HEAD DOWN.  One more cool, gusty day for the region before an autumnal paradise (relatively speaking) sets in.  In the meantime, plan your hunts, your sits and your late-season fishing trips as we look ahead to the week in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Blown Around.  Milkweed seeds hang from a dried pod, ready…

By Nick Simonson Even in these times of want and woe and low pheasant numbers and dwindling CRP and the tales of empty fields and bare draws and a million other stories that the would-be-hunting populace spins to justify the lack of wear on their boot leather, there are still many more reasons to be…

BLOWIN’ UP.  Alright, we know, it’s going to be a windy weekend which just might make you change a few of your outdoor plans. But don’t worry, next week looks like something out of the “the autumn you wish we had for hunting” fairy tale book. Just hold on, things will improve (on Monday, of course)! …

FEELS GOOD. With temps touching 50, things will feel warm, despite that high being below average.  Use today to get out and kick your weekend off with a little hunting or fishing, as conditions deteriorate rapidly overnight. We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Edges.  The sun breaks over…

By Nick Simonson Every pheasant season – and every opener – teaches me something.  This year, hunting solely public-access parcels near home provided even greater insight into the need for areas for all and how hunting them can provide surprising starts and fitting ends to an adventure.  When my group of four set out after…

BREATHE EASY! Here’s hoping you dodged the snow storm yesterday and were able to hunker down if you were under the bullseye! Take a deep breath, dig out and get ready for a nice pair of days before winds return for the weekend to add some (more) challenges to your hunts.  We talk about that…

EASTERN WHITE OUT.  The backside of a slow-moving system will blanket the eastern portion of ND with six inches of snow today and into this evening, putting immediate hunting plans on hold.  When conditions do settle down, we’ve got the tips for when early season hunting suddenly becomes late season hunting in today’s Three Things….

SWAMPY. Wet and cold conditions persist today, good if you’re a duck, not so good if you’re anything else.  When it comes to treading water, those duck and goose feet are highly-evolved tools, we talk about those and more in today’s Three Things Featured Photo: A full slough near Regan, N.D. supports dozens of waterfowl…

CHILLY MIXERS.  Today and tomorrow bring a mix of rain and snow for those hanging on to their long weekend of pheasant hunting.  We talk about where to look for these birds in cold, wet conditions in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo:  Hunters should look for pheasants in areas of thermal cover that also help…

By Nick Simonson With early snowfall, it’s always a harsh reminder that it may be a long time before we re-emerge and get back to open water fishing in the spring.  But when we do, so will the insects, and it’s those emerging bugs – the ones that are headed up to the surface to…

DAY TWO. Things were sloppy around much of the central portion of the state, as Thursday’s weather softened up roads for pheasant hunters.  Similar cold, wet conditions will hang on til midweek, slowing harvest and outdoor activities.  We talk about where to go when things straighten up in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Turn Tail!…

RUDE AWAKENING. Rain, sleet, snow and at times a mix of all three hit much of the state last night, making highways slick, but pheasant tracking a little bit easier for tomorrow’s big opener.  We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: Rooster pheasants find shelter in a treerow.  Simonson Photo….

By Nick Simonson “Go down…go down…go down…go down…” Audibly from my stand, I urged the buck to tumble in the open field, and at the south end of it, it almost looked like he was ready to as his sprint slowed to a stumble-run.  The shot from my bow was a resounding “thwack” that left…

GO EARLY! While today’s sunrise and early morning stretch will be the best time of day to get out before the weather arrives this afternoon, sunrise is typically a great time to be hunting and fishing.  We talk about that and more in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: The sun breaks free of the clouds…

BRIGHT SPOT.  We’re watching the weather this week as rain, wind and snow put a damper on most outside activities. The one exception is Pheasant Opener on Saturday! We check that forecast out and get you geared up in today’s Three Things. Featured Photo: A shiny rainbow trout, caught and released on a local lake…

A NICE ONE. Temps in the mid-sixties with moderate winds will allow anglers another shot at great fall fishing before things turn gusty, and cooler tomorrow.  A damp and cold forecast for the rest of the week might make today your best bet for outdoor activity, and we talk about that and more in today’s…

ZAP IT! While things won’t heat up from this weekend’s chill all that fast, conditions will improve some going into the middle of the week.  While winds will grow toward a wild Wednesday, you’ll have a good chance to get out and enjoy some nice autumn days.  We give you some tips and ideas to…

By Nick Simonson That favorite day of many outdoorsmen is fast approaching – pheasant opener.   With head bowed, eyes skyward (is that physically possible?) and tongue firmly in cheek, we pray that divine intervention outweighs Murphy’s Law this autumn with the following blessing: Heavenly God, to whom I pray, provide me birds this glorious day,…

REACH OUT.  For hunters looking to access land, there are more resources now than ever to connect with landowners.  From the traditional to the high tech, we discuss those options in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Many GPS chips now provide landowner names and contact information. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Sun 9/30 –…

DUCK IT!  It’s an indoors weekend – unless you’re a duck hunter! Cold temps and wet conditions are perfect for waterfowlers, or for ducking the conditions and getting your fishing stuff put away and gearing up for all the fall’s hunting, including the upcoming pheasant opener. We talk about that and more in today’s Three…

By Nick Simonson With partridge season underway and the first few birds placed in the pouches of an upland vest, I can’t help but plan for two things – dinner, of course, and the number of patterns I will tie with the feathers attached to the birds I harvest.  With the first partridge of the…

By Nick Simonson Going from hunting sharptailed grouse on the plains to ruffed grouse in the woods often presents several changes and challenges. Beyond the distances traveled, the walking required, adjusting of chokes and the solitary nature of the birds, the most notable test is finding one’s way around in the towering and varied stands…

ARCH RIVALS. There are  some great rivalries in the outdoors, and some that have become best of friends (?) in the brand world.  We look back on an era that was and where we are now in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Crankbaits from all brands – including Rapala – find homes in DEO…

LOVIN’ MOONFUL.  As most outdoorsmen know, the moon plays a vital role in the movement of animals and the feeding habits of fish.  Even away from the coastlines the pull of the moon on a water body and the creatures in it can affect success.  We go around the web to find our favorite moon…

HEAD FOR THE HILLS.  Windy conditions may keep many hunters in during the middle portion of the week, but things should straighten up some by the time the weekend rolls around.  We look at those conditions and more in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Buffaloberry bushes adorn a distant hill on a grouse hunt…

By Nick Simonson While growing up on the Sheyenne River, I’d make it a weekend effort to complete what I called the Sheyenne Slam.  It wasn’t necessarily tough to do, despite the parameters of landing seven species in two days, considering that most of them were willing biters and after a few weeks on the…

TALL FALL. Wherever you wander, be prepared for the worst with three survival tools that are easily stored in a hunting vest or life jacket.  We detail them all in today’s Three Things.   Featured Photo: Towering tremuloides. Large aspens line a grouse trail. Simonson Photo. WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast): Today: Sun 9/23 – Cool & Cloudy….

By Nick Simonson As the adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” A fishing picture, however means never having to face an inquisition from friends or foes on your Facebook page or at the local watering hole. While any snap, from a camera phone on up to top-of-the-line photography equipment, will preserve the…

MORE TO IT.  Today’s forecast looks a little friendlier for outdoors activity and with the full moon, you’ll have a number of factors in your favor. If you’re looking for other useful survival tools to take into the field or on the water we give you three more suggestions for safe travels and to help…