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2012 Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener–In Pictures

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Jim Braaten

This past Saturday was the Minnesota Firearms Deer Hunting Opener and what has been the tradition now for 10 years running, Minnesota’s sitting Governor honors the blaze-clad sportsman of this state with a special celebration. Each year the event bounces around to various areas of the state, but the last time it was in SE Minnesota was back in 2006 and that time I am proud to say Governor Tim Pawlenty hunted on my farm. Read more HERE about that very special day.

But this time around things have changed slightly. This time the event was held in Winona, Minnesota and not Rochester (or more accurately rural Kenyon, MN). Moreover, Governor Pawlenty who created the special hunt no longer is Governor. Now, it is Governor Mark Dayton who maintains the event by making an appearance, but does not partake in the hunt like Pawlenty did each year.

Even so, I give Governor Dayton credit for continuing the GDHO event and for taking the time to make a short appearance. After all, with over a half million deer hunters in this state helping to stimulate the Minnesota economy to the tune of nearly a billion dollars annually, a Governor should honor the sportsmen and women of the Gopher State.

But enough of the boring stuff. Let’s show some pictures and check out the fun. What follows is how we spent Friday at the event enjoying what makes deer hunting in this state so proud.

Banner greeting event attendees.

Da Bad Axe traveling trophy presented to the team who competes and wins the MN Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener Outdoor Olympics series of events.

Of course, we formed a team consisting of Michelle Scheuermann (@LadySportsman), Todd & Dick Rost, and yours truly, Jim Braaten.

There were several events such as archery shooting, outdoor knowledge such as guess the hides, guess the animal tracks, guess the pistol/rifle cartridges…

Even the uniquely outdoorsy axe toss, which by the way, Michelle Scheuermann had never done before. So, we let her represent our team.

Whoa!!! Did Michelle kick butt. She got to throw three axes and the team only got a score if they stuck in the target. SHE STUCK ALL THREE!!! WooHoo!!!

Although only two axes are shown here…they removed the first one so it didn’t get chopped by her pinpoint accuracy. Way to go Michelle!!

There was also a timed obstacle course. Here, Todd is shown getting dressed and he had to do several things such as shoot at a target, pull a deer drag some distance…

And eventually hoist it up into a tree. Talk about working up a sweat! Great job, Todd!

In the end, Team Sportsman’s Blog crushed the competition with our superior skills and knowledge on the outdoors. Psst! In all honesty it was mostly Michelle who now possesses legendary woodsman skills. In fact, she is the only axe-wielding PR guru I know, so look out.

But the MN Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener is more than adults playing silly games. On the serious side of things is the community children by the 100′s who also take part in the learning.

Professionals, like these MN Conservation Officers, teach various stations to instruct more about nature, hunting safety, and how to properly respect the outdoors.

Here, a local Conservation Officer assists a youth in properly fitting a tree stand safety harness to his body for a live demonstration.

But the learning was fun for the kids, too. The shooting duo of Aaron and Steve Gould put on a trick shooting performance showing the kids just how much skill and fun gun handling can be.

While always emphasizing safety, the brothers showed one of the many ways shooting can be fun.

They shot clay targets while doing push-ups.

Their antics typically involved shooting multiple targets. The kids really seemed to enjoy the performance.

But eventually Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton showed up and was most gracious to the folks in attendance.

He spent time talking about deer hunting and answering questions about the importance of hunting to this state.

Eventually the press conference got underway and media was present from throughout Minnesota, including several neighboring states.

Mark Johnson, Executive Director for the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association–one of the lead organizers of this event–took the stage to announce the special guests.

Tom Landwehr, Minnesota’s DNR Commissioner, took the stage to emphasize the importance of deer hunting in Minnesota.

Eventually Governor Dayton spoke and thanked all the volunteers who make this event possible.

A special group of local volunteers are shown here who the next morning would be taking media and other guests out to their carefully chosen deer stands to hopefully see some action.

Great food was catered in consisting of burgers and chili.

But really there was so much going on throughout the day. Here Todd Rost is down on the range shooting one of the big handguns that shot so sweet.

And Michelle again…what can I say. She test drove one of the new Polaris Rangers and the guys who gave her the keys never thought she would bring it back.

