This is the 10th year in a row I have ended the year with a column featuring my favorite wildlife images.
This year I decided to do things a bit differently than in the past. Instead of choosing my favorite images from the year, I decided to select four of my favorite categories, and pick one image from each. The categories are white-tailed deer, songbirds, waterfowl and game birds — specifically ruffed grouse.

None of the subjects are exotic wildlife, nor were any of the images taken in faraway locations. In fact, all of the photos were shot within a few miles of Brainerd.
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The images on this page portray my choices for 2021. I hope these photographs instill in you a new appreciation for the wild critters that inhabit our fields, forests and even our backyards.
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BILL MARCHEL is a wildlife and outdoors photographer and writer whose work appears in many regional and national publications as well as the Brainerd Dispatch. He may be reached at bill@billmarchel.com. You also can visit his website at BillMARCHEL.com.