The new 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss LT 4WD and stuff.

This last year my brother-in-law Brad had been pestering me all the time about when I was getting a new pickup. My 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD was getting up to 100,000 miles. And it is a rough ride. He wanted me to get a suburban for some reason. Evidently, he thinks I have a lot of friends and luggage. Anyway, I said if I get a new vehicle it was going to be a half-ton pickup because now both the three-quarter ton and half-ton have the same headroom as each other. In 2017 the only pickup I could fit in was a three-quarter ton because the cab was taller. 

Anyway, Brad said pick out a pickup you want so we can get it done before we go on your hunting trip out west. It’s rough country out there. Bouncing around in a three-quarter ton pickup for four or five days really wears me out. 

After looking at a lot of pickups and talking to some people I decided on the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss LT 4WD. It has a 5.3 L ECOTEC3 V8 Transmission with a 10-speed automatic. The paint is sterling gray metallic with a jet-black interior. 

The Chevy Trail Boss package is a series of off-road and appearance enhancements. The package includes items like a 2-inch suspension lift, Z71 off-road equipment (like skid plates, shocks, and an automatic locking rear differential), MT tires for off-road and unique blacked-out wheels, grilles, and bumpers. The interior tech with the LT Trail Boss includes a 13.4-inch diagonal color touch-screen and 12.3-inch diagonal reconfigurable Driver Information Center. There are a lot of buttons and stuff. It is a mean machine.

When we picked out the pickup, we had to make sure I would fit in with the conversion so we gave AT Conversions the VIN number and they gave us the okay. They said it was going to be a tight fit but it would work. I was happy in my facial region. In July Brad and I filled out AT Conversions wheelchair measurement guide, the engineers there used this guide with the VIN number to figure out if me and my wheelchair fit.

On October 2nd the pickup was purchased from City Chevrolet, Columbia City, Indiana. Then the dealership drove it to AT Conversions in Roanoke, Indiana, as it was only 24 miles. The conversion usually takes 4-6 weeks. We were hoping we would get back before the trip to hunt muleys, which we were scheduled to take off on November 13.

Thankfully everything went smooth with the new pickup and the conversion, it was done on October 27. It only took AT Conversions 25 days to complete the project. Impressive.

Now that it was done, how do we get it back? We asked around to see if it could get hauled back on an open spot in one of the semi-vehicle haulers, that was a possibility but there would be no timeframe. We wouldn’t know when it would get picked up in Indiana and we would not know when it would get delivered to Enderlin. Another option was to drive a vehicle down there with two people and drive two vehicles back. The third option was to fly as close as possible and drive back the new pickup. Brad and Shelie decided to do the third option.

Friday, October 31 Brad and Shelie booked the tickets. They left for Fargo early the next morning to get to Hector International Airport.

Saturday, November 1, Brad and Shelie flew from Fargo to Chicago and then flew to Fort Wayne, Indiana. From there they took a 12-mile UBER to Roanoke, Indiana to pick up the new converted pickup. From there they started their 16+ hour road trip home, bypassing Chicago and Minneapolis. They went straight west and ended up at the Par-A-Dice Casino in Peoria, Illinois. Going through Indiana and Iowa they went over a lot of bridges and went through a lot of trees scattered around the farm fields.

Sunday, November 2, they had a slow leak in one of the back tires and had to have that fixed on Sunday at one of the Farm & Fleet stores in Iowa that day. The culprit was a drywall screw. Possibly ran it over the first day or the screw was in there from where they did the conversion. One will never know. That night they stayed overnight at the Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort by Sioux Falls, South Dakota. By the way, Brad really was liking driving the new pickup. That Sunday sister Randi and mom went to Hector to pick up Shelie and Brad’s vehicle at the new parking ramp, so they wouldn’t have to deal with it coming home with my new pickup.

Monday, November 3, they made it to the farm around 5 PM that night. That was a hell of a trip and I cannot thank them enough. Then the nerve-racking part took place, I backed into the lift, raised it up and swung into the cab. Everyone let out what I sigh of relief when I fit in the pickup and I closed the door. Then we did a little road trip with Brad, Shelie, Randi, Mom and myself around the countryside. I could tell right away how smooth the ride was in the half ton instead of the 2017 three-quarter ton. It drives like a dream. From there we went to town and celebrated at the Spare Time with Dad and others.

That week I had Randy and the crew at Cityside Collision in Enderlin put on the Tonneau cover, mudflaps and running board. I found out the running board that I picked was not low enough for the short people in my family so I ordered some different ones. Mike Lemna put on the new one with my guidance in his shop. That was entertaining. I think this running board will work well for the vertically challenged people in my world. Thanks Mike, put it on my tab. By the way, I only put one of the running boards on the driver side. Not needed on my side, and hooking it up would suck. So if there is anyone out there looking for just a passenger-side running board, I have a couple.

