According to news reports and firsthand accounts told by citizens, social un-rest and division exist at both ends of this flow of materials and fortune. Furthermore, critics with diverse backgrounds, even some with pro-mining leanings, contend there is a lack of base data on exactly how much airborne pollution will come from existing and future plants, and how that will impact air quality.

How soon will 60 plants mushroom to 160, or 320? How will severe scouring of the natural landscape affect fish and wildlife inhabiting the region’s precious, rare coldwater resource and ridgeland forests and brushy coulee corridors?

While the state regulates sand mine impacts on soil, water and air, town government is in the driver’s seat on matters related to plant locations, and some towns have either drawn up their own development agreements or, joined by county officials, elected to put the brakes on mining decisions until they deal with a growing list of uncertainties.

During this collective pause, why not allow this conservation principle - ”Honor the Land” – guide the search for long-term solutions? We’ve got plenty of sand…and time.

First, a heckuva lot of people (close to a half million in Wisconsin and Minnesota), shot a deer with gun or bow this fall. Tens of thousands more brought home Canada geese, ducks, grouse and pheasants.

While the ring-neck population was down in the fabled Dakotas, even the toughest of hunts produced a bird per gun per day.  Actually, most Dakota country hunters will tell you they did quite well. 

Again, hunters donated millions of meals of wild game and fish to the needy.

The weather was ideal in most cases and all things considered, the glorious  fall hunting seasons (which dwindle down to a very precious few later in January) were some of the best in recent memory.

With Christmas time fast approaching, maybe hunters ought to continue their conservation and charitable ways in the manner which best suits each individual. Share some of the harvest, donate to a favorite conservation group or cause. Talk some outdoors to those not tired of listening. Give a gift of a hunting or fishing license, an outdoors video or book, some field clothing or accessories,  or perhaps pledges of one or more outings to a friend who eagerly  has  been waiting to be asked along. There are many such opportunties. But, there’s a lot to be thankful for….let me know about yours.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dave Carlson and videographer Dave Roll, and all the others for whom it is a pleasure and great responsibility to bring you Northland Adventures every week, year round.  We’ll be here again throughout 2012.

My Springer spaniel Ellie and I love to plow through golden marsh grass and dark muck for ducks and geese or labyrinth of willows and alders for woodcock and grouse. Every now and then we pause to soak our aching feet in cool pond water or a chilly trout stream. All around us the woods and fields take on hues and aroma of fall. If we are lucky we’ll have feathers and freshly cleaned birds in our game pouch to tuck away in the cool corners of the truck for the trip home.  

Can’t forget about western openers: ring-necked pheasants on some windy Dakota country field, ducks in the prairie potholes, early October antelope and a cow elk tag that holds much promise for early November, both inWyoming.  

In a flash openers become mid-season and sadly, much too quickly, the closer. The first to go and the one I miss most is trout season inWisconsinandMinnesota. It’s the sorriest day of my fall outdoors calendar. Fortunately,Iowatrout streams remain open year round. That is a good thing because more people ought to be fishing them, then insisting that  the State ofIowastep up efforts to preserve and improve these  rare coldwater resources like neighboring states, and more public accesses to fish them. 

We’ll open that debate  later this winter, after the “closings” close in on us.  

In advance of  Wisconsin’s  general season opener on Mother’s Day weekend, in between rainstorms and brief cold fronts panfishers got rolling on many smaller lakes where bays warmed up quickly and bluegills and crappies made their early spawning move. Waves of panfish will continue to school in and out of the warm 56-65 degree shallows as long as cold rains and frigid evenings interrupt the warming trend.

As for walleyes, they are mostly spawned out now, some finishing 10 days or more ago. In rivers, anglers are catching walleyes that have dropped back from spawning grounds to areas where there’s plenty of slower water and food to eat. That could be around wood or rocks and behind eddy lines. In lakes, that’s just off the 2-5 foot gravelly spawning depths in 12-18 feet of water.

Early spawning northern pike are on the prowl and muskies are about done spawning on many lakes. From various reports, smallmouth bass were banging plastic type jig baits tossed next to rocks and wood creating pockets of slower water on rivers. Some largemouth bass were showing up in bedding areas on faster warming lakes. If the rains subside and waters continue to warm and stabilize, fishing should pick up.

Trout fishers had very good conditions on many streams, although depending on where you stood, some streams might have been a bit high.

As the season progresses, make sure to check the fishing regulations which can change for various species on certain lakes with special size and bag limits.

On travels around the region we’ve been seeing plenty of Canada geese goslings, indicating a good hatch. Plus, we’ve encountered small to fairly large herds of deer working greening grass and farm fields with standing and picked grain crops. Turkey hunters are having good success in Wisconsin, but the early harvest was down almost 30 percent in Minnesota. Watch out for turtles soon to begin crossing roadways as they seek spots to bury their eggs. Early risers these days are treated to a comforting melody of songbirds. Is our SPRING being compressed into a week or two heading into SUMMER? Nature is keeping us guessing!

