As we featured in our last episode of Minnesota Bound, there are many great places to ride that sled machine.  With the large amounts of snow that we have been receiving throughout much of the state, conditions are prime to ride those sleds.  Assuming that trails can change in the blink of an eye, it is important to check around for the most recent report before you venture to your destination.  There are many places with up to the minute trail conditions, and we wanted to list a few of them here.  The DNR does a good job of keeping us informed about the trails in Minnesota, as does a few other resources.  Here are a few to check out.

Minnesota DNR Trail Conditions

Minnesota Trail Conditions at SnowmobileTrails.com

Check out Snow Goer Magazine for some riding tips

Brainerd Trail Conditions

Grand Rapids Trail Conditions

Lake Vermillion Area Trail Conditions

The 2009 winter season for lake and stream trout in all Minnesota lakes will open Jan. 15, and close March 31, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

In past years, winter trout season dates were different for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) lakes, trout lakes outside the BWCAW and those on the Canadian border. Legislation enacted after the 2008 Fishing Regulations booklet was printed changed the winter trout season dates for all lakes, making the information printed on pages 14, 15 and 45 incorrect.

The only exception to the statewide winter season is that lakes in Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard counties are closed to winter stream trout fishing. Blue Lake in Hubbard County is the only lake within those counties where stream trout can be caught during the winter season.

Winter season dates for lake trout and stream trout in lakes, as well as other corrections and changes that have occurred since the 2008 Fishing Regulations booklet was published, are listed online.

A new lifesaving technique, plus the cooperation between officers of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), recently saved a Sauk Rapids man from death when he fell through ice while ice-skating on the Mississippi River.

James Christensen, 62 had been in the water for about an hour on Nov. 29. Deputy Michael Kost and Detective Sgt. Neal Jacobson, along with Conservation Officer Tony Musatov and his supervisor, Lt. Tim Knellwolf, arrived at the scene after nearby residents reported hearing cries for help. Also assisting in the rescue was Christensen’s son, Carl Christensen, 26, and other emergency service providers.

Knellwolf said the elder Christensen was about 100 feet from shore when rescuers tried to get a rope out to him.

When the man’s head disappeared beneath the surface, the son plunged into the freezing water to attempt a rescue. Carl Christensen kept his father afloat while the rope was worked to the area.

“Mr. Christensen was too hypothermic to grab the rescue line so his son suggested he put the rope in his mouth and bite on it,” Knellwolf said. “Thankfully, with Mr. Christiansen biting the rope, we were able to pull them both to safety.”

Knellwolf also noted it was an ingenious rescue tip since most people’s hands become too cold holding onto the ice shelf and have no way to grab a rescue line once they’ve entered freezing water. A bite for life, so to speak.

James Christensen was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and later released, thankful to survive the ordeal. His son was treated at the scene.

The DNR recommends that new clear ice be at least 4 inches thick for people to walk on it. The ice should be 5 inches for snowmobiles and between 8 and 12 inches to support small to medium-sized cars and pickups, he said.

“Never assume the ice is safe,” said Knellwolf. “Always test the ice with an ice chisel or auger before going out on the ice. People need to realize that when they choose to go out on unsafe ice, they not only put themselves in danger, but they put their would-be rescuers in danger as well.”

Knellwolf also noted that people should never go out on the ice alone, carry ice rescue picks, and at least 50 feet of rope with them and should tell someone where they are going and when they will return. It’s also not a bad idea to wear a life vest under your clothing and carry a cell phone in a zip-lock bag to call for help.

“If someone falls through the ice, throw out a weighted rope to the victim. Never go out to them and endanger yourself.”

Knellwolf said Minnesota’s emergency service providers work and train together often for such incidents.

“This rescue was made possible because of the excellent cooperation between Carl Christensen, conservation officers with the DNR, Benton County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency service providers at the scene,” said Knellwolf.

The DNR has ice safety information posted online.