The next thing I needed to do was schedule putting in the wheelchair locking device onto the lifting tray with Bert’s Mobility Solutions in Moorhead. They sell and buy handicapped vehicles plus they do maintenance and add on locking devices plus do many other things for handicapped people who want to drive. By the way, they are not located at Bert’s Trucking anymore. Bert’s Mobility Solutions is located south about two half miles on Highway 75.

On November 3 I scheduled with Bert’s to put in the wheelchair locking device on November 10 at 8 AM. The wheelchair locking device is like a fifth wheel lock but for wheelchairs. There is a pin between the back tires of the wheelchair and I back into the locking device. Mom drove the new pickup there and they gave her a loner wheelchair accessible van to bring home that night. The next day mom and I drove the van to Bert’s Mobility Solutions. This is when I remembered how crappy minivans are. Sitting in the back, not being able to see much, sitting so close to the ground and scraping gravel constantly with the bottom of the van because they are lowered. So lucky to have a pickup. No comparison.

On November 12 Shelie and I went to the Lisbon DOT and got my license plates switched over to the new vehicle. Also got some other paperwork done with the new pickup. I would like to thank the ladies at the Lisbon DOT for all their help. I owe you all a cocktail.

The conversion looks pretty much the same as it did in 2017 when I had the first one in North Dakota. The new pickup conversion does have a couple things different that they have made better. The hydraulic reservoir and motor used to be under the hood. Now all of that is under the back seat. Hopefully this means that the hydraulics will warm up quicker in the cold temperatures so it won’t have to run as long for everything to work smoothly. In the 2017 conversion, if the temperatures were below freezing, I would have to run it for at least ½ hour if it wasn’t in the garage or the hydraulics wouldn’t be loose enough to lift me into the cab. Also, where the door locks when it closes shut, there used to be a big magnet that held the door closed. Now there is a hydraulic clamp that pulls the door shut and secure when closed. I’m sure there are some other things they have changed over the years to make the conversion work more gooder but these are the ones I have noticed so far.

There is no comparison when comparing the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD SLE and the new 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss LT. This new pickup is like riding on water compared to driving on square wheels over railroad tracks constantly. The trip out west went smooth like butter. It was a lot easier on my body in the new pickup for sure. The gas mileage makes a big difference also. The 2025 4D hunting trip story will be on my blog shortly after this is posted. It did not suck.

We were lucky everything went so smooth. Everything just seemed to line up perfectly when it came to the pickup, the conversion and all of the extras that are needed.

I never thought a new pickup was going to happen, I thought I would drive the 2017 Jimmy until it croaked or I did…

I also can’t thank the people at Chevrolet City for their help getting the vehicle I wanted and delivering it to AT Conversions. I would also like to give a big thank you to everyone at AT Conversions for answering all my questions and putting up with me before the conversion and during the conversion. Chauncey, you are the best.

I can’t thank Brad and Shelie enough for making this happen. Another dream comes true. If it wasn’t for Brad pestering me for the last year about when I was going to get a new pickup, this never would’ve happened. I’m glad I talked him out of getting a suburban. I’m more of a pickup guy. I would also like to thank my entire family and some great friends who contributed to the new vehicle. Forever indebted.

I can’t believe how everything worked out so smoothly. I am a happy person with a real nice ride. Thanks everybody who made this happen.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

2022 Mule Deer Hunt article for Dakota Country Magazine.

This article was published in Dakota Country Magazine. If you want a print or digital magazine subscription or looking to do some advertising click the link Dakota Country Magazine.

The North Dakota Badlands. There is something magical about the place. Aside from its beauty and more, it's mule deer country, my third attempt at filling a muley buck tag.

A couple of years ago I chased them around Unit 4C west of Grassy Butte. I saw elk and a lot of deer but never did pull the trigger. That experience got me hooked. Next time I had a tag I came down with pneumonia and couldn’t make the trip to hunt with my friend Sam in Unit 4D.

I got one more chance.

My brother-in-law Brad and sister Shelie offered to go along and help. I am a full-time job. We decided that we would take off for Medora November 3 the night before the season opens and head back on November 8. That would give me three days to hunt and two days to travel. 

We arrived at Medora the night before the season started, we met my buddy Sam at the Little Mo Saloon for supper, libations and to make a plan for the next day. Sam grew up in Medora and was my guide/gut man for the hunt.

November 4, opening day Sam had a plan for us to go down to a big ranch southwest of town. It was a little over an hour away from Medora on the south end of the unit. I was a little hesitant to go that far but once I got there I was in heaven. We met the awesome landowner Nick at his house, plus we met his beautiful family. Their place is right along the Little Missouri. Teddy Roosevelt even camped not far from their homestead while hunting the area. They made us feel like we were part of the family. 

Before we headed out, I showed them my rifle mount and how it attaches to my electric wheelchair. Then I showed them how my rifle attaches to the mount and how my extended trigger attaches to my rifle. They were impressed.

