Reporter | Outdoors

Tony Kennedy is an outdoors writer covering Minnesota news about fishing, hunting, wildlife, conservation, camping, natural resource management, public land, forests and water.

T"A Minnesota native, Kennedy lives in the Twin Cities and on land surrounding a Driftless Area trout stream. Previously, he was an investigative reporter at the Star Tribune, an Associated Press newsman and a beat writer covering the environment, aviation, state politics and police. His journalism career started at Marquette University, a small-town newspaper in Indiana and The St. Cloud Times. Kennedy's wife is an inner-city kindergarten teacher and their two boys are crazy about hockey and the outdoors.


Will 'shotgun only' zone for deer in southern Minnesota be abolished?

There's still a chance for a breakthrough affecting the annual whitetail harvest — Minnesota's most popular form of hunting — for the southern half of the state.


Legislation directs millions toward dozens of Minnesota outdoors projects

The executive director of the commission responsible for choosing the projects said acceptance at the Capitol arrived earlier than ever before.


Drama on a federal level encircles a fish thriving in Minnesota

Sturgeon numbers here are strong, but anglers, guides, resorts and the DNR are still bracing for a possible endangered species listing.


Big Ten deer hunting rankings? Minnesota isn't power you'd expect.

When it comes to deer hunting, there are four other states that have Big Ten schools and outshine Minnesota when you look at the data.


Legislation would give state land to Red Lake Nation

Local residents say they were blindsided by the Upper Red Lake proposal; DNR said it was not consulted about bills.


State: Walleyes caught on Mille Lacs can't be kept until August

Walleye bag limits on two of Minnesota's most popular lakes have been cut back this year, including no keepers on Mille Lacs until at least mid-August.


Minnesota legislative auditor reviewing conflict over DNR timber sales

The review will look at the actions that led to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sanction.


Harvest is official: Minnesota's deer hunt season was a downer

The DNR's final deer hunting harvest report reveals whitetail declines, even with less severe winter up north.


Rough Mille Lacs ice season at odds with great fishing. What's going on?

The lake's overall walleye population is down 10%. But despite the population decline, the catch rate on Mille Lacs this winter has soared to its highest level in at least 35 years, even with bad ice conditions.


Pot use in state parks, new hiking trail, elk politics in mix at Legislature

Big grant money for the outdoors will be in play at the 2024 legislative session along with policy proposals ranging from marijuana limitations in state parks to a repeal that would allow more elk to roam.