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Recent storm damage on parts of the Laurentian and Kawishiwi ranger districts has prompted the Forest Service to offer free salvage permits.
SNF offers free wood salvage permits in wake of severe storm
REGIONAL— Looking for some free firewood, minus the cost of your labor? The Superior National Forest is issuing free wood salvage permits for several parts of the Laurentian and Kawishiwi … more
Ben Burns, age 16, and his father Steve pose with the nice bear shot by Ben earlier this month as clients of the Udovich Guide Service.
Bear registrations down significantly
REGIONAL—Bear registrations through the first 11 days of the season were down 30 percent this year, as hunters were hampered by plentiful natural bear foods and the record heat that settled in … more
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With good numbers of drumming grouse this spring and a warm and dry June, the fall ruffed grouse outlook appears strong.
“It should be a phenomenal season”
REGIONAL— The 2023 ruffed grouse season looks to be one of the best in northern Minnesota in years, thanks to what appears to be outstanding reproduction thanks to a warm, dry month of June. … more
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Butternut squash are ripe when their skin is tan without the mottling apparent in unripe squash. The rind in a mature squash is also hard to dent with a fingernail.
When to pick your cucurbits
REGIONAL—As the North Country’s growing season winds down, local gardeners may be wondering when the time is right to harvest some of the cucurbits, like squash or melons, that … more
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Workers were busy dismantling the dilapitated Mesabi Trail bridge over the East Two River on Tuesday. Work on the bridge should be completed by the end of the month.
Long-delayed Mesabi Trail work finally moving forward
TOWER-SOUDAN— A project that’s been plagued by delays is finally moving forward here and that’s good news for hikers and bikers who use the Mesabi Trail. That portion of the trail … more
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Bear hunters might be in for a challenging season this fall, as bears aren’t as attracted to baiting because there are plentiful berries in the wild.
Advantage goes to bears as season opens Friday
REGIONAL— Cautious optimism is the general rule for area bear guides, even as the abundance of natural foods in the woods appears to be reducing interest in their baits. The bear season gets … more
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BW usage returns to pre-pandemic levels
REGIONAL— Visitor use in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness returned largely to pre-pandemic levels last year, according to a recently released visitor use report for the year 2018-2022, … more
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Center recommends more collaboration over BWCAW management
REGIONAL— A national organization hired by the Superior National Forest is recommending the creation of a sustained effort at collaboration with a wide range of area stakeholders to address … more
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One of the participants in the program smiles while landing a small crappie.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
ELY- A college camping trip proved a life-changing experience for Kesley Ebbs, and he’s hoping to give other young people of color that same chance to experience nature on its own terms. Ebbs, … more
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After a challenging summer for anglers on Lake Vermilion, the bite has improved markedly in recent days.
Vermilion walleye bite is suddenly hot
LAKE VERMILION— After a sometimes-challenging summer for anglers here, the fishing action on Lake Vermilion is suddenly hot— really hot. “It’s as good as I can ever … more
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Pot possession still a crime on federal lands, including BWCAW, VNP
REGIONAL- While recreational cannabis is now legal in Minnesota, outdoor recreationists should be aware that the change in law does not apply to federal lands within the Superior National Forest, … more
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Buy your deer license before Sept. 7 for a chance at a doe permit
REGIONAL— If you’re hoping for a shot at an antlerless permit this year, don’t forget to purchase your firearms deer permit by Thursday, Sept. 7. Hunters who purchase their license … more
The DNR’s access to federal habitat funds have been suspended for failure to document the wildlife value of some timber sales.
FWS suspends payments to DNR
REGIONAL— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is withholding millions of dollars in federal habitat funds from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources over the state agency’s … more
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A prescribed fire undertaken as a joint effort by northeastern Minnesota land management agencies to enhance moose habitat.
Joint effort working to improve moose habitat
REGIONAL— An unusual collaboration of land management partners has been working together for a decade now to enhance moose habitat in northeastern Minnesota. Over the past ten years, the … more
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A stand of mixed mature pine along the Echo Trail north of Ely.
RED, WHITE, OR JACK?
Ever eat a pine tree? That was the question posed by Euell Gibbons in his 1970s-era cereal commercial. “Many parts are edible,” advised Gibbons, the author well-known at the time for his … more
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I think Sasquatch raided my garden
A strange thing happened in my garden a couple of nights ago. Now you should understand my garden is 32 five-gallon buckets of various kinds of vegetables and a few smaller containers of green beans. … more
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The latest drought map from the U.S. Drought Monitor, reflecting drought conditions in Minnesota as of Aug. 3.
Drought continues to slowly build
REGIONAL— Drought conditions continue to build across Minnesota, despite on-again, off-again rainfall in recent weeks. According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, … more
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A stand of quaking aspen, likely all stems from the same clone.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
What’s in a name? When it comes to the common name, “popple,” it can mean one of three distinct tree species in northern Minnesota. My parents grew up in northwestern Minnesota so … more
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A mid-summer buck with a nice rack still developing. Hunters in most of the region will need to see antlers to take a deer this fall.
Fewer doe permits in NE this fall
REGIONAL—More hunters in northeastern Minnesota will be limited to bucks-only this year than at any time in the past several years. Last winter’s tough conditions, with extended deep and … more
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Take A Kid Fishing participant Cass Nelson hoists the 30-inch walleye he caught after braving the showers that kept most other participants back on shore.
Thirty-inch walleye a hefty highlight of kids fishing event
LAKE VERMILION— With rain steadily pelting the lakeside tent at Fortune Bay Resort Casino on a recent Wednesday morning, Phil Bakken announced to the 40-plus kids in attendance that the 2023 … more
Blueberries, of varying ripeness, glisten after a recent rain shower.
BERRY ABUNDANT
For the second year in a row, the wild fruit crops around the area are bordering on abundant to exceptional, at least in many places. And this year, June’s early heat has left most berry crops … more
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The drought map issued July 13 by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Dry conditions continue to worsen
REGIONAL— Drought conditions continue to build across Minnesota, including here in the North Country, despite some recent rains. That’s according to the National Weather Service Office in … more
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April’s black lab Nibs looks ahead as they prepare to enter their boathouse on Stuntz Bay, one of nearly 150 historic boathouses located there.
My Stuntz Bay boathouse
Living on an island takes a great deal of planning and consideration. I certainly wish I had done that and not gone on the seat of my pants method. Still, four years later, I’m still here and … more
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Five weeks after hatching, the white Cornish Crosses appear almost full grown. The other chicks are barely one-third their size.
After years of indecision, I finally took the plunge
My gradual transition from gardener to small-scale farmer took another step forward recently when the U.S. Post Office in Tower called early one morning just over a month ago to tell me that my … more
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A rider winds his way along a narrow trail at Hidden Valley.
DOWN IN THE VALLEY
HIDDEN VALLEY— Ely has debuted the latest contribution to the growing number of top-notch mountain bike trails in northeastern Minnesota— just be sure you’re paying attention if you … more
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