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 Turkey Fight Video here Turkey Fight Photos here Turkey "Rustle" & Fighting Purr Sound Here

Turkeys Flying Up To & Down From the Roost Video here Tom Turkey Strutting & Gobbling Video here

Canada Goose Fight Video here Canada Goose Landing Video here

Trumpeter Swan Mating Display Video here Trumpeter Swan Mating / Breeding Sequence Photos here

Sandhill Crane Mating Dance Video here Sharp-tailed Grouse Mating Dance Video here

Hooded Merganser & Mallard Mating Display Video here Drake Mallard Whistle & "Raeb" Sound

Swimming Beaver Video here Moon Walkin' Takin (antelope) Video here Whirling Wolverine Video here

 Sora (Rail) Video Here Virginia Rail Video Here

Best Minnesota Birding Areas and Birding Schedule I Minnesota Wildlife Viewing Schedule

Minnesota Bird List & Calls I North America Bird List & Calls I Minnesota Mammals List

Wildflower Species of Minnesota / western Wisconsin I Bird, Wildlife and Nature Photographs

Trinity Mountain Outdoors Natural History Eco-Tour & Travel Magazine

Recent Tours & Bird and Flower Sightings I Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures Natural History Eco-Tours

Trumpeter / Trumpeter Swan and Bald Eagle Sightings & Tours

 Minnesota

  View Trinity Mountain Outdoors Nature Magazine

Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures offers unique Natural History, Game Animal, Birding, Wildflower, Scenic & Photography Trips to several State Parks, Wildlife Refuges and natural areas in Minnesota. While you are on your tour with us you will be able to watch and photograph the natural scenic areas, trees and wildflowers of the great outdoors. You will also be able to watch and listen to the birds and animals of North America.

To help you enjoy your tour nationally recognized game researcher and naturalist T.R. Michels will talk about the biology and behavior of many of the animals; including their calls, mating behavior, habitat requirements and what we need to do conserve the environment and protect the flora and fauna of North America.

 T.R. Michels at White-tailed Deer rub.

T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized wildlife researcher and naturalist who has spent several years roaming the woodlands, meadows and wetlands of west-central and southeastern Minnesota, and several state and national parks. He is an avid birdwatcher, wild flower enthusiast and outdoor photographer. In his efforts to better understand the big game animals of Minnesota he researched the daily and seasonal activities of white-tailed deer from 1994 to 2001, wild turkeys from 1997 to 2003, and North American elk from 2001 to 2004.

Articles about T.R.'s deer, turkey, elk, duck and goose behavior research have appeared in several national magazines, including the National Rifle Association's American Hunter, the National Wild Turkey Federation's Turkey Call, North American Whitetail, Buckmasters, Peterson's Bowhunting and Bow & Arrow Hunting. In addition, thousands of hunters have attended T.R.'s seminars at sport shows from the Midwest to Colorado and Louisiana.

T.R.'s passion for the outdoors, and his willingness to share his knowledge of the birds, animals, flowers and plants of North America, have made him one of the top naturalists and outdoor speakers in the country. Join him for your next outdoor adventure or natural history eco-tour.

Thanks to its abundance of lakes and rivers, bluffs and coulees, hardwood and evergreen forests, farmland and tall grass prairies, Minnesota is home to several species of wildflowers, butterflies, birds and mammals. It is home to large populations of two species and one subspecies of bird that were close to extinction; the once thought to be extinct Giant Canada goose, the Trumpeter Swan and the Bald Eagle. It is also home to two rare or endangered species of shore birds; the endangered Piping Plover and the Upland Sandpiper. In addition it is home to several other animal species that are rarely seen east of the Rocky Mountains or south of Canada: the Avocet, Tundra Swan, Greater Prairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Wolf, Black Bear, Rocky Mountain Elk and the American Bison (commonly known as Buffalo).

Gray Wolf

On our Game Animal Tours you will have a chance to watch Black Bears, hear the haunting howl of a Timber Wolf, the full-throated bugle of a bull Elk, the roar of a bull Buffalo, the thundering gobble of a tom Turkey, the haunted gurgling of the Sandhill Crane and the heralding trumpet of the Trumpeter Swans. You'll also be able to watch and listen to the drumming and booming of the Sharp-tailed Grouse and Prairie Chicken on their "leks" (dancing grounds) as they vie for the attention of the females in the spring. You may even hear the quavering call and the "wolf whistle" of the rare Upland Sandpiper during the spring mating season.

