Fall is in the air and the fall migration is on. Ducks are flying, geese are landing and feeding and flying over in practice formations to head further south.

Waterfowl hunting. Waterfowl hunting kicks off in early September and remains open until late October. Hunters come to Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River, NW Angle and surrounding fields for some of the best waterfowl hunting in North America during fall migration.  If this is your first time, we recommend contacting one of our outfitters or resorts in getting a “lay of the land” and helping to ensure a successful and enjoyable hunt.  Hunters enjoy a nice variety of puddle ducks, divers, and Canadian geese.

The Fall Migration often gets overlooked.  After all, this is The Walleye Capital of the World and the fish are biting excellent both on the lake and in the Rainy River.  There are also hundreds of thousands of acres (no exaggeration) of cropland around with a stable food source attracting and holding birds.

In addition, Lake of the Woods with it’s diversity of water opportunities is the other vital part of the waterfowl equation that is attractive to a variety of birds.  Diver ducks love the NW Angle and raft up there by the thousands.

Puddle ducks and geese love the thousands of miles of shoreline along the south shore along with the many bays offering cover and a variety of aquatic food options.  The nice thing about water is it is public!  That means with minimal scouting, finding an area of water holding birds, a boat ramp close by, you are in business.

With all of those possibilities, the great waterfowl hunting, and in this case, duck hunting gets overlooked by many.  If you are a waterfowl hunter, you may want to consider a trip to LOW.

Youth waterfowl hunt  

On September 7-8, 2024, waterfowl hunters age 17 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older) may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens from ½ hour before sunrise to sunset.

There is also a weekly outlook (PDF) which is updated on Thursdays of each week during the waterfowl hunting season. It is compiled from state and federal wildlife manager reports and waterfowl surveys from across Minnesota.

Some “go to” spots.

1.  Four Mile Bay.  This bay is long and sits between the mouth of the Rainy River and Bostic Creek and the big water of Big Traverse Bay.  In addition to a good population of local birds, the northern flight will use Lake of the Wood on their migration and often stage here until the very cold weather kicks them farther south.  With access points at the mouth of the Rainy River (Wheeler’s Point) and various resort access spots on Bostic Creek, access is good.
2. Bostic Creek.  This area of back water extends from Hwy 11 near Ken Mar Ke Resort all the way into Four Mile Bay.  There is plenty of backwater, cuts in the reeds, and area to set up decoys.  Some hunt the mouth near Four Mile Bay to get the birds coming off of the lake.  After a hunt or two, you will discover the key spots in this area.
3. Zippel Bay.  About the size of an inland lake, long and narrow extending off of the main lake with plenty of duck friendly vegetation and cover, Zippel Bay is a favorite amongst many waterfowlers.  The bay splits into two branches when you get towards the back of the bay with many fingers and reed points to set decoys.  Zippel Bay Resort and Zippel Bay State Park both have boat accesses.
4. Swift Ditch.  Again, a backwater coming off of the main lake with plenty of cover and a favorite place for ducks to stop on their way through.  Located west of Arnesen’s Rocky Point, this area bodes great habitat that waterfowl love.
5. The NW Angle.  With thousands of ducks migrating through the area, the NW Angle can offer, if you hit it right, some of the most memorable duck hunting available.  Often times, some of the best hunting takes place off of a rock point or island sticking out into the lake.  You might find yourself huddled amongst the rocks for cover.  If it works out, a variety of diver ducks will whistle by offering the opportunity for a memorable shoot.  There are backwater spots as well, but most hunt the more open water with decoys.

One of the unique things about duck hunting this area is the wide variety of ducks.  Puddle ducks, divers and even a few sea ducks show up each year.  If you are an avid waterfowler, you recognize the enjoyment of identifying ducks in the area, listening for their different sounds and harvesting a wide variety that perhaps you don’t see back home. Here’s some info from the MN DNR about Zones and Seasons:

MN Early Teal Season.  This season runs from September 1 – 5, 2024.

