outdoors

Anderson: Visits to the Smith shack for duck hunting revives best of times

Harrison Smith, 24, of Willmar scanned the skies Saturday morning on the opener of the 2020 duck season. Smith and his father, Will, downed a couple o

Memories abound from decades of visiting the Smith family's shack. You can gauge a hunt's success not only by ducks bagged but by dogs petted, great food consumed and memorable sunrises shared.

Play this fall: Ideas for where to hike, roll, run, camp, and more

The forest near Cloquet was dappled with colors as cool nights and sunny days have created a spectacular show.

Minnesotans barreled into the outdoors in spring and summer during the throes of COVID-19. Don't expect that to slow in autumn, with its inviting weather and scene.

Fatal mix: More off-road vehicles, reckless drivers create surge in deaths

Off-highway vehicle use in Minnesota, like that among ATVs, has increased since the pandemic hit.

So far this year, an unprecedented surge in ATV ridership across Minnesota has led to 20 fatal accidents — more deaths than the state normally sees in a year.

Anderson: DNR conducting an air war against duck hunting threats

A cross of native broad-leaf cattails and invasive narrow-leaf cattails, hybrid cattails can aggressively outcompete other aquatic plants. In some instances, so little open water remains ducks can't find places to land.

Sumacs are known for fall color, but there is more to the show

Fall colors are coming on fast for the sumacs. They are showing much red, in many beautiful tones, and some yellows. The sumacs give off an orange glow.

Lake cabin, then house — the order has worked out well for Minnesota family

The cabin, surrounded by 80-foot white and red pines, originally had one small bedroom and no indoor plumbing.

Anderson: Sporting art leads to book of a lifetime

Trading in sporting art, Bob White has spent the pandemic months preparing for publication of what he calls a "lifetime'' book of his work.

Minnesota kayaker makes marathon solo crossing across Lake Michigan

Prior Lake man has paddled 5,000 miles in his Quest in the five years since he took up the sport, and he's not done yet.

DNR asks thousands of hunters to participate in deer survey

The state Department of Natural Resources is asking thousands of deer hunters to record what they see in the woods this fall as part of the department's largest-ever hunter survey to better understand why they're passing up shots.

Fall walleye fishing on Mille Lacs after July shutdown is successful

Walleye harvest by state-licensed anglers totaled 64,339 pounds through August; the 2020 allotment was 87,800 pounds.

Warty-looking milkweed pods produce a beautiful autumn scene

Much is happening out there: Gray squirrels are making leafy nests, and the velvet on white-tailed deer antlers has disappeared. Ohio buckeye nuts, black walnuts…

How the west — and a converted schoolhouse — won over a Minnesota family

Westward, ho!Browns Valley is a city on Minnesota's western border bump, nestled at the Continental Divide between lakes that are the headwaters of the south-flowing…