WCCO Outdoors

Sparking Deer and Fowl Talk on Independence Day

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).

Outdoors Stories on the Land and the Water

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 topics.

Rollback Pushback and New Guidelines on the Lakes

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 John Dunn tells us more about the new changes to look out for on the state's waterways.

The Power and Water and Words

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, and an update on Zebra mussels. Author and retired professor Dr. Curtis L. DeBerg offers the story of how he came across an inscribed edition of Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and The Sea" in southeastern Minnesota.

A New Gateway for Your Outdoors Excursions

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.