Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

 

I have always thought of fall fishing as a special time of the year to be on the lake. This year has been a little different except for the last few days, which actually resemble the days of fall that I always picture in my mind. It is actually hard to imagine that it is already deer hunting season, which in our neck of the woods runs from November 8-11. From what I have not only heard, but have witnessed first hand, there is an abundance of deer in the area. This is a good sign for bow and firearms hunters alike.

Each fall my brother-in-law, Lynn Johnson, ventures from his home in Nome, Alaska to the Albert Lea area to hunt deer with a bow. In Alaska he has hunted everything from moose to muskox and more, but returning to Minnesota to hunt the wily whitetail with his friends keeps bringing him back. His wife, who we call Sister, was born and raised in Alaska, but she considers venison a delicacy. Having someone come to this area each year specifically to hunt deer says a lot about our area and the viability of the sport that many hold dear to their heart.

I attended the first-ever Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener in the Brainerd area. Although I did not hunt, I learned so much about the traditions of deer camps and how much this means to families and friends who take part in it every year. I rode along with a couple of conservation officers to check deer camps just to see how things were going and if they had gotten any deer.

The first ever Minnesota deer-hunting opener was held in the Brainerd area in 2004 and it started with a “bang” (had to do it) for then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He bagged a small buck to kick off the opener. That’s not a trophy by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s something for the record books because he is the one that started the annual Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener and it seems only fitting that he should get in on the action. The venison, by the way, was donated to the food shelf in Grand Rapids.

In the years following, I have been invited to attend this opener but have been unable to do so for various reasons. I learned a lot at that first one, not only about deer hunting in general, but about deer camps and the comradery that goes along with a deer camp. Some of them are all family events and others are a group of friends who gather once a year to hunt and catch up. Over all deer hunters are a very close-knit group that participate in an annual event to enjoy each other’s company and share memories of past hunts and make new ones along the way.

At that particular opener I spoke with a 15-year-old girl who was just thrilled to be at deer camp with her family for the first time. She had gotten a deer on her first hunt and was beaming with pride when she talked about it. This is really what these deer camps do for our outdoors heritage, they pass on a great tradition to the next generation which bodes well for the future of our outdoors heritage.

 

Odds and ends

On another note, I have heard that there seem to be more pheasants in the area than there have been for several years. This is not a scientific fact, but I have seen a few this year and from talking to some hunters it seems that the population has started to improve.

I would still like to do just a little shore fishing before the weather turns sour and the open water starts to harden. This is my plan, but it may never materialize unless I just take the time to do it.

To add a little fuel to my fishing fire the DNR released the story of a new record fish story. A 43-1/2-inch pike caught by a member of the Women Anglers of Minnesota on Mille Lacs Lake sets the first northern pike state record in the Department of Natural Resources’ catch-and-release category. Angler Maddy Ogg caught and released the huge pike Oct. 6 during what she described as a cold and windy day of fishing. She and companions Mike Buckingham and Jenni Buckingham got an early start that morning, soon landing two fish at the same time.

“On the way to the lake that morning, we saw eight bald eagles and shortly after we started fishing, we landed a double – I knew it was going to be a good day of fishing,” Ogg said.

I am not only a fisherman, but I am a little superstitious when it comes to wildlife and my favorite sport. On one particular lake that I have fished frequently over the years there is an eagles nest and it seems that more often than not, when I see that eagle flying about the fishing is usually good. It is probably just my imagination, but I think that I will just take it as a good sign and leave it at that.

Until next time, good luck to all of the hunters and I hope that you have a safe hunt. There is still open water to be fished, so why not give it a try before it hardens?

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the wonderful freedoms we enjoy today.