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.

Trackchairs plus stuff and things.

Trackchairs have been around since the first rough prototype was built on November 27, 2008 by the original founder, Tim Swenson. On January 19, 2009 the first working prototype complete and operational was built, named Freedom One. This first Trackchair is proudly displayed in the showroom at the Action Manufacturing Inc. based in Marshall, Minnesota.

Adam Henning the Marketing Manager for Action Manufacturing explained, “The first 50 or so Trackchairs were sold through Action Sports, which was Tim’s powersports dealership. October 1, 2009, Tim sold Action Sports to his son Jim, and founded Action Manufacturing, Inc. to focus on building Action Trackchair.

Action Trackchairs are all-terrain tracked electric powered wheelchairs. Basically, they are wheelchairs on steroids that are made to go through places that a regular manual wheelchair or electric wheelchair could not even think of going without getting stuck. These all-terrain wheelchairs give disabled individuals freedom to go places they did not think was possible.

Now disabled individuals have the opportunity to use and try one of these chairs with help from North Dakota Game & Fish, South Dakota Game Fish & Parks and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Trackchairs provide comfort, stability, and safety for outdoor users whether they are looking to hunt, fish, or simply get out outside in areas they would normally not be able to go.

North Dakota:

The North Dakota Game & Fish Department has a Trackchair available for use at the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Center located in Bismarck and at NDGF Department sponsored field events. There is no charge for the use of the chair. When the chair is not being used by the NDGF, the Trackchair can be reserved by approved user groups for offsite use at outdoor educational or hunting programs.

A waiver of liability must be signed by the user or guardian before using the Trackchair. The Trackchair may be reserved for offsite use for up to 72 hours. The Trackchair must be picked up by a representative of the organization responsible for the outdoor program or event at which it is being used. An enclosed trailer is provided for transporting the chair. Towing the trailer requires the towing vehicle have a 2-inch ball. A short tutorial on how to run and load the wheelchair properly will be given upon pick up of the chair. To reserve the use of the Trackchair call 701-328-6615.

South Dakota:

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department has partnered with South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures to provide physically disabled individuals with an Action Trackchair. The chair is available free of charge and can be reserved up to two weeks by calling the Outdoor Campus West at 605-394-2391. This number can also be reached if there are any questions about the Trackchair.

Minnesota:

Trackchairs are available in 13 different Minnesota State Parks for visitors with mobility issues. The chairs are available year-round in some locations but only seasonally in others. The state does not charge for the use of the chairs but a state park vehicle permit is required for all vehicles entering the parks. People with disabilities can get a discounted vehicle permit for entering parks.

Jamie McBride is the State Park & Recreation Area Program Consultant in the Parks & Trails Division for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“The parks with the highest visitation generally get the most use,” said McBride. He went on to say, “In our first year most of the chairs were used an average of three to four days per week in the summer, and one to two days per week in the spring and fall. Use at Fort Snelling State Park had the highest use (five to six days per week in the summer and 3 to 5 days per week in the spring and fall). Their increased use is likely due to its proximity to the population based in the metro area.”

McBride explained about the positive feedback, “Users have told us that using the chair is life-changing, that they are now able to get out into the park to see the major attractions rather than staying on the paved surfaces while their friends and families explore overlooks, waterfalls, and other significant natural and cultural resources.” 

McBride said when asked if there had been any problems or concerns with the chairs, “Our planning worked to anticipate all of the problems we have faced thus far. For example, we have a plan for when a battery runs out while a chair is in use.” He went on to say, “Almost all of the feedback we’ve gotten has been focused on how to make little tweaks to the program or equipment to make it better.”

When users sign in for the track chairs, the length of use varies in each park. McBride explained, “Some parks let you use it just for the day, and if you want multiple days, you must bring it back to the storage location for an overnight charge. Others have opportunities for overnight use for as long as the user is in the park. In those cases, we send the charging cord and cover, making sure the visitor knows how to charge it between uses. All chairs need to remain in the park at all times. If the user has a campsite or lodging unit with electricity it’s possible to use some chairs overnight.”