Despite single-digit mornings and daytime highs in the 30s in mid-March, I am seeing robins flittering around the bird feeders next to jays and chickadees, deer appear plump after a rugged winter, and on a mud road before the March snow arrived I even witnessed a woodcock in its spiraling mating flight.

Turkeys are still grouped, but a week ago coyote hunting in early light around La Crosse we heard our first gobbles and observed males in full strut putting on their glitz for the hens.

Until the cold descended upon the region, open water fishing on the Upper Mississippi had been good for saugers and walleyes. High-water slowed the action some and threats of flooding remain, although they’ve been slowed on the tributaries waters by the recent heavy snow and cold.

Panfish action is holding up on inland lakes although boat landing drive-on accesses are getting a bit slushy with run-off.

There’s plenty of migrating waterfowl passing through. Big flocks of Canadian Geese and swans spotted almost daily. Snow goose migration in the Dakotas is getting constant attention from hunters eager for the spring hunt. Hunters had excellent shooting for three weeks or so in northwest Missouri, a bumper crop of juveniles providing near point blank shooting opportunities. I’m told to expect the same in the Dakotas as the birds follow the slowly receding snow line extending from Sioux Falls to Mobridge in South Dakota and on up northwesterly through North Dakota. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

Snow conditions vary. Places where I used snowshoes to hunt snowshoe hares along the Lake Superior North Shore a year ago you can walk through the woods today and the snow is barely ankle deep. Go figure!

Wild turkeys and whitetails are gathered up, and faring okay in areas where snow had been two feet deep and deeper in drifts. Not the same for pheasants. They’re surviving where there’s thick woody roosting cover close to food. Grasses are flat in most areas. Cattails are full of snow. Other farmland spots blown free of snow are magnets for hungry birds and other critters. Go figure!

Most geese and ducks are long gone, but now and then you’ll see flocks in open water below dams and power plants, having a ball like it was spring. Why do most leave, but some stubbornly ride winter out? Go figure!

Plenty of snow, on paper, for skiing and snowmobiling. But some counties have closed trails because rain chewed the base and made other stretches wickedly icy. Go figure!

Lake ice is shaping up, after weeks of concerns that heavy snow cover would inhibit ice thickening. Well, give it some rain and near-40 degree days like we had during the holidays and the snow is gone, refrozen into thicker ice. Some areas of eastern Wisconsin have seen trucks on safe ice for weeks, because they got very little or no snow. Go figure!  

Guess this all once again proves what they say about Wisconsin’s seasons…give it a minute or two, and it will change. I’m leaving now, to go figure it out with a glass of wine, some cheese crackers and venison and goose jerky next to the fireplace. My wood supply is holding out…for now.

Wisconsin and other Midwest states ALL reported deer harvest higher than 2009′s. Why? First, more than 90 percent of the corn was harvested, greatly reducing hiding refuges for deer. Last Fall corn harvest lagged well behind normal. A lot of bucks that made it through the 2009 season were still around for 2010.

Plus, hunters this season generally had snow and other favorable hunting conditions, so deer were a bit more visible than 2009. So, what does Lane predict for 2011?   Look for fewer big bucks but more deer overall, unless winter plays nasty with the Upper Midwest deer herd.

Right now, Wisconsin and Minnesota are off to one of their snowiest winters in a long time.  Combine that and Nature starts adding up winter severity index days that eventually determine how many deer survive and in what condition. We’ll try to keep track.

All of the heavy snow has created a headache for ice fishers. The 8-22 inches that fell in mid-December is creating slush problems on lakes, most of which had only about 5-7 inches of good clear ice. With the deep snow cover just about everywhere several inches of slush form after holes are drilled or the ice cracks and shifts unable to handle the added weight. Strong winds can blow some of the snow off a lake surface, which enables it to freeze deeper than it does with deep snow cover.

By the way, early ice fishing reports were very encouraging…some panfish being taken, plus some decent walleyes.  No matter where you head, use EXTREME caution walking on what looks to be “safe” ice, or driving on it with ATVs. My rule of thumb is to NEVER DRIVE on ice thinner than 12-15 inches. Remember, ice NEVER FREEZES EVENLY. It could be a foot beneath your feet, and a foot away, just a few inches thick. 

I like to spud my way out as an early season precaution. Carry a stout rope, ice picks and extra gloves, too. Go with somebody, or at least tell your plans to family or friends.

On another front, a new group of faces, many of them Republicans, are entering state legislature and congressional offices this winter. Enamored with their “victories,” some are beginning to flex their newly obtained political muscle, saying they plan to do “this or that” when it comes to many issues, including outdoors recreation and environmental matters, to make their communities, states and country more “business friendly.”

