Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter Izaak Walton League of America

06/12/2026

Our June 23rd (7:30 pm) speaker, David Larson, is a 72 year old grandfather who owns a small business (food sales) and has downsized to downtown Minneapolis. He relates that he was "born and raised in Minnesota, came from a great family of four boys with great parents who kicked them out the door daily to forage and play. He is a member of a trap club (24 years) and is a DNR Volunteer Lead Firearm Safety Instructor (26 years). He has part ownership in two hunting/fishing camps in Minnesota. He's always run English Settlers for Grouse and is an avid fly fisherman."

He says "My dog was snared fifteen years ago and that began my journey to volunteer to "Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN". We failed like all those before us to moderate trapping. It was in 2022 when my Grouse hunting tradition ended with lifelong upland hunting friends. It was the white sign above. 29,000 acres closed to one trapper covering the Chengwatana State Forest by snowmobile every three days. I called him. We had a very good conversation. He put up the sign, out of kindness, to tell us he didn’t want anyone or any pet killed or injured in the deep snow. He got there first. We never let the dogs out, drove home and my friends never went Grouse hunting again. They joined a game farm.

"I then went on a journey for three years to network with the ten states that have instituted trapping safety protocols. I then took my ideas to three law firms. This gets very involved with state and constitutional laws. In October of 2025 we launched a very professional website. There are no pictures of traps or dead pets.

"We are not anti-trapper. We are against the use of traps on public land and water. We touch animal welfare yet we are not animal rights advocates. My Brother Bob was a founding Board member of Pheasants Forever. He was on that board for two decades. He is a big hearted attorney and saw change. His summary to his Brothers? “Save the Wilderness, invite the Crowd”. I hated that summary. I used to be a protectionist. I’ve mellowed into being a Conservationist.

"Hunters are fewer than 10%. Trappers are .0007%. 24% of Minnesota is public land. Trappers can use the balance 76%. Over 50% of Minnesotans own a pet (3 million). If our public land and water is to be protected we must welcome the dog walkers, bird watchers, bikers, joggers, nature lovers, foragers, etc.

"We are taking a cleaner, more understandable path this time. Public safety. Public access. On our public lands. We’ll have a better chance for bipartisan support.

"Trapping technology changed in the 1980’s. The world has changed. So we must adapt to inviting the crowd. It’s time to talk.

David Larson
President
Ban Public Land Trapping MN

05/21/2026

"It includes 530 acres of native prairie that had never been plowed or farmed."

The new land will expand habitat for prairie chickens, pollinators and other threatened species.

05/10/2026

Plan to attend our May meeting, May 26 at 7:30 PM, to hear a presentation titled 'Cranes over Minnesota' by the International Crane Foundation's Alicia Ward. Light refreshments with social time to follow presentation.

05/09/2026

Tim Johnson (Far Right), Breckenridge Chapter Conservation Issues Chair, represented the Ikes on the eve of the Governor's Fishing Opener in Stillwater, MN where the Native Fish Day proclamation was made. L to R: DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Fisheries Chief Brad Parsons, Governor Tim Walz, RoughFish.com founder Corey Geving, Native Fish for Tomorrow and Breckenridge Chapter member Tyler Winter, UofM Asst Prof. Fisheries Solomon David, Assc. Director of Water for The Nature Conservancy Steve Herrington, Native Fish for Tomorrow Tony Schollmeier, Tim.

05/07/2026

Gov. Walz proclaims May 8, 2026 "Native Fish Day"

We've come a long way since our Chapter passed its resolution on Native Fish in 2021

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Breckenridge Chapter of the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America supports the adoption of Minnesota fishing regulations that adequately protect all native fish, including fish that are legally designated as native “rough fish.” These regulations should address, but not be limited to, fishing limits, clarification of protection for “listed” species, education on identification of “rough fish” species, along with enforcement of wanton waste laws and other legal requirements.