The Minnesota DNR received the first track chair by donation in 2016. McBride said, “Four additional chairs were rolled out in the summer of 2022, with eight more arriving in August of 2023. We’re in the process of purchasing ten more chairs which will start arriving in the parks and 2025. This expansion is funded through 2023 legislation called Get Out More that dedicated $1,000,000 to track chairs and other adaptive devices.” The Minnesota DNR has not awarded the contract to build the new tracked chairs to any company in particular.

“At this point they can only be used on DNR’s Parks and Trails managed lands. There is some future possibility that they’ll be able to be used on other DNR managed lands, especially for specialized hunting, and we’ve explored the idea of allowing use on public lands that neighbor state parks but those details are yet to be fully realized. We don’t have plans to allow visitors to transport the chair by vehicle to another location,” added McBride.

Contact the Minnesota park you plan to visit ahead of time to reserve a Trackchair. A waiver must be signed before use. For more information contact the individual Minnesota State Park you wish to visit or call 888-646-6367.

Henning said, “They roughly sell 550 to 600 Trackchairs in a given year and we are looking to grow that number in the next couple years.” Action Manufacturing eclipsed serial number 7,000 earlier this year.

“Battery life is highly dependent on many variables including terrain, weather, weight of the user, battery age, etc., but the AXIS 30 and AXIS 40 can get up to 10 miles on a charge. Or about 2-3 hours of continuous use,” explained Henning.

Henning went on to say, “We proudly offer a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Three years on the welding/frame. Three years on the tracks. Two or three years on the battery charger, depending on brand. Very little maintenance is needed in regard to the tracks. But, they may need replacing several years after the warranty expires depending on the application and how often the Trackchair gets used. Replacement tracks are available for order through our dealer network.”

Action Manufacturing has a new model that is only 30 inches wide, which is a game changer for a lot of users that do not want to transfer in and out of different wheelchairs just in order to get into a house. Most doorframes in homes are at least 30 inches wide these days.

Trackchairs can be modified/fitted for each individual user. Leg rests, armrests, controllers, seat cushions, backrests among other parts can be adjusted and changed depending on the disability or size of the user.

The different models and options can be found on the website (www.actiontrackchair.com) under the models page. For more information contact: 507-532-5940.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

High School Clay Target League story and stuff.

There is an opportunity for student athletes in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota and that is to get involved with shooting sports. More specifically, clay target shooting. 

Spring 2015 was the first year for the North Dakota High School Clay Target League. Four high schools took the initiative to be the first in North Dakota to offer this opportunity to their student athletes that first year. They were Enderlin, Devils Lake, Oak Grove and Larimore with a total of 92 student-athletes. 

John Nelson has been the President of the USA Clay Target League since 2018 which is based in Eagan, Minnesota. Nelson has been with the League even prior to 2008 when he and founder Jim Sable started the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League. The Minnesota League started with three teams and 30 athletes. Nelson explained, “We became a virtual competition (shoot at your local range) the following year because two outstate schools wanted to join.” Wisconsin was the second state to have a High School Clay Target League. South Dakota started theirs in 2016. There are 39 states now that are part of the League.

In the 2024 Spring season the League grew to 75 teams in North Dakota with 2,025 student-athletes participating. Along with trap, there were 35 teams that participated in skeet, sporting clays and 5-stand collectively. Minnesota had 348 teams with 11,200 student-athletes participating. There were 80 teams with 700 athletes that competed in the shooting clay sports. South Dakota had 55 teams with 1,400 student-athletes that competed. They had 25 teams with 200 athletes that competed in the other shooting clay sports.

Any student enrolled in school or homeschooled at the time of the student athlete registration deadline date is eligible to participate if the student is in 6th through 12th grade, has completed firearm safety course, meets all school eligibility requirements, complies with league policies and the team has room to accommodate the student-athlete. Also, the League is an adaptive sport, which allows students that have physical disabilities participate in this extracurricular coed activity. The League promotes and emphasizes these priorities in this order; safety, fun and marksmanship.

The 501(c3) nonprofit USA Clay Target League is the largest clay target shooting sport organization in the world with 51,866 student athletes, 1,795 clay target teams (Including High School, College & Homeschool Teams), and 10,316 coaches and volunteers who participated in 2023-24. Those numbers are expected to climb every year like they have every year.

Students who participate can also participate in other sports at the same time. The League allows teams to shoot up to one day a week, including weekends, which gives flexibility for practices and games in other sports.

Besides trap shooting the Clay Target League also offers skeet, sporting clays and 5 stand depending on what your shooting range in your area has to offer. The cost per student is $40. The money goes towards the administration costs associated with League operations. The cost of participating at the optional state tournament is also $40 per student. North Dakota’s state tournament has been held at The Shooting Park in Horace every year since they joined the League.

What is trap shooting? The shooters fire from five positions in an arc shaped formation 16 yards behind a throwing machine in a small enclosure called the trap house. The machine throws the clay disc targets at different angles unknown to the shooter. Hearing and eye protection are mandatory for every shooter. Shotguns are not loaded and no shell is in the chamber until a squad member's turn to shoot. Each person fires at a clay target. Each target is only fired at once. After each shooter has fired five shots from a particular position on the arc, all shooters move one station to the right until everyone has fired from all five positions. There are a total of 25 shots per round. Each week every student athlete shoots two rounds of 25 shots. 

Scores are tabulated and put on the League’s website. The students do not have to travel to other ranges. There is a Spring and Fall season. The Spring season includes an optional state tournament, in which every student athlete has the choice to participate. The Spring session is a nine-week season that starts in early April and finishes in early June. The Spring session consists of two practice weeks, one reserve week, five competition weeks and a fun week. The Fall season starts in September and ends in October. The six week Fall League consists of one practice/reserve and five weeks of competition.

The cost of shooting sports is not cheap. Nelson estimates that 90% of the teams are self-funded. But some schools actually pay for the sport. When President Nelson was asked how much does it cost to supply a student with shotgun shells and clays he responded, “Costs vary by shooting range. Easy estimating, you have nine weeks of practice and competition at 50 targets ($20/ammo, $15/clays x 9 = $315, one state tournament at 100 targets ($40/ammo, $40 tournament = $80) = TOTAL about $400.” Additional expenses may include mandatory ear protection, eye protection, shooting gear or uniforms. Conservation dollars raised by the League total over $17 million through the Pittman-Robertson tax since 2020.

The shooting sports became a sanctioned high school sport in Minnesota in 2014. Nelson explained, “We are talking to a few other state high school athletic associations to do the same as Minnesota.” There has been no talk of North Dakota sanctioning trap. “We need NDHSAA-member schools that have clay target teams to propose the opportunity. The Minnesota model has been very successful and they are very supportive,” said Nelson.

There have been zero reported accidents since the League started in 2008. “Nobody can argue with our unblemished safety record. We’re the safest sport in high school and the data, not theories, proves it,” Nelson said proudly of the League.

Nelson added, “The League’s continued success stems from the commitment, knowledge, and understanding from all participating parents, coaches, shooting ranges, and education communities that when students are involved in school-sponsored activities, they are better humans. For almost 40% of all clay target student athletes, this is their only sport that they participate in. So that means that the positive impacts on these students will include better grades, better chances to go to college, lower school drop-out rates, increased self-esteem and discipline, create new friends, less likely to use drugs/alcohol, and they are more likely to participate in their community, vote, and become a volunteer.”

“I have been an assistant coach for the Enderlin Trap Team since the first year. I can’t tell you how much fulfillment a person gets out of helping these student-athletes become better marksmen, gun handlers and just more confident young people. If your town, school or wildlife club is looking to start a school trap team in your area, don’t hesitate to get a hold of the League. They are great to work with and will help your team get started on the right track,” added the article Author Clint Lindemann.

For more information go to the League website: https://usaclaytarget.com/

Thanks for reading, Clint.