Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

As we slowly make the transition from fall to that “other season”, I like to enjoy the present and not worry about the near future. One of the things that I really enjoy is the sound of fallen leaves as they crackle underfoot while I am walking in the woods. We have plenty of parks in the area where we can enjoy a late season picnic or just take a walk on a trail. Walking on a trail can give a person time to soak in some of the marvelous things that nature has to offer. I don’t believe that there is a more warming experience than when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds on a chilly fall day. For some reason the sun seems to have more heating power in the fall.

The weather that we have been experiencing lately has made it difficult for the farmers to get their crops out of the fields. In our area of the state that makes hunting a little tougher. Once the crops are out the deer will be moving, which also means we should keep a keen eye out for deer when driving.

For quite a few years my son Brian hunted deer with a bow after he was introduced to the sport by his uncle Lynn. He hunted with him for some time before his uncle moved to Alaska. Brian loved bowhunting and continued doing it for a while, but eventually got out of it when raising a family became his main priority. As much as they like hunting, fishing and enjoy the outdoors, neither Brian, nor my grandsons have ever taken up deer hunting with firearms.

When he was still into deer hunting, Brian took me with him to one of the hunting spots by Frost where he had hunted with Lynn. On this day the weather was cool, crisp and sunny and the colors were at their peak. A perfect day for sitting in a tree waiting for a deer to walk by. He wasn’t there to hunt, but instead just wanted to check out the area and show his dad what made bow hunting so special to him. I could see right away how just being there without getting a shot could actually be enough.   

I began to realize how the sport of bowhunting would be a perfect way to hunt deer. Sitting in a tree stand for a couple of hours while enjoying the peaceful, quiet beauty of the woods while watching wildlife pass under your tree stand can be very rewarding in itself.

Have a question for the Department of Natural Resources in the evening or on Saturday?

The DNR has permanently extended its phone hours so the nearly half-million firearms deer hunters in Minnesota and other outdoor enthusiasts can call the Information Center until 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s important to help our customers when it’s convenient for them,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “Being a hunter myself, I appreciate being able to make calls after work or on the weekend, and now we know others do too.”

“We discovered there were quite a few folks who liked the convenience of calling us after 4:30 p.m.,” said Ann McBurney, Information Center day supervisor. “Late Saturday morning is a popular time as well.”

“We’ve implemented changes that allow us to answer calls quickly and transfer them to any other DNR staffer around the state if we can’t answer their question,” McBurney said. “That’s much friendlier than asking people to make another call, or to wait for a call back.”

To reach the Information Center, call 888-MINNDNR (888-646-6367) or send email to info.dnr@state.mn.us.

Until next time, I wish all the hunters good luck and a safe hunt.

Please take some time to honor those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. Also, take a little extra time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who served and those troops serving today.