Minnesota Outdoor News Radio

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show with some Boundary Waters Canoe Area topics, including an exciting rescue involving three young collegiate swim team members and a state conservation officer. Then Leslie George from Minnesota DNR joins the program to talk about the new statewide muskie plan that will be in place through 2040. Seth Owens, a conservationist and wildlife photographer from North Dakota, then jumps into the broadcast to offer listeners some insight into outdoors photography in the era of smartphone cameras. Lesmeister returns to help wrap up the show with chatter on the renewed corner crossing debate in Montana and the bizarre “dog shoots person” story in western Nebraska.

The post Episode 594 – BWCA rescue and smallmouth bass, new MN muskie plan, photography tips, corner crossing appeared first on Outdoor News.

Tim Lesmeister and Rob Drieslein start the show recapping the 2026 Legislative session, which ended last Sunday. The big news is that Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars passed by the skin of their teeth. Then Mark Neuzil, a journalism professor emeritus from the University of St. Thomas and hard-core Boundary Waters advocate, shares the relatively short history of smallmouth bass in northeastern Minnesota. Stan Tekiela returns for the second straight week to talk about the recent cougar sightings in northern Minnesota and the grizzly bear headlines in the Western United States. Lesmeister and Drieslein wrap up with the announcement of the 2026 Outdoor News Person of the Year.

The post Episode 593 – MN legislative recap, BWCA smallies, cougars and bears, our 2026 Person of the Year appeared first on Outdoor News.

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.