View a list of Minnesota Mammals.

View Articles on these tours.

Bald Eagle 

On our winter Bald Eagle Tours you'll watch the eagles soar above you in the sky, perform their fantastic aerial mating displays, and snatch fish from the cold waters of the Mississippi River in the winter and early spring. In the summer you may be able to see bald eagle chicks pop their head up above the edge of their huge nests. In the fall you can view hundreds of migrating hawks on world famous Hawk Ridge overlooking beautiful Lake Superior.

View Articles on these tours.

Indigo Bunting 

On our Birding, Wildflower & Photography Tours you will have a chance to see the Minnesota State bird, the Comon Loon, the brilliant blue Indigo Bunting, the sizzling hot Scarlet Tanager, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, the golden crowned Bobolink, the Eastern Bluebird, the Cardinal, the Blue Jay, the large tuft-headed Pileated Woodpecker, the Red-headed Woodpecker, the Red-bellied Woodpecker and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. In the spring and summer you may also see the flashy American Redstart, the Yellow-rumped Warbler and the Goldfinch.

View a list of rare or notable birds that can be seen in Minnesota

 View Articles on these tours.

On our Wildflower Tours you may see the lilac-colored trumpets of the wild Pentsemmon, yellow and orange Butter-and Eggs, yellow Hoary Poccoon, Showy and Pink Lady's Slippers, red-orange Turks' Cap Lily, white, blue and yellow Violets, and flowing fields of white Daisies and yellow Cone Flowers. Or you may see the diminutive Trout Lily, and the rare Minnesota Trout Lily, which is native to one small area and one State Park in all of North America.

View a list of Minnesota & Wisconsin Wildflowers

View a list of Minnesota Wildflowers and photographs

 View Articles on these tours.

Our southeast Minnesota Natural History Tours, Bird Watching, Wildflower & Photography Trips are conducted in the picturesque "Bluff and Coulee Country" of the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota, and in the beautiful Cannon River Valley and the Sogn Valley of the Little Cannon River. The area is home to the Welch Village Ski Area, where you can downhill ski in the winter, and tube or canoe the Cannon River in the spring, summer and fall. You can also hike, bike or cross-country ski the beautiful Cannon River Trail through the woods, wetlands and hills along the river. There are several State Parks and Wildlife Areas to explore in this region.

The area is approximately 50 miles north of the famed Mayo Clinic and the Rochester Goose Refuge (home to 30,000 giant Canada geese in the fall) in Rochester, MN; the largest elk farm in world in the United States is nearby. The area is approximately 40 miles from the Wild Wings wildlife art store in Wabasha, where Bald Eagles winter on picturesque Lake Pepin; 70 miles east of the Cabela's store in Owatonna, MN; and 50 miles south of the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN.

View Articles on these tours.

Southeastern Minnesota Wildflower Schedule

With several different ecological zones and differences in spring arrival from north to south, several different flowers can be seen at different times in Minnesota.

Late April - early May: pasque flowers- Cannon Falls; trout lily, Minnesota trout lily - Big Woods State Park; spring beauties, hepatica, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, toothwort, marsh marigold, wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, blue, white, yellow and mauve violets - woods of central and south Minnesota and Wisconsin

Mid May: pussytoes, hoary poccoon, Indian paintbrush, prairie smoke, blue eyed grass, wood betony, jeweled and white shooting star - goat prairies of southeast Minnesota, Wisconsin River, Wisconsin's Nelson Dewey State Park, Minnesota's Great River Bluffs State Park, Mississippi River, Blue Mounds river, Buffalo River; columbine, large flowered trillium, harebells, blue wood phlox, spiderwort, May apple, wild geranium, yellow lady's slippers, showy pink lady's slippers (wet locations) - southeast forests of Minnesota; blue, purple and white dame's rocket - southwest Wisconsin

Early June - Late July: lady's slippers, bluebead lily, coral root, Labrador tea, hawkweed, bunch berry, wild rose, pink, blue and purple lupines, hoary poccoon, pentsemmon, blue-eyed grass, lilac, purple and vetch, blue flag iris, yellow iris and other wild flowers. Minnesota River National Wildlife Refuge, Butler Nature Center

Spring comes to the Gunflint Trail of the north shore in tiny, wild bursts of colorful wildflowers. For those who hunt with a camera or a paintbrush, there is a wealth of vibrant flora waiting to be captured on film or canvas.

