Minnesota Outdoor News Radio

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show recapping the windy May 9 Minnesota walleye and pike opener. They also remind listeners about major issues at the State Capitol as the 2026 legislative session winds down. Then Gord Ellis from Thunder Bay, Ontario, checks in with tips for catching north country lake trout on either side of the border. Stan Tekiela joins the conversation with talk of this spring’s robust migration and the birds, like orioles and hummingbirds, that already are at your feeder. Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up the program talking Western bear attacks, the issue of expanding hunting and national parks, and Trump administration’s controversial nominee to lead the Bureau of land Management.

The post Episode 592 – MN opener recap, lake trout, Stan Tekiela, Capitol shenanigans with dedicated funds appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show with tips for the May 9, 2026 Minnesota walleye and pike opener, then recap last week’s big story involving a wild cougar with kittens in Minnesota – the first time that’s happened in a century. Then Ed Hahn from the National Eagle Center joins the program to talk about the U.S. Postal Service first-day-of-issue event happening on May 14 at the Eagle Center in Wabasha. Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Wildlife Federation, jumps into the program to discuss an action alert his organization sent out this last week urging state sportsmen and women to contact their legislators and urge quick passage of the Outdoor Heritage Fund bill at the State Capitol – $191 million in dedicated outdoors funds is on the line. Lesmeister and Drieslein circle back with chatter on a crossbows officially being permanent during the archery deer season, 13 counties deciding to go shotgun-only for deer hunting, and when beavers attack in New Jersey. They also remember waterfowl artist David Maass who passed away last week at the age of 96.

The post Episode 591 – Opener weekend, Minnesota cougars, new Bald Eagle stamps, Capitol shenanigans appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein kick off the show recapping the latest news from the Center for Biological Diversity suing the federal government to list lake sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act. They also discuss the latest Isle Royale data that show moose way down, and wolves way up. Then Greg Berg from the Minnesota DNR jumps in to share management notes for walleyes and other species on Lake Mille Lacs as the state bears down on the 2026 May 9th inland waters opener. Fishing guide Josh Hagemeister shares insight from open water fishing thus far this spring and offers his optimistic predictions for next weekend’s fishing opener. Lesmeister and Drieslein circle back with chatter on a gun burglary and a feisty bobcat in Wisconsin plus a bizarre Lake of the Ozarks story involving paddlefish.

The post Episode 590 – Sturgeon lawsuit, Isle Royale moose, Lake Mille Lacs outlook, Minnesota fishing opener appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein kick off the show not mincing words over a big topic across the nation’s outdoors scene: last week’s U.S. Senate vote affecting the Boundary Waters Cane Area Wilderness. Then Dan Stark from the Minnesota DNR jumps in to share details on the 2026 black bear hunting season; the deadline to apply for a tag is next Friday, May 1. Drew Tri from the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League then joins the program to mark the kickoff of the 2026 youth season. Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up the show talking about Eric Morken’s report on the 2026 MN-Fish Summit last week in Alexandria, including top topics like the new year-round bass fishing season and the popularity of forward-facing sonar.

The post Episode 589 – BWCA U.S. Senate vote, 2026 bear tags, youth clay target league, MN-FISH summit appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein kick the show off with local news, including a rundown on which Minnesota counties are allowing rifles for deer hunting this fall and several conservation officer stories. Then longtime contributor and turkey hunter extraordinaire Mark Strand calls in with tips for the wild turkey season, which began in Minnesota on April 15. Brian “Bro” Brosdahl jumps in to recap the ice fishing season, the recent Rainy River walleye season, and the great bass fishing unfolding across Minnesota for the first time ever this April.  Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up the show talking about the first American to summit Mt. Everest, Jim Whittaker, Pablo Escobar’s marauding hippos in South America, and the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finalists.

The post Episode 588 – Conservation officer stories, turkeys, spring bass, Pablo Escobar’s rampaging hippos appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein finally get around to reviewing the recent Minnesota Duck Summit and some of the impromptu surveys held at the event. Then the DNR’s Dean Paron previews this weekend’s regular stream trout opener. Contributor Tony Jones jumps in to talk about his recent, successful snow goose hunting trip in the “Dakota Territory” plus he previews the new paperback version of his book “The God of Wild Places.” Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up the show talking about Drieslein’s recent trip to the United Kingdom and some of the critters and small-scale conservation work happening there.

The post Episode 587 – Stream trout opener, Dakotas snow geese, Duck Summit recap, Great Britain impressions appeared first on Outdoor News.

Expect lots of fishing talk this week with Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein as the pair discuss ice-out crappies tactics and – new for 2026 – early open-water bass C&R fishing in Minnesota. Then Sharon “Birdchick” Stiteler visits again to talk about spring bird migration and her pet peeves with movies that can’t seem to get background bird sounds accurate and authentic. She and Drieslein also talk about prime spring eagle watching destinations. Then old buddy Dean Bortz, the editor of Wisconsin Outdoor News, visits with updates on the forthcoming Conservation Congress spring hearings on April 13, and what exactly happened with sandhill crane hunting in the Wisconsin legislature (again?!)

The post Episode 586 – Ice-out bass and crappie, nature sound editing, WI hearings and sandhill crane hunt appeared first on Outdoor News.

Guests this week include Tony Peterson with spring wild turkey hunting tactics. The Minnesota season starts April 15. Then Sharon Stiteler, the “Birdchick” drops in to talk about a spring bird migration that is running full-throttle. Tim Lesmeister and host Rob Drieslein talk about the 11% increase in Minnesota moose numbers and what that portends for hunting the giant deer in the state. They also talk about chatter in the state Legislature to create a Mark and Melissa memorial state park, and they remember movie tough guy Chuck Norris.

The post Episode 585 – Increase in Minnesota moose, wild turkey tactics, bird migration, new ’state park’? appeared first on Outdoor News.

Guests this week include Tony Peterson with talk on a possible two-bird spring turkey bag limit in Minnesota as well as final shed-hunting tips for the season. Cory Roeker from southern Minnesota then joins the show to talk about the 1,000 wood duck boxes he and his students have placed over the past four years, and he offers tips for hanging your own wood duck box. Tim Lesmeister and host Rob Drieslein talk about the upcoming hearing before an administrative law judge on the matter of lowering the statewide walleye limit from 6 to 4, plus the liberal 5-fish walleye limit for Upper Red this open water season. Finally, Logan Reidel from Minnesota Native Landscaping joins the program to share insight into making your property more wildlife and ecologically friendly as spring 2026 unfolds.

The post Episode 584 – MN walleye limits, 2-bag turkey talk, wood duck boxes, Minnesota Native Landscaping appeared first on Outdoor News.

Guests this week include Lt. Mike Lee of Minnesota DNR Enforcement as he works to generate applicants for the agency’s Conservation Officer Prep program and next CO Academy. Then Nate Hodgins from DNR Fisheries shares insight into the agency’s lake management planning process and the public comment period that is open right now. Tim Lesmeister and host Rob Drieslein talk a bunch of topics including the passing of Milo Hanson, the Saskatchewan farmer who shot the world record white-tailed deer 33 years ago. Other topics include the 3-walleye bag limit on Mille Lacs, lead ammunition and tackle debate, and hooking mortality chatter.

The post Episode 583 – Remembering Milo Hanson, become a CO, hooking mortality, fisheries management appeared first on Outdoor News.