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June 2021
Take A Kid Fishing Weekend
Kick off a new family activity
During Take a Kid Fishing weekend Friday, June 11, to Sunday, June 13, Minnesota residents can fish without licenses if they take children 15 or younger along fishing.
“Time spent fishing with kids tends to be full of smiles, fun and connection,” said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Fishing can teach kids patience, build their confidence and turn into a great family bonding experience.”
Youth 15 and younger do not require fishing licenses at any time of the year, though they must observe all fishing seasons and other regulations. Take a Kid Fishing weekend allows adults to fish without a license, as long as they take a child fishing with them. Minnesota residents also may generally fish in state parks without a fishing license if the body of water does not require a trout stamp.
Learn to fish opportunities
The DNR’s Learn to Fish webpage also covers fishing basics, where to fish, how to catch different types of fish, and the importance of fishing ethics and being stewards of Minnesota’s natural resources.
In the Twin Cities area, people can find accessible piers and shore fishing locations, and lakes stocked with fish, by going to the DNR’s Fishing in the Neighborhood webpage. For fishing locations in greater Minnesota, Minnesota Great Outdoors offers an excellent online mapping tool.
Anyone 16 or older can buy fishing licenses online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense. The investment in the license supports management of the state’s fishing resources, habitat that benefits fish and aquatic systems, and good fishing for future generations.
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Take a Kid Fishing Webinar, June 9
Adults who want to learn about fishing ahead of Take a Kid Fishing Weekend are invited to join a webinar at noon on Wednesday, June 9, about the DNR Fishing in the Neighborhood Program and other resources to help you take advantage of the weekend fishing opportunity. Registration and more information are available on the DNR website.
This webinar is part of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship summer series scheduled on Wednesdays at noon. The webinars are free, but participants are required to pre-register on the DNR website.
Upcoming Programs
Three Rivers Park District: Family Fishing Program: June 5, 9 - 11 a.m., Cedar Lake Park, Register at Family Fishing, Cedar Lake Farm to participate.
Learn about species of fish, preparing equipment, bait and how to handle fish once they are caught. Equipment, bait, and catch and release fishing license are provided for this program only.
Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Webinar Series: Wednesdays
Anyone interested in fishing, hunting and care for the outdoors can learn about activities such as shore fishing, firearms safety, muskie fishing, archery or how to catch catfish during webinars hosted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Webinars are scheduled every Wednesday at noon and last less than an hour. The courses are free, but participants are required to pre-register on the DNR website. Summer series topics are as follows:
- June 2 - Metro muskie fishing basics
- June 9 - Take a kid fishing
- June 16 - Shore fishing 101, simple tips and techniques
- June 23 - Introduction to catfish angling
- June 30 - Basic firearms maintenance
- July 7 - Shore fishing 102, down by the river
- July 14 - Getting started in archery
- July 21 - Finding trout in Minnesota streams and lakes
- July 28 - Bear hunting and biology
- Aug. 4 - How to get certified in firearms safety
- Aug. 11 - Rifle basics
- Aug. 18 - Mourning dove hunting
- Aug. 25 - DNR at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair
Learn to Pheasant Hunt Workshop for Women: August 6 - 8, Fee $225, Limit 14, Email SandyBOW@gmail.com to register.
Jo in the Bird Bustin’ Babes and the Legendary Longtails Pheasants Forever chapter for a Learn to Pheasant Hunt workshop. Weekend events include shotgun basics, gun safety, sporting clays shooting, gun cleaning, basics of the shotgun shells, pheasant habitat, walking the field, hunting over dogs, how to find hunting land, what to wear in the field and shooting practice. Two nights lodging and meals are included. Two game farm hunts that will include 3 birds per participant will be available at a later date. This program is held at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake.
My Pheasant Hunting Journey
By Kristina Ringold
What does pheasant hunting mean to you?
I can tell you what it means to me. When I was a little girl, it was all about the guys who would get dressed in orange and take our dogs and return with these beautiful birds with long tails. I could not wait for my turn to hunt with my grandpa. Unfortunately, he passed before I was ever able to hunt with him, but this gave me more drive to figure out these amazing birds.
I started out practice shooting at cans in a field with my dad. As years went on, I would enjoy the pheasant opener a little more each year, waking up seeing grandpa’s pheasant on the fireplace, seeing the dogs get excited to walk the fields, watching the dew collect on my bootstrap. As I entered the fields, I found peace in nature. All my worries would disappear. As years of hunting went on, I started asking myself why we do not get more women and children into the outdoors.
My passion has become teaching women to hunt, including gun safety, how to walk the fields and how to identify great pheasant habitat. In doing so, I joined an all-women’s chapter of Pheasants Forever. The chapter’s name is Legendary Longtails, which I am currently president. I have a sisterhood of women who share the same passion that I do.
After joining Legendary Longtails, I was told about a BOW program on how to learn to pheasant hunt. A friend could not attend so she gave me her spot. This was the most amazing weekend I have had. It was everything I loved. It was teaching women about the outdoors. I watched women who never held a gun before learn gun safety and they were breaking clays that afternoon. They learned how to clean guns, what to wear in the elements, habitat of birds, and they went on their first hunt. That weekend, not only did I enjoy the whole workshop, I also created amazing friendships. Hunting with these ladies has been amazing. I cannot wait for this year’s workshop to make more memories.
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