Flight Lines: Night stalker among the natural beauties

It began with a fellow named Joe who wondered, along with some of his neighbors in Petersburg, N. D., whether the owls they were seeing every night in town were something special.

• Barn Owl

Flight Lines: In pursuit of passion, the chase isn’t always easy

If Macklin Smith made the pilgrimage to the Black Hills of South Dakota you know it’s something special. Really special.

• Search is on

Open Season: Early goose season offers hunting opportunity – but bring sunscreen

It’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to dust off the scattergun and get ready for waterfowl hunting.

• Early goose season

Midwest Waterfowl Fest to be held Aug. 13-14 at Scheels

The region’s largest waterfowl festival is coming up just in time for North Dakota’s early goose hunting season.

• Scott Threinen

Flight Lines: Tree swallows are a nice second choice

Matt is a friend who lives on a nearby rural farmstead. He’s not a farmer, mind you, but he and his wife prefer the quieter atmosphere of country living. It also allows her to keep her horses at home instead of boarding them somewhere else.

• Tree Swallows
• Talk about this topic

Open Season: This new dog owner learning right along with pup

The first time we saw the puppy, my wife, Erin, and I knew he was ours.

• Remy on point
• Remington, a.k.a Remy
• Talk about this topic

Flight Lines: By nature or man, a wing must produce lift

You’d think by now this whole flying thing would be figured out. It’s not. Credit to the first great thinkers to ponder the possibility of manned flight goes to the venerable names we all learned, the Aristotles, the Galileos, the da Vincis, and others. That’s only because they preserved their thoughts with written words and drawings. I’m confident the first humans to walk the earth also wondered and wished. With creatures all around them plying the air with moving wings, how could they not? Insects and bats were doing it. And birds, those magical feathered beasts, were doing it too.

• Talk about this topic
• Vermillion flycatcher

Open Season: Tough cooking goose or duck? With jerky, you're in luck

I still remember the first time I brought home a mess of ducks after a weekend trip to North Dakota. Beaming with pride, I plopped the Ziplocked bags of gutted birds on the kitchen counter and grinned ear to ear. “What do you expect me to do with those?” Mom asked.

• Finished product
• Layering on the dehydrator
• Prepping the meat
• Talk about this topic

Gull's regular hangouts make for bad reputation

By most people’s reckoning, the birds are simply seagulls, a word which makes me cringe somewhat.

• Ring-billed gulls
• Talk about this topic

North Dakota deer gun lottery held, approximately 31,000 antlerless licenses remain

North Dakota’s deer gun lottery has been held and individual results are available at the state Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Successful applicants will receive their license in the mail in mid-July.

Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest entries being accepted

The Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest is accepting entries, and the deadline for submitting photos is Sept. 30.

North Dakota native a true ‘trail’ blazer

Originally from Forman, N.D., Scott Kudelka is the author of “North Dakota’s Best Hiking Trails” (MSRP $12.95, Adventure Publications, Inc.), a comprehensive guide perfect for even the most seasoned path pounder.

• Kudelka in Lonetree WMA
• Trail Guide cover
• Talk about this topic

Flight Lines: Mankind an important part of global system

For years, people of the world, especially Americans, have been ripe targets for certain folks promulgating what I consider an anti-human message; one that constantly reminds us just how evil and destructive we are to the environment.

• Martins
• Talk about this topic

Fall turkey season set, online applications available June 9

North Dakota’s fall turkey season is set with 5,755 licenses available to hunters, according to Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department.

Mystery of bird migration part of the charm

There is much yet to know about bird migration. Oh sure, we’ve come a long way since the days of faulty beliefs such as swallows hibernating underground or hummingbirds riding upon the backs of flying geese. Still, many questions of how, why, when and where remain largely unanswered.

• Tennessee warbler
• Talk about this topic