Late April - May: Marsh marigolds, blood root, tiny azure violets, and several varieties of wild orchids. Other early-appearing flowers include trailing arbutus, spring beauty, violets, linnea borealis(twin flower), Virginia bluebells, and star flower.

June - July: Wild strawberries peak; pink (or stemless) moccasin flower, fairy slipper orchids, bunchberry, clintonia (blue bead lily), lacy ferns and nodding trillium all come into bloom.

August: Purple wild iris, Indian pipe, purple vetch, asters, Joe Pye weed, daisies, buttercups, hawkweed, and Queen Anne's Lace, as well as highbush cranberries, red raspberries, wild currants, rose hips and blueberries.

View blooming dates of several Minnesota wildflowers

 View Articles on these tours.

Sandhill Crane

Video Tour of Southwest Minnesota

Thanks to its many different habitats, the State of Minnesota (and the upper Midwest and Canada) is home to a wide variety of bird species. The southeastern corner of the state is made up of hardwood forests of red and white oak, hickory, ash, elm, cherry, and basswood on the riparian bluffs and coulees of the Mississippi River. The south central and central portions of the state are made up of agricultural lands and hardwood forests mixed with the riparian habitat of the Minnesota River and hundreds of lakes. The southeastern corner of the state contains remnants of the tall grass prairie on its gently rolling hills. The northwestern corner of the state is made up of prairie, vast stretches of wetland marshes, and coniferous forests. The north central portion of the state is made up numerous large and small lakes surrounded by forests of mixed softwoods such as maple, birch and aspen, plus spruce, pine and fir. The northeastern corner of the state is home to Voyageurs National park, which is made up of hundreds of small lakes, surrounded by vast stretches of bogs and coniferous forests of spruce, pine and tamarack.

Because it is located on the Mississippi Flyway, and is near the Prairie Flyway, the State of Minnesota is where the birds of the eastern woodland states intermix with the birds of the mid-continental tall grass prairie. It is also where the birds of the southern states intermix with the birds of the arboreal forests of the Canadian provinces; and where many of the birds of the Canadian provinces spend the winter. The abundance of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in the state makes it a haven for numerous species of waterfowl.

The Minnesota State Bird List includes 430 species; of those species 312 commonly nest, winter or are seen in Minnesota; 35 of those birds are considered casual, and 80 are considered accidental. On spring "Big Day Bird Counts" held between May 15th and 25th each year Minnesota Birders regularly see 180 species of birds.

Fall is the best time to see casuals or accidentals. Horned Larks appear in January; mid-March to early April for waterfowl, hawks and blackbirds; shorebirds in May; warblers mid- to late May. Spring is best for grouse, prairie chicken, turkey, bobwhite, pheasant, woodcock, owls and chickadees. The best birding is often June to early July, with songbirds singing. Many songbirds are done singing by mid-late June.

The most unpredictable time for birding is mid-June to early July as southbound shore birds start moving. In July the first warblers start moving south from boreal forests, with peak warbler migration from mid-August through mid-September. Most other passerines peak in September; Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks in mid-September. October is the time for winter residents to migrate from Canada. November is best for waterfowl migration.

Winter is best time to see Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Shrike, Snow Bunting, Pine Grosbeak, crossbills and redpolls; they often arrive in October and depart in March.

Wisconsin and Minnesota are the #1 and #2 birding destinations in the United States. Of the 8 most wanted birds on the American Birding Association list, 4 are regularly seen in Minnesota, as are 11 of the top 25 most wanted birds. These birds include the Gyrfalcon, Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Spruce Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Connecticut Warbler and Yellow Rail.

The southeast corner of the state, particularly along the Mississippi River watershed, is where you may see many southern wood warblers that you may not find anywhere else in the state: Yellow-Breasted Chat, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Blue-Winged, Black-Throated Blue and Hooded Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush. Acadian Flycather, Bells' Vireo, Henslow's Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse and Loggerhead Shrike can also be found during the summer.

This is also a good place to look for migrating birds - including Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Common and Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead and raptors. From October to March you may find wintering find Bald and Golden Eagles, and several species of waterfowl.

Of Minnesota's 312 commonly seen birds, it is possible to see 135+ species of birds in this area of the state alone. There is a possibility of seeing 31 species of wood warblers and 22 species of emberizids (sparrows, juncos, towhees) in SE Minnesota during spring migration. Seeing 80 species in one day is not unheard of during spring migration.

