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

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Well, it appears so.

With a $750 price tag, the Shimano Stella Spinning Reel will not be found in the arsenal of every angler.

Now, keep in mind you’re reading this from a guy who once spent $129.99 for a spinning reel that was on sale and I thought that was an extreme extravagance.   I remember walking from the store feeling a bit guilty and second-guessing the purchase.   Even at that price I sure as heck did not tell my wife how much I just spent.

And apparently I’m not alone.   In reading over the few comments shown on the Shimano Stella reel, I noticed 3 out of 5 purchasers commenting made mention of their wife.  One had to have his wife revive him with smelling salts, another acknowledged not telling his wife the actual cost and a final person stated his wife eventually saw the price at the Cabela’s reel counter, so he finally got busted.

In fact, I found it somewhat amusing how this last guy not only disclosed the price to his wife by accident…but somehow found a way to purchase three more for a total of four luxury reels.   Yes, four spinning reels each costing more than all the fishing reels I’ve purchased combined.

Agreed, maybe I’m just out of touch.   Heck, shooters have their fine shotguns sold at ridiculous prices.   Bowhunters have their high-priced bows.   So, why not anglers with some state-of-the-art high-tech equipment with a price tag to reflect it?

I’d like to hear what you think.   Would you ever purchase a spinning reel costing $750?   If not, just what is the upper limit on how much would you spend on a reel to enhance your angling experience?   Does it take this sort of high-buck equipment to bring out the best angler you can be?   Please comment below.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Chances are good you'll never fish out of an ice shanty that looks like a robot...but here's proof you could.

The Art Shanty Project is a four-week long art exhibition (ending today) and you can learn more about it HERE.   Essentially it is “an artist driven temporary community exploring the ways in which unregulated public spaces can be used as new and challenging artistic environments to expand notions of what art can be done.”

Okay, that is the official explanation taken from the art group’s literature.   After seeing first-hand this interesting display of structures, I’d say it slightly pokes fun at those of us who erect structures on a frozen lake in search of fish…but more importantly it pokes fun of those of us who recreate in the frozen tundra where the lakes only stay open maybe eight months each year—if we’re lucky.

A man (or woman) has to do something to pass the time…so, why not build a temporary home on a frozen lake.

Whatever the case, check out my complete gallery of pictures showing a wide artistic display of what your next ice fishing shack could look like if you feel artsy.   Indeed, these structures focus much more on fashion than they do on piscatorial pursuit function.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

One of the keystone elements of the event is the Hero Holes tent which featured live video conferencing with service members stationed overseas.   Inside this tent families could sit and ice fish while chatting with their loved one half-way across the world.   As you can imagine, making the connection from the middle of a Minnesota lake presents some unique challenges and it didn’t always work as planned, but while I checked in a mother and young son were able to connect with their loved one stationed in the Middle East.

A mother and her son ice fish while videoconferencing with their loved one stationed overseas.

The event was a great opportunity for citizens to come out and show their support for the troops.   In fact, I parked my truck and struck up a conversation with Tim Watts, founder of the group $20 For The Troops.   He was at the event mostly for videography as one of the shows he produces can be found on a local community cable TV channel.

Technology allows this soldier to communicate with loved ones from the middle of a Minnesota lake.

Throughout the afternoon I witnessed great camaraderie among those attending wearing the uniform and average citizens out for a fun-filled afternoon activity on a warm winter day.

Yet, there was another big component to the ice fishing event that isn’t obvious in the name.   It was also the goal of the organizers to reach out to youth—particularly inner city kids who don’t often get to experience the outdoors in this way.   Here, there were adults available to mentor kids and show them how to begin a lifetime fascination with ice fishing.

All in all it was a great afternoon spent on a frozen Minnesota lake.   Given the warm weather we’ve been experiencing most of the winter, it was a bit touch and go whether the event could be held.   But several days ago the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office did some testing and determined the ice thickness was adequate (averaging 14.5”) and uniform so the event could go on as planned.

What follows are some random pictures showing activities from the day.   Hope you enjoy and get a better feel for what happened at the event.

Over 350 ice anglers pre-registered for the event with many same-day walk-up registrants.

Great to see youth being mentored and introduced to new things outdoors.

Even though it was near perfect conditions for on ice angling, some chose to use their shelters.

Others just toughed it out waiting for the winning catch.

Many vendors and supporting businesses were on display to make the event more exciting.

The weighing station was one of the more exciting locations during the day.

