Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Sorted by date Results 676 - 700 of 1018
The Eddy County 4-H Clubs held their Achievement Day on Thursday, July 9, virtually via Eddy County Extension. Exhibits for the day included: • Animal Science: Rebekah Widmer, Grand Champion. • Beef Breeding- Beef Calf: Joie Helseth, Grand Champion; Mathew Schuster, Reserve Champion. • Beef Marketing: Mason Schuster, Grand Champion. • Beef Showmanship Junior: Joie Helseth, Grand Champion; Mathew Schuster, Reserve Champion •Beef Showmanship Senior: Mason Schuster, Grand Champion. • Cloverbud:...
These days I drink bad coffee. Not bad, per se, but only half caffeinated, which according to the old me is bad, as in my younger years I spent much of the morning riding the lightning of a black oily brew so thick I could cut with a knife. That dosage was often followed by a battery of Diet Cokes in the afternoon to keep things rolling. As I wait for the limited amount of the stimulant to enter my system while sipping on the third glass of the morning writing this column, hoping it will...
For hunters in North Dakota drawing one of the "Big Three" tags for a once-in-a-lifetime chance at an elk, bighorn sheep or moose, particularly a bull of any of those species, is hard enough. For some it takes decades to receive a permit and some go without the opportunity their entire lives. As luck would have it, Kelly Dyke of Hebron received her shot at a bull moose in unit M10 in the fall of 2019, but the challenge of getting a tag wasn't enough for the hard-charging barrel racer; she...
My weekly column, Our Outdoors, has chronicled the recent history of hunting, angling and my experiences, as well as myriad misadventures and sometimes-successful outings in the wild for the past two decades. It's my hope that it continues to entertain and educate for the next two decades, and maybe a few more after that if I'm lucky enough to still be able to share my take on what to do – and sometimes more importantly, what not to do – to get more from the increasingly precious and lim...
Outdoor notes: *Resident deer applicants unsuccessful in the first lottery have until July 22 to apply for the second lottery for leftover licenses available in some units. Go to the N.D. Game & Fish Dept. website, (grf.nd.gov), for details and application. *Watchable Wildlife photo contest underway with Oct. 2 deadline. Contact N.D. Game & Fish Dept. conservation biologist, Patrick Isakson, [email protected] for details. Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, July 7: 1,449.75 feet above mean sea level...
North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel encourage anglers to keep fish caught from depths of more than 25 feet, rather than practice catch-and-release. Scott Gangl, Game and Fish fisheries management section leader, said while catch-and-release is often encouraged under the right conditions, fish reeled in from this depth will likely die if released. “Fish caught from deep water have a lower chance of surviving after you release them because of the extreme change in water pressure,” Gangl said. Change in water pressure wil...
Fisheries managers often hear from anglers who fish in, say, Minnesota and elsewhere, and wonder why specific regulations are applied in those states, but not North Dakota. One of the more frequent conversations involves slot limits. North Dakota doesn’t currently have any slot-limit regulations, and most fisheries managers will tell you that a slot limit is likely the most misunderstood of fish size restrictions. Most anglers refer to a slot limit as a harvestable size range, say, from 14 to 2...
Imagine having to choose just one food to live off for half of your life. While I'm certain fried walleye would be a good option, or pizza would work, or even wild rice brats fresh off the grill could sustain about anyone, the hedging exhibited just in this sentence alone shows how difficult it would be. Now imagine you're a monarch butterfly, and you don't have a choice. From birth through its caterpillar phase, the iconic butterfly depends on one food source for all its needs to reach its...
While midsummer brings its share of weeds to front lawns and gardens requiring some time on the hands and knees cleaning things up, or at least a quick buzz of the tiller in a skillful weaving around those tomato plants, there's other weed work that can be much more enjoyable. This time of the season also brings well-established weedlines into play for fish that utilize them for protection from the stronger and longer-lasting rays of the sun and find the bountiful food web that is developing...
Todd Duchscherer has always loved racing. Growing up he and his brother Troy spent many nights at the Jamestown Speedway dirt track, watching Don Gumke race. Gumke was a Jamestown native well known in the area circuit to whom many have attributed their desire to begin racing careers, including Todd. Although young Todd was infatuated with thoughts of getting onto the track, his life's experiences led him down a different path. After high school, he attended Valley City State University for two...
Outdoor notes: *Fireworks prohibited on all N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Wildlife Mgmt. Areas and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National. Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production Areas. Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, June 30: 1,449.33 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.42 MSL. *Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,843.29 MSL; 28,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases. *Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Try slip bobbers or trolling spinners a...
Growing up in the upper Midwest taught me to relish the warmth of summer. Sometimes those stretches of 90-degree days spanned just a week or two in August. Other summers, the warmth seemed to highlight the entire 12 weeks we were out of school. In between backyard kickball games, neighborhood-wide all-day water gun fights and kick the can contests at dark, canoe treks up the river and fishing for bullheads from its banks. As angling became more of the focus in my life, we'd seek out the shade...