Sean Bailey of Waconia, MN with a hefty Lake Mille Lacs Walleye from the 2007 ice fishing seasonThe ice fishing season is upon us!  Well, that is for some of us anyway.  Others are not so fortunate.  It doesn't matter if you live in the northern or the southern part of the state, it is likely that ice fishing is happening somewhere near you.  For the most part, the larger lakes aren't quite ready for the ice anglers, but the smaller lakes and bays are seeing fisherman.

Kathy Lundeen from "Lundeen's Tackle Castle" on Lake Mille Lacs said "the bays are frozen and some are fishing them.  Cove bay, Whakon bay and Isle bay all have fisherman and ice up to 7 inches in spots  The main lake is ready to freeze, but the shifting winds keep blowing the skim layer of ice around.  It shouldn't be long before that locks up once we get a cold night without wind."

Up on Lake of the Woods, anglers are starting to get out in the 4 mile bay and Morris Point area.  Mike from "River Bend Resort" reported 4 mile bay has descent ice, but the main channel still has open areas.  Some are walking out, and even a few on 4-wheelers, but hasn't heard any reports past the Pine Island area.  "With this cold snap coming, it's only a matter of days now, and anglers will be past the island."

Most of the lakes in the Alexandria, Brainerd, Bemidji and other northern stretches are now frozen over.  The smaller the lake the more ice you will find.  People are getting out in these areas, mainly on foot, or ATV's at the most.

Metro waters are also seeing a few fisherman.  The small lakes are seeing guys walk out, with ice reports up to 5 inches in spots.  For the most part we are still a week away from hitting any of the larger bodies of water, and open water still covers the majority of some lakes including the popular Lake Minnetonka.  A small lake in SW Minnesota held over 20 shelters last week when I drove by, and I have been hearing similar reports from other lakes in that area too.  The weather for the next few days also looks promising for the remainder of the state.  Don't be surprised to see a few ice fisherman journey out in your are by this weekend. 

As is the case every year during this time, it is important to use extra precaution on the early ice.  Ice can vary incredibly from one area to the next.  Ice that is 7 inches in one spot is possibly only 1 or 2 in the next.  Ice picks, a life jacket, or the new Ice Armor suit should be considered for those heading out.  It just might save a life during a risky situation. 

As always, the DNR reminds us that 4 inches is recommended to walk out on the ice, 5 inches for an ATV or snowmobile, 8 - 12 for a small vehicle, and over a foot for the full sized trucks. 

I love early ice fishing as much as the next guy, but I really take my time when I venture out.  I carry a chisel in front of me, and check the depth often.  If done correctly, early ice fishing can be the best time of the year to be on the water.  The oxygen levels are high, and the fish tend to feed more than later in the winter.  Not to mention a heck of a lot less commotion on top of the ice. 

I don't have any reports on the action just yet, but my thoughts are telling me that the time is here and they are biting.  Good luck out there!  Be safe, and as always, send us your pictures!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com