Indeed, another Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener is in the books. We’re told that next year we have to bring the trophy back and defend our coveted title of champs! I suppose so. Look out Fergus Falls, MN…looks like we’ll be coming back again with even more to prove next time around.

Filed under: Department of Natural Resources, Hunting, Organizations, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Media (TV/Newspaper/Radio) | Tagged: deer hunting, governor tim pawlenty, minnesota economy, MN Deer Hunting, MN Governor's Deer Huntinig Opener, winona minnesota | 1 Comment »

Take Your Daughter To Work Day

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Jim Braaten

How about take your daughter to the turkey blind, instead?

Last week was my chosen hunting period here in Minnesota for the spring wild turkey hunting season. In Minnesota, we must draw a permit for a selected 5–day hunting period to hunt turkeys. I’m going to be quite honest with you in saying the turkey hunting was largely unremarkable in terms of relating any success stories or having a great “what if” story.

Here, Elsie and her dad wait patiently for a big tom turkey to walk by the blind. Note the coordinating pink camo and Hello Kitty boots.

Yet, what will likely be the most precious memory in my mind was taking my almost 4–y/o daughter with me to the blind. She begged me to go turkey hunting. Moreover, when we finally had to leave the blind to go back home she cried because she wanted to stay longer.

Needless to say she is excited about the outdoors and starting to develop the passion just like her “old man.” In fact, this week all she can talk about is heading “up north” on Friday for the Minnesota Fishing Opener which begins on Saturday.

I’m convinced we need to start these kids early to instill in them a love of the outdoors. In an age where children are bombarded with fancy toys, high-definition television, fast-paced video games and the like…the outdoors is in a competition for young minds like no previous generation has ever experienced.

It certainly behooves those of us as outdoorsmen to do our part to ensure the next generation has the opportunity to experience all the wonders of nature. To this day some of my fondest memories were those moments spent as a youth doing outdoor related activities. Let’s not deprive our children of those same great memories by failing to involve them in the activities we so dearly cherish.

Todd Rost and Elsie pose for a picture outside the hunting blind.

I’ll be perfectly frank…taking a young child with a talkative, inquisitive personality to the turkey blind will likely not increase your chances for bagging game. That’s not the point. Unlike video games where a player can shoot a trophy animal every 5–10 minutes with some make-believe scenario…it’s important to show kids that REAL hunting is not all about killing.

Indeed, REAL hunting is about spending time (often with people you care deeply about) participating in an activity that should be as natural as anything else you could possibly do in life. Like it or not, kids tend to learn and develop who they will one day become based on watching those adults who make an impression on their lives. Again, I contend, if you leave a kid at home each time you go hunting or on a fishing trip…what sort of impression are you making?

If I don’t shoot another critter or catch another fish that would be perfectly fine so long as I am giving the kids in my life the opportunity to do the same. When you start living the hunt through the eyes of a youngster, you’ll quickly regain some of that invigorated excitement you once had as a youth learning about the outdoors.

Long before my daughter, Elsie, starts growing interested in boys…I want her first love to be deer, turkeys, walleyes, ducks, crappies, pheasants…well, I think you get the picture.

Filed under: Hunting, Outdoor Education | 7 Comments »

Minnesota’s Mentored Youth Wild Turkey Hunt Needs Your Help!!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Jim Braaten

Do you know a youth age 12 to 17 who yearns to be a “first” time wild turkey hunter here in Minnesota? Perhaps you know a youth who also wants to learn more about turkey hunting and is willing to attend a pre-hunt orientation session to start gaining these necessary skills? If so, have I got an exciting opportunity for some lucky kids.

BUT THE TIME TO ACT IS RIGHT NOW!

That’s right. Applications are currently being taken by the Minnesota DNR, but the deadline is less than a week away (application must be received by 2/13/12). To download the application and review the complete details, please link HERE.

This is the 10th consecutive year the Minnesota DNR has teamed up with the National Wild Turkey Federation to provide mentors for qualified youth who desire to experience this unique outdoor challenge. Over the years, more than 1,500 new wild turkey hunters have been successfully introduced to the outdoors thanks to volunteer adults who show the youth a safe, responsible experience out-of-doors.

