| Removing cattail bogsThe goal in removing cattail bogs from Big Rice Lake is to lower the water level by allowing water to flow from the lake’s outlet.
Joey Mcleister Star Tribune Published September 25, 2005 |
| Sparse wild riceThe wild rice on Big Rice Lake was sparse this year, and there’s reason to think ducks will be sparse as well during the hunting season, but work is underway to attempt to change that in future years.
Joey McLeister Star Tribune Published September 25, 2005 |
| 'Cookie cutter'The "cookie cutter," operated by Terry Perrault, churned as it removed part of the growth plugging a channel of Big Rice Lake. Perrault works for the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa.
Joey Mcleister Star Tribune Published September 25, 2005 |
| Poling an airboat through thin riceRod Ustipak, Ducks Unlimited’s wild rice project coordinator, poled an airboat piloted by Charlie Nahgahnub through thin rice.
Joey McLeister Star Tribune Published September 25, 2005 |
| Axel gathers up a crowAxel, a pointing dog, is also a retriever of many interests. He gathered up a crow and sprinted back to his master. Dennis Anderson Star Tribune Published September 21, 2005 |
| Sora railThe warm early fall in Minnesota has kept some sora rails in the state that otherwise might have departed for southern environs by now. The season on rails extends until Nov. 4, with a limit of 25 per hunter. Dennis Anderson Star Tribune Published September 21, 2005 |
| This largemouth bass whacked a Scum FrogA warm Friday afternoon in September seemed more like a day in July or August in north-central Minnesota. This largemouth bass whacked a Scum Frog tossed by Bill Marchel.
Dennis Anderson Star Tribune Published September 21, 2005 |
| Bill Marchel watches for a sora railWildlife photographer Bill Marchel, who lives near Brainerd, watched alertly with his Deutsch Drahthaar, Axel, for a sora rail to jump from a bed of wild rice. Migratory game birds, sora rails, along with Virginia rails, nest in Minnesota and spend the winters along the Gulf Coast. Some also pass through the state en route south from the Canada.
Dennis Anderson Star Tribune Published September 21, 2005 |
| Rick Horton suggests ruffed grouse hunters get off the trail and into the thick of the brush to improve their chances.
Doug Smith Published September 21, 2005 |
| Rick Horton, state wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society, hunted a trail in Itasca County on Monday with his English setter, Belle. Even though the birds are at the bottom of their boom-to-bust population cycle,
there still is good hunting to be had, Horton said. Published September 21, 2005 |
| Finished Weatherby riflesRon Dyson wheeled a cart of finished Weatherby rifles to his inspection station. He gives each a rigorous examination before they are handed over to a Weatherby employee, who inspects them yet again before they are packaged for shipment.
Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune Published September 14, 2005 |
| Proof-testedMarie Jabs inserted a shell in the chamber of a Weatherby action for a proof test. After the proof round is fired, the spent casing is inspected for any abnormalities. Every rifle is proof-tested.
Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune Published September 14, 2005 |
| Weatherby rifle assembly crewHalf of the Weatherby rifle assembly crew at ATEK Manufacturing in Brainerd, Minn., is in this photo. At left, Marie Jabs completed the safety fitting of a rifle, which will then go to the inspection station. At right, Cheryl Wynn selected a barreled action to take back to her stock assembly station, where she will complete assembly of the rifle. At rear, Linda Nygren put together bolts at the bolt assembly station. All of the employees are cross-trained, and all perform every step of the manufacturing process.
Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune Published September 14, 2005 |
| Polishing a rifle boltRay Lucksinger did the initial polishing of a bolt for a Weatherby rifle. Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune Published September 14, 2005 |
| Kurt, David and Grant FacklerKurt, David and Grant Fackler, from left, with their shotguns outside Ballistic Products Inc. of Corcoran. Kurt is holding his Browning Featherweight over-and-under in 16 gauge; David has his Parker GHE side-by-side in 16 gauge; Grant has a Beretta S686 Over-and-Under in 24 gauge. A big allure is the weight: The 16 gauge is generally lighter than a 12-gauge shotgun.
Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune Published September 14, 2005 |
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