Minnesota Mixed Bag: Agencies battle three big wildfires in St. Louis County – Outdoor News
Grand Rapids, Minn. — As Outdoor News went to press on Tuesday, various state and federal agency firefighting personnel continued to fight three large wildfires burning in St. Louis County that reports indicate had destroyed personal properties in the remote northeast.
According to Leanne Langeberg, public information officer for the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids, the Camp House Fire, which began May 11, had burned about 11,800 acres and was 0% contained. The nearby Jenkins Creek Fire, which began May 12, had burned 6,800 acres and was 0% contained. And the Munger Shaw Fire, located west of the other two blazes, was 1,400 acres and, like the others, was 0% contained.
Numerous aircraft had been deployed to battle the fires, and Gov. Tim Walz had activated the National Guard. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office was coordinating evacuation orders and road closures. Rain was forecast for the area late in the week.
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Minnesota fishing opener was grade A for the weather; fishing, too, in many cases
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JEFF BROBERG IS THIS SUNDAY
Minneapolis — A story in the April 18 edition of Outdoor News shared the passing of state trout fishing advocate and conservationist Jeff Broberg. He died April 12 at the age of 71.
A celebration of life for Broberg will be held in Minneapolis at The Hook and Ladder Lounge and Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., on Sunday, May 18 from 1-4 p.m. Friends are encouraged to bring their stories about Jeff.
TEAL LAKE DRAWDOWN IN PROGRESS THIS SPRING IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Windom, Minn. — The Minnesota DNR has begun a drawdown on Teal Lake in Jackson County, located south of Wilder. The temporary lowering of water levels on this 91-acre shallow lake is taking place to improve wildlife habitat and water quality.
Teal Lake is a designated wildlife lake. The designation allows DNR managers to improve water quality and aquatic habitat with tools that include temporary drawdowns. More information about designated wildlife lakes is available on the DNR website.
It has been 13 years since the last drawdown on Teal Lake, and habitat conditions have started to decline in the basin. Average water clarity during the 2024 wildlife lake survey was less than 6 inches, and aquatic vegetation was sparse. Fathead minnows and bullhead fry also have been observed in Teal Lake. All these factors indicate poor in-lake habitat conditions.
Plans call for the lowering of water levels by about 4 feet over the course of the next couple months. Teal Lake will remain in drawdown through the spring of 2026, depending on weather conditions. There is a possibility the drawdown could be extended into the summer of 2026 if needed to achieve the intended aquatic vegetation benefits.
Anyone with questions about the Teal Lake drawdown or shallow lake management may contact Maggie Gross, Windom shallow lakes specialist, at [email protected] or (507) 832-6016.
Direct other questions about Teal Lake to Brian Nyborg, Windom area wildlife manager, [email protected] or (507) 832-6017.
CANOEIST’S BODY RECOVERED IN BWCAW
Ely, Minn. — On May 10 at approximately 2:15 p.m., U.S. Forest Service employees reported they had located a capsized canoe on Iron Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness north of Ely, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
The canoeist was identified May 11 as 62-year-old Robert Sydney James, of St. Louis Park.
The sheriff’s report indicated that the employees located James’ body and his gear floating near the canoe. He was wearing a life jacket. It is believed that the individual was on a solo canoe trip into the BWCAW, the report said.
MINNESOTA TWINS OFFER SPECIAL-EDITION HATS WITH DNR TICKET PACKAGE
St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR and Minnesota Twins are once again partnering to offer “Minnesota DNR Days” at select baseball games in 2025. Anyone with a 2025 Minnesota fishing or hunting license may access a ticket package that includes a special-edition Twins fishing cap with a ticket purchase.
The partnership includes seven games: Saturday, May 24, Kansas City Royals; Friday, June 20, Milwaukee Brewers; Friday, July 11, Pittsburgh Pirates; Tuesday, July 29, Boston Red Sox; Saturday, Aug. 16, Detroit Tigers; Sunday, Aug. 31, San Diego Padres; and Tuesday, Sept. 16, New York Yankees.
Visit mndnr.gov/twins for more information.
NORTH DAKOTA DEER SEASON SET, APPLY ONLINE
Bismarck, N.D. — North Dakota’s 2025 deer season is set, with 42,300 licenses available to hunters, down 7,800 from last year. In addition, muzzleloader licenses decreased by 150, and restricted youth antlered mule deer licenses remained the same.
Casey Anderson, N.D. Game and Fish Department Wildlife Division chief, said population, harvest, and survey data indicate the state’s deer population is stable to decreasing throughout the state.
“The state’s deer population continues to recover from the 2021 EHD outbreak and the severe winter of 2022-23, which limited population growth despite reduced gun licenses during 2023 and 2024 hunting seasons,” Anderson said.
High-quality deer habitat is not abundant, which has limited the potential for population recovery. If Conservation Reserve Program contracts continue to expire, Anderson said 85% of the once 3.4 million acres present in 2007 will be lost by 2026.
Applicants for regular deer gun, gratis, youth, and muzzleloader may apply online through the NDG&F’s website at gf.nd.gov. The deadline for applying is midnight June 4.
