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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

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Crossing seasons

By BRIAN S. PETERSON

Outdoors Editor

ITASCA STATE PARK - It was more the lull before the storm than it was a storm. But the jumbo snowflakes accumulated quickly and, when the wind did swirl off Lake Itasca, it was much more winter than fall at the park.

Fresh snow helped fuel the flow at the Mississippi Headwaters on Friday at Itasca State Park. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian Peterson
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A week too early, most likely, for hunters hoping for a backdrop of white in which to frame an Itasca deer in their sights. While the snow didn't disappear nearly as quickly as it came, Itasca will likely be a sea of brown and other earthy colors come Saturday's state deer hunting opener.

The dock/access for tours of Lake Itasca was a wintery shadow of its self. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian Peterson
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Itasca is one of several state parks open for special permit deer hunts starting Saturday, although the only one in the region. It's also the only state park that doubles as an open hunting zone: Permit Area 287 encompasses the massive park, and hunters are expected to be out in force throughout Itasca.

All signs pointed recently to an early winter at Itasca. The Mississippi Headwaters marker and a Headwaters sign were awash in snow after Friday afternoon's snowfall at the park. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian Peterson
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The park will be open to the public during the hunt, and sections of the park popular with park-goers will be closed to hunting. For more on the special state parks hunt, see Sunday's Dispatch.

Crossing the Mississippi Headwaters, be it via the rocks or the log that stretches near the mouth of the Headwaters, is dicey come wintertime in the fall at Itasca. Brainerd Dispatch/Brian Peterson
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