A mentored youth turkey hunt is often the best way for first-time hunters to discover how to tag a tom.

To be eligible, a youth hunter must be the proper age on or before April 21; have a valid firearms safety certificate; and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please note the program is for first-time turkey hunters only. Any youth who has previously purchased or been selected by lottery for a Minnesota turkey license of any type is not eligible.

Most hunts will occur April 21-22, which is the first weekend of the regular wild turkey season. Nearly all youth will hunt on private land thanks to the generosity of private landowners and the NWTF volunteers who obtained permission.

Participants will be selected through a random lottery. Applications, maps and general information for the special youth wild turkey hunt are available online HERE.

Now for the important part. I have it on good authority that so far this year applications for this special hunt are way down—as much as 40 percent compared to last year, for various reasons. That means there’s a lot of willing, qualified mentors who could be missing an opportunity to make this program work unless we all take time to act now by encouraging a youth to get involved and to apply.

It’s worth noting that the average success rate for the mentored youth hunt in Minnesota is approximately 42 percent. That’s a full 10 percent higher than the regular hunter success rate. Why? Because these youth get paired up with some experienced, skilled hunters who typically do extensive scouting before the actual hunt. These volunteer adults know the importance of providing a positive experience, so not only do they dedicate their time, but often their best locations for the hunt, as well.

If you have additional questions about this great opportunity either post your question in the comments section below or contact Mike “Cold Front” Kurre at the DNR. Michael.Kurre@state.mn.us

Filed under: Department of Natural Resources, Events, Hunting, Organizations, Outdoor Education | Tagged: minnesota dnr, national wild turkey federation, turkey license | Comments Off

Hunters…Here’s Some Food For Thought

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jim Braaten

Is it possible what you eat—or better yet—don’t eat while out hunting making you more susceptible to be involved in a hunting accident? Seriously, it’s hard to sometimes admit, but most of us are not elite athletes when we traipse into the woods or walk along the slough. Indeed, many of us just don’t understand our bodies quite like that football player or cross-country runner.

One of the first magazine articles I wrote back in the mid-1980s touched on this very topic and I doubt much has really changed since then. At the time I was a senior at the University of Minnesota studying technical communications. On campus there was a professor who was considered a Farm Safety Specialist and he had just completed an exhaustive study on why farmers have work-related mishaps.

The topic intrigued me to the point I set up an interview with this professor to learn much more about his area of research. He provided me with copious amounts of data, but the crux of what he discovered was that farmers during the fall and spring busy seasons push themselves to get all their work done. They work long hours, they exert themselves sometimes beyond their capabilities, but most importantly they don’t always eat correctly.

I wish I could remember the professor’s name…but alas, it has been too many years now. Still, the emphasis of his findings was to stress that farming accidents occur at greater rates when the farmer (or victim) has lowered blood sugar levels. Skipping meals, eating empty foods lacking in nutrition, or just getting out of the routine all correlated with higher rates of incidents. In other words, poor (or lacking) blood sugar often meant the farmer took unnecessary chances and simply did not have good mental clarity in performing activities around dangerous equipment.

The professor knew where I was going with my inquiry. Would it be fair to postulate that such a conclusion could be attributed in some respect to why hunters have accidents? After all, many hunters keep pushing their bodies with long hours and heavy stress and we don’t always eat appropriately.

I took the good professor’s findings on farmers and visited the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources where they had thorough records on hunting accidents dating back several decades. I charted out when most of the accidents occurred and…”voilà” there seemed to be some similarity in “time of day” for when these incidents took place.

Now, granted…when you are working on a magazine article you simply don’t do the exhaustive research one would do if it was for a college thesis or some other intense research project. That simply wasn’t my intent at all. No, instead I wanted to show there could be some correlation for hunters with low blood sugar levels and a higher propensity to cause harm to self or others.

Bottom line on what was learned. The peak time for accidents—whether it be for farmers or for hunters—was typically mid-morning around 10am and mid-afternoon around 3pm. If a person was to monitor the blood sugar levels, this would also be about the same time things start to dip…assuming a normal breakfast and lunch was consumed.

What I would like to recommend all hunters consider is properly fueling the body. Eat a healthy breakfast. Take time for lunch. Stash a few healthy snacks in your pocket for those in-between times.

