Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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While silence in pursuit of deer is an important factor in setting up a successful hunt, as the rut approaches, making the right noise can be key in bringing a big buck in. With dozens of affordable methods available and deer firearms seasons across the upper Midwest rapidly approaching, now may be the time to add some calls to your arsenal and help seal the deal in the field this November. Rat-a-Tat Rattling antlers can be employed all season long with some success, but the best time of the...
For most anglers, a walleye of 30 inches or better is the fish of a lifetime. That magic number signals a true trophy and is often the threshold at which many would consider zipping back to the launch and off to the taxidermist to get the fish mounted. However, for Jamie Risovi, a taxidermist himself and avid big fish angler from New Rockford, N.D., who spends much of the spring and fall chasing the trophy northern pike of Devils Lake, his chance encounter with one such fish – twice in a season...
Beyond the usual celebration of dog and bird and of field boots and swinging shotguns, this year's pheasant opener was highlighted by another frequent autumn occurrence in the upper Midwest: gusty conditions. In the gales that topped forty miles per hour on one stretch of my first weekend walks, the pines around me in the tree belt howled in a way that made me nervous that branches would start falling at any moment. More than a couple of times I had to adjust the Velcro strap on my...
While many other fall sports saw participation decline or be cancelled outright due to concerns over the resurgent pandemic, the activities of trap and skeet shooting have grown by more than 25 percent in this unique time of returning to school in a hybrid or completely online setting. Able to conduct regular league shoots in a socially distanced and safe manner, the USA Clay Target League (USA CTL) has seen its participation jump to more than 10,700 shooters nationwide this autumn as a coming...
FOMO is the acronym for the “fear of missing out.” The term was coined in the mid-2000s as shorthand for a growing form of social anxiety about not being in on the latest happenings and events, particularly as online displays of all the fun other people were having increased through channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram being delivered directly to developing smartphone technology. While I’ve never particularly cared much about those avenues or many of the things that happen on them ...
Autumn is always a time of optimism for many hunters as opportunities for excitement abound over the top of each rise and in the shady depths of every creek bottom. Putting the approach of winter aside, fall provides so much in the way of hopefulness in the pursuit of game that it is often hard to prioritize outings, and the shortening days go faster and faster as the season winds down. This year, however, there is even more to be excited about, as numbers across the board for those three things...
For most anglers, a walleye of 30 inches or better is the fish of a lifetime. That magic number signals a true trophy and is often the threshold at which many would consider zipping back to the launch and off to the taxidermist to get the fish mounted. However, for Jamie Risovi, a taxidermist himself and avid big fish angler from New Rockford, N.D., who spends much of the spring and fall chasing the trophy northern pike of Devils Lake, his chance encounter with one such fish – twice in a s...
My four-year-old son calls it an "adventure." Which, being of much slighter stature, and not as familiar with the rise and fall of the hillsides in the small drainage just outside of our housing development, the 30-minute hike we take from time-to-time probably is a grand trek when perceived from his vantage point. With the top of the hills hayed in late summer, the open area above the brome and milkweed covered slopes with the public trail winding through the last stretch of undeveloped land...
Despite the pandemic-related headwinds which hindered fundraising efforts and banquet activities for Pheasants Forever (PF) chapters across North Dakota this spring, State Coordinator Rachel Bush sees a lot of great developments for the organization in the region, and is eyeing up a successful return to the field buoyed by better bird numbers and some habitat-producing projects. "Our chapters have continued to do great things and put habitat on the ground, so we're always appreciative of the wor...
With waterfowl hunting underway and the challenge of a rising pheasant on the horizon for many, the field presents a number of challenging shots for hunters, especially those getting back after a long off season which saw some shooting sports facilities closed due to pandemic restrictions. Whether new to the field, or just needing some pointers on converting those challenging shots that are sure to come up this fall, what follows are some tips to bag more birds and make the most of each...
Scent Checked In the headlights, the yellowing leaves of fall in the ash tree alongside the approach on the gravel country road were pre-dawn reminders of the ongoing seasonal shift. The cool air that curled into the truck as I opened the door was the second, and the third was the ritualistic walk around the pickup to the back and the uncasing of my bow for my first morning sit of the season, having previously taken on some warmer patrols in the evenings. The quiet calm of the cool darkness befo...
A wet fall of 2019 and abundant moisture which carried over into the start of 2020 primed the pump for a successful breeding season for waterfowl in North Dakota's prairie pothole region. With good recruitment comes increased numbers of ducks for hunters headed out to stake out their favorite slough as the season starts for resident waterfowl hunters on Sat. Sept. 26. Despite drier conditions in the back half of summer, many wetlands remain in good shape, particularly in the eastern third of the...
