Recent content from Dennis Anderson
Anderson: Repulsive killing of bear wasn't hunting by a long shot
Sadly, the penalties historically haven't fit poaching crimes like those of which a Brainerd man is accused.

Anderson: Nicollet Conservation Club stands out for nearly 80 years
Since 1942, Nicollet Conservation Club has made a difference.
Anderson: Gunsmithing is ancient trade steeped in modern demands
Larry Ahlman was 21 when his dad, "Cap" Ahlman, died in 1964, leaving his son a small southern Minnesota gunsmithing business saddled with $20,000 in unpaid bills.

Snow could hamper pheasant hunting even though crops harvested
With up to a foot of snow predicted for Wednesday across much of the state's pheasant range, the weather might put the brakes on a ringneck season that otherwise would be shifting into high gear.

Minnesota hunters weigh in on a lost abundance of ducks
A sample of e-mails received following Dennis Anderson's column on questioning waterfowl managers' spring population surveys.
Anderson: New virus surfaces in several grouse, and that is a worry
Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis surface amid wonder about West Nile impact.
Anderson: Study on stadium bird deaths waste of unnatural resources
When considered on a population level, a similar number of these birds would have died anyway, by some other means.

Anderson: Impact of law change plays out for disabled hunter on opener
Pierce Pennaz, who has Down syndrome, bagged a buck on a shared hunt with his father.
When only a doe will do, the bucks crowd the territory
Bucks came and went, but they weren't the goal this opening morning.
Anderson: Taking aim at the real prize of the deer hunt
In a world that seems intent on dulling our senses, sitting in the woods or along a field edge offers a rare opportunity for surprise.

Anderson: Saving forests benefits deer, hunters
Millions of dollars have gone toward land conservation in the state since 2007. The Minnesota firearms whitetail opener is Saturday.
Anderson: Firearms deer season coincides with peak breeding season for bucks
Mature male whitetails risk becoming trophy bucks when the firearms opener collides with mating pursuits
Anderson: Sinker-maker's troubles are reminder of the deep roots of lead
Water Gremlin's closure read closely by Minnesota anglers.

Anderson: More ducks than ever? Yeah, right
The spring numbers are not all they are cracked up to be.
Anderson: Northern Minnesota guide learns painful lesson of tree-stand risks
His fall while taking down a tree stand is a reminder of inherent risk in the field.

Fisherman catches Minnesota record muskie while grieving for friend
Corey Kitzmann, a lifelong muskie angler, was alone at his family's cabin when he received word a friend had died at age 40. Not wanting to remain in the cabin alone, he went fishing.
Anderson: Bow hunting for deer remains popular as interest in archery dips
Better equipment encourages women, youth to try archery.

Anderson: First statewide youth deer hunt helps grow next generation of Minn. hunters
Open to youth ages 10 to 17, the four-day hunt coincides with the school break Minnesota kids typically are awarded over the long MEA weekend.

Anderson: Horses inspire a special bond between father and son
Delivering them, riding them — they bring joy to a father and son.

Anderson: Ruffed grouse remain a forest mystery
The ruffed grouse population is often not what it seems, but it seems to be up.

Anderson: Tradition is served against the wind on opening day of Minnesota pheasant season
Saturday's weather joined factors long in place to complicate the hunt.

Anderson: Adams leads Pheasants Forever's efforts to improve habitat
Sabin Adams is charged with ensuring that the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised annually by the group's 75 Minnesota chapters are transformed into high-quality upland and wetland habitat.

Anderson: Abundant ruffed grouse mostly a memory now
Shrinking grouse count showing no signs of reversal.
Hunter numbers for grouse, waterfowl and squirrels keep falling
A graying hunter population, along with time constraints and hunting-land access challenges are among reasons for the declines, the DNR said.

Anderson: Wisconsin bear hunters are seeing brazen attacks on dogs
Since the first of the year in Wisconsin, nearly 30 pet dogs and hunting dogs have been killed or injured by wolves.
Duck hunting slow on second weekend except in far north
Reports filed by Department of Natural Resources conservation officers mostly recounting a lack of waterfowl, except in the Lake of the Woods region.

