DNR Q&A -- How best to plant a tree?
Q: Summer is a busy time for landscaping projects and planting trees. What is the proper way to plant a tree to ensure that it will survive and grow to it's full potential? A: The most common threat to the survival of newly planted trees is desiccation - not getting enough water. When planting a... (Thursday, June 11, 2009)

Dan Butterfass -- All sizes on Red Lake, but mostly big
Over Memorial Day weekend, in between stints of steadily catching walleyes on Red Lake, there was this: "Lines in. Everyone, hurry up, reel your lines in," ordered Grand Rapids Area fishing guide Jason Alto, before anyone else in our boat realized what had hit. For a moment the rest of us were... (Saturday, June 13, 2009)

Outdoor notes -- Turkey harvest at record high
The preliminary number of turkeys registered this year in Minnesota is a record 12,214, up 11 percent from last year's 10,994, according to the Department of Natural Resources. But turkey hunters weren't better in 2009, there were just more of them. The DNR gave out 11 percent more permits, said... (Thursday, June 18, 2009)

Walter Scott -- Let nature take its course
Our house and out-buildings are surrounded on three sides by two creeks and a horseshoe-shaped timber. We are far enough away from the woods to enjoy the wildlife but usually not have to deal with the day-to-day problems that can arise from living in close proximity with them. For several weeks, a... (Saturday, June 20, 2009)

John Weiss -- Outdoor Life was right
I casually scanned outdoors Life's roster of the best places for outdoors people, wondering if Ely, Duluth or my native Brainerd would be on the list that began with some obvious ones, like towns in Idaho and Wyoming. (Thursday, June 18, 2009)

Ruffed grouse counts up in Minnesota
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the state's ruffed grouse population is up 43 percent statewide over last year. The numbers are up 44 percent in the northeast region -- from Lake of the Woods to Chisago County, including the entire Arrowhead region. (Tuesday, June 16, 2009)

Walter Scott -- Deal with it and then move on
Damon and Amanda built their new house some distance off the road in a wooded area on the south end of the farm. They are ringed by trees on three sides and an open pasture on the other. The location was chosen primarily because of the beauty and isolation. One thing they did not think of was... (Saturday, June 13, 2009)

Bass bite on Mississippi is no fluke
WABASHA -- On a golden summer evening, as we cast Salty Super Flukes into the mirror-smooth Mississippi River , we chatted about fishing, women, fishing, Richard "Slipppery" Bach, fishing and the upcoming Slippery's Memorial Fishing Contest. (Thursday, June 11, 2009)