The point is your body needs the same good care as that elite athlete who is also pushing the physical limits of their body. In fact, as someone who likely isn’t as familiar with how their body reacts under stress, you might need it even more.

Keep a baggie in your pocket filled with trail mix. Stay hydrated drinking plenty of fluids. If you stay in the woods all day…fill a thermos with hot soup or chili. Not only does the food provide a warming feeling…but as we’ve learned, keeping those blood sugar levels in check could make you a safer, and certainly a more productive hunter functioning with greater mental clarity.

Tags: Hunting+Accident, Blood+Sugar+Level

Filed under: Hunting, Outdoor Education, Safety | 2 Comments »

Insight On The 2011 Midwest Fishing & Hunting Blogger Summit

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Jim Braaten

Perhaps a few of you have seen my tweets promoting the Midwest Fishing & Hunting Blogger Summit this summer. No doubt if you have you’ve asked yourself…what the heck is this all about. Darn good question!

Let me give you a little background information on what is being planned. But first, a disclaimer of sorts because many of the details are still being finalized and are subject to some slight changes prior to July.

First, a little background information.

Last year I attended a handful of corporate sponsored blogger events and found them to be extremely valuable. Of course, the sponsor of the event was hoping we would all walk away from the various events and talk endlessly about their products or the company. To some extent most of us bloggers did that…but to be very honest the biggest value I took from each event was found in networking and getting to know other bloggers on a personal level. The new friendships and professional connections have proven to be simply priceless to me.

After attending a few of these I was talking to Michelle Scheuermann, Director of Communications for the Sportsman Channel, and I explained to her we need to organize something like this available to all bloggers—not just those invited to attend special events. It’s about time bloggers get together to finally put a face to a name, try to improve our craft with some education and networking, but above all enjoy a long weekend of fun.

Well, the idea has now percolated in both Michelle’s and my mind for several months until we finally decided to act. What you will see us promoting over the next few weeks is meant to be a first-step towards something that we hope will expand and blossom over the years to come.

So, exactly what are we attempting to do? We’re working out the details for a fun weekend (July 22–24, 2011) at one of Minnesota’s top family-oriented resorts. Obviously, our goal is to get interested fishing & hunting bloggers to attend to accomplish several goals. A few of these goals would be:

Establish new friendships for networking
Attend craft improvement sessions specifically geared towards blogging
Learn about new hunting/fishing related topics (from which bloggers can produce future blog content)
Attempting to get celebrity speakers for interviewing sessions
Company officials will be on hand for product testing/demonstrations/training
A take home “SWAG Bag” of goodies will be provided to each blogger for at-home product testing/reviews
Not to mention, there will be opportunities (with or without local guides) for fishing on one of Minnesota’s top walleye lakes
Between sessions an opportunity to share quality, relaxing time with the family (if the blogger chooses to bring them)

Okay, here’s perhaps the best part of this. We’re attempting to set up this entire blogger summit at little or no expense to the blogger, except for typical group lodging costs (which will be explained later in the registration materials). Oh, there might be some commitment costs to ensure people who register are serious about showing up, but with early registration (and enough corporate sponsorship) we plan to rebate back all money collected from the blogger for summit registration.

The bottom line is we hope all fishing and hunting bloggers will seriously give thought to being part of this exciting event as you contemplate your summer plans.

Okay, I know we are calling this the “MIDWEST” Fishing and Hunting Bloggers Summit…but the fact is ANY blogger with an interest in the hook and bullet sports is welcome no matter where you happen to live. This first go-around we didn’t want people making major financial commitments to fly in from distant places just to attend. Still, that decision is entirely yours as everyone is welcome.

Finally, watch the website www.MidwestBloggers.org over the coming weeks as much more information will be announced pertaining to the event. In fact, there will be a new logo, much more information on the schedule, as well as a registration form to reserve your spot on the attendance roster. The main purpose for promoting and posting this early is to ensure people have adequate time to plan their attendance this summer.

I also want to emphasize that although this event is geared toward the blogger we know that many will only be able to attend if the trip can be simultaneously used for a family vacation. We understand that. Rest assured, this resort has so much going on with the lake, indoor/outdoor pools, restaurants, and activities that there will be plenty to occupy your family’s time while you are engaged in blogger summit activities.