The northeastern corner of the state is one of the premiere birding areas in the United States, because it is home to many woodland warblers, grouse, woodpeckers and owls that are more common in Canada, and that you are unlikely to see in other parts of the state. In the summer you can see many woodland warblers (including Golden-winged, Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Black and White, Connecticut, Mourning Wilson's and Canada Warblers),

You may also see American Black Duck, American Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Spruce, Sharp-tailed and Ruffed Grouse, Horned Grebe, Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Goshawk, Merlin, Peregrine, Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Little, Bonaparte's and Herring Gulls, Caspian, Arctic and Common Terns, American three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireo, Gray Jay, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, Lincoln's and White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finch, Red and White-winged Crossbill, Common and Hoary Redpoll, and Pine Siskin.

During most years you may have a chance to see Northern Hawk, Great Gray, Boreal, Northern and Saw-whet Owls. The Boreal and Northern Saw-Whet Owls are difficult to locate anywhere because they are nomadic nighttime owls. The best time to find them is during an irruption, when they may hunt during daylight hours along roadways hunting in the ditches, or near backyard bird feeders. During an irruption you may also see Snowy Owls.

The north shore of Lake Superior, including the port of Duluth, is where you can often find migrating and wintering northern, western and pelagic birds (skuas, jaegers, gulls) and raptors; and several species of loon in the spring, fall and winter. Hawk Ridge is the place to be during the fall to see migrating raptors. In the spring and summer it is possible to see an additional 50 species of birds in this area (not found in the southeastern corner or the state) in one day. Seeing 70 species of birds in one day is not unheard of.

In the northwestern corner of the state you may birds you may not see in other parts of the state: Bufflehead, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Yellow Rail, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Franklin's Gull and Short-eared Owl. Seeing 60 species in one day is not unheard of.

The western edge of the state is where many shorebirds, waterfowl and western bird species that may not be seen on other parts of the state can be found: Tundra Swan, Clark's, Eared and Western Grebes, Sandhill Crane, Greater Prairie Chicken, American White Pelican, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalarope, Chestnut-collared Longspur and Western Kingbird. In the spring (April/May) and summer it is possible to see an additional 15 species of birds in this area (not seen in the southeastern or northeastern corner of the state) in one day. Seeing 60 species of birds in one day is not unheard of.

The southwest corner of the state is where you can see Swainson's Hawk, Foresters Tern, and the only area where you are likely to see Blue Grosbeak. Seeing 50 species of birds in one day is not unheard of.

View a list of Rare or Notable Minnesota Bird Species.

View Minnesota Rare Bird Alert.

View articles on Bird Watching, Bird Feeding and Bird Photography.

View T.R. Michels' Southeastern Minnesota Bird Report.

April - May: Up to 31 species of wood warblers and 21 species of on sparrows during migration. Upland Sandpiper, Common Loon, grebes, mergansers and Ring-billed Gulls; migrating Horned larks, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings; Boreal Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl.

May - August: Yellow Rail, Connecticut Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, American Redstart, Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird; hundreds of American Pelicans; hundreds of herons, egrets and cormorants on rookeries; Eared and Western Grebes, Forster's Terns and Franklin's Gulls nesting; on days with drizzle or fog warblers are grounded in May along Lake Superior.

June - August: Indigo Bunting and Nighthawks migrating.

September - October: Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Northern Goshawks, Peregrines, Northern Saw-whet Owls, Hawk Ridge, Sept. 14 - Oct 25; sparrows, finches, blackbirds, jays, ravens, crows, waxwings, warblers, ducks, geese, swans and herons, common loon (migrating).

October: Sandhill Crane migration.

Fall - Winter: Purple Finch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch; Three-toed Woodpecker migration.

Mid -November - Late February: Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Shrike, Snow Bunting, Pine Grosbeak, Red and White-winged Crossbills, and Common and Hoary Redpolls.

December - January: Gyrfalcon, Snow Bunting, Spruce Grouse. Minnesota Christmas Bird Count Report.

Year Round: Woodpeckers: Pileated, Red-headed, Red-bellied, Hairy, Downy, Northern Flicker (Yellow-Shafted), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Cardinal, Brown Creeper, House Finch, Blue Jay, American Goldfinch.

