Browsing for a meal

The WOW camera is set up overlooking a DNR Wildlife managed food plot on Hubbel Pond WMA in Becker County. The WMA consists of 3,516.18 acres of gently rolling northern hardwood forest and prairie uplands surrounding the 560-acre Hubbel Pond marsh. Numerous wetlands, the Otter Tail River, a designated trout lake, and miles of Hunter Walking Trails (HWT) help make this WMA located 11 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes extremely popular with the public.

Wildlife management areas (WMAs) are part of Minnesota's outdoor recreation system and are established to protect those lands and waters that have a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing, and other compatible recreational uses. They are the backbone to DNR's wildlife management efforts in Minnesota and are key to 1) protecting wildlife habitat for future generations, 2) providing citizens with opportunities for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching, and 3) promoting important wildlife-based tourism in the state.

This 2-acre wildlife food plot was planted in May, half of it to corn and the other half to beans. A cover crop consisting of a five species mix of brassica, turnips, radish, and rapeseed was interseeded into the beans on August 1. The cover crop, besides being a great fall food source for deer, turkey, bear, and other wildlife; helps build soil carbon and organic matter, breaks up soil compaction, and provides natural weed suppression to minimize herbicide use.

We are excited to see what critters utilize the food plot as summer turns to fall.

The mighty Mississippi River begins its winding journey to the Gulf of Mexico as a mere 18-foot wide knee-deep river in Itasca State Park. From here the river flows north to Bemidji, where it turns east, and then south near Grand Rapids. It will flow a total of 694 miles before working its way out of Minnesota.

Within the park, people enjoy walking or floating on inner tubes the first half mile of the river, which meanders at a slow 1.2 miles per hour during the warm summer months. In the winter, you can still see the water flowing over the rocks, as warmer spring water keeps the area ice free.

Taking your picture next to the iconic headwaters post is a must when you visit the park! The historic marker dates back to the 1930s, and indicates the Mississippi River's total mileage at 2,552 miles. Since then the river's course has been shortened and altered by flooding and channeling. Every summer canoeists leave Lake Itasca to begin their river adventures, with hopes of reaching the Gulf of Mexico over 2,318 miles away.

Visitors also enjoy wading across the shallow 18-inch deep water, crossing from the east side to the west side, where a rock dam indicates the end of Lake Itasca and the beginning of this mighty river.

The river's channel appears much as it did when Henry Rowe Schoolcraft was led to the source by Ojibwe guide Ozawindib in 1832. Water ripples across a sandy gravel bottom through a channel lined with cattails, tamarack trees, and sedge. Wildflowers bloom throughout the summer, including the tiny blossoms of sweet bedstraw, the pinkish-purple clusters of Joe-Pye weed, and the orange trumpet-shaped flowers of Spotted-touch-me-not. A variety of birds such as warblers, kingfishers, and waterfowl can be seen and heard as you follow a wooden boardwalk along the first section of the river.

This webcam gives you a live view of Upper Red Lake from the top of the 100-foot high fire tower located in the South Unit of Big Bog State Recreation Area. Red Lake is the largest freshwater lake fully contained within the boundaries of a single state in the entire United States, and is known for its Red Lake walleye and trophy Northern pike.

Waskish was one of the first district ranger locations developed in the 1920s. This site was chosen because of its accessibility to a state highway, its elevated land and its unrestricted view in all directions.

Built in 1937, this fire tower was originally located at the Pine Island forestry station in Koochiching County, and was built to be identical to a previous tower located on the same site.

Many things have changed over the last 100 years, but not the view from the top of the tower! It still offers an amazing, unrestricted view of Upper Red Lake and a portion of the 500-square mile Big Bog.