So, have I peaked an interest yet? I hope so. For additional information on how this summit will benefit you as a blogger or possibly as a corporate sponsor, please feel free to contact either: Michelle Scheuermann or Jim Braaten for more details. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Plus, we are also looking for any volunteers with a desire to help out.

Tags: Midwest+Fishing+Hunting+Bloggers, Hunting+Blogger+Summit, Fishing+Blogger+Summit, Midwest+Bloggers

Filed under: Fishing, Hunting, Outdoor Education, Weblogs | 4 Comments »

2010 Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Jim Braaten

A few people have recently asked me just what exactly is the Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener (GDHO). Good question. What started out as an attempt by Governor Tim Pawlenty back in 2003 to celebrate the state’s deer hunting heritage has morphed into many different things as it is now celebrated today. In fact, you could say the event continues to grow each year and is a definite work in progress. And that’s the good news.

Still, the event has much to accomplish in terms of getting the word out so citizens throughout the state—both hunters and non-hunters alike—can truly appreciate the heritage, as well as the vital economic impact deer hunting plays in Minnesota.

Case in point: The companion sportsman celebration headed by our state’s executive-in-chief is the Minnesota Fishing Opener. Want to learn more about that event, check out the website HERE. It’s not quite so easy to learn about the GDHO, but it should be. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and the Minnesota Tourism need to have a similar website dedicated to showcasing this wonderful event.

I should disclose that when it pertains to the GDHO I have a slightly different perspective than most. Back in 2006 I had the distinct pleasure of being Governor Tim Pawlenty’s hunting guide as he celebrated the 4^th annual event deer hunting on my farm. You can read more about that experience HERE.

So, what should you know about how Minnesota annually celebrates its deer hunting heritage as an official event? How about I show you in pictures along with some commentary.

Governor Tim Pawlenty is not only the keynote celebrity present at this event, but he also commands a great deal of media attention.

Here Gov. Pawlenty was getting set-up for his weekly radio program broadcast on WCCO-AM Radio out of the Twin Cities.

Drawing from the Governor's celebrity status the event is given media attention by outlets throughout the upper Midwest.

Essentially, having the Governor of Minnesota at the event ensures the message about the important role hunting plays to the state gets heard in all corners of the state.

While portions of the event are for credentialed personnel, with each passing year it seems a growing percentage of the events are open to the public for their participation.

This year I was really impressed to see the outreach of the event to area school children. Three different schools in the Little Falls, MN area participated with almost 250 children learning various facets of outdoors education.

For instance, here was a local trapper who talked about furs and the importance the fur industry is to our state.

His presentation showed the school kids how developing an appreciation for the outdoors can extend beyond deer hunting. The children learned some quick fur lessons and got plenty of hands-on discovery to encourage a deeper interest in our state's wildlife populations.

In many ways, trapping and hunting go hand-in-hand with the each other as part of a wildlife manager's tools to help control wild populations.

Other areas of education for the school children involved brief learning opportunities about outdoor safety.

To accomplish this, conservation officers from throughout the state gave short talks about the importance of playing safe in the outdoors.

Did you know more hunting accidents involve falls from trees rather than someone accidentally pulling the trigger? It's true...and for many of the children they got a first-hand opportunity to see how climbing a tree is safely accomplished.

The children also get to see the conservation officer as a teacher, and not just someone who writes citations for violating game laws.

Yes, the Minnesota Governor's Deer Hunting Opener is much more than a fancy banquet with a litany of speakers promoting the virtues of deer hunting. The event is also about sharing and further developing our hunting passions with the next generation of hunters.

Whether it is introducing children to archery or some other fun element of the outdoors, the GDHO has constantly been evolving over the years to enlighten and entertain people of all ages.

The GDHO is also a great reminder how not everyone plays by the rules. Here the Wall of Shame trailer has on display some of the more notorious wildlife violations showing the resources that were stolen from all of us by folks who choose not to play fair.

On display is the confiscated property taken away from criminals, not honest law abiding hunters. In Minnesota if you break the rules you likely will get caught.

Here is a prime example of how a thief got caught during the fall of 2009. This world class 8-point buck made international news during the past year.

