Mission Outdoors

Mission Outdoors Veteran Owned, Mission Outdoors is geared towards getting Veterans & Youth involved in the great outdoors. Thank you for following MissionOutdoors.Net

MissionOutdoors.Net is an on-line hunting show where it's about as real, and live as it gets, and our videos can be found only on our YouTube channel, website, and page. Our show was started by David Enstad in 2015 after completing several years of combat operations in Iraq, and while our primary focus has been getting combat veterans and youth out on hunting adventures, it has grown into

so much more. While we would like to have thousands of acres of private big buck land of our own, and unlimited time to chase big bucks, the reality is we are just like you; the average weekend warrior public land hunter who typically works a ton of hours during the week, and for the most part can only get to the woods on weekends or occasional vacation days. The way our show is structured allows us the ability to give current information on what's happening in the woods. Everything from what stage the rut is currently in, too how the deer and other species are reacting to the changing weather patterns and the changing of the seasons. While we mainly focus on deer, bear and turkey, we also run traplines for coyote and other furbearing animals, and give tips and tricks on the trapline as well. Our off-season is rather misleading, as we really don't have much of an off-season. When we are not out in the woods hunting or trapping, we're out scouting for the following season and constantly gathering intelligence which we share in the form of tip videos on everything from how to find new ground, to aerial and topographical map use, scouting, trail cam use and check, stand placement, and ultimately we're right back where we started and putting it all together for our next hunting adventure. If you would like to be notified of when our videos are released, please sign up for our news letter, and we will notify you once we upload a new video. We promise to never share your information, or send out spamming emails.

05/25/2026

😒If you notice anything weird showing up from our page, PLEASE drop a post here and let me know. We were locked out of all of our accounts bright and early this morning and had to fight like hell to get them back...

On today’s episode of "Things You Find in the Woods..." 📍 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.​Is it a primitive s...
05/09/2026

On today’s episode of "Things You Find in the Woods..." 📍 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

​Is it a primitive shelter, a massive illegal hunting blind, or did we just stumble onto Bigfoot’s Twin Cities headquarters? 🤷‍♂️👣

​The photos don't even do it justice as this structure is easily 12 feet tall at the peak.
Someone put in some serious work out here, though we're pretty sure the Refuge rangers didn't sign off on the permits for this one! 😅

​What’s your best guess?
​🏕️ Bushcraft project in progress
​🏹 Ghost of a hunting blind
​👣 Sasquatch Real Estate
​👽 Something "Otherworldly"

​Drop your theories in the comments! 👇.

05/01/2026

The girls are officially shed hunters! 🐾
​Within the span of sixty seconds, both Freyja and Leona found their very first shed antlers right here on our property. Leona is feeling pretty proud of herself since she managed to outsize her sister's find! 😆🦌

The hunt for Golden Oysters is officially ON... but the scoreboard is still at zero. 🍄‍🟫 Search efforts came up dry toda...
04/28/2026

The hunt for Golden Oysters is officially ON... but the scoreboard is still at zero. 🍄‍🟫 Search efforts came up dry today, but in the world of foraging, you adapt.

​Leaving the timber for the fields to gather Yarrow and Plantain. The tincture and salve jars and shelves are looking a little lonely, and it’s time to fill them back up.

​Stay tuned for some "medicine from the field" updates soon.

​

Sawyer permethrin treated clothing, and no less than 40 deer ticks, another 30 regular ticks, and a dozen or so teeny ti...
04/26/2026

Sawyer permethrin treated clothing, and no less than 40 deer ticks, another 30 regular ticks, and a dozen or so teeny tiny seed ticks from todays outting... I think its safe to say we're about to have a HEAVY tick season this year!

Foraging the Spring Bounty: Ramps, Trout Lilies, and Ostrich Ferns in Minnesota.​Ramps, trout lilies, and ostrich ferns ...
04/26/2026

Foraging the Spring Bounty: Ramps, Trout Lilies, and Ostrich Ferns in Minnesota.

​Ramps, trout lilies, and ostrich ferns as far as the eye can see! Every time I step into the woods right now, the landscape has shifted, offering a new abundance of wild edibles and medicinal plants unique to our region.

​Spring in Minnesota is the ultimate season for foraging. Whether you are scouting the river bottoms for the elusive fiddlehead fern or harvesting pungent wild leeks (ramps), the woods are providing a masterclass in self-reliance and seasonal eating.

​What to Look For Right Now:
​Wild Ramps (Allium tricoccum): Known for their distinct onion-garlic flavor. Remember to harvest sustainably by only taking one leaf per plant or thinning small clusters to ensure they return next year.

