Glen Schmitt

Not everyone is fond of the warm weather in Central Minnesota this winter. Glen Schmitt from Outdoors News feels this could be the worst ice fishing season in Minnesota. He says last year's season wasn't good but this is worse.

The Minnesota deer harvest was down this year compared to last year by approximately 8%. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He explained the DNR released the final 2023 numbers and with all the seasons combined Minnesota had 158,746 deer harvested.

Cold temperatures aren't a bad thing for everyone. Ice fishing is getting a restart this weekend and beyond with cold temperatures that are making ice throughout the state. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON.

The warmer than normal weather in Central Minnesota has caused a late start to the ice fishing season. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. Schmitt explains the temperatures are getting close to normalizing this week but the ice locally is generally not safe and he's waiting at least a week before giving ice fishing a shot here.

Warmer than normal temperatures over the past month has caused a major setback for the ice fishing season in Minnesota. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says ice locally is either not there or not safe.

This is the 2nd straight season that the weather has adversely impacted the ice fishing season. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says the freeze, thaw, heavy snow and slush were the problems last year.

A warmer than normal November is preventing ice fishing from happening as early as some would like. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. He says despite highs above freezing locally recently many of the lakes capped Monday.

The duck hunting opening weekend was last weekend and even though the DNR doesn't have any numbers to report Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News indicates those who did hunt had success but participation overall remains down. Schmitt says due to the drought birds and hunters moved from small bodies of water, like ponds, to larger bodies of water.

The drought in Central Minnesota will impact duck hunters. Duck hunting season begins September 23rd in Minnesota will continue through October 1st and then again from October 7 - November 26.

The early teal hunting season ran from September 2-6, early goose started September 2 and goes through September 17th and Bear hunting started September 1st and continues through October 15.