A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
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While deer hunting in Minnesota has come to a close, searching for dropped antlers, called shed hunting, can be an extremely fun way to keep yourself outdoors. White-tailed deer begin to shed their antlers in winter, typically January through February, and the next set of antlers begin to grow shortly after. The first step in shed hunting is to locate good deer sign, such as heavily used trails, tree rubs and scrapes. These signs indicate higher deer activity which will increase your chances of finding sheds. Look for good bedding in these...
With close to a billion ash trees in the state, the non-native emerald ash borer (EAB) insect threatens trees across Minnesota, but especially the northern part of the state. A wood borer that feeds in the phloem and disrupts the movement of nutrients, EAB infestation results in eventual mortality of a tree. The first discovery of EAB in Minnesota was in 2009 in St. Paul. It has now spread to 45 counties throughout Minnesota, including Duluth in St. Louis County in late 2015 and Carlton County in April 2022. Recently, EAB was found in Cass...
All fish have value whether or not anglers typically pursue them. Native fish species benefit their ecosystems and the DNR is bringing more attention toward, and focus on, responsibly managing native fish species. Although not every kind of fish lives everywhere, 162 species of fish can be found in Minnesota waters. Walleye are the most sought-after fish in Minnesota, followed by crappie, then sunfish, northern pike and bass, and all these are native to Minnesota. But there is a whole array of other fish that anglers try to catch, or sometimes...
Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) assisted at the Jay Cooke State Park muzzleloader deer hunt. Hunters were enjoying the weather and conditions with many reporting seeing and taking deer. Humphrey also patrolled Moose Lake State Park and found lots of activity. Several people were contacted for not having vehicle permits and allowing dogs off-leash. Humphrey checked ice anglers on several area lakes. Some crappies and bluegills were seen. Ice thickness varied from 3 to 6 inches. Scott Staples (Carlton) also worked the muzzleloader hunt at Jay Cooke, whe...
Reports from area Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers: Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) continued to follow up on deer season calls and investigations involving deer baiting, trespassing, shooting from the road, unlawful party hunting, and lending or borrowing licenses. Humphrey also assisted neighboring officers with investigations. Hunters continued to report mixed results. Several camps expressed concern about the number of wolves and coyotes in the area. Violations included hunting deer with the aid/use of bait,...
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cautions residents and visitors in northeastern Minnesota to be aware of elevated fire conditions this hot and dry holiday weekend. Recent heavy rains in other parts of the state unfortunately bypassed the abnormally dry Arrowhead Region, leaving fire danger high. An unintentional spark in these dry conditions could ignite a wildfire. "Expanding drought conditions have dried grasses, shrubs, and trees in the area, resulting in increased fire...
Recent reports from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in the area: Scott Staples (Carlton) attended training at Camp Ripley during the week and gave assistance at a work detail in Duluth when the tall ships arrived. A complaint of littering was looked into after pictures were taken of a truck on a prohibited trail. The truck was pulling a trailer full of garbage with a bed full of garbage as well. The investigation is still ongoing. ATV and dirt bike operators were contacted for various violations near Nemadji Stat...
An open house meeting for discussions about deer and deer management with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources area wildlife managers has been scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Carlton County Transportation building at 1630 County Road 61. People can arrive any time during the scheduled meeting. For those who prefer to talk on the phone, people are welcome to call their area offices. In addition to discussing general concerns about deer, individuals can ask DNR staff about last year’s harvest data, provide topics that the DNR’s dee...
Recent reports from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in the area: Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted the State Patrol with an ATV accident in which a juvenile hit a pickup truck while trying to cross State Highway 210. Assistance was given to the Michigan DNR after a report of a dead collared wolf. The wolf was located and found to have been killed by a motor vehicle. Data from the collar showed that in the past year the wolf travelled from the Upper Peninsula, across Wisconsin, back to Michigan and then into...
Hunters can start planning ahead for significant changes to deer season regulations, including a youth deer season that’s expanded statewide, expanded bans on deer feeding and attractants, and other updates related to managing chronic wasting disease. The 2019 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping regulations handbook is now available on the DNR’s deer hunting page at mndnr.gov/hunting/deer. Hunting licenses went on sale Thursday, Aug. 1, and are available at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-646-6367, or online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense. The...
Latest reports from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers. Jacob Willis (Brookston) spent most of this week at Camp Ripley as part of the Division Use of Force Team conducting required in-service training for officers. Training was also given to conservation officer candidates currently attending the academy. Calls regarding nuisance beavers were also handled. Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) handled two wolf calls. One involved cattle getting run through fences when two adult wolves and four pups were seen on the...
This week’s report from the region’s Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers. Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with an aquatic invasive species check station in the Duluth area where several violations were encountered. A K-9 training was attended at Camp Ripley where units worked with the dogs in obedience and searching for firearms. Boating activity was worked in the area with enforcement action being taken for fishing without a license in possession, insufficient flotation devices, and registration violations. Andy Sc...
Pollinators are key to Minnesota's environmental health. Without them, we wouldn't have some of our favorite foods. They are vital to a healthy environment. They're also beautiful and fascinating to watch. They're pollinators, and this week is dedicated to understanding, appreciating and helping them. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are needed to pollinate plants that provide Minnesota food crops such as fruits, vegetables and herbs. Some of these foods are important for wildlife, too. Black...
Scott Staples (Carlton) attended annual K-9 certification trials in Lino Lakes where K-9 Schody got certified for another year of patrol work. Complaints of nuisance beavers and bears were handled. People are reminded to remove food sources (including bird feeders) if you do not want to attract bears. Extra patrols were conducted in area state parks. Jacob Willis (Brookston) responded to a fire on an ATV bridge near Meadowlands. The cause is still under investigation. Training was attended and anglers were checked on local waters. Enforcement...
DNR issues ice warning for aerated lakes The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued its annual ice safety warning for lakes with winter aeration systems. Aeration creates areas of thin ice and open water that are extremely hazardous to people and pets. Open water areas can shift or change shapes, depending on weather conditions, and leaks may develop in air lines, creating other areas of weak ice or open water. The updated list of aerated lakes and more information is available at mndnr.gov/eco/lakeaeration. “We’re urging peo...