We put on a ton of miles that day. We were going up and down and bouncing all around the buttes and valleys on their place. It is something that I will never forget. It’s hard to absorb it all. We saw some deer that first day but Nick was disappointed that we didn’t see more. We did find quite a few does and one buck that I could have tried to get on. But Nick the landowner told me he wanted me to get something bigger. That first day we explored most of the north side of the ranch. I really didn’t care about seeing deer. I was in my element driving through that land of history. Nick invited us back the next day to search some more of the territory. He promised me the next day that I would be able to notch another item off my bucket list. That is to ford the Little Mo with my pickup. So, we headed back to the motel and I went straight to bed.

The next day which was Saturday we headed back down to the ranch. This day it was windy. I mean 30 mph with higher gusts. We headed through the corrals and to the south end of the property. It wasn’t too long and we were staring at the Little Missouri. Nick and Sam went first in Sam’s pickup and we followed shortly after in my pickup. I didn’t think it was going to be as deep as it was seeing there had been little rain. But it was up to the floorboards or little higher. It was a blast going through until we got to the other bank. It was steep and there were deep ruts. We tried going up but we slid off the high points and stopped. So we backed down into the river and this time we gave it the onion. Nick and Sam were on the top of the bank and as soon as we give it the onion Nick put his thumb up and smiled. They got back in Sam’s pickup and we explored some more. I don’t know how those guys see the deer they see. They would stop and glass and point out deer. Most of them I didn’t see. I don’t know how they could see them while driving? Soon enough we were at another river crossing. This time fording the river wasn’t as sketchy but just as much fun. There were deer here and there up high on the sidehills and one buck I would have tried to get on but he ran like the wind for some reason.

Soon enough it was getting dark and we started heading back to the ranch. This meant fording the river two more times. I was in heaven. Going this direction, the riverbanks were not so bad climbing out. 

We made it back to the ranch right before dark. We had some refreshments and talked about the last couple days. Nick invited us back the next day to try and fill my tag but I knew my body couldn’t take another day of bouncing around. Sadly, I had to decline. I told him I would be back in the future though. Then headed back to the motel.

The next day Sunday, Sam had a plan to hunt closer to town. He said he and his buddy Brady had some land I could get on that there should be deer. I was still in bed at the motel when Sam called me. He had a buck bedded down and it was just off the road. I could hear the wind howling in my room and I knew it was going to be a sketchy day shooting. We got packed up again and Brad, Shelie and I headed out west of town. It wasn’t long and we ran into Sam. We made a plan of driving past the buck, then I would get out of the pickup and get the rifle mount and rifle strapped on my wheelchair. This time we would use his 300 Norma Mag with 230 grain Berger bullets. Sam said we should use this because the heavier bullet would cut the wind a lot more than the 150 grain bullets I was shooting from my 270 Tikka. 

It was brutally cold, around 25° and winds were at 40 mph. I was shivering uncontrollably. We were using my pickup as wind protection and a barrier so the buck couldn’t see us. It took me a while to find him in the scope as he was on a hillside full of buck brush. He was a cool looking devil buck and for some reason he was still in velvet. He was a little over 200 yards. When I was on him I asked Sam to take my rifle off of safety and when he did that the rifle went off. Missing the buck by only inches that we could see from a video from Sam’s phone. The buck got up and ran away in a hurry. We made the decision to head to Sentinel Butte to figure out what went wrong with my rifle and to figure out the next plan.

By this time, I was freezing. Brad and Sam helped get everything loaded into the pickup and we followed Sam to Sentinel Butte. There we were going to meet his friends Brady and Cole. We met at the gas station which is also the local coffee gathering spot. That place has quite the story. The owner opened the back door so I could get in and I tilted back in my wheelchair. I am supposed to do that every hour for 10 minutes to relieve pressure. Shelie got some tea and the owner heated it up for me. I was so cold, my left arm wasn't working well. I don’t even like tea but that didn’t matter at the time. It helped me warm up. The owner also brought out a platter of baked goods including caramel rolls and pumpkin bars. They didn’t suck. While we were there, we figured out that when we put the elongated trigger on the trigger guard of Sam’s rifle it must’ve been too close to the trigger. That is what made the gun go off prematurely. But it worked great earlier when we tested it. Brady said we could use his 300 Win Mag that shoots 215 grain Hybrid Berger bullets. His rifle is topped with a Vortex Viper Gen 2. My elongated trigger worked perfectly on his rifle.

Brady said they had some family land that I could hunt on. Brady and Sam hopped in Brady’s vehicle and we would follow them from the gas station. We pulled into an old abandoned farmstead and we made a plan. Brad, Shelie and I would stay at the farmstead in the warm vehicle while they did some scouting. It wasn’t long and I got the call from Sam that they found a good buck bedded down.

