Explore the Northern Wilds
Almost Tomorrow, The Poetry of Ray Nargis
Ray Nargis is a storyteller. And in this book are stories of people and places in his life, told in poetry. These simple, readable poems are easy to understand—and they are the better for it. A native of northern Michigan, the setting of some poems, Nargis now lives in Ely, where, among other things, he hosts The Pathways radio program on WELY.
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Ray Nargis is a storyteller. And in this book are stories of people and places in his life, told in poetry. These simple, readable poems are easy to understand—and they are the better for it. A native of northern Michigan, the setting of some poems, Nargis now lives in Ely, where, among other things, he hosts The Pathways radio program on WELY.
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Seedlings Available from the DNR
A variety of tree and shrub seedlings are still available from state forest nurseries, according to the Minnesota DNR.
“There are seedlings that work well for wildlife food and shelter, as well as for timber, shelterbelts, and water conservation,” said Steve Vongroven, a DNR nursery supervisor.
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A variety of tree and shrub seedlings are still available from state forest nurseries, according to the Minnesota DNR.
“There are seedlings that work well for wildlife food and shelter, as well as for timber, shelterbelts, and water conservation,” said Steve Vongroven, a DNR nursery supervisor.
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One of the first sure signs of spring in the Northern Wilds is when the sap starts to run in the sugar maples. Don Mount of Two Harbors has made maple syrup for 30 years. He says it varies somewhat with weather conditions, but the middle of March through the first two weeks of April is when the sap flows in the sugar bush. Usually, the run doesn’t begin until snow has melted away from the base of the trees.
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This summer, visitors to the International Wolf Center in Ely may see young wolf pups that are joining the “ambassador pack” the center maintains as part of its educational effort. The pups are expected to be born in late April and will be available for public viewing around Memorial Day. They can be seen earlier by web cam at the center’s web site, www.wolf.org.
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The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee and friends are clearing hiking trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) during May. The committee is looking for volunteers to help with clearing work between Thursday, May 1 and Sunday, May 4. You do not have to commit for the whole four-day period.
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Anglers Are Big Spenders
Recreational fishing provides a living for countless people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and accessories manufacturing to travel and hospitality to boat manufacturing. According to a new report on fishing statistics, published by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), when expenditures are multiplied by America’s nearly 40 million anglers, their dollars have a significant impact on our nation’s economy.
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Recreational fishing provides a living for countless people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and accessories manufacturing to travel and hospitality to boat manufacturing. According to a new report on fishing statistics, published by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), when expenditures are multiplied by America’s nearly 40 million anglers, their dollars have a significant impact on our nation’s economy.
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Minnesota 2007 Fishing Licenses Valid through April 30
A legislative change extended the expiration date of 2007 fishing licenses for resident and nonresident anglers through April 30. Any stamps or tags to harvest particular species also are valid through April 30.
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A legislative change extended the expiration date of 2007 fishing licenses for resident and nonresident anglers through April 30. Any stamps or tags to harvest particular species also are valid through April 30.
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No More Nature? Study Worries Researchers
New research shows that across the US and in other developed nations, people are spending far less time outdoors than ever before. The study was paid for by The Nature Conservancy.
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New research shows that across the US and in other developed nations, people are spending far less time outdoors than ever before. The study was paid for by The Nature Conservancy.
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New Memorial Forest Named in Lake County
A new agreement conserves the Clair A. Nelson Memorial Forest located north of Silver Bay in Lake County. The agreement assures that the 6,252-acre forest, named after Clair A. Nelson, the late Lake County Board chair, remains open for logging, hunting, fishing, hiking, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. The forest provides important habitat for a variety of wildlife species and includes the headwaters of the Manitou River, a prime trout stream.
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A new agreement conserves the Clair A. Nelson Memorial Forest located north of Silver Bay in Lake County. The agreement assures that the 6,252-acre forest, named after Clair A. Nelson, the late Lake County Board chair, remains open for logging, hunting, fishing, hiking, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. The forest provides important habitat for a variety of wildlife species and includes the headwaters of the Manitou River, a prime trout stream.
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Tax Deductions for Boaters
A boat is treated like a second home for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, a head, and sleeping berth. Mortgage interest paid on the loan is deductible from your federal income taxes. Taxpayers may use the mortgage interest deduction for one primary home and one second home and must itemize deductions on their returns.
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A boat is treated like a second home for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, a head, and sleeping berth. Mortgage interest paid on the loan is deductible from your federal income taxes. Taxpayers may use the mortgage interest deduction for one primary home and one second home and must itemize deductions on their returns.
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Fishing License: Tough Luck, Trout Fishermen
The legislative reasoning behind the change is so anglers don’t have to buy new licenses during the winter season. The license year for resident fishing, the angling portion of a sporting license, nonresident fishing, resident fish house, resident dark house, and nonresident fish house begins on March 1 and ends on April 30 of the following year. In other words, the license year now lasts 14 months.
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The legislative reasoning behind the change is so anglers don’t have to buy new licenses during the winter season. The license year for resident fishing, the angling portion of a sporting license, nonresident fishing, resident fish house, resident dark house, and nonresident fish house begins on March 1 and ends on April 30 of the following year. In other words, the license year now lasts 14 months.
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If you are looking for an interesting walk that will take you back in history, drive to the end of Duluth’s Park Point and hike about two miles to the site of the old Minnesota Point Lighthouse. It doesn’t look like much today, but the dilapidated tower was the first high-powered lighthouse on Lake Superior.
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On the map, Atikokan is a small town in Northwestern Ontario, just east of the wilderness paddling paradise of Quetico Provincial Park. But Atikokan also has a special "northern wilds" status – it’s the Canoe Capital of Canada. It is also home to one of the few women canoe builders in North America, Thelma Cameron.
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It was one of those Minnesota winter mornings when the sky is bluer than any summer sky can be. Though we had hiked along the Caribou River many times, this waterfall trek held a new excitement. It was the first time we had hiked on the river itself. Already heady from seeing four bald eagles along Highway 61, we slid our feet into snowshoes, anxious to venture out onto this winding frozen path.
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Earl Orf of Shoreview is a lifelong birder who enjoys photographing birds in the Northern Wilds.
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The International Wolf Center in Ely houses four live ambassador gray wolves for observation–Malik, Shadow, Grizzer and Maya. Another wolf, Nyssa, died suddenly in 2005, causing the remaining wolves to make adjustments in their social order.
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Our first chances to see snowy owls come with the first cold blasts of Canadian air in early winter. Then, in open areas, like airports, industrial complexes, and farm fields, or along the North Shore of Lake Superior, snowy owls begin turning up. They are true tundra birds, nesting as far north as only a handful of other species. Most of them stay north of us, even during the coldest winters.
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The snowshoe hare gets its name from the size of its thickly furred hind feet and its habit of spreading its toes wide when jumping. This allows the hare to travel on the top of the snow to quickly escape predators.
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The use of dogs to pull sleds goes back centuries, but formal dog sled racing dates back to the early 1900s. The first race took place in Alaska in 1908. The winner of the All Alaska Sweepstakes completed the 408-mile race from Nome to Candle and back in just over 119 hours. The sport quickly evolved and by 1910, the same race was completed by the winning musher in just over 74 hours.
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Kicksledding and the kicksled first caught my attention a few years ago. I was intrigued. Here was an environmentally-friendly winter invention, available for both competitive sports and recreational activity perfectly suited for Canadian and American winters–and yet it was virtually unknown in North America.
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