Here, Mike "Cold Front" Kurre from the MN DNR and KFAN Outdoors Radio interviews a youth who just registered his hopeful fish.

Early on the leader board still showed plenty of opportunity to win something big.

Lots of prizes were on display which encouraged angler success.

This angler used a tip-up so he could participate in the competition and better socialize.

Seriously, what event here in the Northland would be complete without a minnow race?

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Of course, the enthusiasm quickly waned once we arrived at the destination.

After expensive plane tickets, renting cars, taking time off work just to enable the trip to happen…we had finally arrived at a broken down motel that just so happened to have a fancy name and a webmaster who tended to stretch the truth.   The upshot was we had invested our entire summer vacation plans into a destination that deeply disappointed all of us.

Long story short — we did not spend a single night at the place and eventually got better accommodations at a suitable property after someone had cancelled out during the last minute.

The point I’m trying to underscore is be careful when planning your next big escape to the outdoors.   Here in Minnesota we are blessed with a plethora of resorts, lodges, etc. to accommodate just about everyone’s summer vacation needs.   Some prefer it rustic and inexpensive…other folks like at least a few basic amenities while on vacation.   Yet, others want luxury accommodations nestled along some secluded northern lake.

Not every vacation destination offers idyllic views like this.

It has been my experience the Internet can fool a person as much as it can help out while choosing the right destination property.   So many times I have seen fancy pictures splattered all over a website only to learn upon arrival how most of them were taken in the main lodge or office.   Then when you go to the cabins you find them somewhat less than what you had envisioned for your 7–day stay.

We are certainly in a time of the year when plans are being made for summer travel.   Typically, folks rely on past experiences or friend recommendations for some guidance on where to go…but this is not always possible.   Even some of the sportsman shows which display these destinations can be confusing and misleading.

I wish I could tell you a foolproof way to vet these destinations to avoid surprises.   In most cases, a little careful checking can go a long way.   But the truth is there are times when a person must play the odds and keep fingers crossed.   Summer vacations can be a major investment in both time and money.   New, previously unexplored adventures can be exciting…but they also can be wrought with many factors faced by the unknown.

Let’s hear some of your tricks and/or tips on how to book destination vacations that might be off the beaten path or outside the radar of Internet rating services, like tripadvisor.com   Also, if you have a horror story similar to our adventure to Colorado, let’s hear it.   It’s always nice to discover a person isn’t alone when it comes to bad travel experiences.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Smith Abrasives is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of natural Arkansas stones, as well as a full line of abrasive products to keep any edge sharp.   The company, founded by Richard Smith’s Great-Grandfather over 125 years ago, has long provided sportsmen with quality maintenance products for honing a perfect edge to their outdoor equipment.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

To begin, we are three years into the Sands Convention Center experience and I would have to say it’s getting better each year.   While I still yearn for the days back when the show was hosted largely in one main room with aisles long and predictable, I have to say SHOT has done nearly everything possible to make navigating this show floor an easier experience.   Still not perfect, but now with a little past experience and tools such as the smartphone SHOT Show app, navigation has dramatically improved to check out all 1,600 exhibits.

Now, if you’re looking for me to talk about what’s new in this blog post…I’m sorry to disappoint.   Instead, I want to point you to a few other sites that do a wonderful job fleshing out many of the new products on display.   The first site is put together by a friend and fellow blogging colleague, Richard Johnson, over at Guns Holsters and Gear.   His pro staff does such a good job of reporting on many the new product details you deserve to check it out.

Another good source of SHOT Show information is available in video format from the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s new Media Center.   Currently they have about 100 short two minute or less videos showcasing news both from the recent Archery Trade Association show as well as SHOT.   Click on the graphic to check it out.

One final source for good 2012 SHOT Show information is Field and Stream magazine’s online coverage that can be found HERE.

Some might ask why I don’t provide a rundown of new products on this blog.   It’s a good question.   During previous SHOT Shows I have certainly dedicated blog space within these pages to talking about the products—the new, the interesting and the strange.   Truth is I don’t go to SHOT these days with the primary objective of seeing (and reporting) on what is new in the industry.

There was a time earlier in my career when writing about such aspects of the show was important.   As I’ve matured, I suppose it could be said it takes more innovation to impress me.   After all, how many ways can you tweak a flashlight and still be excited about it after watching product development for two decades.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, new products still excite me.   But over the years I’ve learned the SHOT Show for me is much more about making connections and networking than it is observing everything new on display.   Quite honestly, I don’t know how anyone within this industry can fail to find great benefit by attending the trade show.   It is the keynote event within the outdoors and shooting industry.