It took us a bit to get to the spot. But it wasn’t nearly as rough as the stuff I had been through the last couple days. Brady was concerned about the roughness and Sam said with a laugh, “He’s been through a lot worse.” When we got to the top of the hill there was a field of harvested peas. The wind was pretty much directly in my face. Perfect to get on the buck. It was perfect but blowing 40 mph with higher gusts. I got out in that wind and I knew it was going to be a hard shot. Brad, Brady, Sam and myself made the sneak up to the edge of the hillside and got prepared for the shot. The deer was bedded 290 yards away from my position. My tray on my wheelchair was vibrating and my chair was blowing around like a kite. Brady grabbed one side of my chair trying to hold it still and Sam on the other. My eyes were watering and I was shivering. I was miserable at that moment. It took me a while to get on him with that wind and then once I was on him the wind would bounce the scope around terribly. But I finally felt like I was on him so I took a shot and it went right over its back. The buck had no clue where the shot came from. He got up and ran maybe a hundred yards and bedded back down. 

I was ready to give up but they said he isn’t going anywhere. So, I got back in the pickup for half hour to warm up. Then I got back out and we reattached the gun mount and Brady’s rifle. We then made the second sneak. We got up to the hillside and he was bedded 130 yards away. It worked perfectly. For some reason it was just as windy but at that spot the wind wasn't affecting me as much. I moved my wheelchair to get in line, adjusted my elevation by tilting a little, looked in the scope and he was right there. The crosshairs were right on him! Sam grabbed one side of chair and Brady on the other. I said, “I'm on him.” Sam dialed the scope in a little and I said, “That’s good, I'm taking the shot.” I pulled the trigger and didn’t even feel the trigger or the recoil. It felt good. The next thing I knew Sam, Brady and my brother-in-law Brad were screaming like school girls. “He got him! He got him!” I got a little choked up. It was quite the moment. We congratulated each other and I thanked them all. 

They then helped me get everything back into the pickup. Then Brady and Sam went down to the buck and tagged it. They told me to head back to the abandoned farmstead where Brady’s brother Cole was with their cousin Shay. I later learned that these two videoed the whole thing a thousand yards away at the farmstead. I love watching that video.

After the shot, Cole and Shay drove up to help load the buck. It’s a good thing they did because Brady’s fuel pump went out on his pickup. What are the odds? So they threw the buck in the back of Cole’s pickup and made their way down to the farmstead. We then all got out and went over the events that just took place. It was a great time. It was now time for pictures. We found a good spot next to an old building and took turns capturing the moment. They then gutted it and told us to follow them to the Grandpa’s farm so we could quarter it out.

Once we got in to the garage the boys hooked up a propane turkey fryer right next to me so I could warm up with the flames. In no time the buck was quartered and in game bags. I also had him caped because I knew I was going to do a shoulder mount. We found the bullet and found that the top half of the heart was completely gone. Lucky shot.

After we got the buck in the cooler the boys got the garage cleaned up and looking just like it was when we got there. I thanked Grandpa for helping and he said any time. I thanked Cole and Shay. They were smiling the whole time. Grandpa told us the shortcut to get back to Medora so Brad, Shelie and I headed back to town to the Little Mo. Brady hopped in with Sam because he now had no vehicle and needed a ride to Dickinson. We told them to stop at the bar to have some supper and cocktails. Which they did. We all had a great meal and a great time reminiscing the day’s events. 

The next morning which was Monday, November 7 there was snow on the ground. It snowed all the way to Jamestown. At one point we were going 5 mph on the interstate going to cross the Missouri River. It took a while to get back to Enderlin.

I still can’t believe how everything came together. It was just perfect. There isn’t anything I would change. Everyone that I met was so awesome. Glad they urged me on to try one more time. They didn’t even know me and they were willing to help in any way. I am forever indebted to everyone that was involved. There is no way to say how thankful I am to everyone. It’s not about the kill, it’s about the memories made. And I sure made a lot of memories during this hunt.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

The history of Dakota muskies an article for Dakota Country Magazine.

 

This article was published in Dakota Country Magazine. If you want a print or digital magazine subscription or looking to do some advertising click the link Dakota Country Magazine.

They say, “Muskie are the fish of 10,000 casts.” That still may be true, but in North Dakota and South Dakota the opportunity to land one of these potentially monster fish is getting better and better every year. Muskie fishing doesn’t get the headlines like walleye or northern pike fishing in the Dakotas, but muskie have been being stocked in both states for many decades.

“The first pure muskies were stocked in 1958 in Spiritwood Lake and Lake Williams. We stocked the first tiger muskies in 1965 into a couple of smaller rearing ponds, but it was 1976 before we stocked them in 9 public fishing waters across the state,” explained Scott Gangl the North Dakota Game & Fish Fisheries Management Section Leader. 

Obtaining the first muskellunge brood stock in 1958 was found to be almost unattainable, according to an article from North Dakota Outdoors Magazine from that year. States that were raising muskie were not prone to parting with any of the eggs, fingerlings or adults, they were all hard to come by. A few commercial sources did exist then, but the cost was too high priced. Muskie fingerling (2 to 5 inches) were averaging between $1.50 to $3.50 apiece back then. NDGF Fisheries Chief Dale Henegar managed to obtain a limited number of eggs from Bemus Point Hatchery in New York. The eggs came from Chautauqua Lake, New York. The eggs were shipped before they reached the eyed stage of development. They were transported by air to Fargo, then the eggs were rushed to the Federal Hatchery in Valley City. Amazingly almost all of the quart and a half of eggs were hatched into fry. The fry were then distributed into rearing ponds and about four weeks after that the now fingerlings were ready for planting.

