Minnesota Outdoor News Radio

Two DNR Fisheries employees join Managing Editor and host Rob Drieslein to talk about the 400 Asian carp found downstream from Winona in the past 10 days. That’s the most ever in Minnesota waters. Also, Outdoor News Fishing Report guru Glen Schmitt checks in with a thorough ice update from around the state. Yes, hard-water fishing is happening. Other guests include Editor Tim Spielman with thoughts on the new ice littering law and the latest deer kill tally, plus Tim Lesmeister’s thoughts on the status of wolves (and cougars) in Minnesota.

Ice is forming rapidly across Minnesota just as the St. Paul ice Fishing Show kicks off on Friday, Dec. 1. Outdoor News Radio host and Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman offer an ice update plus notes on Spielman’s recent hunting forays and the latest chronic wasting disease tally. Then Danny Thompson joins the program to talk early ice fishing, their booth at the St. Paul Ice Fishing Show, and the Garmin’s Ice Fishing Bundles. Stan Tekiela jumps into the broadcast to share how squirrels remember where they bury their buts (no kidding), then Tim Lesmeister helps wrap up the show with talk about former DNR Commissioner Bob Herbst and the American Ornithological Society’s plans to rename as many as 80 birds in North America.

Headlines this week include Minnesota and Wisconsin firearms deer kill both down for the season from 2022, plus the great bird renaming controversy. Sabrina Chandler from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins the program to discuss the tundra swan migration on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge this time of year. Backyard and Beyond columnist Stan Tekiela spends a segment with host and Managing Editor Rob Drieslein to share memories of his recent trip to Cape Churchill, Manitoba, to photograph polar bears and beluga whales. Tim Lesmeister spends two segments with Drieslein: one to discuss the latest news headlines, and one to argue about the Mount Rushmore of greatest female pop vocalists of all time.

Minnesota’s 2023 white-tailed deer harvest increased from the first weekend. Host and Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman break it all down along with a waterfowl status report. Then “Tackle” Terry Tuma – or “T3” as he’s affectionately known by millions of ice belt anglers – joins the program to talk about upcoming ice fishing consumer shows and his insight into early hard-water action. The DNR’s Eric Hildebrand, the agency’s wildlife health supervisor, chimes in with the latest metrics on chronic wasting disease in Minnesota, plus thoughts on the scope of the outbreak across the Mississippi River. Tim Lesmeister helps wrap up the program with chatter on the 2024 Governor’s Fishing Opener, the CWD issue, and the hunter who took a white-tailed doe sporting a healthy set of antlers this hunting season.

Get an up-to-date review of deer license sales and the whitetail kill thus far during Minnesota firearms deer season with Managing Editor and Host Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman. Then Pat Durkin joins the program to chat about Wisconsin headlines, including the deer forecast in that state, plus the surprise retirement of the state’s DNR secretary after just 10 months. Then Leslie McInenly, the MDNR’s wildlife populations and regulations manager, joins the program to talk about a Tuesday, Nov. 14 public meeting (6:30 p.m.) to discuss the agency’s perspectives on feral pig and escaped mink management in the state. Tim Lesmeister joins Rob to wrap up the program, kicking around a wide range of topics, from new CWD outbreaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin, plus some quirky letters to the editor, and DNR pilot “dunker” training.

Lots of predictions surrounding the Nov. 4 firearms deer hunting opener, first with Managing Editor Rob Drieslein and Editor Tim Spielman, then with Tim Lesmeister (who believes the state WILL kill more than 200,000 whitetails in 2023.) Other topics include a quick report on the South Dakota pheasant season, plus the status of Minnesota deer license sales and harvest thus far. The middle portion of this week’s broadcast is devoted to a two-part interview with legendary outdoors writer and big-game hunter Craig Boddington. He and Drieslein discuss misconceptions about hunting in Africa and his feelings about the state of modern outdoors writing.

Rob Drieslein shares some reports from last weekend’s ring-necked pheasant hunting opener in South Dakota, then he and Tim Spielman analyze the great potential for duck hunters this weekend. Sharon Stiteler, the “Birdchick,” then jumps into the program to talk about fall bird migration in the region. Barb Keller, big game program leader for the Minnesota DNR offers an outlook for next weekend’s firearms deer opener, then Tim Lesmeister helps Rob wrap up the show with thoughts on the sale of Bloomington-based electronics company Vexilar to an Iowa wealth management firm.

Hunters enjoyed great weather and saw solid numbers of birds during last weekend’s ring-necked pheasant hunting opener in Minnesota. Rob Drieslein and Tim Spileman break down the opener to kick off this weeks show. Then Matt Johnson from Clam Outdoors joins the program to preview the latest ice gear and next weekend’s 3rd annual North Metro Ice show, Oct. 28-29 in Ramsey. Sharon Stiteler, the “Birdchick,” then jumps into the program to talk about her experiences in Alaska and the status of fall bird migration in the region. Tim Lesmeister helps Rob wrap up the show with chatter on moose, cougars, and bears in southern Minnesota, plus feral cats, the state’s shotgun zone (which still exists), and the changing demographics of American hunters.

Outdoor News Managing Editor and host Rob Drieslein kicks off the show with Editor Tim Spielman and an outlook for the 2023 Minnesota pheasant hunting opener on Oct. 14, and they devote time to reminding listeners to remain diligent about firearms safety protocol. Then wild game cooking aficionado Jaime Carlson joins the program with tips on cooking wild rice, using those ring-necked pheasant thighs and legs, and proper venison care afield. Tim Lesmeister wraps the show up with a run-down of the 2023 inductees list from the Hayward, Wis.-based Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

Host and Managing Editor Rob Drieslein kicks off the program with Editor Tim Spielman, and they mostly focus on Spielman’s story on a multi-state shovelnose sturgeon poaching bust that happened in Mississippi River border country. They also celebrate the great start to the duck hunting season. Then Tony Peterson drops in again to share his bizarre Wisconsin bear-hunting story and more early archery deer hunting tips. LeRoy Purrier from Rochester calls in to share the story of his massive, potentially Booner Fillmore County buck. Finally, Tim Lesmeister and Rob have fun talking about recent Endangered Species Act congressional votes and some wild game cooking thoughts.