FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 



A HUNTER'S PARADISE. 



M. W. MINER. 



An extension of the G r eat Northern Rail- 

 way, bridging the gap between Duluth and 

 Crookston. Minnesota, was at first project- 

 ed for the purpose of connecting the wheat 

 fields of the Red river valley by an air line 

 with the grain carriers of the great lakes. 

 Incidentally it has opened up a paradise for 

 sportsmen. 



One of the best sections is reached with 

 ease from Grand Rapids, a flourishing town 

 on the Eastern Railway of Minnesota 

 (Great Northern line), 94 miles West of 

 Duluth. Grand Rapids is near the source 

 of the Mississippi river, and within the lim- 

 its of the valley are to be found a wonderful 

 variety of landscape, and an equally remark- 

 able variety of game. 



It may be of interest to sportsmen who 

 contemplate a hunting trip in the West, this 

 fall, to read a short description of this at- 

 tractive section of country, and a few ideas 

 as to the game to be found there. 



The upper Mississippi valley can be tra- 

 versed from Grand Rapids by boats a dis- 

 tance of 150 miles through the most notable 

 hunting and fishing districts, including a 

 dozen of the finest lakes of the upper Miss- 

 issippi basin. The valley of the Prairie 

 river, 5 miles, Swan river 15, and Deer 

 river 15 ; also the Big Fork 50, and the Lit- 

 tle Fork 60 miles distant. The lakes : 

 Pokagama 2, Trout 4, Prairie 5, Shoal 4, 

 Bass 11, Swan 15, Jay Gould 3, Blackwater 

 6, Deer 17, Moose 16, Waubara 13, Spider 

 15, Bluewater 17, Big Trout 24, Ball Club 

 30, Winnibigoshishes 36, Cass 50, Bow 

 String 27, Rice 50, Leech lake 60 miles. All 

 these lakes are about equally desirable for 

 either hunting or fishing. Several small 

 lakes, which are within 2 miles of town, are 

 visited more by fishing parties than by 

 hunters, and yet Lake Pokagama, which is 

 only 2 miles from Grand Rapids, is a noted 

 locality for deer, and other game, for it is 

 10 miles long, extending into a wild and 

 picturesque region, and has 200 miles of 

 shore line. It is a natural feeding ground 

 for the deer family. 



Some of the most successful hunters of 

 this section make their headquarters on 

 Lake Pokagama. The larger lakes, Lake 

 Waubara, Winnibigoshishes, Big Trout, 

 Deer, Spider, Ball Club, Cass, and Leech, 

 distant from 13 to 50 miles from Grand 

 Rapids, are well stocked with deer, and 

 hunters have great success on them, and in 

 the valleys. Be^r are still plentiful there, 

 too. 



Moose were abundant close to town, up 

 to 3 years ago, but increased settlement has 

 driven them farther back to Deer, Moose, 



and Bow String lakes, the Big Fork valley, 

 and the Red lake region. On the Cor- 

 morant river, 65 miles Northwest on the 

 Eastern outskirts of the Red lake reserva- 

 tion, hunters are successful in getting 

 moose and deer every season. Moose are 

 numerous this year, and can be found in 

 the bush groves and swampy districts 

 North of here ; and the wild rice in Bow 

 String and Rice lakes, of the Big Fork 

 country, attracts a large number of moose. 

 For the same cause, ducks are abundant in 

 both Big and Little Bow String lakes, and 

 in many of the lakes along the upper Miss- 

 issippi, which is traveled so much that the 

 moose have gone North of it. 



Grouse of several species are plenty 

 everywhere in this region. Swans are fre- 

 quently shot in the larger lakes and streams. 

 There is a great abundance of the smaller 

 game, and the sportsman never goes 

 hungry in these woods. 



Lake trout, black bass, pike, muska- 

 longe and white fish are plentiful in these 

 waters. The largest catches of bass, how- 

 ever, are made in medium-sized, land- 

 locked lakes, where there has been little 

 fishing, and only moderate opportunity for 

 other fish to deplete their numbers. Five- 

 and 6-pound bass are frequently caught 

 there. These lakes are located in the for- 

 ests, mostly North and Northwest of here, 

 and bear no names as yet. They are in the 

 Prairie, Deer, and Bow String lake sections. 

 Fine bass fishing is obtainable also in Lake 

 Pokagama, and in Bass, Jay Gould, Black- 

 water, and Prairie lakes. Most of these are 

 within a few miles of Grand Rapids, and are 

 easily reached. 



The trout of Lake Pokagama are noted. 

 They are handsomely marked, and last sea- 

 son's catch included several weighing 18 to 

 35 pounds apiece. 



October 25 to November 15 is the only 

 lawful time for shooting deer. November 

 5 to November 10 is the only open season 

 for caribou and moose ; and these animals 

 are in the finest condition then, or at any 

 time after the first snow falls. Livery $1 to 

 $3 a day for single, and $2 to $6 a day for 

 double teams. 



There is always a good supply of guides 

 and cruisers at Grand Rapids, which is the 

 center and outfitting point for all this dis- 

 trict. Some of the guides are good cooks, 

 and when they cook for parties they make 

 a charge of $1 to $2 a day. Most of them 

 have bird dogs for their personal use. 



Land owners place no restrictions what- 

 ever on sportsmen. There is so much 

 hunting and fishing ground that it is a go- 

 as-you-please, and a successful hunt is the 

 rule. None come back without some 

 pleasing evidence of their work. The ex- 



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