WCCO Outdoors

In this week's abbreviated edition, Rob Drieslein gives his opinion on how the midterm election results may effect conservation and outdoors sports. Then, Meateater.com contributor Tony Peterson describes the mood for the state's Firearms Deer Hunting opener.

Rob Drieslein is on the mic to usher in the first November episode of the year. He kicks off the show by looking back on the career of retiring MN DNR liaison Bob Meyer. Then, he chats with the following guests: U of M extension researcher and program coordinator Grace Milanowski explains the latest findings from the annual offal (deer gut pile) survey being compiled through the university program...

Rob Drieslein is in to guide us through another hour of Outdoors expertise. He starts by remembering U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special Agent Richard Dickinson. Then, he turns over the show to the following guests: MN DNR specialists Paul Burr (Deer coordinator) and Patrick Hagen (Wildlife disease response coordinator) discuss the current deer hunting seasons and any updates on Chronic Wasting D...

To start this week's edition, Rob Drieslein discusses the MN DNR's decision to forgo the three-duck bag limit option. Then, he gets into a deeper discussion with brothers Jim & Will Pattiz from the More Than Just Parks website. They talk about issues affecting the nation's Public Lands, including threats to those spaces and advice on how to manage them.

Rob Drieslein is in as the calendar turns to October. He starts this week's episode by revealing the winner of the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp contest. Then, he opens up the lines for the following guests: Public lands enthusiasts Jim and Will Pattiz discuss their love of the outdoors and what you'll find on their website, More Than Just Parks. MN DNR wildlife manager Blane Klemek describes how the de...

Sharon Stiteler (a.k.a. The Bird Chick) is back to talk about several feathered-friend topics, including the latest on Fall migration patterns.

If you're a hunter or angler, what can you do with the meat you collect? Chef and author Hank Shaw offers tips to enjoy the spoils of those efforts. Plus, hear about his new book.

Rob Drieslein hits the ground running this week. He opens up the show to a slew of guests: Delta Waterfowl Chief Policy Officer John Devney peers ahead to what the duck hunting season might look like in 2027. Sharon Stiteler (a.k.a. The Bird Chick) is in to chat about the type of birds we should expect to see during the Fall migration. Outdoor News web editor Eric Morken previews next weekend's Ar...

Rob Drieslein is back, and he ends the month of August with a packed show full of the following guests: MN DNR bear project leader Andrew Tri gets us ready for the opening of the 2026 Black Bear hunting season. NatureSmart.com founder Stan Tekiela discusses timelines for the upcoming Fall bird migration patterns. Fairmont conservationist & outdoorsman Doug Hartke offers his thoughts on being named...

To kick off this week's episode, Rob Drieslein recaps his recent trip to Alaska. He also goes over the visit with frequent guest Stan Tekiela. Afterwards, we hear about the latest plan to manage fishing on Leech Lake with MN DNR large lake specialist Erin Hawes.

After a week away (due to Twins baseball), Rob Drieslein returns with the Outdoors stories that are raising eyebrows. He welcomes the following guests on to chat: MN DNR migratory gamebird consultant Nate Huck explains how we can weigh in on the department's proposal to introduce 3-duck limit bags to the state. MN Department of Natural Sciences fish health supervisor Isaiah Tolo discusses why ther...

On this week's episode, Rob Drieslein looks at a proposal to introduce 3-duck limit bags for Minnesota hunters. Afterwards, he discusses some Summer events with the following guests: Outdoor News sales/marketing director Brian Knutson reports what he saw at this year's edition of the iCAST Fishing Trade Show. Scott Anderson, Regional director for Ducks Unlimited, peers ahead to a couple of the Aug...

This week, Rob Drieslein gives us his thoughts on how the wildfires are affecting the Summer Outdoors plans and what's next for the Fish & Wildlife Division of MN DNR. After that, he opens up the lines to focus on deer hunting, with Tony Peterson (Meateater.com) and Melissa Bachmann (Winchester Deadly Passion) providing expertise on getting ready for the Fall seasons.

