LAKE VERMILION STATE PARK— There’s a remarkable dividing line here between the old and new portions of what is now called the Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The original park, …

Last week’s column on the “documentary” Hunters 4 Hunters released earlier this month drew some thoughtful pushback, and a few points deserve a follow-up. A longtime friend who appears in the …

REGIONAL— Bear hunters have had a phenomenal season this year, despite relatively abundant natural foods in many locations. Through Oct. 12, hunters in the state have registered 4,079 bears, …

While the intial dazziling burst of fall color has already become more subdued, there was still plenty of color to be found in the North Country this past week.

REGIONAL— With the annual MEA weekend fast approaching, Minnesota state parks are gearing up with special events and suggestions to encourage families to spend some time outdoors together. The …

The group Hunters4Hunters is wading into partisan waters with a new documentary that blames wolves for the decline of northern Minnesota’s deer population and its livestock producers— and targets …

Sunny days with seasonally cool overnight temperatures in the past couple weeks pushed most maples in the North Country to peak color this past weekend. Watch for the maple color to fade by this …

REGIONAL— A response by the U.S. Forest Service to a Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, request raises questions about the value of a proposed amendment to the 1964 Wilderness Act that would …

Drought status eases to moderate REGIONAL— Mid-September rains helped ease drought conditions in northern St. Louis and Lake counties, but an extended forecast that points to warmer and dryer …

As I’ve learned over the past three years, raising chickens comes with more drama than one might expect. It’s like an ongoing soap opera, with a cast of noisy ladies, each with her own particular …

REGIONAL— If you’re looking for fall color, this weekend should offer close to peak conditions across most of northern St. Louis and Lake counties, at least for those who favor the oranges and …

As our loons head south over the next few weeks, are they hunted? No, but they once were. It’s hard to imagine a summer evening at a North Country lake without loons calling. As a professional …

ELY— Eric Sherman was confident as four of us piled into his extended cab pickup last month. Sherman, a wildlife photographer who grew up in Babbitt and now lives in Ely, has turned his quest for …

REGIONAL— If you’ve noticed an unusual number of monarch butterflies in the area in recent days, you’re not alone. While early September is typically the peak of the monarch migration in our …

REGIONAL— Bear hunters are having an excellent season, despite the robust wild foods still out in the woods. Abundant wild foods generally make hunters’ baits less attractive to bears, but that …

EMBARRASS— State conservation funds are allowing the Tower area DNR office to begin a series of improvements that officials hope will make the Darwin Myers wildlife management area more attractive …

REGIONAL— As anyone who has brought their canine companion on an afternoon of blueberry picking knows well, dogs like blueberries. And, as a new study by researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Study …

Apply by Sept. 10 for an antlerless deer permit REGIONAL—Firearms deer hunters who want the chance to harvest an antlerless deer in a deer permit area subject to a lottery, must purchase their …

REGIONAL- A western dusky slug, black knot fungus, and shield lichens stole the spotlight for a week from Voyageurs National Park’s usual moose, wolf, and loon headliners. They were among 357 …

REGIONAL— Despite a good berry year across much of the North Country, the intensifying drought conditions may work to the benefit of bear hunters when they head for their hunting stands starting …

REGIONAL— The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Superior National Forest have eased fire restrictions that have been in place since a string of major fires broke out in July. Officials …

REGIONAL- The first of two Minnesota Department of Natural Resources online auctions of confiscated hunting, fishing, and trapping equipment opens for bidding Friday, Aug. 28, and runs through …

“Pullin’ weeds, pickin’ stones Man is made of dreams and bones Feel the need to grow my own ‘Cause the time is close at hand Grain for grain, sun and rain Find my way in nature’s chain …

REGIONAL— The following is the report issued by the Department of Natural Resources on current wild rice conditions in the Tower work area, including northern St. Louis and Lake counties. “Low …

REGIONAL— Drought conditions are continuing to expand in Minnesota. That’s according to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor, which shows nearly half of the state, and all of the …