It's That Time Again

The opening of the Minnesota Deer Firearms Season started on Saturday November 6th. It's like a state holiday here on Oak Point, second only to the Fishing Opener. Lots of hunters took to the woods Saturday morning. I have never seen more hunters out after the local deer herd. Oak Point is located entirely in Zone 197 where the season runs until Sunday November 21. I heard many success stories. Most of the larger parties had at least one successful hunter. I heard of one party that had three deer to their credit.

I went hunting myself for the first time in about 15 years. I was not successful myself, or should I say "not yet". I still have plenty of time. I had to borrow a rifle, buy some new blaze orange clothing, build a deer stand and bake some oatmeal cookies. I even had to find my hunting knife and sharpen it up. I had the help of my grandson Aaron, who visited us during the long MEA weekend, building the deer stand. Maybe sometime in the future we can get him up here for some hunting. It did feel strange sitting in the deer stand and listing to the Loons doings their musical serenade.

The weather we had was just great. We had wake up weather in the low 30's. Saturday we had a high in the high 40's and today we made the 50's with a calm winds. No rain. The strong winds that we had last week brought down some flocks of Bluebills ducks who fly over the surface of the water with a whistling noise.

Indian Summer

The weather we had this first full week of October was simply spectacular. We had sunny skies, and warm temperature in the 70's and even hitting 80 degrees a couple of days here on Oak Point. Lots of visitors up to their cabins to do fall chores these last few days. Most of the docks and lifts are now in, mine included. In many neighborhoods groups get together and work as a team to bring the equipment in. These are borrowed days that I am sure we will be paid back with cold temps fairly soon.

Leaves

Another fall duty we all have on Oak Point is leaves. Actually I think the Oak leaves are down earlier this year then some of the years in the past. I think this is the case since many trees budded out earlier this spring then normal, so the time has come for the leaves to fall. Many of us have cleaned our leaves once this fall with the full knowledge that we will have to do it one more this fall. I will have to mulch the leaves at least once more this week.

Hunting and Fishing

The local duck hunter chased the local birds out already and they are waiting for the big flights to come in. Grouse hunting has been spotty, with a few birds taken by the hunters that work for their birds. No more bear sightings and very few deer sightings. I understand that the bow hunters have not seen many deer. I was lucky enough to draw a doe permit this year. Good reports on the Walleye fishing. Lots of fish being taken on the rocky points like Pine Point and Big Hardwood in the evening.

Garden

Picked a few green peppers and zucchini for the last time. I still have a few potatoes and beets to dig that I hope to do this week, then I begin the task of tilling the garden. I sort of dread this task for some reason. I guess I hate to see the season end.

Twin Cities Marathon

Our daughter-in-law Stephanie Nitchals ran her first marathon yesterday on a chilly October morning. Her time was 3 hrs and 53 min. and she stayed under 4 hours. This is the mother of our 3 grand kids. She took up running about two years ago. Their were 11,ooo runners that started the race, with about 9,000 finished. They estimated that 300,000 spectators lined the 26 miles of the streets to watch the race. She was the 357th woman to finish the race. We are real proud of her reaching this goal she set for herself.

Frost

We didn't have a frost here by Leech Lake, the big lake effect keep us warm on both Saturday and Sunday morning, but a few miles away from the lake there was frost. I took in my winter squash and dug the last of my baking potatoes this morning. I believe that our growing season has officially come to an end. Beautiful day today with heights for casted in the 60's and 70's this week.

Fall Chores

With the help of my neighbor and friend Dennis Yepma, we brought in my boat for the season. Took the boat into the marine shop to have it winterized and serviced for next year. My dock and lift are ready for those people to come this coming weekend to put that equipment up on shore. Had to take my leaf blower in to be worked on, should be able to get it by tomorrow.

High Speed Internet

I know that I have mentioned it before, one of our luxuries is the high speed Internet and cable TV that we get through Paul Bunyan Telephone out of Bemidji. I am able to get most of the sporting events live on my TV screen. This week the Twins start post season baseball. I get most of the NFL football games on Sunday, Sunday evening and on Monday nights. I am able to play fantasy Football with my friends on our computer. Not bad for living in the Chippewa National Forest.

Walleye Meeting

A reminder of the October 13th meeting that the DNR is having at the Walker HS Commons to discuss the proposed slot change from 18 to 26 inch fish to 20 to 26 inch fish. The meeting is from 6 to 9 pm. I plan on going and voicing my support for the change.

Fall Colors

This last weekend the colors out on Oak Point had to be at their peak. This past week when Minnesota had its deluge in the southern parts of our state we got close to 2 inches or rain which brought down some acorns and leaves. Fall officially arrived on Wednesday the 23rd. Still no killing frost, but that can't be far off now.

Black Bear/Deer Hunting

No more stories of successful hunts. But more sighting along the road. In fact my wife saw one going after some still green grapes along Chippewa Ch Rd just adjacent to our home. The bear are after the food to fatten up for the long winter nap. According to the DNR the number of bear kills lags behind last year.

Deer hunters are talking about where they are going to put up their stands this year. A few die hard archery deer hunters are taking to the stands. That sport takes an enormous amount of patience waiting for the deer to come by. Lots of leaves still on the trees and shrubs make it very difficult to see the deer.