Anderson: Deer hunting primer for 2019 season
A statewide youth hunt and a new CWD zone are among the changes from last year, discussed in an interview with DNR big game program supervisor Barbara Keller.

Anderson: Vintage duck boats add to the intrigue of the hunt
The search is much of the fun when it comes to vintage crafts for hunting ducks

Anderson: Former DNR commissioner's book tells of state's bountiful hunting past amid wild upheaval
State's hunting past gives a reader pause about what's to come.

Anderson: Ducks for the family and the future is the goal
The Strands and their crew strive to keep duck hunting tradition alive in Kandiyohi County.
Anderson, on hearing protection: Learn from me, it's a skill you'll need afield
"I was aware even before this malfunction that my hearing wasn't great."
Duck hunters expected to have success on opener Saturday
Wet conditions that prevailed in recent months likely boosted the state's duck production to, or near, its maximum potential.

Anderson: Bluebill numbers declining as ringneck numbers rise
Given the number of bluebills, or scaup, that still exist in North America, it's a mystery why so few now visit Minnesota in October.
Anderson: Picture from MWA brings brother back, at least for a moment
The family of Michael Moosbrugger found comfort in an image from Star Tribune Outdoors last week. "It seemed like Michael was popping up to say hello to all of us. We miss him every day."
Anderson: True to form, sensing that vivid autumnal vibe
Fall inspires recollections of adventure taken, and an eagerness for hunter and four-legged companions to get out.

Ruffed grouse hunters unsure how many birds to expect for opener Saturday
In the past 10 years the correlation between spring drumming counts of ruffed grouse and their fall population has weakened so much that the survey is no longer considered a reliable predictor.

Anderson: It's the sad end for Minnesota Waterfowl Association
With too few members (approximately 2,500) and too-little cash (about $20,000) the group's board voted unanimously recently to shutter its rental office in Hopkins, effective Sept. 30.

Anderson: Minnesota boy gets a huge surprise from his fishing hero
A star-struck 10-year-old will have quite a fish story to tell his fellow fourth-graders when he returns to school next week. And every word will be true.

Minnesota pheasant count is down 17% from a year ago
Late-season snowstorms, spring rain likely contributed to birds' demise, DNR reports.

Anderson: Robinson, a Minnesotan, is newly in charge of venerable Outdoor Life
In its more than 120-year history, Outdoor Life has published the writings of Hemingway, Grey, Roosevelt and Leopold, as well as Clark Gable, Babe Ruth and Amelia Earhart.
Anderson: Sheepdogs will deliver command performances at Hudson event
Herding competition has become more of a sport.
Anderson: Brook trout rebound a surprise success from conservation efforts
Wholly dependent on very cold water, brook trout are perhaps Minnesota's most vulnerable finned species to ever-warming temperatures.
Anderson: Minnesota falconer is still raptor-crazy after all these years
Game Fair: Frank Taylor is in his 38th consecutive year at the event.

Anderson: New DNR Fish and Wildlife director has faith he can tackle issues
In a Q&A, Dave Olfelt said: 'I know I'm in the driver's seat' He also discusses his outdoor interests and management of the Fish and Wildlife Division.
Anderson: DNR asks anglers to keep fewer sunfish - especially larger ones
Pelican Lake still has sunfish. But not in the numbers or size it once did.

Anderson: It's game on at Game Fair for Chuck and Loral I Delaney
From humble beginnings 38 years ago, the Delaneys built the Game Fair into major outdoor event in state

Anderson: This young man has vision, and we're all better for it
Cottage Grove wunderkind Brady Rudh could do a lot of things; he loves the science of fisheries.

Anderson: Why are young ruffed grouse seemingly dying more?
People in the woods during June and July have reported seeing "usual" or "average" numbers of grouse broods in recent years. But the young birds don't seem to survive until fall.

Anderson: Fishing museum, hall of fame in Little Falls needs help to survive
Road construction since May 13 has made the 21-year-old establishment a challenge to find.