The object of the original plantings of muskellunge were not to bring fishing to the state, instead the purpose of the plantings were to attempt to raise brood stock. From the brood stock, eggs could be then obtained. If the fish did survive to reach maturity, they hoped to do their own stocking program. If all of that went well, they were wishing for someday in the future for muskie fishing to be an option in the state.

Spiritwood Lake northeast of Jamestown was the first location to be stocked on Wednesday afternoon, June 23, 1958, with 1,117 fingerlings. The next day the same number of fingerlings were taking to Lake Williams northeast of Steele. The two lakes couldn’t have been more different in that year. Spiritwood Lake had a substantial fish population while Lake Williams had recently been eradicated with no fish present. The remainder of the muskellunge also left the fishery and were transported to Mirror Pool. This small body of water is located in the Sheyenne National Grasslands in southeast North Dakota. Mirror Pool back then was closed to fishing and was used as a brood stock holding area.

In that first year of bringing muskie to the state, the fisheries department had no idea what the future was going to hold for this new species. They did know that they didn’t want to replace any of the existing game fish, they just wanted to furnish something new in the way of recreation. It was much too early to think about fishing muskie but they had a guess of what could be expected if the program was successful. They were estimating a minimum size limit on these fish would be in the neighborhood of 30 inches. They also figured most of the fishing public would not bother to specifically fish for muskie when catching an easier limit of northerns in the same amount of time.

Brian Blackwell, the Program Lead for Fisheries Research and Survey for South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks said, “Muskies were first introduced into South Dakota in 1975 at Amsden Dam when 2,000 fingerling muskies were brought from Valley City National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota.  An additional 5,000 muskie fingerlings were stocked into Amsden Dam in 1976.” The comments from the public began soon after the introduction of the new species. On a memo, the then South Dakota Fisheries Chief Bob Hanten, Sr., wrote that he had accepted the first muskies on the spur of a moment and wished he had thought it through before stocking them.

Muskie were introduced into 14 South Dakota waters between 1975 and 1999, including three Missouri River Reservoirs. Both pure and tiger muskellunge were stocked with various sizes of fish; fry, fingerlings and yearlings. Amsden Dam was the only fishery to become established in the state, other waters unfortunately were deemed unsuccessful because of a limited return to anglers.

When Gangl was asked why muskellunge are stocked in North Dakota, he replied, “The main reason we stock muskies today is the same reason they stocked them back in 1958: to provide a diverse angling experience for those anglers who want to target them.  There are a lot of anglers who fish for muskies as a unique species, so there’s value in that.  But there is also the trophy potential of catching a large muskie.  We generally don’t manage fish populations solely for trophy fishing, but our muskie fisheries are one area that we do.  With low density stocking rates and a 48” minimum length limit, muskies are protected from harvest statewide until they reach truly trophy sizes.”

“In South Dakota and most states, muskies are present at a low abundance and would never be considered a species utilized for trying to control an overabundant species,” Blackwell explained. He went on to say, “In South Dakota, muskies are stocked to provide anglers with a unique opportunity to catch a muskie. Many South Dakota anglers have never caught a muskie and catching a 40+ inch fish would be considered a bonus to just catching a muskie.”

There are 40 lakes in the state of North Dakota that have been stocked with either pure or tiger muskellunge since the program started in the 50s said Gangl. “Most of those didn’t provide much return, “emphasized Gangl. He went on to say, “Currently, we’re maintaining muskie fishing in six lakes (nine lakes if you count each lake in the Garrison Diversion Unit canal separately) across the state.” The current lakes include Audubon, Ashtabula, Garrison Diversion Canal Lakes (West Park, East Park, New Johns, Heckers), Red Willow Lake, Wood Lake, and Larimore Dam.  There is also a healthy population of fish in the Sheyenne River that were entrained through Baldhill Dam after being stocked in Ashtabula. Muskies can attain lengths exceeding 50 inches in a few of these North Dakota waters.

The canal lakes of the Garrison Diversion Unit (West Park, East Park, Heckers and New Johns) have the longest history of consistent muskie stockings, with maintenance stockings dating back to 1980 replied Gangl.  “That longevity has a lot to do with their reputation as muskie fisheries.  Along with that, the canal lakes have good water quality and forage that muskies need to live long and grow large.  This is one of the systems where we’ve tried to consistently stock pure muskellunge, and the state record pure muskellunge was caught from New Johns Lake in 2007,” Gangl added.

When Blackwell was questioned about what lakes were stocked in South Dakota, he answered, “In the past, muskies and/or tiger muskies were stocked in East Lemmon, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Marindahl, Beaver, Poinsett, Mitchell, Kampeska, Cochrane, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, Lewis and Clark Reservoir, and Amsden. Today, muskies are stocked in Lynn, Middle Lynn, Highway 81 West, Sinai, and North Island.”

Currently there are no plans for either North Dakota or South Dakota to stock any new lakes with muskie. Both states have tried to expand in the past but have found the lakes that are managed now with muskie are the ones most suitable for what this species needs to flourish.

One may ask themselves why stock this species when there are so many lakes with northern pike in each state. Both states want to provide anglers with a unique opportunity to catch a trophy fish.

SDGFP currently only stocks pure-strain muskies. The pure strain will obtain larger sizes and live longer than tiger muskies. In addition, stocking only pure-strain muskies would allow SDGFP the ability to have broodstock to procure eggs and milt if a future need arises, explained Blackwell. He added that to increase the chance for survival, muskie currently are not stocked until they are one year old and approximately 12-14 inches long. The muskie that are stocked come from Iowa. They are raised until they hit that 12-14 inches at the Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, which takes around a year. With this size of fish, they should be able to escape any attack from any other fish.

NDGF on the other hand stocks both varieties. Gangl explained, “While we would choose the species based on their growth rates and maximum size potential, the reality is that pure muskies have been difficult to obtain from our sources on a regular basis, while tigers have been more readily available in greater numbers.  If you look at our stocking records in recent years, we’ve reserved the limited pure muskies for some of our smaller stockings and used the tigers in the larger waters where we need bigger numbers to fill the request.”

NDGF do their muskie stocking in the fall, right before ice-up.  “In the past we stocked them at smaller sizes like our other northern pike or walleye fingerling stockings (1.5-2”) but we had lower survival and lost a lot of muskies to predation.  One observation our staff made was that the newly stocked muskies would linger near the stocking site, and made easy pickings for birds.  Waiting until fall allows us to grow them much larger, typically reaching 8-10” or larger when they’re stocked.  We’ve also been trying to stock them as late in the season as possible, right before ice-up, to avoid many of the predacious birds that have already moved south,” replied Gangl.

“Prior to 2001, fry (< 0.5 inches) and small fingerlings (< 3 inches) were commonly stocked. Many of these small muskies were likely eaten by other fish or were unable to survive the winter. Today, stocked muskies are 11 to 15 inches long when released,” mentioned Blackwell. He added, “In 2022, Middle Lynn Lake received a stocking of 115 adult fish (average length 34.6 inches) from Utah. These adults previously served as brood fish at Lee Kay Fish Hatchery in Utah.”

Both North Dakota and South Dakota work with other state fisheries that raise pure and hybrid muskellunge. The fisheries departments trade varieties of fish between each other depending on their wants and needs. Neither North Dakota or South Dakota have documented any natural reproduction or recruitment of muskie.

South Dakota records:

Muskellunge -        40 lbs., Amsden Dam, April 16, 1991 - Daniel B. Krueger.

Tiger Muskellunge - 37 lbs. 7 oz., Lake Sharpe, May 30, 2003 - Jason Besmer.

South Dakota currently has a catch-and-release-only regulation on muskies. Thus, it is unlikely a new record will be set unless an angler happens to have a certified scale.

North Dakota records:

Muskellunge - 46 lbs. 8 oz. 54" New Johns Lake, July 03, 2007 - Cory Bosch from Mandan, ND. 

Tiger Muskellunge - 40 lbs. 0 oz. 45" Gravel Lake, June 26, 1975 - Marvin Lee from Rolette, ND.

In North Dakota it is illegal to take or possess any muskellunge less than 48 inches in length. The daily and possession limit is one fish over 48 inches.

North Dakota and South Dakota lakes that are managed for muskie are restricted from darkhouse spearfishing. The reason being that it may be difficult for spearers to tell the difference between a muskie and northern pike, especially in cloudy water.

There are three common pattern variations for the largest member of the pike family, muskellunge; clear, spotted and barred. Background colors of the fish can vary depending on water clarity and other environmental characteristics of the water body. All three patterns may be present in a certain location but one may be dominant.

Tiger muskellunge hybrid, a cross between a female muskellunge and a male northern pike, sometimes has an alternating of stripes and spots, or narrow paired bars on a light background. The coloration should never be confused with a northern pike that have a pattern of horizontal rows of light, round to oval spots on a dark background. Another characteristic that differs between the varieties of the pike family are the number of pores on the underside of the lower jaw. Pure muskie have 6-9 pores, hybrids have 5-8 pores and northern pike have 5 or fewer pores on each side of the lower jaw.

Tiger muskies are sterile and cannot reproduce like other hybrid fish. Because of this they spend most of their time thinking about food rather than other stuff and things.

Catch rates for these monster fish are very low compared to other species, hence the name “The fish of 10,000 casts.” Muskie spend most of their time somewhat inactive. To get the fish to strike anglers need to cast where they are but this doesn’t necessarily mean they will take the bait, so to speak.

