We’re in the midst of it now; fall is in full swing, the best time of year.
If you don’t believe me about the best time of year part, ask just about anyone who hunts or fishes.
So many options, so little time.
With the exception of the deer rifle and muzzleloader seasons, pretty much every hunting season is in full swing. Pheasant season opened Saturday, Oct. 12, in both North Dakota and Minnesota, grouse and other small game seasons have been underway for more than a month already, and the sound of migrating geese, along with the occasional volley of shotgun blasts from a productive morning waterfowl hunt, all mark the changing of the seasons.
And then there’s the fishing.
For those of us who don’t hang up our fishing rods after Labor Day, fall serves up some of the best fishing of the year. Looking back, nearly all of my biggest walleyes – including a 31½-inch beauty I released several Octobers ago and have yet to top (though I keep trying) – have come in the fall.
For the most part, it’s simple fishing, too: Drop anchor or put the trolling motor on spot-lock and dunk a jig and a minnow. Or, if you prefer, a soft plastic or other artificial bait.
I hope to get out on the water eventually, but for now, time in the woods and ruffed grouse hunting takes priority – even though bird numbers are definitely down, thanks to the deluge of rain that fell in late May and early June, a crucial time for grouse and other ground-nesting birds.
Maybe it’s just me, but the appearance of fall colors seemed to take longer than usual this year. Plus, those hot, windy days that triggered a scourge of Asian lady beetles – nasty, biting things that emit a foul odor when threatened – made it difficult to get into the swing of fall outdoor activities.
In that context, the recent cool, frosty mornings and fall colors that have finally hit their peak are welcome happenings indeed.
If there’s a moral to this rambling tribute to fall, it’s this: The season is fleeting and will be gone before we know it – so get out and enjoy.
NDWF launches wildfire relief fund
The fall edition of the
North Dakota Wildlife Federation
“Flickertales” newsletter hit my inbox the other day, and it includes an item from John Bradley, the federation’s executive director, that I thought worth sharing.
In response to the recent devastating wildfires in western North Dakota, the NDWF has launched an
to benefit ranchers affected by the disaster. Through the end of November, all donations to the NDWF will be matched 1 to 1 up to $100,000, the newsletter indicated.
Donations will be used to help fund fencing and water tank repairs, soil health and grass plantings and reclamation of fire breaks.
“This is a critical moment for North Dakota’s ranching communities and the public’s wildlife,” Bradley wrote in the newsletter. “The impact of these fires will be felt for years to come, but together, we can begin the process of healing and recovery. The challenges are immense, but with your help, we can support our ranching communities and protect the wildlife that calls North Dakota home.”
For more information on the relief effort, contact the North Dakota Wildlife Federation at (701) 390-7196,
at northdakotawildlife.org or send a check to the NDWF at Box 1091, Bismarck ND 58502.
I also received word this week that the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is working with 10 other states across the Midwest, including Minnesota, to learn how residents feel about fish and wildlife conservation issues.
To gather that information, Southwick Associates, a well-known research firm that specializes in outdoor recreation, is emailing a survey to a random sample of hunters and anglers in each of the participating states. Ultimately, results from the survey will be used to help participating state fish and wildlife agencies better understand the issues that are important to their constituents and deliver programs those constituents deem valuable.
The survey is just getting underway, so it likely will be awhile before any information is available. I’ll be curious to see the results and learn what’s on the mind of hunters, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts, not only in North Dakota, but in neighboring Minnesota. It will also be interesting to see if priorities in the two states differ from those in neighboring states.
I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available. Stay tuned.
