Saturday, January 24, 2009
Free Shipping On Any Order Over $49!!
Our Free Shipping special will be continuing through the end of February and is a great deal!! You'll get free shipping on any order over $49!! Most other companies don't offer you anything this good, so make sure you take advantage of it by ordering today at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
How safe is that ice??
According to the Minnesota DNR Web site, there is no sure answer to the question of when the ice is safe. Drivers can’t judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow.
Strength is based on all these factors, plus the depth of water under the ice, the size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions – there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
The following are guidelines for new, clear ice only:
- Two inches or less, stay off;
- Four inches, ice fishing or other activities on foot;
- Five inches, snowmobile or ATV;
- Eight-12 inches, car or small pickup;
- Twelve-15 inches, medium truck.
The Minnesota DNR asks people to refrain from driving on ice whenever possible. If they must drive a vehicle, they should be prepared to leave it in a hurry — keep windows down, unbuckle seat belts and have a simple emergency plan of action that passengers understand.
For more information about traveling on ice, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/travel.html.
Strength is based on all these factors, plus the depth of water under the ice, the size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions – there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
The following are guidelines for new, clear ice only:
- Two inches or less, stay off;
- Four inches, ice fishing or other activities on foot;
- Five inches, snowmobile or ATV;
- Eight-12 inches, car or small pickup;
- Twelve-15 inches, medium truck.
The Minnesota DNR asks people to refrain from driving on ice whenever possible. If they must drive a vehicle, they should be prepared to leave it in a hurry — keep windows down, unbuckle seat belts and have a simple emergency plan of action that passengers understand.
For more information about traveling on ice, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/travel.html.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Let hunters thin park's elk herd
The Dickinson Press , The Jamestown Sun - Published: 01/20/2009
Sen. Byron Dorgan and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department have it right when they say volunteer hunters should be allowed to shoot elk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The National Park Service is looking for ways to thin the herd and Dorgan is wise to listen to the Game and Fish Department’s reasonable idea of how to do it.
But instead of giving volunteers the opportunity to make a shot of a lifetime, the National Park Service’s options include bringing in sharpshooters to take out elk; rounding them up and euthanizing them; or relocating them. The National Park Service didn’t even include the volunteer hunting alternative in its plan. Why not?
If there are no ranchers who could take the elk and there really are too many elk, volunteer hunts should be the alternative. But where are all of these elk hiding out and in what way is this native species overrunning the park (maybe that’s a conversation for another time)?
If it indeed must be done, why not let locals in on the action? And why not save a chunk of taxpayer money?
But it will never fly because it makes too much sense.
The issue of who should be taking care of the wildlife in our backyard shouldn’t be decided by people in D.C. — some 1,600 miles away. It should be decided by people from the area who know what’s going on and what’s best for it. Dorgan grew up in Regent, he must know a thing or two about what is best for the area.
The other options make about as much sense as a past Park Service idea to spend $250,000 to move a picnic area at Teddy Roosevelt because unruly prairie dogs made their home there. Dorgan had the common sense, and suggested, relocating the prairie dogs instead of spending $250,000. That didn’t fly.
Maybe the NPS should have removed the prairie dogs with the prairie dog vacuum removal system which is a real device. That makes sense too, no? Heck, maybe the Park Service could come up with something like that to suck up the elk — problem solved.
Now back to making sense.
If the course of nature isn’t working, then let the hunters in. Hiring outside sharpshooters or rounding the elk up and killing them would be a waste of time and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
And besides, hunting is tradition here. It builds family bonds, fills freezers and for some, is a thrill.
If the volunteers aren’t interested in keeping the meat, they can give it to a food pantry. Certainly this is another benefit of allowing them in.
Elk are not some exotic animal. Game and Fish is for it, Dorgan is for it, and it’s probably a safe bet that the hunters are for it.
Sen. Byron Dorgan and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department have it right when they say volunteer hunters should be allowed to shoot elk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The National Park Service is looking for ways to thin the herd and Dorgan is wise to listen to the Game and Fish Department’s reasonable idea of how to do it.
But instead of giving volunteers the opportunity to make a shot of a lifetime, the National Park Service’s options include bringing in sharpshooters to take out elk; rounding them up and euthanizing them; or relocating them. The National Park Service didn’t even include the volunteer hunting alternative in its plan. Why not?