Muskie like to hide in the edge of weed beds because they are a predatory fish and like to ambush their prey. They can reach burst of speeds up to 30 miles per hour when they are on the attack. Muskie seem to feed when the weather stays consistent, no matter that be rain or sunshine.

Anglers who go after muskie have learned that this species of fish will hit any size lure. The larger the lure doesn’t necessarily mean the larger the fish that could be caught. The lure size will vary depending on what depth you are fishing at.

For muskie to reach a large size, they need good-sized forage, such as cisco, white sucker or carp. Muskie can grow fast and reach very large sizes compared to many other fish species in the right environment. They can live as long as 30 years in their natural environment. Muskie also like cool water that they can move to because they do not do well with warm water temperatures.

The muskie has been an exciting addition to fishing opportunities in some North and South Dakota lakes. With the recent expansion of muskie opportunities, anglers don’t have to travel as far for a chance to catch one.

If you haven’t given it a try, put muskie fishing on your to-do list. With the stocking efforts by both the SDGFP and NDGF Fishing Departments catching your “Fish of 10,000 Casts” doesn’t have to be that far away.

***

Joel Isaacson of Valley City, North Dakota caught this 40-inch muskie in eastern North Dakota on December 17, 2024. Isaacson had never fished for muskie specifically before that night. While fishing for walleye in the same spot earlier in the season, he had muskie snap his line, so he decided to order a 7-inch glide bait to go after the species with 10-pound line.

“It still feels pretty unreal, especially since they say it's a fish every 10,000 casts, and it only took four for me,” Isaacson mentioned. He released the fish hoping that the muskie population can continue to thrive in the future.

Isaacson explained, “The fish didn’t put up much of a fight. I reeled it in pretty close, but I couldn’t get it onshore right away due to the steep, rocky shoreline and I didn’t have a net either because I really wasn't expecting to catch anything. So, my friend had to come with waders to help retrieve the fish. I had it on for about 10 minutes, just sitting in front of me without much resistance, until he was able to hand it up to me on the rocks.”

Don B caught this muskie while fishing the Sheyenne River on October 22, 2024. Don who is from Enderlin, was jigging for walleye when he thought he got a snag. 20 minutes later with help from a friend who had a large net, they were able to land Don’s first ever muskie. They estimated the muskellunge to be 41 inches before they released it. Gangl added, “We didn’t stock them in the river, but we have seen a substantial amount of entrainment through Baldhill Dam.  So, the Sheyenne River has a pretty strong muskie population right now.”

Thanks for reading, Clint.

Tips for buying a crossbow and stuff.

Crossbows have been getting more popular every year. The number of manufacturers in the crossbow business now has multiplied exponentially over the last handful of years. With some states loosening their regulations on who can use crossbows during hunting season, here are some tips if you plan on going that route because of age, injury or just for the fun of it.

Rule number one when it comes to purchasing a crossbow is that they are not quiet. Doesn't matter what brand or how new. Some are quieter but they are all loud. But most are so fast it doesn't matter how noisy they are. You will be surprised if you have never been around crossbows before and you go shoot some just how loud crossbows are. Even the brand-new ones right off the line are noisy.

Another key factor is weight and length. They can get heavy and long. The lightest you will find is around 6 pounds. That is with everything detached, quiver etc. You will also find some to be real long. They can be somewhat cumbersome, especially for someone who has never shot one before. 

Price is always an object. But I would suggest buying the best you can afford. To fully package out everything that you need to shoot/hunt, you can expect to pay around $800-$1500. For just the bare crossbow expect to pay around $300-$1000. This might seem like a lot to pay for but it will last you a lifetime if you take care of your equipment and follow the maintenance recommendations. You can spend a couple thousand on a crossbow but that is not necessary to kill a deer.

There are two main kinds of crossbows, recurve and compound. Recurve crossbows are more user-friendly for the first timer. Just like everything, less parts equals less breakdowns and it is no different with crossbows. I would suggest recurve for a beginner. Some have lifetime warranty on their lines of recurve crossbows. Companies that make compound crossbows offer warranties but most of them are limited. Compound crossbows include forward-draw and reverse-draw crossbows. Compound crossbows are not that complicated, they just need more attention and maintenance.

There are also options on how to cock your crossbow. Most if not all come with some type of rope cocking or pulley system to cock the bow. Some come with a hand crank built-in to the crossbow. Others come with detachable hand cranks. Built-in are really nice just because they are handy and you're never looking for your cocker.

There are also options on which type of sights you would like to use. There are open sights, dot sights and scopes. There are many different brands available that are made specifically for crossbows. Make sure to check your state regulations on what magnifications are allowed in your state while hunting. Familiarity, good field of view, durability and light gathering are also factors when considering which type of sight to put on your crossbow. There are scopes that come with lighted reticles. Again, check local regulations because some states do not allow these.

When you start looking for arrows for your crossbow you will be amazed at how many are available. It all depends on what you want to spend. But I will say this, you get what you pay for. There are some companies out there that will spine test every arrow before they send it to you. Others are just mass-produced. But they all have their place. The most important thing is to get the right weight and arrow length that is recommended by your crossbow manufacture. Some companies will void your warranty if you use the wrong arrow.