Layout Boat Hunting.  Lake of the Woods is actually one of the few lakes in Minnesota where layout boat hunting is legal.  Imagine, laying back in your small boat designed for this type of hunting out in the open water with decoys all around you. Groups of diver ducks are buzzing you and your decoys from different directions.  If you haven’t done it, it is one of those hunts that you won’t forget.  There are actually duck hunting guides with layout boats up at the NW Angle.

With the onset of fall, sounds overhead are heard making a lot of noise. Yes, that’s the sound of geese flying overhead practicing their formations as they head to their feeding grounds. It’s a happy sound and can be heard for quite a distance.

Early Goose Hunting is part of the fall migration and the season begins in September and typically runs for 16 days and has a six-bird daily limit for licensed hunters.  This year’s season begins September 1, 2024 and runs through September 15, 2024.

You can find the actual dates at the MN DNR site. The Early goose season is an opportunity to get the first crack at reducing the local good population here in Minnesota.

Public land is also another option if the geese are feeding or resting in wildlife management areas, waterfowl production areas, or other state or federal hunting areas. If you’re not hunting near the water, seek out permission from private land owners before attempting to hunt on dry land.

Be sure to plan your trip to Lake of the Woods soon as fishing is hot and the fall migration is beginning.

For more information see our website at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com

For lodging:  www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

See our Facebook page at:  www.Facebook.com/LakeoftheWoodsMN

The time is NOW! Book your exciting Ice Fishing Trip today. Requests are coming in and resorts are already taking reservations for that once in a lifetime ice fishing trip to Lake of the Woods. Did I say, “once”? No, many anglers frequent the waters/ice of Lake of the Woods many times during the winter months. Why? Because this Walleye Capital of the World™ is a first-class fishery and continues to be so. Permanent fish houses, sleeper fish houses, and day wheel-houses make up an entire village with plowed roads and sectioned off areas that are continually being groomed by experienced ice staff.

Yes, winter is right around the corner. The standard joke in northern MN is that we have two seasons. Summer fishing is the greatest as anglers of all ages enjoy the shimmering waters of Lake of the Woods. Soon, however, those shimmering waters start cooling down and currents slow and before you know it you’ll see a skim of ice forming on the bays, the big lake and the river. Then, Winter is on!!!

Very soon harvest will be upon us with wheat being harvested, wild rice being harvested, soybeans ready to ripen and the beautiful fields of sunflowers that have been prepared for harvest. People of the north enjoy all four seasons watching the harvest and preparing for hunting seasons. Resorts have been plenty busy, but are already looking ahead to the winter season.

When the ice first forms on the lake, resort owners and guides are out there immediately measuring the depth of the ice. They want to keep all the visitors to the area safe and won’t allow anyone on the ice until it’s safe. The MN DNR has a great page showing guidelines for safe ice travel and it needs to be adhered to by all.

It’s not too early to book your ice fishing trip now. The books are open but fish houses have been being prepared all season long as they are painted, cleaned and made ready for Winter anglers to arrive.

Planning your next ice fishing trip should be a breeze. Lake of the Woods Tourism has a new website that is very easy to navigate.  Go to www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com and click on the Lodging Tab.  Under that tab you will find many important things. First of all, there is an icon specifically called ice fishing.   That will take you to a list of all the resorts that offer that service.

You will also notice that our Lake of the Woods Area is divided into three different geographical areas. The Rainy River, the South Shore and the Northwest Angle all are unique and offer the best of experiences and lodging facilities. Now if you’d like to scroll down more you can view each resort’s website where you can see their amenities and check out their location and their rates.

Also on that page, you will find a Lodging Availability Form that you can fill out with your requests for dates and lodging. Fill out the form which will be sent to all the resorts. They will respond to you and you will and get your reservation made early. By the time Christmas rolls around, people of often hard pressed to be able to get a reservation.

You might also check our Hot Deals Page where you will find resorts that offer all-inclusive packages and often lower rates. This is a valuable option.

Picture waking up in the morning, getting some grub, then hopping into a heated snow bomber which brings you to your fish house which is already heated. Then proceed to catch fish all day long. It doesn’t get any better than that.