If there are no ranchers who could take the elk and there really are too many elk, volunteer hunts should be the alternative. But where are all of these elk hiding out and in what way is this native species overrunning the park (maybe that’s a conversation for another time)?
If it indeed must be done, why not let locals in on the action? And why not save a chunk of taxpayer money?
But it will never fly because it makes too much sense.
The issue of who should be taking care of the wildlife in our backyard shouldn’t be decided by people in D.C. — some 1,600 miles away. It should be decided by people from the area who know what’s going on and what’s best for it. Dorgan grew up in Regent, he must know a thing or two about what is best for the area.
The other options make about as much sense as a past Park Service idea to spend $250,000 to move a picnic area at Teddy Roosevelt because unruly prairie dogs made their home there. Dorgan had the common sense, and suggested, relocating the prairie dogs instead of spending $250,000. That didn’t fly.
Maybe the NPS should have removed the prairie dogs with the prairie dog vacuum removal system which is a real device. That makes sense too, no? Heck, maybe the Park Service could come up with something like that to suck up the elk — problem solved.
Now back to making sense.
If the course of nature isn’t working, then let the hunters in. Hiring outside sharpshooters or rounding the elk up and killing them would be a waste of time and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
And besides, hunting is tradition here. It builds family bonds, fills freezers and for some, is a thrill.
If the volunteers aren’t interested in keeping the meat, they can give it to a food pantry. Certainly this is another benefit of allowing them in.
Elk are not some exotic animal. Game and Fish is for it, Dorgan is for it, and it’s probably a safe bet that the hunters are for it.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 Matte Riflescope
Always one of Nikon's most popular scopes, the Buckmasters 3-9x40 is truly the hunter's workhorse. The very brightest in its class, this scope has a proven track record of reliability, durability and precision that makes its price even more attractive. It is at home on any hunting rifle, muzzleloader - even rimfire! Get it now for only $209.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Nikon Riflescopes
We are dedicated to providing you with the best camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting equipment. In that effort, we have just added a few Nikon Riflescopes to our website. You will find them under the Hunting Equipment category. There are many more models available from Nikon, so if you have one in mind, email us and we'll try to get it for you!! So if you need a quality riflescope, get one from Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Mountainsmith Tour Recycled Lumbar Pack
For hiking, urban touring or school, our lumbar packs are designed to stash all of the bare essentials you can’t imagine leaving home without. Same performance, comfort and durability you’ve come to trust. Classic styles in Heritage Red, Cobalt and Black are now made from 100% Recycled PET fabric. Get yours today for only $62.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Shop With Confidence
Your satisfaction is always guaranteed when you shop at Golden Eagle Outdoors. In addition when you visit our website you get safe and secure shopping, friendly service, and quality products. We are excited about what we offer to our customers and we invite you to build big memories with quality camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting equipment from Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Snowy owls turning up at Raptor Center
Stephanie Hemphill , Grand Forks Herald - Published: 01/12/2009
ST. PAUL, Minn.
On a table in the Raptor Center treatment room, a great horned owl is wrapped in a towel, enduring an examination. It got tangled up in a fishing hook and line. Veterinary technician Greg Hansen says someone found it along a riverbank.
"They untangled it and got the fishing hook out; it had flown up into a tree, but that was about as far as it could get," Hansen said.
As Hansen checks the bird's wounds, a volunteer with heavy leather gloves holds the bird on the table.
The bird is cheeping loudly, but Hansen declines to translate: "I don't know if I could say that on radio," he told Minnesota Public Radio News with a smile.
At another table, Dr. Luis Cruz is checking a snowy owl. This poor bird had three broken bones when it was brought to the Center at the end of October.
He's about the size of a newborn human, maybe 2 feet tall, but he only weighs about 3 pounds. All those white feathers, and very light bones, and the eyes - yellow, bright, and penetrating, almost as if he's trying to tell us something.
"This is the broken wing," Cruz said. "This is called physical therapy. Basically what I'm doing is extending the wing to test how far it reaches. He really doesn't like this too much, but the wing extension is somewhat limited but it's not too bad, and it doesn't seem too painful."
Cruz thinks the bird might have been hit by a train.
He set the bones in several stages, using metal rods inside and outside the wing. He gave the owl antibiotics and pain medications. Bird bones heal quickly, and Dr. Cruz has now taken all the metal rods out.
They won't release this snowy owl until spring. He needs to heal, he needs to recover his muscle strength, and he needs to grow feathers back where they plucked him to do the surgery.