There's some sad news to start this week's edition, as Rob Drieslein comments on the passing of Hall-of-Fame fishing guide Tom Neustrom. The following guests help out the show afterwards: Rob sticks with Summer fishing topics when he chats with Meateater.com contributor Tony Peterson. MN DNR grouse project leader Charlotte Roy provides a review of the department's latest ruffed grouse report.

Even on this holiday weekend, Rob Drieslein is in to bring us the top headlines from the last week. He also has time to chat with the following guests: Outdoor News contributor Ryan Rothstein talks the latest news about Whitetail deer. Mike Sidders, Chief Marketing Officer of Delta Waterfowl, joins to preview the organization's annual Duck Hunters Expo (July 24-26 in Des Moines).

This week, Rob Drieslein offers his thoughts on the controversy surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. After that, the conversation returns to Outdoors sports. Outdoor News contributor Colleen Foehrenbacher explains her day job as executive director of the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. Ron Hustvedt returns to talk fishing and tackle some other Outdoors to...

On this Father's Day, Rob Drieslein opens the program by previewing the licenses you can apply for to hunt elk this season. After that, he goes to the water to chat with the following guests: Trout Unlimited Public Lands policy director Corey Fisher explains his organization's stance in opposing the removal of the USDA's long-standing Roadless Rule. MN DNR Fisheries Rules & Regulations coordinator...

Rob Drieslein opens up this week's edition by reviewing his interaction with the MN DNR's new electronic licensing system mobile app. Later, he dives into varying topics with the following guests: Outdoor News contributor and Blue Water Science owner Steve McComas (a.k.a. The Lake Detective) is back to discuss topics affecting our lakes in 2026, including fish populations, algae bloom concerns, an...

To start this week's episode, Rob Drieslein provides an update on research of Chronic Wasting Disease. After that, he spends the majority of the show chatting with MN DNR Fish & Wildlife director Kelly Straka about the new electronic licensing system that goes into effect this week.

Rob Drieslein ends the month of May by going through some of the Outdoors headlines. Then, he chats with the following guests: Seth Owens from Pheasants Forever discusses his longtime passion for taking wildlife photography. MN DNR northeast region fisheries manager Leslie George tells us about the department finalizing long-range plans for muskie fishing across the state.

On this Memorial weekend episode, Rob Drieslein looks back at the state legislature passing the Outdoor Heritage bill in the last hours of the 2026 session. Afterwards, he opens up the lines to speak with the following guests: Outdoors journalist Mark Neuzil talks about the prevalence and importance of small-mouth bass in the Boundary Waters area of Northern Minnesota. Outdoor News contributor Sta...

To kick off this week's edition, Rob Drieslein brings us up-to-speed on the outdoor Legacy bill over at the State Capitol. Then, he chats with the following guests: While the focus is on Walleye at this time, angler and journalist Gord Ellis updates the conditions across the region for Lake Trout fishing. Outdoor News contributor and Nature Smart founder Stan Tekiela is in to talk migratory birds,...

As the opening weekend of Walleye fishing season wraps up, Rob Drieslein begins the program by discussing work at the State Capitol that could affect bow and firearms hunting. Afterwards, he opens up the lines for the following guests: Ed Hahn, Director of Advancement & Marketing at the National Eagle Center, explains how the U.S. Postal Service is connected to an upcoming event for the Wabasha-ba...

On this week's edition of the show, Rob Drieslein pays tribute to late painter and visual artist David Maass. Then, our host turns the program over to angling. He welcomes MN DNR Mille Lacs fisheries supervisor Greg Berg and St. Cloud-based fishing guide Capt. Josh Hagemeister to talk fishing ahead of next weekend's Governor's Fishing Opener.

At the beginning of this week's edition, Rob Drieslein goes through a few headlines in the world of the outdoors. Then, he talks to the following guests: MN DNR Large Carnivore Specialist Dan Stark tells us about the looming deadline to apply for bear hunting licenses. The talk shifts to clay target shooting with Drew Tri, spokesperson for and marketing director of the MN High School Clay Target S...