic highway -- and let's hear it for the city crews (I'm assuming) who swept sand and grit from the shoulders all the way to the McQuade Small Craft Harbor.
Other folks walked dogs, ran, picnicked, climbed on rocks, threw rocks into the lake and otherwise soaked up the sun and warmth. I'm sure some people traveled up to Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the falls must have been spectacular with runoff. I don't know that I've ever seen so many people crawling around on the shore in a single day -- well, if you leave out Grandma's Marathon.
We needed that. We needed the sun after a week of slop. We needed the warmth. We needed blue vistas. We needed to feel legs pumping oxygen-rich blood through our veins.
And Monday, we needed one robin, singing its heart out.
Posted by: samcook on 3/15/2010 at 8:35 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
Gunflint resident in NY Times winter camping story
Mike Prom of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the tip of the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marais is featured in a New York Times story about winter camping and lake trout fishing. The story was written by Gustave Axelson, managing editor of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine. The story is set in Cache Bay of Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park.
Here's the link: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/travel/escapes/12laketrout.html
Posted by: samcook on 3/13/2010 at 8:28 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tischer Creek in full runoff mode
Tischer Creek was full of runoff Friday morning. (Sam Cook / scook@duluthnews.com)
I stopped to see how Tischer Creek looked this morning on my way to work. It was raging through its rocky bed, racing down to Lake Superior, completely ice-free. I'm guessing many streams in the Duluth area are also wide open and full of water. As Pete Gravett of Hartley Nature Center said yesterday, the ground is still frozen, and all of this snowmelt and rain has to go somewhere. This would be a good day -- or a good weekend -- to check out the rivers.
However, be careful. The path along Tischer Creek was still icy, with meltwater running over the top of it. On the steeper stretches, it's downright dangerous. Some sort of cleats or Yaktrax would help, but it's still going to be a bit dicey walking until all the ice is gone from the paths.
Here's one more shot of Tischer Creek from this morning. I was in the stretch between Vermilion Road and East Fourth Street.
Posted by: samcook on 3/12/2010 at 9:52 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Snowmobile trail grooming comes to close
It's over. The snowmobiling season, that is. Or, at least it's official now.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday that, due to rain and warm weather across the state, snowmobile trails have deteriorated rapidly and riding conditions may not be safe in many parts of Minnesota.
Earlier this week, snow conditions were still good in northern Minnesota, but that situation has changed dramatically in the last couple of days, according to the news release. Local clubs have put up “Trail Closed” signs on many of the grant-in-aid trails, and this will probably be the last week that state trails are groomed, according to the DNR.
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Posted by: samcook on 3/12/2010 at 8:09 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Minnesota turkey permits on sale Monday
Turkey hunters who were unsuccessful in Minnesota’s spring hunting season lottery may apply for surplus permits starting at 5 p.m. Monday. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources makes surplus permits available at all license agents and online at www.mndnr.gov/news. Online information also includes details on surplus license availability and the status of lottery applications.
Hunters who did not enter the lottery will be able to purchase any remaining surplus licenses beginning at 8 a.m. March 22.
Posted by: samcook on 3/11/2010 at 3:24 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
No Brule River steelhead run totals yet
With the Brule River steelhead fishing season (from U.S. Highway 2 to Lake Superior) opening March 27, many anglers are wondering how many steelhead entered the river last fall. Alas, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has not released those numbers yet.
Most of the count is complete, said fisheries biologist Bill Blust, but DNR officials must still estimate the number of fish that passed upstream during periods when power was out and the agency's video camera did not record passing fish. Dennis Pratt, DNR fisheries biologist at Brule, has been out of the office on an extended leave but is due back Monday. I'm guessing will get figures soon after that.
Meanwhile, here are figures from recent years' runs (although figures from last year's spring run are not included):
Posted by: samcook on 3/11/2010 at 1:42 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Snowmobile trail grooming ends at Voyageurs
The big meltdown has taken its toll on snowmobile trails across the region, with bare spots appearing on many trails. At Voyageurs National Park, snowmobile trail maintenance has ended for the winter season, and all trail markers are being removed. Ice conditions are rapidly deteriorating, and snowmobile travel is no longer recommended. The Rainy Lake Ice Road is also closed for the season. The park thanks all of the area snowmobile clubs who assisted park employees in maintaining snowmobile trails this year.
Posted by: samcook on 3/11/2010 at 1:37 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Chequamegon Bay birding/nature fest set for May
The fourth annual Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival will be held May 21-23 at Ashland. Duluth birder and public radio show host Laura Erickson is the featured speaker this year. The Chequamegon Bay area is a popular birding destination, with a variety of hatitat types and more than
The event will include 120 activities to choose from, including guided field trips, exhibits, workshops and self-guided field trips. The
Posted by: samcook on 3/11/2010 at 1:04 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
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