Latest Dakota Country Articles

2012 Big Muddy Results

2012 Big Muddy Results Team # Total Fish Total Weight Place # Team Members Big Fish 43 6 33.38 1 Matt Glanville – Eric Paul – Casey Ell 10.32 5 6 32.62 2 Mark Hoffert – Troy Hoffert – Joe Hoffert 9.58 83 6 32.46 3 Clay Hoag – Tom Pomonis – John Mindt III 11.5 11 6 31.66 4 Troy Morris – Corey Heiser – Tommy Miller 9.48 96 6 29.9 5 Jason Arenz – Kurt Miller – Todd Leingang 38 6 29.52 6 Jason Wright – Kurt Schirado... 

Experts Predict Excellent May Fishing on Devils Lake

April 19, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE Experts Predict Excellent May Fishing on Devils Lake http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/author/name/Kevin%2DBonham/ Devils Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau For the first time in memory, two dramatic weather occurrences – no incoming water and early ice out – will produce “hot” May fishing in Devils Lake.  North Dakota fishing experts and guides felt this historical spring will mean May 1 could start the best month of... 

Advice to ALL Female Dog Owners

My Advice to ALL Femail Dog Owners by Dr. Jerry Buchholz, DVM Bismarck Animal Clinic (701) 222-8255 As I am sitting here writing this column, I have in the clinic two middle-aged female dogs recovering from emergency operations to save their lives. Both were non-spayed (intact) females who developed severe uterine infections which would have ultimately taken their lives if not treated. In intact female dogs, large amounts of pus can develop within the uterus and cause toxicity... 

Sharpening Our Fishing Skills

Sharpening Our Skills (2012 April Spring Special Edition) by Jon Mitzel In our fishing world it seems there is always a learning curve. On a particular day you may have walleyes on Lake Sakakawea figured out perfectly, yet the next day you struggle. Tournaments are a classic example of how there always seems to be fishing biting somewhere on something, despite weather conditions. Let’s say a rough weather pattern sets in during June and turns a good bite into a tough bite, making... 

April Spring Edition Guest Editorial

Guest Editorial Environment Changing in the North Dakota Oil Field by John Heiser – Grassy  Butte, North Dakota This Guest Editorial Appeared in the 2012 April Spring Special Edition To those of you in the eastern half of this state, consider this both a plea for help from your western “cousins” and a wake up call to the politicians who have colluded in the creation of the destructive oil “boom” which is obliterating the land, the wildlife and the longtime inhabitants... 

A Little Advice on Caring for Your Catch

Swimming Pools for Fish A Little Advice on Caring for Your Catch by Tony Roach   Have you ever caught the same fish twice in a single day? How about the same fish two or three times inside a week? I’ll bet many of you have. Even on a massive fish factories like Mille Lacs in Central Minnesota, lakes Sakakawea and Oahe and Devils Lake, these daily doubles occur more often than we probably realize. Last year, for instance, fishing a particular shallow weed flat, we caught... 

Status of Dakota Fisheries

The State of Fisheries in the Dakotas by Bill Mitzel   Fifty years ago, a pair of hopeful anglers slid their small, 14-foot car-topper into a bay on one of North Dakota’s relatively few small lakes. They trudged back to their station wagon and lifted out a 15 hp outboard, hand-carried it down to the shoreline and screwed the motor onto the shallow transom of the aluminum bench boat. After loading the rest of the gear into the promising craft, which included a couple of... 

Fish & Game Recipes by Dell Hankey

When winter weather breaks and another spring approaches in the Dakotas, it’s a good time to explore your freezer. Chances are there’s a lot of fish and game in there. If you have dated all the packages, that’s great. You may even find some you won’t use. Box up what you have from your freezer, setting it aside. With a clean freezer and labeled packages, you can repack it, using up-to-date packages. This helps keep everything fresh. Here are some recipes you might like... 

A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter Part 3

PART 3 A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter by Wayde Schulz Exercise Specialist Nutrition and Hydration A few other key points that need to be incorporated into a workout or the day before and that day of your hunt are nutrition and hydration. Your body is only going to work as well as you fuel it. You would not expect your car to run when it is out of gas, would you? Same goes for your body, it will not perform the way you want to if it is not fueled efficiently. A good source... 

A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter Part 2

PART 2 A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter by Wayde Schulz Exercise Specialist Strenght Training Secondly, you should take a look at what you need to do for strenght training. What types of excersises would be specific to your type of hunting. Ou should concentrate on doing some leg exercises, some abdominal exercises, since these muscles support your whole upper body, and then some body training for your arms, back, shoulders and chest. Typically, doing strength training 2-3... 

A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter Part 1

PART 1 A Conditioned Hunter is a Happy Hunter by Wayde Schulz Exercise Specialist   Would you ever go afield on the first day of deer season without sighting in your rifle or bow prior to the hunt? You also would never go afield without previously buying all of the licenses required to hunt as well. These are all things that need to be done prior to the beginning of your season. So, is it a wise decision to head out opening day of hunting without doing a little pre-season... 

The History of Prairie Chickens in South Dakota

by Robert Alison Greater prairie chicken numbers have been falling fairly steadily for almost a century, and at present, only about 10 percent of the historic population remains. New information suggests that habitat destruction, especially availability of spring “booming grounds” (also called leks) is crucial to the survival of the birds. South Dakota is one of the last prairie chicken strongholds. Greater prairie chickens are fairly recent pioneers in North Dakota; they... 

A Second Chance

by Dakota Country Staff Writer Bill Antonides Drawing Kids into the Great Outdoors My three grown children never go hunting and rarely fish. The youngest two live in Minneapolis, far from any cornfields bursting with pheasants. They often visit nearby urban lakes for a picnic or sailing or an afternoon on the beach, but generally ignore the panfish below the surface of the glistening waters. My firstborn does go fishing when she can get away from work and her other responsibilities... 

Should You Consider Pet Insurance?

by Dr. Jerry Buchholz, DVM Bismarck Animal Clinic (701) 222-8255 Since I’ve written about pet health insurance in a previous column I’ll try not to be redundant, but with the economy the way it is, pet health insurance may be worth checking into. If you’re like most hunters you’re extremely cautious and you value the services and companionship of your hunting dog. However, throughout the hunting season there will be many hazards like barbed-wire, porcupines, sharp-pointed... 

The Value of Youth Hunting

SD Glacial Lakes Report by Brian Blackwell SD Fisheries Biologist of Webster. September is upon us and for many, thoughts have turned to hunting. As a child I was able to accompany my dad on many hunting trips before I reached the magical age of 12 when I received my first hunting license and could actually carry a gun. I don’t know who was more proud, my dad or me, when I shot my first pheasant and killed my first deer. I now have had the good fortune to experience similar...