Bald Eagle, Tundra Swans and Waterfowls Tours: February - March: You can watch and photograph dozens of wintering Bald Eagles, diving ducks and Tundra Swans on the Mississippi River. See live eagles at the National Bald Eagle Center, Wabasha, Minnesota.

View Articles on these tours.

Nesting Bald Eagles, Waterfowl & migrating Songbirds Tours: April - May, peak songbird migration in southeast Minnesota along the Mississippi River. May 10-20.

View Articles on these tours.

Lake Superior Hawk Migration Tours: September 15-25
Hawk Ridge is one of North America's best places to experience the spectacle of the fall raptor migration. Migrating birds, including raptors and passerines, concentrate in impressive numbers at the western tip of Lake Superior. Some travel from as far away as the Arctic and pass through Duluth on their way to their wintering areas to the south. Reluctant to cross a large body of water, migrants funnel down the North Shore along the ridges that overlook the city. On a good day, visitors may see hundreds-even thousands-of birds flying by!

Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Northern Saw-whet Owl. Sept. 14 - Oct. 25.

Trumpeter & Tundra Swan Tours: See hundreds of the once endangered Trumpeter Swans as they winter on the Mississippi river in east-central Minnesota. See Tundra Swans on the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota. Mid-November - late February.

View Articles on these tours.

Moonlight Owl Walk Tours: Join us on night time walks (from three days before to three days after the full moon each month) as we listen to the distinctive hooting of the owls. Eastern Screech Owl, mating season January through mid-March; Great Horned Owl, mating season mid-January through March; Barred Owl; Long-Eared Owl; Short -Eared Owl, Northern Saw-Whet Owl.

400 class bull elk on the elk preserve.

Elk Tours: We have access to the largest privately owned elk herd in North America, with over 700 elk (including 150 bulls scoring 300-400 Boone & Crockett points), where you will be able to learn about elk behavior by watching and listening to the elk as close as five yards away. From May to October you will be able to watch the elk, including the 200+ newborn calves, get up out of their beds, watch the bulls scrape, wallow, spar and fight, hear the cows and calves chirp and mew to each other, and hear over 100 elk bugles an hour. You can even learn to use an elk call. Peak daily bugling is within an hour of sunrise and sunset; the best time of the year to hear bugling is from late August to late October, with peaks during the second week of September and first week of October.

June: Calving Season, dozens of newborn elk calves.

Late August - Early November: Bugling & Breeding Season, lots of antlered bull elk to photograph.

View T.R. Michels' Elk Research.

View Elk Tour photos.

View Articles on these tours.

Turkey Tours: During the spring you will be able to locate turkeys by calling to them on their roosts in the morning, and hear them gobble in return to your calls. If you get up before sunrise you may be able to watch them fly down from their roosts, and watch and listen to them as the toms display for the hens by spreading their tails, turning their heads red, white and blue, and hear them "spit" and "drum" while they are on the feeding and strutting areas. You can even learn to use a turkey call. Peak daily gobbling is within an hour of sunrise, peak yearly gobbling occurs from late March through early June, with normal peaks during the first and second weeks of April and May.

Late March - late June: Turkey gobbling, strutting & breeding season. Wild Turkey photo sessions: $100 per half day, includes guide/caller, decoys, blind and heater if needed.

View T.R. Michels' Turkey Research.

View Articles on these tours.

Giant Canada goose family

Rochester Goose Refuge Tour: We also have access to the Rochester Goose Refuge where you can watch and listen to ducks, and the once thought to be extinct Giant Canada Goose. In the fall and winter there may be as many as 30,000 Giant Canada geese on the refuge. You can feed them and take pictures on Silver Lake in downtown Rochester.

April - May: Goslings hatching.

October - December: Migratory giant Canada geese arrive.

View T.R. Michels' articles on Giant Canada Geese.

Sogn Valley Wildflowers, Orchards and Fossils Tours: The beautiful Sogn Valley of the Little Cannon River is where you can find beautiful but rare wild flowers such as the large, violet trumpet-flowered Pentsemmon, the yellow-orange Hoary Poccoon, the yellow and orange Butter and Eggs, the lovely white Trout Lily, the Pink Lady's Slipper; and the Minnesota Trout Lily (which is found only in one State Park in Minnesota). In addition you may see the orange Turk's Cap Lily, the beautiful blue-flowered Chicory, several species of wild Sunflowers, and other woodland, meadow and wetland flowers.