When you have picked out your arrow the next thing to look at is which broadhead you are going to use. Fixed or mechanical is your first decision. This is like a Chevy versus Ford deal. Everyone has their favorite. But every crossbow has their favorite also. It is just going to take time and patience to figure out which broadhead shoots best with the arrow you choose for your crossbow. The combinations of these three things are endless. Remember to check your state regulations for which broadheads are legal.

Every year there seems to be more and more companies coming out with their own line of crossbows. Some companies have been around for years while others are just jumping in the market. So there are tons of options out there. You can spend as little or as much as you want. The one good thing about all of these companies getting into the crossbow business is all of the new technology and innovations that have been made specifically for crossbows. And just like everything, there are good companies to deal with and there are not so good companies to deal with. You will find out which ones are the good ones very early.

There are a lot of good websites out there with a lot of good information. It can get a little overwhelming, but with some basic info you should be able to narrow down your search.

Remember, nothing is better than getting out and shooting as many brands as you can. Each is different, and each has their pros and cons. The old adage is true, shoot more… shoot more often.

Minnesota crossbow regulations:

Two years ago, a temporary change was made to allow all hunters to use a crossbow without a permit.  The temporary period ends this year, and the Minnesota DNR are hoping that legislature will make it permanently legal.  There’s currently a bill in Committee that would eliminate the “expiration date” of the trial period for crossbow that we are in, making it permanently allowed. If passed, all you will need is the appropriate hunting license, as a crossbow is considered archery and can be used with an archery license, and can be used with a firearm license too. 

North Dakota crossbow regulations:

Crossbow permittees must be either blind, paraplegic or have lost the use of one or both arms. A licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, certified physician assistant, or licensed chiropractor is required to confirm the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and application must be accepted by the NDGF to receive crossbow permit.

South Dakota crossbow regulations:

To use a crossbow with an archery license, an individual must be permitted through the South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks. A Crossbow/Draw-lock Permit is available to any person who is incapable of using a conventional bow with a minimum draw weight of 30 pounds, due to the loss of use of one or both arms, caused by birth defect, injury, disease, or who uses a wheelchair for mobility. Crossbow application must be signed by physician or chiropractor.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

Life doesn’t suck but it does if you let it.

My life doesn’t suck but if someone else was in my position they might have a different outlook. I am not saying that my life is all balloons and puppies but if you choose or decide that your life is going to suck, I guarantee you it is. Life doesn’t suck.

It’s easy to blame someone else for your life but there’s only one to blame and that would be yourself. Life doesn’t suck.

If your life sucks now but it was great a couple months ago, it’s not anyone’s fault but your own. It blows my mind that people think their lives are so greatly changed by a simple vote. If your happiness depends on that vote, you have bigger problems. Life doesn’t suck.

I too have those days that I think to myself poor me. But guess what, that gets you nowhere. Thankfully I only have those days very rarely. I couldn’t imagine waking up every morning not being upbeat. Life doesn’t suck.

Every once in a while, when I am having a down in the dump’s day, I remind myself that there is always someone who is worse off. I been around enough to see stuff and things, and there are people way worse off than I. I’m lucky that way. Life doesn’t suck.

I like to keep busy. Some people tell me that I do more than they do. Like I go out more on the town, I go hunting more or I just have a busier schedule than they do, and they are able-bodied. I laugh at that. Sometimes I wonder what I would be doing if I wasn’t a quadriplegic? I think I probably would be doing the same stuff except for just more of it. I love life and I love living it. It doesn’t matter that I am physically handicapped. That just puts a limit to the stuff and things I can do. Notice how I said can and I did not say can’t. Life doesn’t suck.

A lot of people need to pull up their tighty whities, pull up their big boy panties. Life doesn’t suck.

If I feel like doing something, I can pretty much find someone to help me do that something. If I feel like going ice fishing, I can usually find someone to make that happen. If I want to go hunting, I usually have more than enough help or opportunity. If I want to go out on the town, I can find someone to go with. Life doesn’t suck.

If your life sucks because you are more worried about politics and elected officials, I believe your priorities are backwards. My advice to you is too quit watching the news and start living life. I used to watch the news religiously every day, multiple times a day. Mostly local. But when I quit doing that a handful of years ago, it really freed up my cranial region for other stuff and things. The other stuff and things are fulfilling not depressing, like the news. Life doesn’t suck.

Republican, Democrat, green jacket, gold jacket who gives a shit… Get over it. If your happiness depends on that, that is a sad life. Life doesn’t suck.

So, get out and go outside. The more you are with nature the less stress and other stuff will be on your mind. Life doesn’t suck.

Of course, it helps if you have family and friends like I do. Thankfully I have the support of a great family and great friends. My family and friends do not suck. Life doesn’t suck.

These are some of things I think of when I’m staring down an ice hole waiting for something to bite my hook. Life doesn’t suck.

Thanks for reading, Clint.