Glen Schmitt

The Minnesota deer harvest was down this year compared to last year by approximately 8%. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He explained the DNR released the final 2023 numbers and with all the seasons combined Minnesota had 158,746 deer harvested.

Cold temperatures aren't a bad thing for everyone. Ice fishing is getting a restart this weekend and beyond with cold temperatures that are making ice throughout the state. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON.

The warmer than normal weather in Central Minnesota has caused a late start to the ice fishing season. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. Schmitt explains the temperatures are getting close to normalizing this week but the ice locally is generally not safe and he's waiting at least a week before giving ice fishing a shot here.

Warmer than normal temperatures over the past month has caused a major setback for the ice fishing season in Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says ice locally is either not there or not safe.

The new "Keep It Clean" law in Minnesota will impact many ice anglers this winter. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. Schmitt says the law went into effect throughout the state in July but was already in place in extreme northern Minnesota last winter.

This is the 2nd straight season that the weather has adversely impacted the ice fishing season. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says the freeze, thaw, heavy snow and slush were the problems last year.

Deer harvest numbers are down overall throughout the state but Central Minnesota is an exception to that. The muzzleloader season continues through Sunday (December 10) and the archery season continues through December 31. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON.

A warmer than normal November is preventing ice fishing from happening as early as some would like. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says despite highs above freezing locally recently many of the lakes capped Monday.

Pheasant hunting opened in Minnesota last weekend and early returns indicate good participation. That according to Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News. He explains conservation officer reports show the southwestern and western portions of Minnesota saw the most success and largest participation.

Fall is a great time of year to fish in Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says fall can be the best time to fish but the weather hasn't cooperated quite yet.

The duck hunting opening weekend was last weekend and even though the DNR doesn't have any numbers to report Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News indicates those who did hunt had success but participation overall remains down. Schmitt says due to the drought birds and hunters moved from small bodies of water, like ponds, to larger bodies of water.

Duck hunting season starts Saturday in Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says waterfowl hunting in Minnesota and in North America is down and has been moving that direction for quite awhile.