As the leaves turn their yellow, gold, red and brown, another change in color signals the shift toward fall. In the morning, along any given gravel road, should the conditions be just right and a recently- harvested field be available in pheasant country, it's easy to see the transition in the bird population as the newest crop of roosters begins to ditch the buff hues shared with their young-of-the-year sisters, and instead don the bronzes, golds, reds and maroons of adulthood. It is a sign,...
The eastern bank of clouds meant that my friends on the far side of the state likely would not see much hunting action as my dog and I traversed the gravel roads south and west of town away from the shadow of the frontal boundary. The sun slowly climbed over the gray bank and dawn was delayed by the extended horizon, but we would be spared the downpours that cancelled their grouse openers. Here and there on the blacktop and dirt, stretches of dampness marked those places where light rains had...
Reports throughout southwestern North Dakota of dead and dying whitetail deer discovered on the landscape - but particularly related to drainages and low water areas - are likely the result of an increase in a viral infection particular to the animals. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a virus carried by biting midges, which at this time in the season are predominantly found around sloughs, stock ponds and other damp areas. EHD causes dehydration and a fever, which may result in sick deer...
The day after I tagged my deer last season was warm, but windy, and there was no snow on the ground. It was more like a September scene than one from November. With temperatures in the mid-50s and gusty breezes at 25 miles per hour, I watched the hillside grasses bend as the northwest gales curled around the sunny side of the hill my lab Ole and I walked on during our final day of vacation which was set aside for big game, but now took on a new purpose after a punched tag. Not a hundred yards...
With the completion of summer roadside surveys by the North Dakota Game & Fish Department, there's plenty of good news for much of the state when it comes to upland game bird populations, with notable rebounds of pheasants in the western half of the state driving an overall increase in their numbers. With a mild winter and better habitat carrying over from last autumn, when wet conditions helped spring stands of nesting and rearing grass get established quickly, pheasants reaped the benefits....
Few events in the outdoors are more startling than a flushing covey of Hungarian partridge or sharptailed grouse. With the opener within reach and early season birds prone to group rises, finding yourself in a situation where a flock of birds rushes skyward can leave even the best wingshooter surprised and send errant shots into what seems like a ball of easy targets where at least one should drop. Avoiding the dreaded flock shot and focusing in on one or two birds can help convert those...
As a youngster, I was fond of “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. More often than not, I’d cheat and just read each page and then figure my way back through the story to slay the dragon, escape from the alien prison camp, or ultimately get the best result possible in its pages. Similarly, when visiting a restaurant now as an adult, I also enjoy making my way through those special menus that often include mixing-and-matching an appetizer, main course, side items and dessert all for one ridic...
With ruffed grouse numbers still near their cyclical high this fall, opportunities to chase the thundering wing beats of this popular game bird abound from the aspen stands of northeastern Minnesota to the forests of the Rainy River drainage, to the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Gorge areas of northern North Dakota. If you're just starting out after ruffies or are looking to get back on the trail after autumns spent chasing other upland birds, what follows are some tips that will help you in your...
Covid-19 changed the complexion of my summer and that of many other folks, but what it failed to affect, save for the occasional cancelation of a fishing derby or walleye tournament I may have participated in or covered, was the summer angling efforts across the map. In fact, many state agencies around the country are reporting a solid spike in angling license sales in 2020 due to the current situation. Outside of those few social aspects that a weekend fishing event brings to the pastime, most...
I’ve never been fond of heights. Despite being marketed (and statistically confirmed) as the safest way to travel, airplanes have always made me uneasy. Even the top of the Ferris wheel in the Fargo Scheels makes my stomach drop a little bit when my son and I reach the apex on the slow-moving trip to the second story. With lightning striking and rendering a trusted deer stand inoperable, what with its melted bolts and connection points, charred footpad from the point of impact and twisted l...
Dove hunting season is truly the initial sign of fall. Federally set to start on the first of September this year, as it has most every year in the past, the chance to take mourning doves begins in an autumn month and kicks off as the calendar page turns. Well ahead of most other upland game species, with grouse opening about two weeks down the road and pheasant hunting still six weeks away, doves provide uplanders with opportunities to get out in the field and shake the rust off in pursuit of...
South Dakota and North Dakota have some of the nation’s earliest-opening archery deer seasons. With the Rushmore State’s bow opener on Sept. 1 and the Peace Garden State’s season kicking off at noon on Sept. 4, hunters across the northern great plains have the very unique opportunity of harvesting a whitetail or mule deer buck in velvet, while most other states open their archery opportunities a week or so after most of the material has been shed by autumn deer. While a number of factors have...
Even in the dim start of the day which hinted back to how many seasons in the area had begun, with low clouds hanging over the rock-and-cedar covered edges of the small stream on Lake Superior’s north shore, it was evidently summer. The humidity stuck to everything like the rust-colored algae on the rocks in the slower edge pools and I felt the breathability of my waders fade as they quickly began to cling to my legs in the August air. While not hot to start, it was a far cry from those cold s...
