By Nick Simonson   The rooster rose from the drain’s snow-filled cattails near my feet and curled out in front of me, banking against the northwest gusts that spurred the addition of new layers which my scattergun snagged on as I attempted to raise it to my shoulder.  The slick thumb pad of my second…

FANTASTIC FRIDAY.  A great weekend is setting up for anything outdoors whether you’re hunting, ice fishing or just enjoying the December thaw. Calm conditions will dominate the next couple of days along with some nice temperatures in the 30s and maybe even a brush with 40.  We cover that and more in today’s Outdoors Roundup….

OF OPEN WATER & ICE. We cover news for your soft water angling and boating next summer, while we run through the memory books and lay out a strategy for hard water hole hopping in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  A BIG GRID.  Punching a bunch of holes – ice tourney style – will help…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. Some North Dakota anglers got an early start to ice fishing this season, and there’s still a lot of winter hard-water fishing opportunities to come.   To provide a general overview of what to expect, here’s some excerpts from a recent interview with North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries…

LOOKING FINE.  The weather is shaping up for the start of the holiday season as temperatures climb to near freezing today and things will feel warm after our brief dip into the sub-zeros last weekend.  We cover the good forecast ahead, some awesome bead head patterns and some free fishing coming up for ND in…

‘ROUND THE REGION. While we await Wednesday’s welcome warm up, there’s a ton going on in the outdoors world.  We go around the region to check out what’s happening from the front lines of public involvement in Minnesota to increased CWD concerns in South Dakota and map out the rest of our upland seasons right…

A CASE OF THE MONDAYS.  So, a super chilly weekend might have kept you indoors, but here’s hoping you were able to get out when you could.  We’re ticking off the final days of hunting seasons and looking at some better ice forming after our cold snap and checking in on seasons and secrets for…

WRATH IN REVIEW.  We check out the chill of winter thus far as the region – along with much of the northern U.S. – finds itself off to a severe start in terms of seasonal weather.  In addition, we take a peak at what’s to come and the standard bearers for axe throwing, just in…

By Nick Simonson While we focus a lot on nymphs and big bulky pheasant-tail based patterns for turning trout, panfish and other frequent targets on the fly rod, sometimes more subtle wet flies are the ticket to success.  Take for example the Pheasant Cruncher wet fly. It’s thin, versatile, customizable and can go from drab…

How many ‘Rs’ in BRRRR?.  Cold conditions take hold today as temperatures struggle to reach zero.  Light winds will make temps tolerable and should help ice up those final open areas of water.  We’ve got more on winter activities in ND, along with shifts in the sky in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  PLAYING COY. …

By Nick Simonson   With the announcement of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), beginning on Dec. 9 and running through Feb. 28, 2020, conservation groups, environmentalists, sportsmen and operators reacted with great excitement as approximately seven million acres will be available under the program’s complex…

ONE WARM ONE.  Today will be nice, particularly in the morning, as temperatures reach their peak following an overnight warm-up.  Winds will be calm until mid-day when a cold front sweeps in and brings tomorrow’s chill. We cover that, highlight the successes of NAWCA and look at a super veterans’ hunting program in our Outdoors…

By Nick Simonson   Another ice season is upon us, and with the shift to hardwater comes not only the annual tradition of getting out there after walleyes, pike and panfish but also the review of some of the latest innovations in what has become one of fishing’s fastest growing markets.  While things have certainly…

CLIMBING OUT.  Temperatures will rise throughout Thursday only to be bumped back on Friday as northwest winds rush in to cool off your weekend.  In the meantime, we’ve got all the news and exciting updates to get you through your day from coyotes to crafting tackle in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  So Fly.  Check…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept.   The badlands of western North Dakota are one of the unique regions for North Dakota outdoors, and a focal point for State Game and Fish Department research and studies.   “It’s just a remarkable place for both critters and people,” said Jeb Williams, Game and Fish wildlife division chief….

HUMP DAY.  Make it through today and things start to warm up toward the weekend.  Don’t get too comfortable as another cold bump comes on Saturday.  We check out the ice today and reports from a North Dakota insider with the US FWS in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  First Dog.  DEO celebrates the life…

SKYTALKER.  Following Thanksgiving’s cool display of the crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter aligning in the sky we’ve got another light show planned for this week with the Geminids meteors peaking.  We cover that and more on what’s influencing our night skies in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Aligned.  The crescent moon and Venus shine in…

COVER UP.  Surprisingly significant snow has fallen as part of a fast-moving system.  With it, wildlife will be entering winter survival mode, relying on heavy cover across the region to get through the chilly stretch to come.  We cover those options and more in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  CAT CALL.  Cattails provide excellent upland…

CLIPPED.  An Alberta Clipper gains steam and targets a smile-shaped swath of the upper Midwest with snow today and tomorrow.  We’ve got a look at next week’s conditions, tips for those signing up for CRP and a quick rust check in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  FLAG!  Make sure tip-ups are ready to go! Simonson…

By Nick Simonson   Of note on crappies of both stripes, or specks as it were, are their large eyes.  Both white and black crappies have enormous peepers mounted at the front of their heads, and they use them to target their prey in both summer and winter.  Capitalizing on this dominant sense is an…

A DANDY!  A super Saturday is on tap for all your outdoor activities as light southerly winds will set up great upland hunts and warm temperatures will facilitate on-ice movement.  We go around the region with news on our state’s ice and updates on hunting and fishing in neighboring jurisdictions as part of our Outdoors…

By Nick Simonson   Known as the Habitat Organization, Pheasants Forever (PF) has played a major role in acquiring and opening land to the public in the form of Wildlife Management Areas and Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the upper Midwest.  However, in light of an ever-changing commodities market, increasing acre caps under the Conservation Reserve…

AT WEEK’S END!  Congrats – you made it to Friday!  A nice pair of days is setting up for hunters, ice anglers and anyone in the outdoors, with mild temps, moderate winds and good conditions. We cover what’s ahead, more ice fishing news and the big word on CRP signup in our Outdoors Roundup. Featured…

CHILL AHEAD.  While the weekend will be nice, next week’s dip into the deep freeze will be another story.  On the bright side, when we come out of it, ice should be thicker, sloughs should be frozen and we’ll be well set up for the start of winter!  We cover that and more in today’s…

By Doug Leier, NDG&F Dept. I’m often amazed at the raw pure connection to the outdoors enjoyed by many of my friends and co-workers. When the temperature drops and the ice begins to form, it doesn’t signal the end to spending time hunting and fishing. It’s just a transition. One of those transitions taking place…

TALKING BOOTS.  The late season can provide a challenge for upland walkers, and those lace-up boots can take a beating in the snow, ice and super wet areas we’re seeing around the region this time of year.  In today’s Outdoors Roundup, we give you some guidelines to help make them last through this chilly stretch…

LOOKING WAY AHEAD.  While things are nice in the near term for some late season hunting or early ice fishing, we look a ways down the road at next year’s openers along with some concerning upland news to the east and catch a glimpse of a creepy carp in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Big…

MILD MONDAY.  Things warm up as best they can under a blanket of snow as temps fight their way up into the thirties.  We cover hunting and fishing developments from around the region as part of today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Snow flakes fall on the fibers of a rooster pheasant’s tail. Simonson Photo.  …

CAN YOU DIG IT?  With snow covering the southern half of the state, we’re digging out into a new month as the calendar turns to December.  We’ve got more on storm totals and what’s to come for the winter in today’s Outdoors Roundup. Featured Photo:  Snow fills a set of pine tree rows. Simonson Photo….