Travis Frank

Minnesota’s youth deer hunt this past weekend was a massive success for our crew. My nephew harvested a beautiful doe and all these youngsters were in the blind with us to be a part of the hunt. The whole experience with these kids is simply too rich for words to describe. 🦌

First pheasant today for this young fella on the left. Daisy approves! 🤘🏻

It took four Daisy points for us to catch up to this running rooster but the first pheasant of the season is now in the bag and it’s a birthday bird for her new friend Jay, celebrating his 70th birthday today. 🤘🏻

There’s a reason Hungarian partridge are one of my favorite birds to hunt. They are challenging birds to pin down, explode in big coveys, and they live in beautiful places. Plus, they taste delicious. There’s just so much to love.

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First grouse hunt today for my oldest boy. He’s been practicing for this moment and we both knew his gun handling skills were ready to safely navigate the thick forest. He didn’t hit a bird but he got his first shot at one and got to experience the rush of the flush from several more. He’s totally addicted just like me. This beautiful ruff swung my way off a Daisy point and we both celebrated harvesting “the king!” What a day!

Watching a bird dog hunt is 100% addicting. The best season of the year is officially here.

Oh the places this truck will go! Upgraded the family hauling hunting and fishing rig. Big thanks to the team at for getting me on the road. Daisy approves. 💪🏻

One up, one down. The first ruffed grouse of the year is a beauty that came off a picture perfect point. 👌🏻

Beautiful and delicious! I may never hold a finer handful of ducks. 🦆

Open morning was outstanding! It’s so fun hunting with my little hunting crew!

The hunt for sharptail grouse provides an excellent challenge for bird dogs, and hunters, along with amazing prairie views. The more I hunt for these native birds, the more I love everything about them. Sharpie numbers in North Dakota are strong this year. If you’ve ever considered hunting them yourself, this is the year to try.

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When Hungarian Partridge we’re released into North America, they immediately took hold and flourished on the Alberta landscape. Their populations aren’t what they once were, when locals called them locusts, but they are still thriving in the endless sea of wheat fields and old abandoned farm yards. What covey of huns rise off of a dog on point is a sight to be behold. Definitely worth the two day drive to see in person.

It was an exciting morning in the field with my young hunter. He got his first goose today. 💪🏻

Daisy once again steals the show in a catalogue shoot for today.

Opening weekend was good to my young hunters! Ducks, doves, lessons learned, high fives, lots of misses, and straw chewing with an attitude. 💪🏻

A tradition like no other. Our annual opening day “Riding of the Gooses” race!

Ned rig walleyes. 💪🏻

The Dog Days of summer have treated this pup well. Daisy has been training hard for a big season. I’m proud of the bird dog she’s become. 💪🏻

A few years ago my wife and I began a tradition to spend a week together as a family at the end of summer. We returned to this cabin each year at the same time to make every moment count for an entire week. We didn’t know it at the time this began, but this trip quickly became one of the highlights of our entire year. Our kids have become close friends with the other kids in camp. Those same families have returned like us, and their friendships have grown so each year. They play together from sunrise to sunset and encourage each other to accomplish fun things like riding a tube for the first time. My wife and I watch with grateful hearts.

As a family we fish, swim, tube, wakeboard, play baseball, football, volleyball, hockey, tennis, race turtles, eat every meal together, make s’mores over the fire, have fish fries, laugh a lot, and fish even more. We feel really blessed that we’ve found a special place like this, and we don’t take it for granted. This place reminds me about the times I spent at the lake “up north” when I was a kid. This tradition gets better each year, and I pray that if you’ve read this far, that you and your loved ones have your own special places like this that you cherish. Life needs these moments to step away from the hustle and spend with the ones that matter the most.

A big thanks goes out to the Riendeau family that owns Thunder Lake Lodge . They’ve created a wonderful and safe place for our family and hundreds of others that have spent time with them.

The fish, as always, are a bonus.

Soaking up every second of summer with rich family time spent up north!

Today’s fishing trip is extra special! Big brother is such a good helper for his little sisters. So many smiles and giggles!

We’ve got another fish lover in our family! 🎣 😁

Quality time with my fishin’ buddy!

Daydreaming season is almost over…

Views from the walleye fishing paradise called Lake of the Woods. It’s a special place to spend time with friends.

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There’s a lot of buzz in the fishing world right now about the new line of soft plastic lures Rapala launched last week called Crush City. I got my hands on samples this spring to test them out and I quickly learned that fish REALLY like to eat them and my kids REALLY like to throw them and then yell Crush City on the hook sets.