For anglers, the diversity of fish is unbelievable along with areas of the lake. The main basin or Big Traverse Bay is home to hundreds of thousands of walleyes and saugers who roam the entire bay. Then the Northwest Angle, where our 14,552 islands begin, offers many other species of fish including muskie and crappie.  With so many options where do you start!?!

It’s time!! Winter is beautiful and Exciting especially when you come to Lake of the Woods ice fishing.

Check out our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging   or click on the ice fishing tab for all your ice fishing information.

See our FaceBook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

Fall is in the air and Fall Hunting is coming very very soon. As children get ready to head back to school, hunters are cleaning guns, collecting ammo and getting their bows out to be ready for the next hunting season.

Many avid sportsmen have already been visiting the area to land those great walleyes in Lake of the Woods. However, aside from fishing, the area is known for its great fall hunting possibilities.

Grouse hunting season runs from September 14^th-January 1, 2025! With hundreds of thousands of acres of public land even the most avid grouse hunter will never run out of land to hunt. There is an area just to the west of Baudette, Beltrami Island State Forest has thousands and thousands of acres of land, dirt roads, ATV trails and walking trails which is very good grouse habitat. There is so much habitat and such a variety of habitat that grouse have everything they want and need to flourish.

Whether you own a dog or not, grouse hunting success can be had by all. Getting off the trail is key to getting more flushes in this area. Not many hunters will go break brush so many of the birds go unseen and don’t flush. Remember, even while grouse hunting, hunters must wear orange for their safety. Please check into the MN DNR site to learn about licenses and tips for fall hunting.

It seems criteria very important for grouse hunters looking to bag some “chickens of the northwoods”. There is an area just to the west of Baudette that has both.  Beltrami Island State Forest is an area with thousands of acres of land, dirt roads, ATV trails and walking trails which is very good grouse habitat. There is some much habitat and such a variety of habitat that grouse have everything they want and need to flourish.  That means success for would be grouse hunters.

Getting out with some friends in the forest during a grouse hunting season typically does not disappoint.  Most hunters shoot mainly ruffed grouse with a couple of spruce grouse thrown in.  With such a beautiful area, hunting is a success from just the sheer beauty and getting out into the woods.

The area offers 3 different types of grouse along with snipe.  The Ruffed Grouse is by far the most popular and to most hunters, tastes the best.  Some say it is the best eating game bird out there, but of course that is personal opinion.

The second type of grouse is the spruce grouse.  As a rule, ruffed grouse and spruce grouse roam the same type of habitat.  Spruce grouse prefer more of the coniferous forest or pine trees.  The meat is darker than a rough grouse and some consider it a stronger or “piney” taste.  There are a few in the north country who enjoy a good spruce grouse.

The third variety of grouse around Lake of the Woods is the sharp tailed grouse.  Sharpies primarily hang out in more agricultural settings, hence, are a bit more challenging to target as private land is best.  It is also helpful to have an idea where the sharpies are living as there are tens of thousands of acres of farmland across the Lake of the Woods region.

As The Walleye Capital of the World, Lake of the Woods is known for its fishing.  Consequently, grouse hunting does not garner the attention.  Many, however, have discovered an area off the radar that is absolutely a hunting gem.  There is a huge amount of quality public hunting land, lots of birds and fewer hunters.

We’ve focused on one aspect of fall hunting here, but remember, that Duck and Goose hunting happens in the fall and then come the very popular white-tail deer season. More will be coming at a later date on safety during these seasons.

The ability to go smack a limit of walleyes and enjoy ruffed grouse fall hunting in the same area, the same day is enough to get sportsmen and sportswoman blood pumping. Fall Hunting is a neat time up at Lake of the Woods.  A combo of great fishing and hunting speaks highly of the wonderful natural resources in this neck of the woods.  Grab your shotgun and head north to hunt grouse at Lake of the Woods.

For more information see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/hunting-trapping

For lodging: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

See our Face Book page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn