sausageheavenoutdoors Enjoy making homemade sausage, Tasty way's to BBQ, smoking meats and poultry. See how northern Minnesota was settled and the life early homesteader's lived their lives and more!!

NEW METRO TROUT FISHING OPPORTUNITIES

Metro anglers who want to stick close to home for the April 12 stream trout opener will have nearly two additional miles of shoreline to explore as a result of acquisitions made by the Minnesota DNR in Dakota County.  Half a mile north of Dakota County Road 66  along County 79, the DNR has acquired a 52-acre aquatic management area that straddles the main branch of the Vermillion River, protecting 4.100 feet of shoreline.  Upland areas of the property include five acres of grasslands and 25 acres of woods.

Further east, a 62-acre acquisition now affords access to the south branch of the Vermillion River just south of County Road 66 and west of state Highway 52.  That parcel includes 6,900 feet of shoreline, 25 acres of grassland and 20 acres of woodland.  The south branch is a coldwater tributary to the Vermillion that provides rearing areas and offers refuge for trout, especially during hot summer weather. 

Both properties provide habitat for pheasants, turkeys, ducks, doves, deer and other wildlife; they also will be open to hunting, trapping and wildlife watching.  The DNR’s Fisheries section will continue to work with the DNR Wildlife section to manage upland areas. 

The Vermillion River has gained notoriety over the past 10 years as a trophy brown trout stream within  45 minutes of a major urban area.  As recently as 1960, though, the stream was considered unfit for any game fish due to poor water quality from industrial wastes and land use practices.  The river’s comeback has been the result of local, regional and state efforts to improve water quality.

Since 2005, the DNR has acquired land protecting nearly 10 miles of shoreline along the Vermillion for habitat and public access for fishing and hunting.  The DNR also has worked with local government and nonprofit conservation organizations on several stream restoration projects along the Vermillion.

BEAR HUNT APPLICATIONS

Applications for Minnesota bear hunting licenses are being accepted now through Friday, May 2, at any Minnesota Department of Natural Resources license agent, online at http://www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236.  A total of 3,750 licenses are available in 11 permit areas, the same number of licenses available last year.  Bear licenses cost $44 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.  The season opens Monday, Sept. 1, and closes Sunday, Oct. 12.

Notification to successful lottery winners will be made in mid-to late May.  The deadline to purchase licenses awarded by lottery will be Thursday, Aug. 1.  Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available to those eligible starting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 6.  An unlimited number of bear licenses will be sold over the counter for no quota areas in east central and far northwestern Minnesota.  No quota licenses are valid only in a no quota area.  Hunters with a no quota license can harvest one bear.

By offering the same number of licenses as last year, the DNR continues to work toward its goal of gradually increasong Minnesota’s bear population.  The state’s bear population was estimated at 17,000 in 2008.  Trends since then suggest that today’s population is 10,000-15,000.  Reducing the number of bear licenses results in hunters harvesting fewer bears, allowing the population to gradually increase.

BISON AND PELICANS MAKE NEWS

DNR proposes  reintroducing bison to Minneopa State Park.  The Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division is proposing to reintroduce bison to Minneopa State Park, near Mankato, and is seeking public comments on a draft management plan amendment for the park.  The amendment describes the impacts and opportunities created by the reintrocuction of bison for resource management, interpretive services, recreation and visitor services at the park. Citizens can ask questions or submit comments until Monday, May 5.  As part of the public review, DNR staff will hold an open house at the Blue Earth County Public Library, 110 E. Main St., Mankato, on Tuesday, April 22, from 5:30 to 7 pm, for anyone interested in providing comments about the draft management plan amendment.

Flocks of giant white birds are catching the eyes of outdoor enthusiasts across Minnesota, as one-rare American white pelicans migrate north to their nesting grounds across the state, the Department of Natural Resources said.  American white pelicans are among the world’s largest birds and are easily recognized in flight.  Wingspans up to 9 feet, bright white plumage with black edged wings and large, orange bills distinquish them from any other species.

American white pelicans were driven to near extinction in the early 20th century from human pressures, according to the DNR.  There wee no reports of nesting pelicans in Minnesota for 90 years, from 1878 until 1968.  Conservation efforts and federal regulations have helped pelican populations make a slow and steady comeback.  “The prairie pothole region of western Minnesota hosts 22 percent of the global population of this species,”  Gelvin-Innvaier said.  An estimated 22,000 pairs of pelicans nest at 16 sites on seven lakes across the state.  The pelicans leave Minnesota each fall as lakes and rivers freeze.  They winter along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Mexico and typically return to Minnesota in early spring, as lakes and rivers thaw.