"Those feathers have not come back, so we cannot even house her outside because she has a bare spot," said Cruz.
Cruz keeps calling the bird a "she," even though it's probably a "he." Females are larger than males, and this bird looks really big to Dr. Cruz, whose home is in Costa Rica.
Most of the snowy owls that have been brought to the Raptor Center this winter are starving. Sometimes they can be saved with blood transfusions, drugs and fluids. But the doctors here are experienced enough to know when an owl is too far gone, and in that case they euthanize the animal.
The abundance of snowy owls in Minnesota this year isn't a surprise. Their home is in the arctic, and normally they stay in northern Canada, even in the winter.
But clinic manager Lori Arent says there's been a pattern, every seven or eight years, of a lot of young birds flying south in search of food - apparently because of a collapse in the lemming population up north. But this year, she's not sure.
The last two times numbers were high, the Raptor Center treated about two dozen snowy owls. This year they've seen fewer than half that number, only nine birds. And the usual explanation doesn't quite fit either.
"Because they were saying that the lemming population in southern Canada is very good this year," Arent said. "So if that's the case, why are some of these youngsters coming farther south? We don't know."
A new patient is on the exam table - it's a bald eagle. It was found near Bemidji, and the veterinarians are still trying to figure out what's wrong with it. An X-ray showed trauma, but they're testing the bird for lead poisoning.
"Even if the bird was hit by a car, sometimes it'll come in with a broken wing but also have lead toxicity," Arent said. "So the question is, was it hit by a car because it was suffering from lead and was a little bit weaker, or is that just an incidental finding?"
If the bird does have lead poisoning, it can be treated.
It's an amazing amount of trouble to go to for a bunch of birds. But Lori Arent says it's not just for the birds.
The Raptor Center uses the information it gleans from its patients to track diseases like avian influenza and West Nile virus, a disease that killed 37 people this year.
"We certainly see it in the birds here too, so we know when it hits our area, because we see that first bird come it with it," Arent said. "So it's a warning - be careful, the mosquitoes that carry this virus are out there, do what you need to protect yourself, too."
They're developing a database that will summarize information from bird rehabilitation centers around the country.
And they'll be puzzling over what's bringing those young snowy owls down south, when there are plenty of lemmings in Canada.
ST. PAUL, Minn.
On a table in the Raptor Center treatment room, a great horned owl is wrapped in a towel, enduring an examination. It got tangled up in a fishing hook and line. Veterinary technician Greg Hansen says someone found it along a riverbank.
"They untangled it and got the fishing hook out; it had flown up into a tree, but that was about as far as it could get," Hansen said.
As Hansen checks the bird's wounds, a volunteer with heavy leather gloves holds the bird on the table.
The bird is cheeping loudly, but Hansen declines to translate: "I don't know if I could say that on radio," he told Minnesota Public Radio News with a smile.
At another table, Dr. Luis Cruz is checking a snowy owl. This poor bird had three broken bones when it was brought to the Center at the end of October.
He's about the size of a newborn human, maybe 2 feet tall, but he only weighs about 3 pounds. All those white feathers, and very light bones, and the eyes - yellow, bright, and penetrating, almost as if he's trying to tell us something.
"This is the broken wing," Cruz said. "This is called physical therapy. Basically what I'm doing is extending the wing to test how far it reaches. He really doesn't like this too much, but the wing extension is somewhat limited but it's not too bad, and it doesn't seem too painful."
Cruz thinks the bird might have been hit by a train.
He set the bones in several stages, using metal rods inside and outside the wing. He gave the owl antibiotics and pain medications. Bird bones heal quickly, and Dr. Cruz has now taken all the metal rods out.
They won't release this snowy owl until spring. He needs to heal, he needs to recover his muscle strength, and he needs to grow feathers back where they plucked him to do the surgery.
"Those feathers have not come back, so we cannot even house her outside because she has a bare spot," said Cruz.
Cruz keeps calling the bird a "she," even though it's probably a "he." Females are larger than males, and this bird looks really big to Dr. Cruz, whose home is in Costa Rica.
Most of the snowy owls that have been brought to the Raptor Center this winter are starving. Sometimes they can be saved with blood transfusions, drugs and fluids. But the doctors here are experienced enough to know when an owl is too far gone, and in that case they euthanize the animal.
