Jim Bennett

W hen I was a little kid, I remember turning over a rock and finding two armies of ants locked in battle; one large and one smaller sized. The larger ants had invaded the smaller ants home. The bigger ants were winning the war battling one on one but I remember groups of the smaller ants taking single bigger ants down. Why do ants have wars? To protect territory and colonies or new food sources. The battle lasted longer than I had patience to watch.

I magine yourself as being one of the first European explorers who traversed the New World, heading west. Most of that region was a giant expanse of prairie. The original prairie at that time stretched from Wisconsin to western Montana, from central Texas to Canada. No one had a name for it. The French referred to it as a meadow. The English explorers were more in awe of it and adopted a French romantic term used today, “prairie.” Those grasslands contained one person per 5000 acres. Native people living off the prairie hunting buffalo, pronghorn antelope, elk and deer using hides for clothing and shelter. They enjoyed eating some prairie plants and often used prairie grasses to construct temporary homes, according to “Native American Prairie.”

“There was a no fire warning when we headed into the Boundary Waters, (BWCA), a fire ban. It had been hot, but when my son Dane and the rest of our group headed in, early June, it rained every day. We were prepared. There'd be no campfires so we brought gas bottles and cook stoves. We had a pop up screen tent that we used to get out of the elements, to cook and eat in. That was the lifesaver,” according to Dave Tupy, New Prague, Minn.

Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, is one of the most beautiful areas in our nation. Giant pines, islands, rock formations and endless waterways draw over 160,000 travelers annually. If the scenery isn't enough to make your heart soar, loons calls will. Their haunting wail, a yodeling territorial call and their short laughing tremolos echoing across the water will put you in another world. Add wolves howling, ruffed grouse drumming, moose cows and calves feeding in shallow bays or a giant bull moose swimming across big water as you paddle alongside. His massive rack held high and now it's on fire.

Remember that old Normal Rockwell painting of the little boy riding his bike? You could tell he was going fast because Rockwell captured the wind from his fast bike ride blowing through his hair. You could also tell where he was going and why he was in such a hurry. Fishing pole in one hand and a can of worms in the other. It's obvious the fish were biting. He was off to meet his friends at the old fishing hole or the trout stream.

By Jim Bennett Wild River Trails R emember when the first modern braided fishing lines came out?

So what are you going to choose? Do you want to spend more time fall fishing or carrying your rifle or shotgun afield? Do you like to feel the power of a big fall muskie or would you rather watch your dog make a great retrieve? It’s that time of year again. I call it transition time. It happens every year. The fishing season will be winding down for some. Hunting is already on the minds of many. Favorite season’s are just around the corner for those who feel the draw of archery season. Later, it’ll hit more who choose to shoot trap or sporting clays. They’re the first to put down their fishing poles. Hunting dogs and owners are already out fine tuning their skills before finding fields and forests this fall. Rifles are being uncased and sighted in at the cabin or the shooting range, seeking bullseye’s and tight groups.

“Fall is the best time of year. If you disagree you’re WRONG,” says Josh Bennett. “We hear people say, awe, summer’s over. It’s so sad. No more hot summer nights. Soon winter will be here!”

“Fall is the best time of year. If you disagree you’re wrong,” says Josh Bennett. “We hear people say, awe, summer’s over. It’s so sad. No more hot summer nights.

It was one of those days on the water all anglers love. Fish after fish. Fights that would make the “Ali and Frazier Fight” look wimpy. Fish jumping, diving deep into weeds, we had it all. That's smallmouth bass. If smallies got as big as musky no one would land them. Big sunfish too. When they go deep and do that circle move we think we have bigger fish on. I love their taste on my plate next to some freshly picked sweetcorn.