The Free Press, Mankato, MN--John Cross http://www.mankato-freepress.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:57:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_326025959.html Cooking strategies welcome for hunting harvest http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_326025959.html It’s always about this time of the year when a few vocal non-hunting wags in the daily morning coffee klatch take great delight in claiming that, along with the necessary items that we hunters stock up at the beginning of the hunting seasons — like ammo, licenses, etc. — we also purchase a case of cream of mushroom soup and plenty of bacon.
 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_312005239.html Corn forces change to opener strategy http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_312005239.html The 2009 deer opener was warmer than normal, and plenty of corn was still waiting to be harvested, provided the perfect cover for deer to hide. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:24:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_304231815.html Eagle encounter interrupts turkey hunt http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_304231815.html How long does it take for a bald eagle to realize a decoy isn't wild turkey? Apparently, too long. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:16:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_291011537.html Farmer’s angst is the hunter’s angst http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_291011537.html Slow harvests have put an early-season damper on hunting pheasants. Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:54:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_270005407.html Area duck hunting could be slow http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_270005407.html Shallower than normal lakes could make for difficult conditions when duck hunting opens Oct. 3. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:12:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_263011136.html Dove hunting more than just shooting http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_263011136.html While dove hunting can be pretty intensive, the sport allows ample time to catch up on conversation. Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:01:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_249010259.html ‘Fishouflage’ not all it’s dressed up to be http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_249010259.html I may suffer some insecurities from time to time but worrying about whether people identify me as an avid angler is not one of them.
 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:05:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_242010756.html ‘Tis the season for hunting and memories http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_242010756.html As if these brisk mornings aren’t reminder enough, all those fall hunting catalogs that began arriving in the mail certainly hint at the coming fall hunting seasons.
 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:08:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_221010743.html Losing tackle can be costly http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_221010743.html No one wants to replace a tackle box or the contents inside, and the process can be a costly one at that. Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:53:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_201105240.html Artificial lure outshines live counterpart http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_201105240.html A recent outing to an area lake provided the opportunity to see an hyped, artificial lure at work. Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:54:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_193005618.html Carp at the top of the fish intelligence scale http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_193005618.html I read somewhere that a group of scientists once conducted tests to determine the relative intelligence of various fish species.
 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:16:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_186171520.html July 1 ushers in new regulations http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_186171520.html Many new laws and regulations took effect July 1, and it is always good to be aware of the changes. Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:54:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_179005729.html Hot and humid beats the alternative http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_179005729.html I gave up complaining about summer weather during a particularly nasty winter. Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:06:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_165010520.html No sense getting ticked about ticks http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_165010520.html Being aware of ticks is certainly a good thing, but if you're going to be an avid outdoors person, you've got to learn to live with the little critters. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:21:00 +0000 http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_158002032.html Fish fillet: A work of art and efficiency http://www.mankato-freepress.com/columnistJCROSS/local_story_158002032.html There is a certain skill that goes into filleting a fish.