Northland Outdoors

In the world of birds, plumage color patterns are essential to individual species survival. In fact, one of the many functions of plumage color is concealment. Abundant and familiar examples...

The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, along with partner Bird Studies of Canada, are once again sponsoring the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). This year’s...

Sometimes called a “tiger on wings” or “tiger owl,” our most recognized owl of Minnesota’s Northwoods is certainly known by numerous names. Hoot owl (because of its call), cat owl...

For most of this early winter I’ve been content at observing the year ‘round resident blue jays, white-breasted nuthatches, and black-capped chickadees, in addition to the woodpecker trio – downy,...

Last fall once again in the backcountry of a state wildlife management area north of Karlstad, I walked upon a single beaver dam for nearly its full quarter-mile length. I...

Beaks or bills, whatever you want to call them, are among the most diverse body parts found on creatures the world over. Designed for procuring food, masticating, and working food...

Countless birdsongs throughout my lifetime have become indelibly etched into my mind from the moment I had first heard it. For example, I was a mere 6 years old when...

As is often told, Benjamin Franklin, whether as a joke or not, proposed that the United States adopt the wild turkey as its national emblem. It was argued that the...

There are two species of wildlife that I consistently associate with wilderness. Within these wild environments, which include northern Minnesota, exist gray wolves — their tracks in the snow revealing...

While exploring a relative’s farm in Polk County, I once climbed into a deer stand overlooking the property’s woodlands, wetlands and croplands. It was a gorgeous October evening as the...

I recently experienced once again the unending pleasure of deer hunting and exploring within the peaks, valleys, draws, drainages, and ridges of the Gore Mountain Range of Routt National Forest...

While exploring a relative’s farm in Polk County, I once climbed into a deer stand overlooking the property’s woodlands, wetlands and croplands. It was a gorgeous October evening as the...

The Harvest Moon has come and gone, but the Hunter’s Moon is yet to come. Leaves have changed colors and have since fallen to the earth, tamaracks are already brilliant...