My first toss with a Crush City bait came on a lake I have never been on before. On the third cast I caught a nice 20 inch walleye, followed by several more. Everyone in the boat threw one on and we all caught fish. I was sold in minutes. It’s not a standard plastic lure, there are scents, buoyancy, elasticity and details in the bait that make it work well. Walleyes, bass, pike and muskies have been hammering them in my boat all summer. When these baits hit the market you’ll want to get your hands on them. You’ll be yelling too!

There are so many ways to catch a walleye. Sometimes the best lures are not considered traditional baits by the normal walleye angler. I consistently catch some of my largest walleyes on artificial lures, and really enjoy the challenge that comes from trying to outsmart fish while trying different methods. Experimenting with lures outside of your comfort zone might surprise you and will ultimately make you a better angler.

Walleye fishing is fun but walleye catching is way better!

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My son joined me at the office for some quality one-on-one time. Maybe one day he will grow up to work in the outdoor industry that we both love so much. For now, we are just grateful for the time spent together. He’s so great!

The Krengel family won my guided fishing trip at our annual Minnesota Bound Crappie Contest and they came ready to catch a walleye dinner. If you enter our Crappie Contest next year maybe I will get the chance to fish with you, too!

Fresh walleye seasoned with chipotle lime sweet rub and charred in butter on a hot cast iron pan is pretty damn good. It’s an excellent substitute to the traditional deep fried fish dipped in batter recipes and much quicker to make. I also like this method with blackened seasonings and lemon pepper seasonings. My wife and kids agree. 👌🏻

Seasonings can be found online at

Walleyes have another assassin after them, and she’s a cute one! She baits her own hook, casts, jigs, sweet talks ‘em, and then fights them all on her own now. 💪🏻🎣

Storybook ending to Minnesota’s Pheasant season! With a busy family day scheduled and a short window available I snuck out with Daisy for one final walk. She fought through cattails and snow drifts before my gps buzz alerted me to her point. I trudged through the snow and flushed this beautiful bird right off her point. One shot through a tight window in the brush and she brought this bird back to hand. I thanked her for the bird and all the heart she pours into every hunt. She’s a dog gon good pup. Until next year, Minnesota roosters!

You reeeeaaallly have to want it right now. The deep snow is no fun to bust through, but there’s only a couple of days left.

First fish of the season! Sure felt good to finally get back on the ice. 🎣

Minnesota Blizzard Bird!

I don’t know how dogs do it but Daisy held this rooster on point for several minutes while I trudged through drifts to find her staring into the snow. She’s been on fire lately so I knew the look on her was legit. I kicked the powder a few feet in front of her nose and this rooster erupts beneath two feet of snow. One shot, quick retrieve and we went home satisfied. We couldn’t see the sun but it was a golden moment spent together in the bitter cold.

This girl refuses to listen. We told her to stop growing, and she won’t. Today she turns 5. 5!!!

We just love her SO much! Happy birthday, Sweet Lydia Lou!

Still searching for that perfect gift for your outdoor loving children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, parents, grandparents, or mentors? This is another friendly reminder that a lifetime hunting and fishing license just might be one of the greatest gifts that you can ever give them. It's a gift that lasts forever. It never goes out of style. It's an awesome gift for all ages. And, the benefits go beyond the awesome memories you will make with your loved ones. Hunting and fishing license dollars go back into our resources to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. It's a win win!

Here's a link to the Minnesota DNR website to learn more - www.mndnr.gov/lifetime

A gift of a lifetime!

If you have a loved one that loves the outdoors then now is a great time to bless them with a lifetime hunting and fishing license. It’s such a sweet gift for young kids or those outdoor mentors in your life, plus it’s a gift that keeps on giving FOREVER! We got both of our boys a lifetime sportsman’s license and now we’re saving up to buy the same for our girls. The memories we make hunting and fishing with them are so rich and rewarding. It felt good to help set them up for a lifetime of outdoor experiences and give them a lifetime access to hunt and fish in Minnesota. I hope one day they will tell us it’s the greatest gift they’ve ever received!

If you want to learn more about Minnesota’s lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, here’s a link - https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/lifetime/residents/index.html?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=RSP-posts&utm_campaign=Holiday-Lifetime

The first snow of the year made for exceptional pheasant hunting this week in Iowa. Pheasant pot pie is on the dinner menu this weekend!

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