Anderson: Right partner, right weather and some well-coached fishing casts
Fly rods at the ready, Dennis Anderson and Bob Nasby motored along on the St. Croix atop ageless red and white pines that clutter the river bottom in search of smallmouth bass.
Anderson: A fishy record-chasing tale involving Bud Grant
The present muskie mark has stood for 70 years, but the Hall of Fame Vikings coach nearly caught a bigger one.
Anderson: Persistent rains affect landowners, habitat, wildlife
Litchfield area is good example of damage, and situation doesn't bode well for fall hunters.
Anderson: Actions, not plans, needed to save Minnesota's game birds
The Minnesota DNR in early September will release updated versions of its duck and pheasant plans.

Anderson: Phenologist-friend's eyes are open to nature – and its fragile connections
Outing near Akeley, Minn., is reminder of abundance and threats.
Anderson: Loon center idea gains energy as it moves forward
Private fundraising is the next hurdle in Crosslake.

Anderson: On Father's Day, when I think of my dad, he's fishing
Memories spring, especially from Grandma and Grandpa's place in Frazee.
Anderson: Duck stamp designs should feature nature, not hunting
By far, the stamp program is the longest-running and most successful habitat conservation effort in the nation's history. Why mess with it?

Anderson: Southeast Minnesota has its own treasures
It doesn't get top billing like "Up North" but its oaks and aspens, basswoods, maples and elms are as inspiring as any northern coniferous forest.

Anderson: BWCA conflict of the 1970s left many in its wake
Former Minneapolis mayor Fraser, who died June 2, is no exception.

Anderson: There's no limit on friendships landed while fishing
Because fishing can provide lifelong learning opportunities — and challenges — it can change lives.
Anderson: Class project isn't only landing a whopper; it's landing outdoors stewards
Northern Minnesota teacher wins grant to start class at high school.

Anderson: After 25 years, a return to Ensign Lake in the BWCA
A once-bustling motorboat route has quieted, but canoe trek to Ensign Lake provided fruitful

Anderson: Retriever trainer has learned from the best, gone on to teach the best
Dave Rorem has learned from the best of his peers, taught the best retrievers.

Anderson: Legislature is turning a blind eye to CWD in Minnesota
Whenever the Legislature finally, and mercifully, ends its business in St. Paul, its lack of decisive action to contain chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Minnesota's 1-million-animal-plus white-tailed deer herd will be among its major failures.

Anderson: What's predictable about turkey hunting? Plans will change
The tom was tricked, but it still had the last laugh.
Anderson: Keeping eyes open in North Woods is like going on a safari
Even though the purpose of the trip to Beltrami County was for the fishing opener, plenty of wildlife and birds in the area were their own spectacle.

Anderson: Generous limits a big fishing-opener draw on Upper Red
One of 10 large Minnesota lakes that together yield about 40% of the state's walleye harvest, Upper Red continues to amaze fisheries managers and anglers.
Anderson: Women's groups breathe new life into Minnesota fishing
While the number of fishing licenses sold in the last 10 years has declined, the sport's two major women's fishing groups have grown significantly.

Anderson: Angler rewarded for taking on cold North Shore streams
On a decidedly un-springlike day, fishing for steelhead had again begun.
Anderson: DNR conservation officers are enduring a dark period in their ranks
To have four deaths in previous eight months might be unprecedented, says DNR's enforcement director.

Anderson: Kindergarten teacher brings a surplus to offset the nature deficit
During the week of Earth Day, let's focus on a Eden Prairie teacher who is bringing the outdoors into teaching.

Anderson: At 80, Alford is back in the hunt after scary fall
Nearly two years after a nasty slip on the ice left him in rehabilitation centers for 77 days, Dick Alford is in search of his 299th wild tom.
Anderson: Some state legislators would again dip into trust fund for outdoors
Public beware: Some again want to dip into lottery-fed environmental fund.

Anderson: Landowners in Minnesota - and elsewhere - creating a movement
Some of the conservation efforts involve land purchases by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the DNR or various conservation groups. More commonly, the lands are accessed through easements.
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Anderson: The splendor of migration captured the attention on road sprint to Montana and back
Trip to buy a fifth-wheel covered Dakota country witnessing that rite of spring.