Brad Dokken
Brad Dokken is outdoors editor for the Herald. He writes and edits the outdoors and usually has a column for Sunday's outdoor section.Contact
Articles
NICE FISH: 30 1/4 inch Walleye and 36 inch catfish 
A look at some of the big fish caught this week
Partnership aims to enhance Grand Forks County prairie
Conserving grasslands and wetlands on the saline prairie of Grand Forks County is the focus of a new partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Grand Forks County Soil Conservation District and several other agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
RELATED CONTENTCoulees and ditches around Devils Lake can deliver superb fishing
This time of year fishing and farming often converge as anglers flock to the coulees and ditches that flow into Devils Lake. They might not offer the most pristine settings, but that’s of little consequence to the pike and walleyes that run upstream to spawn.
RELATED CONTENTNICE FISH: Walleye released 25-inch minimum
A list of some impressive fish caught recently.
A quieter minnesota legislative session for hunting and fishing
Outdoors issues generally took a backseat during the 2013 session of the Minnesota Legislature after lawmakers last year approved an increase in hunting and fishing license fees to replenish a Game and Fish Fund that was headed for the red.
TALKIN WITH DOKKEN: What can be done to control tent caterpillars?
I’ve heard reports that this is going to be a bad year for forest tent caterpillars. Where is the risk of an outbreak the highest and what can be done to control the pests?
BRAD DOKKEN: Sportsmen win with Dayton vetoes
Ron Schara, Bud Grant and other Minnesota conservation advocates deserve a pat on the back for their efforts in persuading Gov. Mark Dayton to veto two line-items in the Legacy Fund bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature.
RELATED CONTENTOUTDOORS CALENDAR: Northwest Sporting Clays 200 Minnesota Circuit Shoot
A list of upcoming events related to the outdoors
OUTDOOR NOTES: Minnesota elk season won’t include Grygla
The Department of Natural Resources won’t be offering an elk season this fall near Grygla, Minn., because of low populations in the area.
VIDEO: Avid hunter takes up photography during hunting off-season
Zach Johnson spends most of his spare time in the fall hunting waterfowl and deer, but the UND student has started chasing the birds with a camera during the off-season. The results to date have been favorable.
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Book prompts question: Why do we ice fish, anyway?
In my case, at least, catching fish is part of it, but the attraction runs a lot deeper. And it’s not necessarily easy to explain.
RELATED CONTENTGF snowmobile route offers easy access to trails out of town
Living in city limits, we weren’t quite sure where we could ride, and we didn’t want to pull the trailer several miles out in the country to drop off the sleds.
RELATED CONTENTN.D. Pheasants Forever launches 'Dogs of Our Lives' fundraiser
North Dakota Pheasants Forever members who make a minimum contribution of $100 to the "Dogs of Our Lives" program will receive a plaque honoring their canine hunting companion. Proceeds from the program will help fund habitat and youth hunting initiatives.
RELATED CONTENTTRF elk hunter finds long-elusive success on a cold day in January
Curt Howe never saw an elk drop, but he knew he’d connected with one of the cows when he got down from the stand and spotted blood along the trail where the elk had been running. About 100 yards into the brush, he saw the cow elk laying dead.
RELATED CONTENTAnticipation keeps Manitoba fishing plans afloat during arctic blast
It was with considerable anticipation that a group of us ventured north to Manitoba on New Year’s Eve in pursuit of the Red River’s trophy "greenback" walleyes. In the aftermath of Blizzard Alvin, the deep freeze had descended, and lows of 30 below zero and colder were in the forecast.
RELATED CONTENTEventful Christmas Eve flight brings back memories
Cancellations and delays trigger reminder of bush pilot's colorful words
The memory of that long-ago floatplane ride above the bush country of northwestern Ontario remains one of my favorite flying stories.
Supposed albino deer likely was 'Fred' the fallow deer
A column about the white deer appeared in last Sunday’s Herald and was among the most read items on the Web site that day. The next day, a reader from Crookston called and said the deer likely belonged to Sheryl Adams. She confirmed that Thursday. “It’s Fred,” she said.
RELATED CONTENTTough deer season brings out the crowd to GF meeting
If there was any doubt that Grand Forks can’t draw a crowd of hunters and anglers to attend a meeting, it was erased this week in Grand Forks.
RELATED CONTENTNovember 'bonus days' offer memorable times outdoors
There’ve been several bonus days so far in November. Aside from a couple of rainy days, the weather during this year’s firearms deer seasons in Minnesota and North Dakota was nearly perfect, perhaps even too nice for some.
RELATED CONTENTTales from the opener: Another deer season begins
Minnesota’s firearms deer season opened Saturday morning, while North Dakota hunters took the field beginning at noon Friday. Here are a few snapshots from the hunting season to date:
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