They are highly social and live in large, dense colonies.  They feed exclusively on small fish and crustaceans and will work together for a meal.  Nice to see those great birds back and possibly the bison as well.

Smokin Hot

Smokin Hot.

Get that GRILL ready!!  Check out my many ideas and pics of GRILLED VEGGIES right here on the Smokin Hot page.

Where To Go

Where To Go. I have updated my Where To Go page!!  As I add new places to go in the great state of Minnesota, I will continue to add information to the places I have posted as time goes on.  I have added two new places to go that I have been to and encourage others to go there as well.

Vintage Arrowhead

Vintage Arrowhead.

More pictures of Northern Minnesota have been added.  These are one of a kind original pictures that can be seen only here.

BALD EAGLES COME BACK TO MINNESOTA

Bald eagles are migrating back to Minnesota and may be seen in large numbers across parts of the state over the next few weeks, according to the Department of Natural Resources. ”  Ice is breaking up along the rivers, so it’s definitely time for folks to keep their eyes out,” said Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer, DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist.  “It all depends on the weather. It’s typical to see eagles coming through our area in mid-to-late March, as waters begin to open up and snow melts.”

Only two states, Florida and Alaska, have greater nesting populations of bald eagles than Minnesota.  In 2005, researchers estimated there are more than 1,300 active nests in Minnesota.  Fall migration typically occors as lakes and rivers freeze over, since most eagles prefer a diet of fish.  Bald eagle wintering grounds ideally contain open water, ample food, limited human disturbance and protective roosting sites.

Not all bald eagles migrate southward in the fall, Gelvin-Innvaer said.  In southern Minnesota, it’s common for some eagles to find.  Bald eagles that stay local may begin courting and nesting as early as December or January.  Other bald eagles return to their breeding territories, as soon as a food source is available.  ” Eagle migration hotspots are a bit of a moving target, so it’s hard to say where the eagles are right now,” Gelvin-Innvaer said.  “In Minnesota, the biggest migrations tend to be along the Minnesota River corridor, the north shore of Lake Superior and around Lake Pepin in southeastern Minnesota.”

Adult bald eagles are easily identified by a white head and tail contrasting with a dark brown body.  Bald eagles attain full adult plumage in their fourth or fifth year.  In flight, bald eagles are sometimes confused with turkey vultures.  However, bald eagles have a tendency to soar on flat, board-like wings, while turkey vultures fly with their wings in a v-shape.  Great to have these majestic birds of prey back here in Minnesota!!!

ATV OPERATORS REMINDER

With warm weather on the way, many all-terrain vehicle [ATV] riders are anxious to hit the trails, but the DNR remincs riders to be aware of riding restrictions in some parts of the state due to wet conditions or closures.  Between April 1 and Aug. 1, Minnesota law prohibits ATV’s from riding in ditches in the agricultural zone, that is, the area of the state soouth of a line that runs roughly from Morrhead to Taylors Falls along Highway 10 and Highway 95. The area roughly covers the southern half of the state.

“During these four months, ATV riders need to stay out of the road ditches completely in the agricultural zone,” Lt. Leland Owens, DNR recreational vehicle coordinator said.  ” In addition to the law prohibiting ATV use, those road didches provide some of the only nesting habitat available in places. ”  The ATV restriction does not apply to grant-in-aid trails or to ATV’s registered and used excluslvely for agricultural purposes.

Owens said that in addition to potentially disturbing wildlife, ATV’s in wet road ditches can cause erosion problems and even, in some cases, damage the roadbed itself.

As they do each spring, the DNR will need to temporarilly close some state forest roads and trails to ATV operators due to wet conditions.  All off-highway vehicle riders are encouraged to check on trail conditions and temporary closures before planning riding trips to prevent damage to forest roads and trails. Call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-646-6367.  The DNR will also post signs at entry points and at parking lots in state forests.

SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS

As the snow melts and March is soon ending so will the ice on our waters begin to deteriorate.  Early ice and late ice are the times when safety on the ice is the most critical.  The bottom line is that fishermen should never let their guard down at any time when on ice, but early and late ice more caution is needed more than any other time.  This winter has been a cold  one and along with the cold we had a lot of snow.  Snow insulates the ice and weighs the ice down.  So thickness of ice around the state will vary.   Driving on the ice this time of the year is not recommended in most areas.  Personaly, I will start walking on the ice, an leave my vehicle at the landing, right now.  Let’s have a  safe exit from hard water and get ready for the open water season.