On hot summer days, visitors to Lake Vermilion State Park enjoy the chance to cool off in the lake's waters. Contributed / Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Northland Outdoors 9:00 am, Aug. 26, 2021

Minnesota's Backyard: Meet the new neighbors at Lake Vermilion State Park, the most recent addition to the state park system

The 17th stop on our tour of 20 Minnesota State Parks is to the newest member of the state park system. Officially less than a decade old, Lake Vermilion State Park was born out of land acquired and preserved during the region's mining boom in the 1880s.

Carlos 13-year-old Braxton Steidl landed this 47-inch muskie on Lake Miltona near Alexandria right ahead of a thunderstorm that moved through the area on the evening of Aug. 20. It was the second of back-to-back muskies Steidl caught that evening after also landing a 45-incher during a flurry of activity. (Contributed photo)

Northland Outdoors 6:00 pm, Aug. 25, 2021

13-year-old times storm just right to land back-to-back muskies on Lake Miltona

The participants who volunteered for the 2021 Hubbard County Starry Trek participants are, front, from left, Jon Dennis, Ingrid Bey, Stef Westphal and Andrea Dutcher. Back row: Ken Grob, Laura Scanlon, Don Johaneson, Gene Hanson, Steve Aaserude and Jim Blodgett.

Northland Outdoors 11:30 am, Aug. 25, 2021

Starry stonewart search completed on 18 lakes in northern Hubbard County

This emaciated deer in Iowa County, Wis., was later confirmed to have chronic wasting disease. Most animals that carry the disease look healthy; it's only in the final stages where they become sickly looking. (Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

Northland Outdoors 9:00 am, Aug. 24, 2021

Minnesota DNR releases details on mandatory testing in chronic wasting disease zones this season

Dave Thielen (left) and Mike Hensel topped the 22-boat field to win the title at the 6th annual Park Rapids Fire Department 5 Alarm Fishing Frenzy tournament held on Potato Lake on Saturday, Aug. 21. Submitted photo

Northland Outdoors 8:53 am, Aug. 24, 2021

Dave Thielen and Mike Hensel reel in Fishing Frenzy title

A campsite at Blue Mounds State Park in southwestern Minnesota. The DNR is embarking on a major effort to find new sources of revenue to fund the outdoors - so state parks can be improved and expanded without raising entry and camping fees to exorbitant levels. (John myers / 2020 file / Duluth News Tribune)

Northland Outdoors 3:48 pm, Aug. 22, 2021

Minnesota DNR: We need a new way to fund the outdoors

Mike Hetteen of Roseau, Minn., holds a photo of his dad, Allan Hetteen, on July 17, 2021, during a trip to the Ruth Glacier in Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve. Allan Hetteen, one of the founders of Polaris, was part of a crew testing the company's Comet snowmobiles in August 1963 in Alaska, and Mike was able to visit the exact spot where the original photo was taken. (Contributed/ Mike Hetteen)

Northland Outdoors 4:00 pm, Aug. 20, 2021

Alaska trip offers opportunity to reconnect with history for son of Polaris pioneer Allan Hetteen

Roughly six Northstar Canoes are completed each day at the company's headquarters in Princeton, Minn. Matthew Guerry / Forum News Service

Northland Outdoors 4:00 pm, Aug. 20, 2021

East-central Minnesota canoe company glides along amid pandemic

Alexandria’s Joey Jackson tries a s’more that he made over a fire at the Youth Outdoor Activity Day on Aug. 25, 2019 with some help from his grandma, Sandy. This year's Youth Day is set for Aug. 29 at the Alexandria Shooting Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. again. Organizers are planning for nearly 2,500 kids, which requires between 250-275 volunteers to help run. (Eric Morken / Alexandria Echo Press)

Northland Outdoors 2:00 pm, Aug. 20, 2021

Morken: Outdoor groups are finding it harder to get volunteers as events, banquets return