The Minnesota DNR worked long and hard to make this pinch and the trophy rack now serves as an example of how wildlife can be an attractive target to thieves looking to exploit trophy-sized game animals.

Here's another picture of that same rack being held by my friend, Todd. Without seeing it in person it's just hard to get a full appreciation for the rack's massive size.

The GDHO also celebrates famous deer taken legally by Minnesota's hunters. In this picture is the 32-point Minnesota record-class buck taken in Camp Ripley during the fall of 2009.

Of course, what's an event without a banquet serving good food and entertainment.

This year actors from the popular Deer Camp The Musical performed a comedic show to help poke fun at our deer hunting culture.

Other speakers included Minnesota football great--well, he might be a legend in a few minds--Bob Lurtsema. Not exactly sure why Lurtsema was part of the event other than to add more celebrity to the happenings. Just like Gov. Pawlenty, celebrities like Lurtsema, as well as other dignitaries were paired with hosts who served as guides for the next morning's deer hunt.

We were all hoping T-Paw would use this opportunity to announce a run in 2012 for the Whitehouse, but our hopes were dashed as he stuck to the business at hand--deer hunting.

Gov. Pawlenty never misses an opportunity to spend time with kids. Here he signs a cap for a youth while briefly discussing her passion for the outdoors.

Here's T-Paw with my hunting buddy, Todd Rost. I put this in here for no particular reason other than Todd now owes me lunch the next time we go out. HaHa!!

In closing, this was Governor Tim Pawlenty’s 8^th and final GDHO as a new governor gets sworn in next January. The presumptive Governor-elect, Mark Dayton, has gone on record stating he plans to continue this great GDHO tradition during his term.

As Governor Pawlenty stated at his final banquet—(in Minnesota) We live here, we hunt here, this is our legacy. Pass on the torch to the next generation by passing on the love of hunting.

Indeed, the underlying purpose for the GDHO celebration is to underscore the important role deer hunting plays to the culture of those who live to enjoy Minnesota’s outdoors.

Filed under: Department of Natural Resources, Events, Hunting, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Media (TV/Newspaper/Radio) | Tagged: Minnesota Governor's Deer Opener | Comments Off

Minnesota’s Youth Waterfowl Day; A Short Photo Essay

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Jim Braaten

This past Saturday Minnesota held its annual Youth Waterfowl Hunt where hunters ages 15 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult, get a chance to hunt for free before the regular waterfowl season opens. Although I was unable to participate, my good friend, Todd Rost of Faribault, took his two daughters out to share in the experience.

As Todd related to me, no ducks were shot on this particular day…but many different waterfowl species were observed. The entire experience was about father and grandfather emphasizing gun safety, practicing duck/goose calling, as well as showcasing the various techniques used in decoying to become a successful waterfowl hunter. As you can imagine, the girls had a lot of fun and seemed to enjoy the experience. After all…isn’t that what getting kids outdoors really should be all about?

Photo Credit (All Images): Todd Rost

Tags: Minnesota+Youth+Waterfowl, Hunter+Education

Filed under: Hunting, Outdoor Education | Comments Off

The Genesis Of My Outdoors Writing Career

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Jim Braaten

A few weeks ago the family was doing a massive cleaning in one of our sheds when my wife held up a magazine and asked “Do you want this?” As I glanced her way my heart skipped a few beats then I sternly responded, “Hell YES I want that magazine! I didn’t even know I still had a copy of it.”

What my wife of five years did not realize was that she held a very important piece of my personal history in her hands. In fact, inside that magazine was the very first outdoors article I ever got published—an article dating back to August of 1986. Yup, it was that article that ignited the fire to further pursue a career as an outdoors communicator.

Actually, I was a junior in college at the University of Minnesota during the spring quarter back in 1986. I was studying Technical Communications, but one of the fun classes I chose to take was called Writing For Publication. It was a senior-level class and I quickly discovered after day one that Professor Sperbeck had some mighty high expectations for his students. Quite honestly, he broke the news to us this way…THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL PASS HIS CLASS IS TO GET PUBLISHED IN A NEWSPAPER AND A MAGAZINE.