Today, I’d like to wrap up this post by showing some iPhone pictures snapped at this year’s SHOT.   Here’s hoping they’ll give you a better sense of what it must be like to walk the busy show floor and to take in the unique experience:

One of the cool products I did see at SHOT. Plastic tree stump ground blind marketed by NatureBlinds.com

Many of us walk by this exhibit drooling and dreaming of winning the lottery.

Many exhibits feature celebrity autograph sessions. Here, Lynn Swann, HOF NFL football player greets show attendees for Colt.

Even the SHOT Press Room was a busy place this year with 2,400+ media in attendance covering the show.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Incidentally, the sled Dick is sitting on he made when he was a kid and continues to use to this day.   Same goes for the dark handled jiggle stick that he purchased from Warner Hardware in Minneapolis circa 1940.   Ice fishing holds lots of nostalgia and fun for the Rost Family.   Dick turns 78 years old next month and has only missed one ice fishing season during the past 66 years — that was back in 1956 when he was serving in the Navy.

Enjoy the pictures above the ice.

And now for a different kind of fishing using some cold water diving equipment.   Todd and his buddy are both experienced dive rescue crew members with certification to perform under ice rescues.   Wait ‘till you see what they caught (no bodies this time).

Indeed, they discovered one sunken log that obviously at one time or another has caused many a fisherman to curse (note the assorted jigs retrieved) as well as a hub cap from a Cadillac.   How that found its way into the lake is anyone’s guess.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

One such encounter I was reminded of happened about four years ago while sitting in Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Vegas.   The guy sitting next to me struck up a conversation and we verbally exchanged our purpose for being in town.   Of course, mine was for SHOT, but the guy sitting next to me had just wrapped up a stint at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show that concluded just as SHOT was beginning.

We chit chatted for awhile, and eventually he pushed his business card to me.   Turned out he was the director of standards for some big imaging industry association.   He then looked at my simple little flip phone that I had placed on the bar and proclaimed… “you just wait…in a few years the phone you carry will be all the camera you’ll need.”   I protested and said, “no way…this thing takes mediocre images, at best.   There’s no way a camera phone will ever rival the quality of my DSLR equipment back home.”   His final response was… “you’ll see…technology is quickly advancing in that area.”

Damn, if he wasn’t right.   I have a small fortune in photography equipment locked in my safe at home…but these days the camera that gets used the most is the one I have with me at all times.

My daughter, Elsie, as she joined me many mornings this past fall running the trapline.

My old flip phone had a 1.2 megapixel resolution.   My old BlackBerry had a camera approximately 3.2 megapixels.   And now my current iPhone4 has about 5 megapixels, but the newest iPhone4S supposedly comes in about 8 megapixels.   Now, please understand I realize a person can’t judge a camera’s true quality just by higher megapixels, it’s more complicated than that.   Yet, when you look at the quality coming from most modern smart phones it makes you wonder if you really need a separate camera these days.

To read more on the subject, check out Scott Bourne’s blog post yesterday as he questions if compact cameras will survive.

All of this is important to sportsmen because many of us like to carry a small camera with us when we head outdoors.   Furthermore, although some like to leave their phones at home for the peace and quiet…I’m guessing more and more sportsmen also like the security of having a phone with them whether in the woods or on some lake.

The point I’m trying to make is it’s time we take a closer look at our phones and consider their capability as a photographic tool.   If you’re in the market for a new phone…well, it might be worth spending $100 more for a phone featuring better photographic qualities to capture all those precious memories outdoors.

Deer hunters gather after the morning hunt.

Our cell phones are almost always close by and ready to use in a moment’s notice.   That can’t always be said about a camera that may have been forgotten back at the cabin or in the truck when you need it most.

Perhaps my old drinking buddy during that one particular night was correct.   For many people that “someday” has already arrived and their phone happens to be all the camera they need.   Technology just continues to amaze me as products keep getting better and better.   I’ve said it before…we are living during some exciting times as we watch the world evolve so quickly.

Trapper Todd shows a set that previously held a coyote.

A coyote that got fooled by a dirt hole set.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Aside from seeing all the great products at the tradeshow, one of the other important elements of SHOT is winding down after a long, productive day.   Thankfully, Las Vegas has a multitude of great dining and lounging experiences to finish out the perfect day.

If you have any additional suggestions on other great places to try out, please leave them in the comments section below.   Otherwise, enjoy the list.

Top Las Vegas Buffets