Northland Outdoors 10:00 am, Aug. 19, 2021

Northland Outdoors Forecast: A weekend of changes

One of the most popular activities for visitors to Scenic State Park is a hiking amid towering old growth pines on the Chase Point trail, which follows a ridge between two lakes. Contributed / Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Northland Outdoors 12:00 pm, Aug. 17, 2021

Minnesota's Backyard: At the aptly-named Scenic State Park, quiet walks along tall timber and glacial lakes are the attraction

John Galstad posess with his champion and reserve champion photos at the Nobles County Fair in the open class exhibit hall Thursday morning. Tim Middagh / The Globe

Northland Outdoors 4:00 pm, Aug. 14, 2021

Wildlife inspires man to catch critters on camera

A male sharp-tailed grouse displays during a mating ritual on a lek, or mating grounds. In 2010 the DNR counted at least 70 leks across east-central Minnesota. This year that was down to just 18.
(Clint Austin/ 2009 file / Duluth News Tribune)

Northland Outdoors 6:02 am, Aug. 14, 2021

Minnesota's sharp-tailed grouse are 'blinking out'

These nestlings are merlins. They often jump out of their nests before they are ready. They should be put back in the nest or placed in a makeshift nest close to the original nest.

Northland Outdoors 5:00 am, Aug. 14, 2021

Northwoods Wildlife Rescue: Baby birds hop before they fly

The northern crescent is the only species present on all 167 butterfly counts. A female is shown here.

Northland Outdoors 3:00 pm, Aug. 13, 2021

A ‘bittersweet’ butterfly count in 2021

Northland Outdoors 10:00 am, Aug. 12, 2021

Northland Outdoors Forecast: Warm, dry, and a little breezy

Although the Rainy River is shallow and rocky near Franz Jevne State Park there is a popular boat ramp in the park where folks can get out on the water to chase walleyes, northerns, sturgeon and bass. Contributed / Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Northland Outdoors 8:30 am, Aug. 12, 2021

Minnesota's Backyard: On the northern border, Franz Jevne State Park offers birding, hiking, fishing and views of Canada

A female pink-edged sulphur attracts the attention of a male, in the background. This image was captured at 1,250th of a second shutter speed.

Northland Outdoors 1:00 pm, Aug. 11, 2021

Leps & Odes: A rare look at a pink-edged sulphur

Red-eyed vireo

Northland Outdoors 6:00 am, Aug. 11, 2021

Birdwise: The red-eyed vireo is a singing wonder

The Amikwik campsite on the North Country Trail has a newly built shelter for overnight use by hikers.

Northland Outdoors 5:53 pm, Aug. 10, 2021

New shelter built on North Country Trail

In the fall, loons fly south and spend the winter in the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico or other large bodies of water down south.

Northland Outdoors 4:35 pm, Aug. 10, 2021

Northland Nature Journal: Loony business witnessed on Shingobee Lake

Jane and Joe Styndl took a trip to see waterfalls like this one at a Minnesota State Park in Mankato. Submitted Photo (July 2021)

Northland Outdoors 8:00 am, Aug. 8, 2021

Library cards can be keys to unlock access to Minnesota's outdoors

John Williams grew up in a family that hunted and fished and hopes to spend more time doing both, now that he has retired as Northwest Region 1 wildlife manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Bemidji. His last day was Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. (Contributed/ John Williams)

Northland Outdoors 7:00 am, Aug. 8, 2021

Retiring regional DNR wildlife manager John Williams says challenges lie ahead

Pelicans rest on an exposed sandbar on the Red River below the Drayton Dam on Monday, June 28, 2001, near Drayton, N.D. Water levels on the Red and other rivers across the region are especially low this summer because of widespread drought conditions. (Photo/ Brad Dokken, Grand Forks Herald)

Northland Outdoors 6:00 pm, Aug. 7, 2021

Dokken: Drought having negative impact on river fishing, other activities

Northland Outdoors 1:37 pm, Aug. 6, 2021

Firearm safety course Aug. 12-13 in Park Rapids

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