Wow! Back in those days a college quarter usually lasted about 12 weeks and that was a pretty high order. I remember attending a lecture given by a visiting professor on trends in agricultural economics. I reported on the talk and submitted that to a daily newspaper near my home-town. Published! One down and one more to go.

I thought long and hard about what topic to write a magazine article on. My passion had always been with the outdoors, so I decided to give it a try with the Minnesota Sportsman magazine. Now, the typical protocol for writing an article for magazine publication is to query the editor and determine his/her interest on a particular topic. Obviously, with the time being a factor for a school project I had no luxury to query and wait for a response. So, instead, I just wrote the article to the best of my ability and mailed the manuscript package off (complete with accompanying photos and side-bar information) to the editor.

My fingers were crossed and I probably said a few prayers because a lot was at stake with my grade.

Lo and behold a few weeks later I received a letter from then editor, Chuck Petrie, informing me that he liked the article and it would be published that fall of 1986. In other words, that letter along with my manuscript got turned in to the professor to fulfill my course requirements.

I must say the first times you get published there is no greater feeling in the world. Sure, you sense a certain satisfaction of achievement, but for me it also stoked my desire to keep the ball rolling, so to speak. I figured if I could get published in a magazine, I could do other exciting things like work in radio or write regular newspaper columns, etc. Honestly, there is nothing like the sweet taste of success to give one the confidence to continue achieving.

By the time I had finished my senior year at the University I decided I owed it to myself to discover where I could go with my writing career. My next step was to take the bold action of writing to Ron Schara, who was then the outdoors columnist at the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper. In a letter I explained to Ron who I was and how I had admired his talents and achievements in this outdoors communication profession. Several months went by and I never heard a response back. I pretty much had given up hope…when I received a call one evening from Ron indicating he might have some work for a young writer such as me.

After I hung up the phone I let out a yell that rivaled the level of excitement I produced upon locating my very first deer. Again, it appeared doors were opening and my outdoors writing career was about to get a big boost.

During the next several years I worked with Ron on various research projects plus for about two years worked for an ad agency out of Fargo writing his radio scripts for a daily program called Minnesota Outdoors. One thing led to another and eventually I found myself writing my own scripts for a radio program I personally produced called The Southeastern Minnesota Outdoor Scene.

Okay, I could go on, but I’m not going to bore you with all the details about my outdoors communicating career during the past 24 years. Suffice it to say I’ve learned a great deal about what it takes to succeed in this business (and quite honestly I view myself as still working hard TRYING to achieve that sometimes elusive feeling of success). But here’s a few thoughts that might be helpful, particularly to newcomers in the outdoors writing field:

Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you…if you want something bad enough you need to find a way to open doors and get it done.
Find a mentor. The guidance they will provide to you will prove valuable in ways you might never even expect.
Be honest in your reporting and don’t try to be something other than who you are. If not, eventually people will see through you and your cover (reputation) will be blown.
Ideally write about those topics you enjoy so much the task hardly seems like work. I find that’s when I usually give something my best effort because my passion naturally shows through.
Take chances. Put aside any fears of failure. As one of my voice-over acting coaches used to tell me…”Jim, you will never outperform your own self-image.” If you believe you can do it…there’s probably nothing that will stop you from reaching that goal.
Be prepared to succeed. Use each personal achievement as momentum to take you to a higher level.
If you find yourself ready to give up…try opening a different door (opportunity). I’m a firm believer that those folks in life who understand the great value of persistence will ultimately always find success and happiness.

In closing, I figured after writing this blog for six years it was important for readers to finally learn about my humble beginnings as an outdoors writer. I can honestly say, that $160 check I received for my first magazine article truly opened my eyes for what direction I wanted my post-college career to go. And although I have never been a full-time outdoors communicator, the passion for this profession continues to grow stronger with each passing year.

Tags: magazine+writing, first+article+published, outdoors+writing

Filed under: Department of Natural Resources, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Media (TV/Newspaper/Radio) | Comments Off

Warning: Time For Daddy To Do A Little Bragging

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Jim Braaten

I want to share a cute little story with you that involves my daughter, Elsie. Elsie is about 26 months old now but at times I swear her intellect is pushing that of a teenager. While many kids her age might have a vocabulary of a few dozen words…Elsie’s command of the English language is more like 3–400 words. Seriously, I’m not joking when I say the kid is wise well beyond the short life she has already lived.