Submitted by Tyler Winter and Tim Johnson

04/16/2026

This barred owl was photographed near the Chapter House today. Its mate was nearby during our board meeting on Tuesday and the two sang the "rather chaotic duetting caterwaul that sounds like maniacal laughter" (see audio link in comments). Barred owls are monogamous and are nesting about now. The female incubates and the male brings her food. They do not migrate in winter. Their chief predator is the horned owl.

04/16/2026

You are welcome to join us for our monthly Education meeting at the Chapter House on Tuesday evening, April 28, 7:30 PM. Our address is 8816 West River Road in Brooklyn Park. Social time with light refreshments will follow the program.

Speaker Bio:
Bruce Carlson has been with the Mnnesota DNR since 1997 where he spent 20 years as a plant ecologist/botanist with the MN Biological Survey (MBS) based in northern Minnesota. Since 2015, he has been the MBS Program Supervisor based out of St. Paul where he manages MBS budgets, priorities, and staff to survey and monitor native and rare biodiversity and ecological systems. Bruce’s background and professional experience is based in extensive field work documenting native plant communities and rare plant species, ecological mapping, and collaborative natural resource and conservation planning.

Talk Brief:
Bruce will talk about the history and establishment of a statewide biological survey in Minnesota and the methods and results of the 35-year MN County Biological Survey project. He will speak about the evolution of that project into the modern-day Minnesota Biological Survey program by highlighting some of the exciting and important work currently happening in MBS.

MBS Mission Statement:
The Minnesota Biological Survey collects, interprets, and delivers data on the distribution and ecology of native animals, plants, and ecological communities to support the protection and conservation of biological diversity.

03/09/2026

Join us at our Chapter House, 8816 W. River Rd. on March 24, 7:30 PM, to hear our member Matt Norton, present on Sulfate in the Rainy River-Headwaters: mining sources, background conditions in reference streams (those without mining), the impairment of Birch Lake, and downstream transport of sulfate from Birch Lake to and across the BWCA Wilderness boundary.

The presentation will offer a detailed look at the 2023 – 2025 data, and:
• describe background water quality in reference streams in the Rainy River-Headwaters;
• identify mining discharges and describe their effects on two polluted tributaries to Birch Lake;
• trace elevated sulfate concentrations from mine NPDES-permitted surface discharges to tributaries of Birch Lake, through Birch Lake, and downstream to and across the BWCA Wilderness boundary;
• quantify elevated sulfate at the Wilderness boundary in terms of both concentration and load; and
• explore the implications of elevated sulfate on the watershed and the Boundary Waters.

Presenter: Matt Norton has been an Ike since shortly after moving to Minnesota in 1999. He is Policy & Science Director for Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness (NMW) and Save the Boundary Waters, and oversees NMW’s water monitoring program. Matt has undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology and forest science from Yale University, and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Matt has worked since 2002 to protect Minnesotans’ air, water, and public lands, including with NMW since 2016, and previously with the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

Light refreshments and social time follows.

03/06/2026

Two of our Breckenridge Chapter members, Steve Schaust and Dana Dickson, joined others in testifying at the Minnesota Senate in support of a bill to transition away from toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle

02/24/2026

Title: Protect Democracy & the Rule of Law

Whereas:

1. Conservation laws of the land were passed with bi-partisan support;
2. Laws establish legal foundation for the conservation, management and utilization of species, habitats, and ecosystems;
3. Consistent application of environmental regulations ensures predictability, trust and fairness and assures stakeholders that rules are not arbitrarily enforced;
4. Environmental regulations define rights to exploit, and responsibilities to conserve, natural resources;
5. Environmental laws hold governments, industries, and individuals accountable for violations through enforcement.

Therefore, be it hereby resolved:

The Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America urges all citizens and organizations to work together, peacefully and legally, to support and enhance democracy and the rule of law.

Passed by the Walter J. Breckenridge Chapter, IWLA board of directors.