🦚 ​Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads (Matteuccia struthiopteris): The gold standard of wild greens. Look for the "bronze scales" and the deep "U" shaped groove in the stem to ensure proper identification.

​Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum): Recognizable by their mottled, trout-like leaves. While the leaves and corms are edible, they are slow-growing, so admire them or harvest sparingly.

Minnesota Foraging Report: Chaga, Fiddleheads, and Ramps! ​Today was another incredible day in the Minnesota woods. The ...
04/25/2026

Minnesota Foraging Report: Chaga, Fiddleheads, and Ramps!

​Today was another incredible day in the Minnesota woods. The spring harvest is officially in full swing, and the forest floor is absolutely alive.

​Today’s highlights included:
​Chaga Mushroom: We hit a major vein today, finding about 10 birch trees heavily loaded with prime chaga.

​Ostrich Ferns: Fiddleheads are popping up everywhere! We found literal tons of them ready for harvest. 🦚

​Spring Greens: A sea of wild ramps and trout lilies as far as the eye could see, plus a handful of early wild asparagus. 🎍

​Stay tuned, more photos and foraging news and tips are on the way!

Minnesota Foraging: ​Round 2 of yesterday’s haul is in! The Minnesota woods are officially waking up, and the foraging p...
04/24/2026

Minnesota Foraging: ​Round 2 of yesterday’s haul is in!

The Minnesota woods are officially waking up, and the foraging potential right now is incredible. If you know what to look for, the forest floor is basically a free grocery store, minus the checkout lines.

​Here’s the breakdown of what we found in the local brush:

​🌼 Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
​This is a powerhouse perennial.
​The Prize: The young, tender basal leaves.
​Taste: A unique, slightly resinous flavor, sort of like a mix of celery and parsley.
​Pro Tip: These are best cooked! Sauté them with a little butter and wild ramps for a true Northwoods delicacy.

​🍃 Common Dock (Rumex)
​Dock is everywhere, but don't let its "w**d" status fool you.
​The Prize: The young, bright green leaves before they get too large and bitter.
​Taste: Surprisingly tart and lemony (it contains oxalic acid, similar to wood sorrel or spinach).
​Survival Use: Great for a vitamin C boost in the field.

​🐝 Bee Balm (Monarda)
​A favorite for both foragers and pollinators, and easy to spot by its distinct square stem.
​The Prize: The aromatic leaves.
​Taste: Strong, spicy, and minty, often compared to oregano or thyme with a citrus kick.
​Usage: Makes an incredible wild tea (Oswego tea) or can be used as a savory seasoning for "catch and cook" meals. It's also known for its natural antiseptic properties.

​⚠️ Survival Rule #1: Never munch on a hunch. If you aren't 100% sure of your ID, leave it in the ground. Always cross-reference with a local field guide!

​What are you spotting in the MN woods this week? Drop a comment below! 👇

​

The woods are really starting to come alive with the warmer weather and rains. Ostrich Fern (fiddle heads), MILES of Gar...
04/24/2026

The woods are really starting to come alive with the warmer weather and rains. Ostrich Fern (fiddle heads), MILES of Garlic Mustard, and my first Pheasants Back mushroom of the season. Just a small handful of the pictures I took yesterday. MUCH more to come.

🌱 The "Sting" of Spring is Here!​I just spotted the first Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) pushing through the soil, and...
04/12/2026

🌱 The "Sting" of Spring is Here!

​I just spotted the first Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) pushing through the soil, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier. Seeing those jagged little leaves is my favorite signal that the earth is waking up and foraging season has officially arrived.

​If you aren't already on the nettle bandwagon, here is why they're so much more than just a "w**d":

​Nutritional Powerhouse: They’re packed with iron, calcium, and vitamins A and K. Think of them as wild spinach, but with a much more impressive resume.

​Medicinal Magic: From providing seasonal allergy relief to acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, nettles are the "OG" farmacy.

​Time to grab the gloves and start harvesting some liquid gold! 🌿✨
​

Yesterday was a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. I had the privilege of working with a local homeschool group of...
03/29/2026

Yesterday was a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. I had the privilege of working with a local homeschool group of about 30 students and parents ranging from age 6 all the way up to 50.

​These families aren't just looking for 'activities'; they are seeking real-life skills and a deeper connection to the world around them. We ran a hybrid survival course that bridged the gap between modern preparedness and traditional woodcraft.

​What struck me most was the focus. From the youngest kids to the adults, the engagement was 100%. They weren't just going through the motions; they were asking the right questions and truly leaning into the 'why' behind the skills. It’s inspiring to see a community so dedicated to raising a resilient, capable next generation.

Minnesota Bushcraft & Survival

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Saint Paul, MN
55101–55175

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