The abundance of snowy owls in Minnesota this year isn't a surprise. Their home is in the arctic, and normally they stay in northern Canada, even in the winter.
But clinic manager Lori Arent says there's been a pattern, every seven or eight years, of a lot of young birds flying south in search of food - apparently because of a collapse in the lemming population up north. But this year, she's not sure.
The last two times numbers were high, the Raptor Center treated about two dozen snowy owls. This year they've seen fewer than half that number, only nine birds. And the usual explanation doesn't quite fit either.
"Because they were saying that the lemming population in southern Canada is very good this year," Arent said. "So if that's the case, why are some of these youngsters coming farther south? We don't know."
A new patient is on the exam table - it's a bald eagle. It was found near Bemidji, and the veterinarians are still trying to figure out what's wrong with it. An X-ray showed trauma, but they're testing the bird for lead poisoning.
"Even if the bird was hit by a car, sometimes it'll come in with a broken wing but also have lead toxicity," Arent said. "So the question is, was it hit by a car because it was suffering from lead and was a little bit weaker, or is that just an incidental finding?"
If the bird does have lead poisoning, it can be treated.
It's an amazing amount of trouble to go to for a bunch of birds. But Lori Arent says it's not just for the birds.
The Raptor Center uses the information it gleans from its patients to track diseases like avian influenza and West Nile virus, a disease that killed 37 people this year.
"We certainly see it in the birds here too, so we know when it hits our area, because we see that first bird come it with it," Arent said. "So it's a warning - be careful, the mosquitoes that carry this virus are out there, do what you need to protect yourself, too."
They're developing a database that will summarize information from bird rehabilitation centers around the country.
And they'll be puzzling over what's bringing those young snowy owls down south, when there are plenty of lemmings in Canada.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Gerber Paraframe II Knife
The big brother in the Paraframe family is the Paraframe II. The ergonomically innovative handle is designed to make the knife lightweight - the all surgical stainless steel construction makes it tough. The frame-locking 3.635" clip point blade is honed to the sharpest possible edge. Get your today for only $24.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors today!!
Nikon Travelite V 10 X 25 Binoculars
The Nikon Travelite V compact binocular features a durable, carbon fiber shell, a highly ergonomic chassis, and robust rubber armor. Aspherical eyepiece lenses allow for a viewing field that is uncommonly flat and clear from edge to edge. Get yours for only $89.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors today!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Slumberjack Vertex Sleeping Bag
When it comes to mummy sleeping bags, Slumberjack has something for everyone. Extreme backpackers, who insist on high quality and performance, will appreciate the pure functionality and utility of these bags. Weekend warriors will be pleased with the innovative design, high-tech insulations and numerous creature comfort features. Conventional campers will be attracted to the dependability and value of these mummy bags. Slumberjack mummy sleeping bags are roomy, compactable, include many technical elements, and are available in a variety of insulations and fabrics. Get the Slumberjack Vertex Sleeping Bag at Golden Eagle Outdoors today!!
‘NASCAR of sled-dogging’ canceled due to snow
Patrick Springer , The Forum - Published: 01/06/2009
Here’s another entry for the annals of noteworthy winter weather: The dogsled race near Frazee, Minn., has been canceled because there’s too much snow.
Too much fluffy snow that keeps drifting and therefore made it impossible to maintain a groomed trail.
That poses a safety risk to the dogs, supercharged canines whose mushers need a groomed trail to drop a hook to stop when necessary.
“We can’t pack it,” race organizer Eddy Streeper said Monday. “We just can’t get it packed. We had to speak up on behalf of the dogs.”
The Third Crossing Sled Dog Rendezvous, slated for Jan. 23-24, would have been the ninth annual running of the sprint races, which twice were canceled for lack of snow.
This winter, as anyone with a driveway knows, has been a season of prodigious snows.
The Frazee area has received about 3 feet of snow, but winds keep creating drifts of 4 feet or more over the course, which was to host races of four to 14 miles.
“The drifting aspect is just unbelievable,” said Streeper, a native of Canada who has been involved with dogsled racing for 25 years. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The National Weather Service doesn’t tally snow accumulations and moisture content for Frazee. But snowfalls in Fargo, 54 miles to the northwest, have totaled 39.3 inches since October, with 2.37 liquid inches.
That translates into a moisture content of 6 percent – snow is considered wet at around 30 percent to 35 percent. That dry, fluffy snow is just too deep.
