For more than four decades, the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association has played a major role in shaping Minnesota’s outdoor heritage. While MDHA is best known for its advocacy on behalf of deer hunters and wildlife habitat, our organization’s influence extends far beyond the woods each fall. Through conservation projects, habitat restoration, outdoor education, fundraising events, and support for hunting participation, MDHA contributes significantly to Minnesota’s economy and quality of life.

Read more: Beyond the Woods & Fields: MDHA’s Impact on Minnesota’s Economy

Like many of us raised in Minnesota, I started hunting as a pre-teen (at the age of eleven) and have been at it ever since. Some highlights include my first ruffed grouse (1978) and first deer (1981). Years later, my first contribution to Whitetales, a story (“Whitetail Deer Evolution”) in the Spring 1995 issue. During the subsequent thirty-plus years I’ve been privileged to write/contribute an additional 42 Whitetales stories.

Read more: Minnesota Whitetails vs. Colorado Wapiti: Hunting Similarities & Differences

Spurred on by a combination of factors, including the growing interest in long-range shooting, availability of high ballistic coefficient bullets, new powders, rifles with fast-twist barrels, and the popularity of AR-15 style rifles, there has been a surge in the development of small-caliber cartridges over the last 20 years. 

Read more: Performance of small-caliber cartridges

No rest for the wicked, or so the saying goes. We’ll quickly be staring down summer weather with all it’s drudgery, including ticks and mosquitoes, but there’s plenty of work to be done before then. Here’s how to triage spring chores that should be done now. 

Read more: The Deer Hunter’s Spring Cleaning

My grandma was a bona fide hoarder. Back when I was a kid, I was afraid to bring my friends to her house. There was stuff stacked floor to ceiling with just a deer trail leading between the rooms. 

Read more: What to do With Shed Antlers