A MINNESOTA DNR SURVEY REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER OF SMALL-GAME HUNTERS IN MINNESOTA IN 2025 DECREASED BY TWO PERCENT FROM 2024 AND WAS SIX PERCENT BELOW THE 10-YEAR AVERAGE. OVERALL, 223,740 SMALL GAME LICENSES WERE SOLD FOR THE 2025-26 HUNTING SEASONS, COMPARED TO THE 10-YEAR AVERAGE OF 237,867 SMALL GAME LICENSES. RUFFED GROUSE AND RING-NECKED PHEASANT HUNTERS HAD SUCCESS RATES SIMILAR TO THE 10-YEAR AVERAGES, BUT DUCK AND CANADA GOOSE HUNTERS HAD SUCCESS RATES BELOW THE 10-YEAR AVERAGES. THOSE DUCK AND GEESE HUNTERS HARVEST WAS WAY DOWN FROM THE AVERAGE. THE DNR HAS INTRODUCED SOME NEW HARVEST REGULATIONS THAT THEY HOPE WILL MAKE THE SPORT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO NEW HUNTERS.
THE GRAND FORKS HERALD ONLINE, SHARING FROM THE ECHO PRESS IN ALEXANDRIA, A CHAT WITH JOE HENRY AND LAKE OF THE WOODS TOURISM ON LATE SUMMER AND FALL FISHING. HENRY SAYS THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ACTION TO BE HAD AND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR MOST WALLEYES ARE CAUGHT “OVER THE DEEP MUD WITH SPINNERS AND NIGHT CRAWLERS” OR BY TROLLING CRANKBAITS. IN PROMOTING LAKE OF THE WOODS, HE NOTES THE SLOT OF 19 ½ TO 28 INCHES HELPS TO KEEP THEIR BREEDING FISH IN THE SYSTEM.
SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH. WHILE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION ARE IMPORTANT ALL YEAR LONG, SEPTEMBER GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES TO REMIND ONE ANOTHER THAT THERE IS HOPE, HELP IS AVAILABLE, AND HEALING IS POSSIBLE.
THIS YEAR’S THEME IS “CHANGING THE NARRATIVE ON SUICIDE”.
A COUPLE OF REMINDERS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING.
- REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. KNOW WHO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO WHEN YOU NEED SUPPORT AND KEEP CRISIS RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
- FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. SOME THINGS MAY BE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CONTROL, AND THAT IS OKAY.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. SMALL STEPS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
- REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT. TALK WITH A TRUSTED FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, COUNSELOR, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, OR ANOTHER PERSON YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
SAFE KIDS GRAND FORKS IS PUTTING OUT FRIENDLY REMINDERS TO EVERYONE TO BE ATTENTIVE AS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS. TO BE VIGILANT FOR EXTRA PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY IN AND AROUND SCHOOL ZONES, TO BE STOPPING FOR BUSSES WITH THEIR RED LIGHTS FLASHING, BOTH WHEN TRAILING AND APPROACHING A BUS. FOR THE KIDS, USE CROSSWALKS AND THE ASSITANCE OF CROSSING GUARDS WHEN POSSIBLE.
Last modified: 09/02/2026
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