Embracing winter/spring purgatory

The good news is that winter will be around for quite some time.

The bad news is the same.

Welcome to winter purgatory. One of the best times of the year to get outdoors because most people are content to sit it out.

Fishing licenses expired February 28 and most people don't renew them until the eve of the fishing opener. Darkhouses, fish houses and portable fish houses must be off the ice soon as well: March 4 on waters south of Highway 2 and March 18 on waters north of that line.

Turkey season doesn't start up until mid-April around the same time as the regular stream trout opener.

Most hunters and anglers only tend to venture out to visit shindigs like the Deer & Turkey Classic March 8, 9, 10 and the Northwest Sportshow March 21 to the 24. Otherwise, the couch or easy chair is the place to be while the television set is tuned to one of the many hunting or fishing shows.

All of that is why this is a great time to get out there. The crowds have dispersed and some of the best opportunities to be had prevail. It's bucket list time. We are living in unpredictable times and the months of March and April are the most unpredictable of all.

Stream trout anglers who have never tried the southeastern catch and release season might want to consider giving it a try. Watch the ice ledges along the sides of the creeks but soak in the silence of a slowly slinking stream before the spring melt floods them.

Predator hunting in the deep snow is prime time right now, just be ready to do a lot of scouting and cover a lot of ground. My son and I did some coyote hunting last weekend and while we were unsuccessful, it was a joy to sit in the snowy woods.

Someday sooner than later the snow will begin melting and snow geese will fill the skies. Waterfowlers who haven't tried this hunt might want to follow the scouting reports as they move north. The action is hot and heavy once it strikes.

Fill the gas tank and drive north until the Canadian border shows up on the GPS, then keep on driving. Border waters are open to ice fishing for a long time to come and offer terrific angling opportunities. Whether you want to chase giant pike on the ice near where rivers flow into lakes, or want to venture onto a quiet lake trout lake, trophy ice fishing in March (and even April) is an exhiliarating experience. Just remember that ice is beginning to weaken and two feet of ice isn't as strong as it used to be!

There's more. Shed hunting, turkey scouting, foraging, and birding are all good excuses to cancel the cable subscription and let the couch remain unfilled. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and bring your husband along for the experience.