Cancellation of the dog races is a blow to Frazee, population 1,374. Last year’s two-day event drew 2,000 to 3,000 spectators, and contestants come from as far as Alaska, five Canadian provinces and five or six states.
“This is the NASCAR of sled-dogging, the sprint ones,” said Gale Kaas, Frazee Sled Dog Club secretary.
“We’ll try again next year,” Streeper added. “We’ll see what the weather does to us.”
Here’s another entry for the annals of noteworthy winter weather: The dogsled race near Frazee, Minn., has been canceled because there’s too much snow.
Too much fluffy snow that keeps drifting and therefore made it impossible to maintain a groomed trail.
That poses a safety risk to the dogs, supercharged canines whose mushers need a groomed trail to drop a hook to stop when necessary.
“We can’t pack it,” race organizer Eddy Streeper said Monday. “We just can’t get it packed. We had to speak up on behalf of the dogs.”
The Third Crossing Sled Dog Rendezvous, slated for Jan. 23-24, would have been the ninth annual running of the sprint races, which twice were canceled for lack of snow.
This winter, as anyone with a driveway knows, has been a season of prodigious snows.
The Frazee area has received about 3 feet of snow, but winds keep creating drifts of 4 feet or more over the course, which was to host races of four to 14 miles.
“The drifting aspect is just unbelievable,” said Streeper, a native of Canada who has been involved with dogsled racing for 25 years. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The National Weather Service doesn’t tally snow accumulations and moisture content for Frazee. But snowfalls in Fargo, 54 miles to the northwest, have totaled 39.3 inches since October, with 2.37 liquid inches.
That translates into a moisture content of 6 percent – snow is considered wet at around 30 percent to 35 percent. That dry, fluffy snow is just too deep.
Cancellation of the dog races is a blow to Frazee, population 1,374. Last year’s two-day event drew 2,000 to 3,000 spectators, and contestants come from as far as Alaska, five Canadian provinces and five or six states.
“This is the NASCAR of sled-dogging, the sprint ones,” said Gale Kaas, Frazee Sled Dog Club secretary.
“We’ll try again next year,” Streeper added. “We’ll see what the weather does to us.”
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Slumberjack Ultrapacker Sleeping Bag
When it comes to mummy sleeping bags, Slumberjack has something for everyone. Extreme backpackers, who insist on high quality and performance, will appreciate the pure functionality and utility of these bags. Weekend warriors will be pleased with our innovative designs, high-tech insulations and numerous creature comfort features. Conventional campers will be attracted to the dependability and value of our mummy bags. Our mummy sleeping bags are roomy, compactable, include many technical elements, and are available in a variety of insulations and fabrics. We have 3 models available starting at $51.99. Get it now at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Want Some Aggressive Porcupines?
Aggressive porcupines chomping on trees, shoes, car tires and tool handles in Telluride, Col.
West Central Tribune - Published: 01/04/2009
TELLURIDE, Colo. - Porcupines are becoming a prickly pest for Telluride-area residents. Residents said the rodents are chomping on the bark of spruce trees, yard trees, and have killed 50-foot-high native trees. The damage is estimated at more than $100,000 in the Mountain Village above Telluride.
Porcupines also favor salty and sweaty items, so plywood treated with a sodium-based substance has become attractive to them. They've also munched on shoes, vehicle tires, and tool handles.
Mountain Village resident Vicki Irwin said she's never seen the porcupines be so aggressive.
Some possible reasons cited for the porcupine's behavior are a harsh winter last year that ramped-up their appetites and the rodents can roam freely because many of the town's 4,100 resident's live elsewhere most of the year.
West Central Tribune - Published: 01/04/2009
TELLURIDE, Colo. - Porcupines are becoming a prickly pest for Telluride-area residents. Residents said the rodents are chomping on the bark of spruce trees, yard trees, and have killed 50-foot-high native trees. The damage is estimated at more than $100,000 in the Mountain Village above Telluride.
Porcupines also favor salty and sweaty items, so plywood treated with a sodium-based substance has become attractive to them. They've also munched on shoes, vehicle tires, and tool handles.
Mountain Village resident Vicki Irwin said she's never seen the porcupines be so aggressive.
Some possible reasons cited for the porcupine's behavior are a harsh winter last year that ramped-up their appetites and the rodents can roam freely because many of the town's 4,100 resident's live elsewhere most of the year.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Free Shipping!!
