Points North
Shawn Perich writes a weekly column on conservation and the outdoors for Minnesota Outdoor News. He owns Northern Wilds Media, Inc., a publishing company located in Grand Marais and is the author of eight books. He lives in Hovland with his partner Vikki and two dogs. His commentary, Points North, airs on WTIP every Friday morning between 7-8 and Saturdays on North Shore Weekend between 7-10 a.m. You can also subscribe on our Points North podcast.
Points North: New Report Reveals 50-Year-Old Fishing Secrets
Shawn Perich-Newly released trout fishing data collected by volunteer anglers a half-century ago provide a fascinating glimpse of what the fishing was like in dozens of Minnesota streams and lakes.
Points North: Wilderness Adventure Inspires High School Senior
Shawn Perich-Folks who fret that kids aren’t spending enough time outdoors ought to meet Mara MacDonell, a high school senior living in Grand Marais.
Points North: Taking a Break on Christmas Day
Shawn Perich-Christmas vacation once meant rabbits. Duluth's suburban outback where I grew up was bursting with bunnies. Cottontails inhabited backyards.
Points North: Dayton Places a New Priority on State’s Environmental Health
Shawn Perich-Minnesota's environmental health just had a checkup.
Points North: Thawed Out and Waiting for the Winter We Need
Shawn Perich-At daybreak Saturday morning the night’s darkness lingered, reluctant to retreat from a weak December sun struggling to penetrate the gloom.
Points North: Emptiness Where the Hunting Ought to Be
Shawn Perich-"Did you ever wonder if you're the only hunter who doesn't have trail cameras set up everywhere?" my friend asked me as we got ready for hunting one morning.
Points North: Kantner makes life in the Arctic come alive
Shawn Perich-In recent weeks I’ve played email and telephone tag with Seth Kantner of Kotzebue, Alaska, attempting to set up an interview.
Points North: Young hunter overcomes adrenaline to shoot his first “real deer”
Shawn Perich-Life is filled with firsts and, last weekend, 15-year-old Joe Hamsmith of Duluth passed a hunting milestone.
Points North: Deer haul becomes a drag after dark
Shawn Perich-On the evening before deer season, a spike buck was grazing in my backyard.
Points North: Times change, but Freedom is where you find it
Shawn Perich-We stopped at Smokey’s Place for dinner two nights in a row because we were in the vicinity, even though we drove nearly 20 miles to get there.