Just remind them that hunting, fishing and a long list of other outdoors recreation are “businesses” that generate billions in revenues and taxes, and provide tens of thousands of jobs. Remind them that providing more access and more public land and a cleaner environment ensures the health of the outdoor recreation industry and our natural resources for us and future generations. And when the talk gets ugly…becomes “us (hunters, fisher, etc)” versus “them (conservationists, environmentalists, etc )”…we ALL should be of one spirit and mind in the great outdoors. After all, more than 50 years “out there” has taught me that we begin as “consumers, harvesters etc ” – and through the taking, come to realize that for what we cherish and depend upon to be sustained, we must be “conservationists” and that for conservation to really work at its best and fullest, we need to understand how ALL THE PARTS are arranged and depend upon each other…in doing so, becoming an “environmentalist.” Try to wiggle out of that…

In recent days, we’ve experienced all that plus some pretty good hunting for woodcock, grouse and Canada geese. Surprising numbers of grouse and woodcock showing up, according to hunters we encounter. We’ve certainly been seeing them, too.

Haven’t done much with ducks yet, but that’s right around the corner, as soon as some of the better spots of dry ground emerge from the high water of the Upper Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers.

Over on Lake Michigan action has been very hot for Great Lakes muskies in Green Bay. My guide friend Brett Alexander has plenty of “Xs” marking catch location on his GPS unit…trolling 3 mph, fishing shallow bait runners, every color scheme under the sun. He’s been boating and releasing 45-50 inch fish with regularity the past couple of weeks.

Salmon are running up tributary creeks. Crappies have been very active on the Chippewa Flowage and St. Croix Lake.

Some bow hunters report seeing higher than anticipated numbers of deer, and PLENTY of bear ticks. Speaking of bruins, we had a great hunt with a family group around Barnes, WI – a bear treed, but only shots were with digital cameras. As one of the group, 10-year-old Jack McNamara of Valencia, California told me after I asked what he likes best about bear hunting: “I do it for the dogs!”

Some of you might have noticed in recent episodes my dog, Ellie, is recuperating from surgery to repair an ACL tear suffered hunting sharptails in North Dakota. The little girl is doing just fine. I feel lost without her in the field or walking around home. Look for her return early next spring.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in taking this lonely heart bird and waterfowl hunter along just for kicks? Until next time…adios.

Bow hunters are dealing with damp and flooded conditions as they open up their early season. Last week they, and a lot of black bear hunters sitting over baits, were tested to the max by hoards of mosquitoes.

Hunters out after ruffed grouse in the Great Lakes states region, even though a leafy cover persisted, found fair numbers of birds in fringe areas along flooded low cover.  

Woodcock season is drawing near too and grouse hunters report seeing greater sightings of these tiny migratory birds.

Duck hunters from Wisconsin and Minnesota to the Dakotas are gearing up as well. Thanks to heavy rain the ponds and marshes are very full and there was very good production on the prairie. Some Dakota experts expect the best duck season in years.

Plenty of Canada geese are showing up and this fall could go down as one of the best snow goose hunting seasons as large numbers of juvenile snows migrate for the first time.

Best color in the Great Lakes, about 20-25 percent in Northern Wisconsin, but leaves are slow coming down.

Inland trout seasons are winding down in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but streams are running high and cloudy. Same for smallmouth and musky rivers…been good for guides and client, when and if they do manage to get on the water.

Corn harvest is beginning, but rains could delay that. Unpicked corn hurt deer and pheasant hunting last year throughout the Mid-Continent states.

Seasons for one of the biggest and smallest of our game birds — Canada geese and mourning doves — open  first, followed by grouse, ducks, turkeys and pheasants. About the same time, archers head afield for early bow deer seasons.  

Meanwhile,  black bear numbers are up and expanding, as are hunting opportunities for young and old alike.  Mixed reports tantalize and frustrate hunters arranging their fall agendas.

No secret that many waterfowl hunters are excited over prospects in the eastern Dakotas, where abundant precipitation has prairie ponds full to the brim and more. Summer  visitors report seeing large flocks of assorted ducks everywhere in the eastern Dakotas.

Pheasant productivity has been very good in South Dakota, fair in North Dakota, average or slightly better in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and down in Iowa except for the northwest region.

Deer hunters can expect  slightly lower anterless quotas over much of the Midwest. In my travels, I’ve been seeing quite a few road kill whitetails, seemingly more than past summers.

Also, I’ve heard lots of encounters with bear killing fawns. All in all, the season of “much walking” is at hand. I have some trips lined up for Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wyoming for everything from game birds to elk (it will be my first elk hunt, a cow tag in Wyoming!).

Once again this fall, I, our yopuths will have special early hunts for bear, waterfowl, deer and small game (would be nice to start over, right?) here’s wishing all your aspirations and new ones you discover in days to come  are enjoyable, rewarding and fun!  

If you’re so inclined, send us your stories and photos, and any suggestions you might have for a future “Northland Adventures.”