North Dakota’s spring pheasant population index is up 15% from the same time last year, according to the state Game and Fish Department’s 2020 spring crowing count survey. Upland game management biologist R.J. Gross said the number of roosters heard crowing this spring was up statewide, with increases ranging from 1% to 18% in the primary regions holding pheasants. “We entered spring with a larger breeding population compared to last year,” Gross said. “Hens should be in good physical shape for nesting season and cover should be plentiful...
The Barnes County Veteran Service Office in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Fish and Game would like to announce the 2020 Camp Grafton Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt for Veterans who are 50% disabled or greater. The Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt will take place on Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17 at Camp Grafton, N.D. Applications are due by October 16, 2020 and are available from any County or Tribal Veteran Service Office. *PLEASE NOTE: This is a shotgun with slug only hunt, no rifles will be allowed or provided this...
For many, the Independence Day holiday weekend represents a great time to get on the water. Whether it's cruising in the warmth of the afternoon or anchoring up and watching the fireworks display reflecting off the surface of a favorite lake in the evening, the water goes hand-in-hand with the mid- summer holiday. With a three-day weekend on tap for many, fishing is also something to add to that list, but the added challenge of a busy water can hinder successful angling. However, with the right...
Gaudy. Ugly. Fish-Catching. These terms for one of the foremost smallmouth flies may seem divergent, but they all hit the spot for the Tequeely, a combination of kindergarten art project and scrapped experimental woolly bugger borne from a night of drunk tying along with a little bit of rubber thrown in for good measure. Regardless of its appearance, the Tequeely dominates smallmouth in spring and summer. Who really knows what it looks like under the water to these protective predators this...
During what normally would have been the beginning of a busy season, Jeff Baker of Rez Famous Lemonade on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation kicked off June with local lemonade sales to drive-up customers. Summer on the reservation in north-central North Dakota is typically busy for Baker with weekend powwows and the occasional car show or community event. While he normally expects about 16 weekend business opportunities between April and November, this summer is different. "Our main venue...
Outdoor notes: *The lowest three-quarters mile of Channel A as it enters Devils Lake is closed to boats and shore-fishing, the area by U.S. Hwy 2 and train bridges, due to road construction. *Remember to get current boat registrations, keep social distancing, and boating safety requirements for life jackets, etc. *State parks are open with camping reservations available online at (parkrec.nd.gov). Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, June 23: 1,449.39 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake ele...
When it comes to fishing, I'm a fan of second fiddles, the underappreciated, those that don't take the top spot when it relates to what many people target on the water. I revel in the solid smack delivered by a rock bass as it steals a jig meant for a smallmouth, or when a white bass snatches a spoon cast out for a pike. Many times, the action these secondary species provide is enough for me to switch up my offering, and even downsize my rod, to continue pursuing them when they're abundant and...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds citizens that possession or use of fireworks on state wildlife management areas is prohibited. The primary objective of a wildlife management area is to enhance wildlife production, provide hunting and fishing opportunities, and offer other outdoor recreational and educational uses that are compatible with these objectives. Only activities that would not disrupt the intentions of how these areas are managed are encouraged, and a fireworks display is not compatible. In addition, the Game and...
With the heat of summer descending upon the region, those cold water loving trout which were stocked in area lakes and reservoirs are seeking out the depths, and aside from some chill hours in the morning and evening, are a bit tougher to target on the fly rod. Luckily, around the upper Midwest, there are plenty of other fish to take their place on the long rod and many ways to catch them. What follows are a handful of warm water species to take on with a fly box in tow, hone those fly fishing...
Outdoor notes: *The lowest three-quarters mile of Channel A as it enters Devils Lake is closed to boats and shore-fishing, the area by U.S. Highway 2 and train bridges, due to road construction. *Remember to get current boat registrations, keep social distancing, and boating safety requirements for life jackets. *State parks are open with camping reservations available online at (parkrec.nd.gov). Fishing: *Devils Lake elevation, June 16: 1,449.41 feet above mean sea level (MSL). *Stump Lake elev...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department completed its 73rd annual spring breeding duck survey in May despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and results showed an index of nearly 4 million birds, up 18% from last year. Migratory game bird supervisor Mike Szymanski said despite most waterfowl surveys in North America being canceled this spring, Game and Fish was able to make adjustments to continue this long-term data set. “Crews were turned into single person crews to make sure there was only one person in a vehicle, and we changed some of the r...
I'm a firm believer that a quick trip to the water is better than no trip at all. One jaunt in the uplands, even in the middle of the afternoon well ahead of the witching hour, can still produce plenty of excitement. Even a short sit on stand in the fall to watch the sunrise and the first few deer filter in and out of the draw produces memories. A full life, and memorable outdoor activity, requires making the most of what you've got with the time allotted. It was a lesson hammered home again thi...
While most of us have been more tuned in to big game hunting applications this spring or hitting the water for walleye, the recent stay-at-home order gave me a chance to organize some gear, too. Picking my way through a year of fishing and hunting equipment, my thoughts swirled around one activity: elk hunting. Even as I write this, I am kicking myself for not organizing my elk gear after my last move. It's easy to understand why, as I have my North Dakota once-in-a-lifetime elk tag in my...