As you can imagine any child of mine is going to grow up with a heavy influence of the outdoors pervading their life, and Elsie has certainly been no exception. When given the opportunity I spend time teaching her to identify animals such as — deer, bear, raccoons, pheasants, moose, etc. But when the topic involves fish, well…that can be a whole different ball game. To many kids her age I would think a fish is just a fish. Boy, did I learn a big lesson and that is DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE ABILITY OF A CHILD TO LEARN. No matter what age they happen to be.

My wife and I agree that one of the big reasons Elsie appears to be advanced on her developmental charts is because from day one we talked to her like a regular person — “baby talk,” so to speak, was not allowed. She can recite most of her alphabet with minimal assistance, she can occasionally count to ten, she knows all of her colors in a box of Crayola 24s…and I could go on like any proud father would.

But this summer she truly amazed me after a certain family fishing experience in Northern Minnesota. Her attention span for fishing was so short (about 30 seconds) we really didn’t do anything to the extent where she reeled in her first fish. Oh, that day is still coming someday soon. But she did “help” other family members as we brought an occasional walleye into the boat. She quickly developed her version of “walleye fever” as she patiently sat near the livewell watching the fish swim and swim.

She was “hooked,” figuratively speaking. During the rest of our vacation she became so fixated on walleye. We didn’t just go fishing…nope, we were fishing for walleye.

Okay, this is all fine and dandy, but as I was paying the bill at the resort office Elsie was tugging on my leg so I looked down. Lo and behold was a poster showing the Fishes of Minnesota produced my the Minnesota DNR. It was taped under the office counter and directly at Elsie’s eye level.

Elsie was trying to get my attention because she had picked out on the poster (I’ve circled in red) the fish species that happens to be a walleye. To my amazement was this barely two-year old girl correctly identifying a fish species on a poster containing over 50 uniquely different fish.

At first I disregarded it as a lucky guess on her part. But several weeks have passed since this incident and it still amazes me how out of all those fish she was pointing at the correct one for what she was telling me. I would have just assumed that a child her age would call any one of those fish a walleye…or a bass, etc.

I guess the point I want to most emphasize by all of this is not that my child is developing into an amazing intellect. That’s not it at all. Instead, I point this out because her father (me) has learned some important lessons from the outdoor teaching experience, namely:

Never underestimate the ability of a child to comprehend what you have to teach them about the outdoors.
Be persistent in your teaching (if I’m looking at a magazine with a fish or game animal I ask her to identify it for me—she thinks it’s a fun game and it affords me a never-ending teaching opportunity).
Start early developing the child’s interest in the outdoors.
Be patient and allow them to learn at their own speed. Don’t try to push or force their progress.
Shower them with kudos when they get things correct. It fosters a deeper desire to continue learning.

You know with all the success I’ve had with young Elsie this summer…next year I’ve been thinking of introducing her to musky fishing, but my wife thinks this might be a bit premature for a 3–year old. Perhaps my wife is right, I’m just not so sure her Barbie Doll fishing pole could withstand the rigors of landing such a sharp-toothed giant, anyway. We’ll see.

Tags: Teaching+kids+outdoors

Filed under: Fishing, Outdoor Education | 1 Comment »

Minnesota Deer Hunters Assn Forkhorn Camp To Be Featured On Versus

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Jim Braaten

Be sure to check this out. These youth Forkhorn Camps run by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association are second to none. If you have a young boy or girl into the outdoors I would highly recommend this youth camp…and now you can check it out on TV:

MDHA Forkhorn Camp to be Featured on the North American Hunter Show

The Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement Summer Forkhorn Camp will be featured on TV this week!!!

The North American Hunter television did a show on a young girl who attended Forkhorn Camp to earn her firearms safety and then traveled to Illinois on her first hunt. The show was filmed at last years camp.

The North American Hunter show airs on the Versus Channel:

Friday (8/13) at noon (Central Time)
Sunday (8/15) at 10:30 a.m. (Central Time)

Be sure to tune in!

Filed under: Organizations, Outdoor Education | Tagged: youth hunting training | 1 Comment »

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