You can also look for fossils along the riverbed, or in the nearby sandstone deposit hills, or you can visit the Sogn Valley Orchard in the fall, and pick raspberries.

View Articles on these tours.

Half Day Tours: Half day tours, or to locate specific birds or flowers, or tour one State Park and nearby areas.

4-5 hour tours, including transportation, $100; maximum of four people.

Group tours without transportation (drive your own vehicle) $20 per person. Minimum of four persons, maximum of twenty.

Large group tours with van or bus available on request.

Day Tours: Full day tours to locate specific birds or flowers and travel through one or more State Parks and nearby areas.

8-10 hour tours, including transportation, $200 per day, maximum of four people.

Group tours without transportation (drive your own vehicle) $30 per person. Minimum of four persons, maximum of twenty.

Large group tours with van or bus available on request.

Your Personal Tour Photo Album: We will can take photos of your tours, and we can provide you with a Photo Shop slide show CD, or a Windows Media Player slide Show DVD photo album of your tour with us, so you can enjoy and share the memories of your trip or tour for many years.

Individual or Two Person Photography Sessions: Photography sessions for White-tailed Deer, Elk, Turkey, Bald Eagles, Upland Sandpipers or other southeastern Minnesota species $100 per half day, second person $75 per half day. Sessions for wild Black Bears at baits, or White-tailed Deer in central or northern Minnesota $200 per day, second person $125 per day. Includes guide/caller, decoys, blinds and heaters when needed.

 St. Louis River valley, west of Lake Superior

 Greater Minnesota & Wisconsin 1- 3 Day Tours

For information & prices contact: TRMichels@Yahoo.com .

Wolf Tours: Wolf Research Center, Northern Minnesota. Year Round. Peak daily howling occurs from about 8-10 AM and 5-7 PM, peak yearly howling occurs from late January through early March.

Bear Tours: Bear Refuge, Northern MN. Spring & Fall

Bluestem Prairie / Buffalo River State Park Tour: near Mankato, Greater Prairie Chicken, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Short-eared Owl, Bobolink, Northern Harrier, Savannah, Clay-colored, LeConte's, Grasshopper, Field and Lark Sparrows, and Loggerhead Shrikes. June - August.

View Articles on these tours.

Buffalo, Birds & Tall Grass Prairie Tours: Blue Mounds State Park & Pipestone, Minnesota. Flowers and birds of the Tall Grass Prairie, plus American Bison (Buffalo). Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Western Kingbird. June - August.

View Articles on these tours.

Fall Hawk Migration Tours: Hawk Ridge, Duluth, MN. Migratory Hawks. September -November.

Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie Chicken, Birding, Wildflower & Photography Tours: Northwestern MN & western Wisconsin. April - May. October- November.

View Articles on these tours.

Devils Lake State Park & International Crane Center Tours: Baraboo, Wisconsin. Several species of cranes from around the world. Worm-eating Warbler, Baxter's Hollow Preserve.

Horicon Marsh Goose Refuge Tours: Eastern Wisconsin. Migrating Greater Snow Geese, several species of ducks. Fall

Crystal Cave Tours: Grand Meadow, Minnesota. Summer

Lake Superior North Shore Tours: Visit the beautiful north shore of Lake Superior and visit the Great Lakes Aquarium, Split Rock Lighthouse, Goosberry Falls. Spring -Summer, and Fall

View a list of northern Minnesota wildflowers

Salmon, Lake Trout & Steelhead Charters: Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Spring - Summer

St. Louis River - Fall Colors Photography Tour: In the fall you can tour the beautiful St. Louis River drainage to view and photograph the fall colors of the orange and red Maples, red Oaks, yellow Aspens, scarlet Sumac and green Spruce and Pine.

Northern Minnesota Gunflint Trail: Hawk & Birding Tours The best time to search for boreal birds like the Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, Connecticut Warbler and Mourning Warbler is May 15 - June. Northeastern Minnesota is pretty quiet after June.

Hawk Migration tours are generally run during the second and third weeks of September. The best time to watch migrating Northern Goshawks is October - November.

The best time to make your winter visit to northeastern Minnesota for woodpeckers etc. is from January 1st - February,

The best months to listen for northern owls like the Great Grey owl, Long-eared Owl, Boreal Owl and Northern Saw-whet owls are March - April.

Birds like the Sharp-tailed Grouse are very active on their "leks" in the Sax - Zim Bog from April - May.

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