Our Wildlife Refuges
Minot is situated within a short drive of several National Wildlife Refuges, each with their own diversity of habitat. They are managed for wildlife and for compatible public use. Upper Souris NWR has public use areas for shore fishing, maintains boat ramps for open water fishing on Lake Darling, allows for ice fishing and dark […]
Man’s Best Friend
I write about dogs a lot, but never enough. They deserve more. No matter what I write about dogs it always seems inadequate, yet here I go again. Dog owners will understand. Dogs do not read. At least I don’t think they do, at least not the written word. Depending on what statistics you wish […]
A North Dakota Tradition
Deer hunting is one of North Dakota’s most long-lasting traditions. Every November is marked by thousands of hunters taking to the hills and coulees and other favored terrain in search of deer. However, for many, harvesting a deer is not the only measure of success. Participating in a tradition is. I remember my first deer […]
Those Darned North Dakota Winters
Fall. Thud. Winter. North Dakota just went from a very pleasant fall season to a heavy dose of winter in just a few hours. People who were riding bicycles or raking leaves, and children who were joyously jumping in them, turned to winter clothing and shoveling snow almost overnight. Tennis courts and golf courses closed. […]
Haunting Experiences
Paranormal activity? Hauntings? Ghosts? Possible? Not just possible, but true. At least that’s my view. In the words that follow I offer a few personal examples why I cannot dismiss encounters with the supernatural. A few years back I drove to Fort Laramie, Wyoming to participate in a “living history” week at the actual frontier […]
Moments and Memories
It is a special place. The fish are big. The memories bigger. Tobin Lake at Nipawin, Saskatchewan has long been a favorite destination of fishermen from both Canada and the United States. Every year anglers descend on the Canadian water with the expectation of hooking into a fish of a lifetime. The unique fishery delivers […]
A Bird in the Hand
Sometimes what seems to be a small, insignificant slice of life has a much greater meaning than first realized. I offer the following example. A few days ago, I noticed my dog was paying an unusual amount of attention to a small pond in my backyard. Curious, I went outside to see what had captured […]
Homer Hanky
The place was absolutely crazy. The noise was deafening. The packed stadium went wild as the baseball soared over the centerfield fence at the old Metrodome in Minneapolis. Put four on the board for the Minnesota Twins! It was a World Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek sent the […]
Angler’s Anguish – Kooky or Clever?
Most fishermen: What’s the forecast?Answer: Wind 15-20 and a 30% chance of rain.Most fishermen: Yuk. Let’s go another day.Muskie fisherman: What’s the forecast?Answer: Wind 25-35 with higher gusts possible, 80% chance of rain/snow with accumulations of 15-20 inches possible, moon phase favorable.Muskie fisherman: Well, that settles it. Let’s go! It happens. More often than you […]
Finger in the Flame
Quite often men behave like, well, men. At least that’s my explanation for what I am about to reveal. Men relish the tough guy persona, of which the trait of never showing pain is one of the foremost measurements of the male sex. Of course, there’s a limit to how far this illusion can successfully […]