Fall Chores

I am having a hard time getting my fall chores done. I have been splitting wood, not for this winter, but for the 2011-2012 season. My wood shed is just about full, but my pile is still high. I have been mulching my leaves already when I mow my lawn. We will start to pick up the leaves about one month from now. The Oak leaves stay on for some time. I have begun taking apart my garden. Still have some beets and potatoes to dig and some winter squash to put away. One chore that I need to get at is bring in the boat and getting it ready for winter storage. I will take the boat in to change the oil in the four stroke engine.

Biggs Family

Congratulation to the Biggs Family of Plymouth, MN for their purchase of Lot # 14 in Oak Point Estates. They plan on starting building yet this fall. This makes the 6th lot sold with 7 more lots left. Our thanks to the Biggs Family.

Fall Weather

When I left for my walk this morning it was 38 degrees out. Fall Equinox happens this coming Wednesday, Sept 22nd. We have not had a killing frost yet, but that can't be long away.

Today was also the first day of the 2010 Grouse Hunting Season. Heard many shotgun blasts coming from the woods this morning as many hunters were after the early season action with the young dumber birds. Most of the reports for the Grouse season are down from prior years harvests. It was also the first day to archery hunt deer. Duck hunting begins on October 2nd this year.

Oak Point Bear

Pictured here is Ray Copa with his first black bear that he shot on Wednesday evening the 15th of September. The bear was taken about one mile from his home here on Oak Point Road. Karen called a number of us to help him get the bear out of the woods. Congratulations to Ray.

Ray is my walking partner and the day before he got this bear we had seen a rather large bear cross the road about 300 yards in front of us. I have also talked to three other people who have see bears on the move this past week. The theory is that they are eating heavily now trying to get that extra layer of fat for the long cold winter hibernation.

Wild Rice Harvest

The 2010 season is over already. Those in the know say that the harvest was only about 1/3 of the 2009 harvest. The theory is that with the high water levels and brisk September winds have knocked a lot of the wild rice off the stocks early, leaving just a little for the pickers this fall. I will speculate this will mean higher retail prices.

Garden

The 2010 garden season is coming to a halt. I have some potatoes, winter squash and beets left to harvest, and then it's time to plow the soil to prepare for next year garden.

Leech Lake Walleyes

The Minnesota DNR is considering whether to maintain or modify the Walleye regulation on Leech Lake. A public meeting is scheduled for October 13th at the Walker H.S. Commons area from 6 to 9 pm. The two plans they are looking at are to maintain the current 4 fish limit, but modify the 18 to 26 inch slot size to 20 to 26 inch size with one fist over 26 inches. This plan would allow the new size to revert back to 18 to 26 inches if the DNR felt it was necessary. The second plan is to keep the s8 to 26 slot size as they are now. I have been suggesting the new size so for one I am going to show up and speak for the change. I would suggest that others who have strong feelings show up as well. I will try to remind people before the October 13 meeting date.

Fall Colors

We are still maybe one to two weeks away from the peak colors, but still the maples are just truly beautiful. The Sumac bushes are turning red. The green oak leaves have not started to change colors yet, will have to wait for that first freeze.

September 2010

September is here, the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting cooler. Hunting season has begun for bear. Deer hunting for members of the reservation and some wild ricing harvesting in the Narrows. The large beds of rice in Steamboat Bay are not open yet. We are having Labor Day Weekend so plenty of extra people are enjoying the long weekend at the cabin. We had visitors, our son and grandson are visiting from the cities. Football season will be upon us soon. We had our draft for our Fantasy Football.

Had a couple of thunderstorms this past week with over an inch of rain. Had some strong winds associated with the rain storm the night of Sept 1st that came out of the east. A number of property owners facing to the east had damage to their docks and boat lifts. One person had some damage to their fishing boat. We had one tree dowm on Oak Point Estates, but nothing serious.

Garden

The end of the growing season is coming on for the garden. Had our first meal of beets last evening. Might get a few more green beans, a few summer squash and cucumbers yet, but with the cooling weather and shorter days the prime growing season is behind us. I will have to dig potatoes and harvest the winter squash soon.

Maple Trees

Some of the leaves of the maples are starting to change their coloration. Pretty soon we will have lovely reds, yellows and orange leaves that make our falls so beautiful. It will be 4 to 6 weeks before any serious leaf raking has to take place. With the rains still coming down we will have to keep mowing the green grass at least once per-week.

House Progress

The Christenson new house on Oak Point Estates is making some serious progress. I know that they want to be able to work inside this coming winter.

Nice Weekend

Leech Lake was busy yesterday and today. Lots of boats on the lake, people at their cabins, traffic on the roads. I think people wanted to get one more good weekend before Labor Day Weekend which is coming up in two weeks. We had warm temperatures but a good stiff wind off the lake kept us cool. We had 2 inches of rain in two storms during the week so that keeps the garden and the grass green.

Fauna

Bear hunters were in the woods setting out bait and putting their stands out for the up coming season. Continue to see deer on the Oak Point Road which should mean a successful deer season for the local hunters. Some of the young ducks and geese are starting to take flight. Have not heard any successful fishing reports on the lake. Been seeing more boats in the evening trolling in the Goose Islands flats.

Flora

Garden continues to produce produce for us. Right now tomatos are the prime crop. I have been picking them early and put them out on our picnic table to finish ripping. Green beans are pretty much finishing their season. Cucumbers are still producing as well as summer squash. We have a good crop of winter squash and pumpkins on the vine. Lots of potatoes for the fall and winter harvest.

This Blog

Taking a motor trip to Michigan this coming week to visit a sister and her family near Detroit. So the net result will be no blog next weekend.