Young Women Increasingly Taking Up Deer Hunting In Wisconsin

By Megan Parker
The Country Today Regional Editor

Brittany Koenig, 18, of Fall Creek, Wis., shot a 10-point buck with her bow last fall near Minocqua. More young women are taking up hunting, according to Wisconsin deer-license sales.As a child, Ashley Rutledge spent her Saturday mornings watching deer-hunting shows instead of cartoons.
Even though her parents don’t hunt, Rutledge, 19, of Osceola signed up for hunters’ safety education at age 12 and started hunting deer at 14.
“I love being outside,” she said. “It’s a great stress-reliever for me. It just takes my mind off everything.”
Rutledge, who attends Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minn., has killed five deer, including an 8-point buck she shot with a bow.
She’s among a growing number of young women who hunt white-tailed deer. Wisconsin deer-license sales in 2006 showed that 8 percent of hunters were women. Their ranks are bigger among young hunters. Girls were 16 percent of hunters younger than 18, and they were 20 percent of 12-year-old hunters.
In 2007, 48 percent of the roughly 50,000 female hunters were younger than 30.
“It’s a sign of the times, the changing of our culture, the changing face of our tradition,” said Tim Lawhern, DNR hunter-education administrator.
“Twenty years ago, the main reason people hunted was for putting meat on the table. Now that’s the last reason. The reason people hunt today is to be out in nature and to be with family and friends.”
The nine-day 2008 gun deer season begins Saturday.
Tammy Koenig of Fall Creek appears on several hunting shows. Once anti-hunting, she now teaches women’s bowhunting classes, and she has encouraged her 18-year-old daughter, Brittany, to take up the sport.
“I think the whole hunting community has seen our hunting future is quite bleak if we don’t get more people involved in hunting,” Koenig said. “That was our thought a long time ago when I started teaching women.
“They’re finding out it isn’t a burden. It’s really a lot of fun, and you build a lot of memories.”
Sue Schultz, 46, of Hortonville never thought she’d be a hunter even though her husband and three sons hunt.
“I would periodically sit out in the woods,” Schultz said. “I watched my children and their pride and the ethics that went along with hunting, and I was thoroughly impressed.”
Schultz first hunted deer in 2003 and killed her first — a doe — last year with a .243-caliber rifle.
She also joined her husband in teaching hunters’ safety education. Her class this fall had 17 girls and women out of 75 graduates.
“The stereotype is being broken down,” Schultz said. “I tried to emphasize it in class. It’s not just a man’s world out there. Women can do this. Girls can do this.”
Jeremy Cords, DNR recreational safety warden in Green Bay, said it’s become common for girls and their mothers to attend hunters’ safety education and take up hunting.
“It’s really not as much of a male sport as it used to be,” he said. “It’s definitely much more diverse now. That’s great to see that happen.”
That’s apparent in outdoors stores, where women can buy hunting clothing, bows and guns designed for them.
The media have propelled the increase in the number of female hunters, the DNR’s Lawhern said.
“You can turn on any of the outdoor channels and you see female hunters as professional hunters or experts,” he said.
New female hunters said they receive encouragement from men. Heather Johnson, 22, of Westby always had an interest in hunting. At the urging of her boyfriend, she completed hunters’ safety education.
When she went deer hunting for the first time last year, she shot a doe and a buck. A male friend challenged her to field-dress the buck, which she did.
“Just the thought of me digging in a bloody deer was kind of funny to them,” Johnson said. “I think it was more amusing to them than anything.”
The state’s volunteer hunter safety instructors enjoy having women in their classes, Lawhern said.
“Almost without exception, instructors say females are better students,” he said. “They don’t come with a preconceived notion that they’re already an expert marksperson. They pay attention. They listen. They follow instructions. And they typically do in many cases better on the range for the first time than our male students do.”
Women also have shown to be safe hunters.
“Female participants in hunting are rarely involved in a hunting incident,” Lawhern said.
DNR officials hope women remain part of Wisconsin’s storied hunting tradition.
“The more inclusive we are, the better for the sport, the better for our condition, the better for our standing,” he said.
Parker writes for The Country Today, a rural life newspaper published by the Eau Claire Press Co. She can be reached at 800-236-4004, ext. 3867, or megan.parker@ecpc.com.

Women's Hunting Resources

Leading Ladies Outdoors: www.leadingladiesoutdoors.com or 715-577-6484.
Becoming an Outdoors Woman: www.uwsp.edu/CNR/bow or 877-269-6626.
Women in the Outdoors: www.womenintheoutdoors.org or 800-843-6983.

By The Numbers

In 2006 in Wisconsin, women were:
- 8 percent of all deer hunters.
- 16 percent of deer hunters younger than 18.
- 20 percent of first-time 12-year-old deer hunters.
In 2007 in Wisconsin:
-48 percent of the roughly 50,000 female deer hunters were younger than 30.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources