Blog entries

Winter is back...

Administrator — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 05:00:00 +0100

True to the previous entry on March 6, winter did return. We reached only 12 below zero that evening and had a strong northerly wind. Today is actually really nice, sunny and around 30 degrees above. The reason for this entry is that as I write this, looking out my office window to the west, sitting in a birch tree is a Great Grey Owl. I've a plain view of it, and actually there is a crow about ten feet from it- just being there, just being a, well, a crow doing what it does best. Being annoy...

Springtime

Administrator — Sun, 06 Mar 2005 05:00:00 +0100

Springtime arrived today on a strong South wind. We reached the mid fifties by early afternoon. I haven't felt that since October, maybe it was early November. The icicles dropped from all the roofs by late morning and the decks cleared of the packed snow. Even my labrador retreiver, Ike, left the woodstove for a nap in the warm sun on the back stoop. I watched as two crows flew over our cabin and listened to the chikadees singing their fee- bee songs. My Dad and I watched two red squirrels (...

Wild Life

Administrator — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 05:00:00 +0100

It is a cold morning, the kind of morning that the woodsmoke is billowing straight up from our cabin chimney. My daughter, Cynthia and I pile in the frosty truck with the dim light of morning riding the eastern sky. I'm taking her to the school bus stop, about a third of a mile away. As we drive down the snow covered Canadian Border Road, we're ever alert for signs of wildlife. Cindy and I both scan the woods around us, sometimes playing games on who sees what first. We make the mailboxes; wh...

Opening day of Minnesota's deer gun season

Administrator — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 05:00:00 +0100

Opening day of Minnesota's deer gun season found my daughter, Cynthia and neighbor, Matt, and I sitting in the cold, pre dawn darkness in a makeshift deer stand. We were overlooking a series of deer trails that I've hunted over the years and have taken a couple bucks from.We weren't far from our home, less then a fifteen minute walk.

Cindy knew the area well; we used to walk the trails when she was very young, telling her stories of my times in the woods. She had even accompanied me on...

Autumn Walleye Lakes

Administrator — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 04:00:00 +0100

I had a group of anglers out for a three day trip to one of my favorite Autumn walleye lakes. I was able to get the camp that I wanted which happens to be next to a stream that enters the lake on the south end. One of the better 'fishin' holes is straight out fron the inlet of this meandering stream and in direct sight of camp.

Fishing this area over the years, especially in the autumn, I've noticed that the resident bald eagle clan prefers to use two particular trees to perch in. ...

Birds!

Administrator — Tue, 15 Jul 2003 04:00:00 +0100

We were camped on a beautiful pine woods point with a spectacular view. My customers, Dick and his son, Steve and myself all witnessed the following. A family group of red-breasted merganseres (waterfowl) had been hanging around our campsite for quite a few days. There was the female and eight young in the group. On this particular day, we also had three adult loons working the point, hanging around, diving and foraging the depths for small fish and crayfish. Why three adults at this time of ...

Ensign Lake Trip

Administrator — Thu, 22 May 2003 04:00:00 +0100

I was camped on Ensign Lake for my first trip of this year. While fishing the afternoon of the second day out, my customer noticed a herring gull sitting at our campsite point. I had mentioned that I had seen the gull perched there for quite sometime. As we entered camp late in the afternoon, I noticed the gull showed no fear and allowed us to walk right by it. Since I had many camp chores ahead of me, I thought nothing of it. My mind left the odd behavior of the gull until I went to clean th...

We are well into Springtime now

Administrator — Mon, 05 May 2003 04:00:00 +0100

We are well into Springtime now. The buds of the chokecherry trees and the wild elderberry are about to open. Jasper Lake is open and the loons appeared almost immediately after the ice left. There was actually one swimming in an open area surrounded by ice flows. Opening of fishing is just six days away ; another year in the woods and on the waters begins. I'm sure it will be a memorable year. They all are. A few other notes to jot down- The 'skeeters are out already. We've quite a few ticks...

Ice is disappearing from Jasper Lake

Administrator — Thu, 24 Apr 2003 04:00:00 +0100

Ice is disappearing from Jasper Lake. The waterfowl are back. The drake mallards and mergansers stand out vividly in their spring plumage. On an early morning walk with the dogs I watched woodcock perform their mating ritual. I hear robins singing in the morning, along with the beautiful song of the winter wren. Still anticipating the haunting call of the loon - a sure sign that spring is here to stay.