Our Free Shipping special is still continuing and is a great deal!! You'll get free shipping on any order over $49!! Most other companies don't offer you anything this good, so make sure you take advantage of it by ordering today at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Stansport Black Granite Family Cook Set
The Black Granite rugged steel construction will last for many years. The Black Granite Family Cook Set includes a 6 quart kettle, a 2 1/2 quart kettle with lid, a 1 1/2 quart pot with lid, and a 10" Frying Pan. Everything you need to cook a family dinner in a easy to store configuration. Our “Granite” non-stick cookware features a durable, non-stick, cooking surface that makes cooking and clean-up effortless. Each piece is carefully polished to insure the smoothest finish possible. All sets fully “nested” for compact carry and storage. Get it for only $38.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Leatherman Skeletool
Today’s outdoor enthusiasts want to keep weight and volume to a minimum without sacrificing quality and true functionality. While multi-tools have multiple options, they’re often heavier with more features than are used on a regular basis. Conversely, pocket knives are light and streamlined, but render themselves useless when necessary adjustments call for a tool. Enter the new Leatherman platform: Minimal weight, compact size and endless capabilities. At a mere five ounces the new, full-size multi-tool platform from Leatherman features a premium stainless steel blade, pliers, bit driver and carabiner/bottle opener—that’s it. Only the most necessary multi-tool features, because sometimes that’s all you need. Easily clips onto a belt, pack, or vest—no sheath required. Get it for only $59.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Nikon 8 x 42 Trailblazer Binoculars
The big brother of the extremely popular Trailblazer compact line, the Nikon 8x42 Trailblazer takes lead - and arsenic-free Eco-Glass optics and wraps it into a tough, rubberized body for comfortable viewing. Features include generous eye relief, turn-and-slide rubber eyecups, waterproof, fogproof performance and bright, multicoated lenses. Light enough for long trips, yet big and bright enough to be your stand-alone binocular, the 8x42 was born to hunt. Get it for only $149.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
The Gerber survival knives are the toughest knives on the market today. The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife has a forged stainless steel serrated blade for durability and superior strength combined with a unique handle made from glass-filled nylon that is virtually indestructable. The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife comes with a sheath, sharpener, and is covered by Gerbers' limited lifetime warranty. Get it for only $72.99 at Golden Eagle Outdoors!!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Planning to visit Canada this year??
Minnesotans planning to visit Canada this year need to be aware of a new law requiring adults to carry passports. Children must bring birth certificates.
By DOUG SMITH, Star Tribune, Last update: December 31, 2008 - 7:26 AM
Canada is more than just a friendly neighbor to the north.
it's long been a major destination for many Minnesota hunters and anglers, enticed there not only by trophy fish and game, but also by the stark beauty of its remote wilderness.
But traveling there is getting a bit more complicated -- and costly.
Beginning June 1, all those over age 15 driving to Canada will need a passport -- the same as those flying to Canada. It's part of the continuing effort to tighten the nation's borders following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The passport requirement could pose problems for Minnesotans unaware of that change as well as the many Canadian lodges, outposts and guide services that depend on Americans for business. Show up at the border without a passport this summer and you'll be turning around and heading for home.
"The requirement is from the U.S. government, it's nothing Canada has done,'' said Joel Prunty, marketing manager for the All-Canada Show, which opens its 25th annual show this weekend in Minneapolis. Some regular visitors to Canada were aware the change was coming in 2009 and have gotten passports, but many apparently haven't.
"There are still a lot of people out there who haven't gotten passports,'' Prunty said. "We surveyed about 4,000 people who came to our shows and 65 percent had passports.''
By DOUG SMITH, Star Tribune, Last update: December 31, 2008 - 7:26 AM
Canada is more than just a friendly neighbor to the north.
it's long been a major destination for many Minnesota hunters and anglers, enticed there not only by trophy fish and game, but also by the stark beauty of its remote wilderness.
But traveling there is getting a bit more complicated -- and costly.
Beginning June 1, all those over age 15 driving to Canada will need a passport -- the same as those flying to Canada. It's part of the continuing effort to tighten the nation's borders following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The passport requirement could pose problems for Minnesotans unaware of that change as well as the many Canadian lodges, outposts and guide services that depend on Americans for business. Show up at the border without a passport this summer and you'll be turning around and heading for home.
