You can expect some of the best freshwater fishing in the world if you'll be in Bemidji. I lived in Minneapolis for about 8 years, but the truth is I wasn't really living except when I was up in that neck of the woods (just about every weekend).

Minnesota is fast becoming one the premier destinations for musky, and Bemidji is smack dab in the middle of it. Lake Bemidji itself, Cass, Plantaganet, Leech and probably 5 or 10 other grade A musky lakes within an hour.Your not even very far from Vermilion or Lake of the Woods. Walleyes everywhere. There are so many lakes around there the panfish probably don't even get hit that much and with a little exploration I'm betting you could find some dandies. Red Lake isn't that far, and it has been a crappie mecca for the last few years, with the walleyes coming back as well. If I were living there, I'd probably spend every weekend of the summer a couple hours further north on Lake of the Woods in Ontario -just outside of Morson.

That said, I wasn't so impressed with Minnesota hunting. Way too many ATV's prowling around during grouse season. The rifle deer season is right during the rut, and the prevailing custom is to drill anything with any antler. There are definitely some nice deer in the area, but don't make the mistake it's a high percentage trophy destination -between the hard winters and the deer hunting customs, whooppers just aren't as numerous as they could be. (Of course, now that I've said this you'll drill Moby next fall and prove me dead wrong).

In my dream life, June to September would find me right where your headed. Good luck and congrats!

Jeff

Welcome Sodak: I've been to Alaska a couple of times....worked a summer in the Brooks range on a mining claim back in 1977. Bemidji is 100 miles east of me and is timber country, with lakes and rolling hills. It's a nice city, nice boating area. It's not far from the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Whitetails and black bear can be found, but I live in an agricultural region, close to the border of ND, so the deer have premium feed, sugarbeets, corn, wheat, barley. We can find some big ones, but we are limited to shotgun slugs in my area. Bemidji area is rifle country.....quite nice. The only difference between the area and much of Alaska is no mountains. Good luck.

having been raised in the vicinity ,I can tell you you can expect good fishing and whitetail hunting,as well as small game and quite possibly black bear hunting.

Hi Sodak,
I have a friend that lives in Southwest Minnesota and have hunted there with him for Geese and Pheasant. Both hunts were very good and we shot our limits of birds. There are also some huge Whitetail Deer in that area but I'm not sure about non-resident hunting for deer. Good Luck.

Hawkeye47

Here's an open question to anyone who lives in or has hunted in Minnesota. It looks as if my family will be moving to the Bemidji area in a few months. What kind of hunting/fishing prospects can I expect?