"The requirement is from the U.S. government, it's nothing Canada has done,'' said Joel Prunty, marketing manager for the All-Canada Show, which opens its 25th annual show this weekend in Minneapolis. Some regular visitors to Canada were aware the change was coming in 2009 and have gotten passports, but many apparently haven't.
"There are still a lot of people out there who haven't gotten passports,'' Prunty said. "We surveyed about 4,000 people who came to our shows and 65 percent had passports.''
Crews rescue 12 people stranded on Wisconsin ice
From the Associated Press, Last update: January 1, 2009 - 8:44 PM
NAMUR, Wis. - Twelve ice fishermen were stranded for hours on a huge chunk of ice that broke off from shore Thursday and floated into Green Bay, but rescue crews plucked them all safely from the large ice sheet, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Three groups of fishermen had ventured onto the ice, bringing pickup trucks and all-terrain vehicles. But a large fissure ripped through the floe when a freighter passed through the bay, creating ripples that combined with high winds to break the ice.
"The freighter itself was way out in the middle of the lake, not near the fishermen at all," said Coast Guard spokesman Charles Wolfson. "But a large 800-foot freighter is enough to cause a ripple in the ice pack."
The crack was 400 to 500 feet wide, preventing the fishermen from returning to shore. The fissure extended five to six miles from Little Sturgeon Bay to Dykesville, Wolfson said.
None of the people was in immediate danger, Wolfson said. No injuries were reported and no one fell in the water.
Rescue officials found eight fishermen about a mile out on the ice on the east side of Green Bay, Wolfson said. Another pair was found near Dykesville and two other fishermen were recovered near Sugar Creek County Park.
Two trucks and three ATVs were left on the ice and would probably remain there indefinitely, Wolfson said.
"I guess they'd have to wait for the ice pack to shift or wait for the ice to freeze again," he said.
Wolfson said the incident serves as a warning to other ice fisherman, who should stay close to shore and carry a cell phone or other communication device.
"It's still early in the ice season. Ice fisherman should take precautions when taking personal equipment out there," he said. "And be aware we still have some shipping traffic, which could cause a problem."
NAMUR, Wis. - Twelve ice fishermen were stranded for hours on a huge chunk of ice that broke off from shore Thursday and floated into Green Bay, but rescue crews plucked them all safely from the large ice sheet, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Three groups of fishermen had ventured onto the ice, bringing pickup trucks and all-terrain vehicles. But a large fissure ripped through the floe when a freighter passed through the bay, creating ripples that combined with high winds to break the ice.
"The freighter itself was way out in the middle of the lake, not near the fishermen at all," said Coast Guard spokesman Charles Wolfson. "But a large 800-foot freighter is enough to cause a ripple in the ice pack."
The crack was 400 to 500 feet wide, preventing the fishermen from returning to shore. The fissure extended five to six miles from Little Sturgeon Bay to Dykesville, Wolfson said.
None of the people was in immediate danger, Wolfson said. No injuries were reported and no one fell in the water.
Rescue officials found eight fishermen about a mile out on the ice on the east side of Green Bay, Wolfson said. Another pair was found near Dykesville and two other fishermen were recovered near Sugar Creek County Park.
Two trucks and three ATVs were left on the ice and would probably remain there indefinitely, Wolfson said.
"I guess they'd have to wait for the ice pack to shift or wait for the ice to freeze again," he said.
Wolfson said the incident serves as a warning to other ice fisherman, who should stay close to shore and carry a cell phone or other communication device.
"It's still early in the ice season. Ice fisherman should take precautions when taking personal equipment out there," he said. "And be aware we still have some shipping traffic, which could cause a problem."
Its a New Year!!
Now that the new year has come, its time to start thinking about summer!! Yea, I know its still cold outside, but in just a few months you'll be thinking of camping and fishing!! And speaking of camping and fishing, we have the quality gear you need for those activities. So, visit Golden Eagle Outdoors today to get the camping and fishing equipment you need for this summer!!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Take A Survey And Get $5 Off Your Next Order!!
We are always interested in what our customers think about us and our website. It is our commitment to providing quality products and great service to our customers. In an effort to maintain the quality that we offer you, we need to know what you think of us. We know that you have many people asking you to take surveys, but they are often long and you get nothing for it. So, when you take a survey at Golden Eagle Outdoors, we'll give you $5 off your next order with us. The survey is short and will only take a couple minutes of your time and you get an instant reward just for telling us what you think!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)