For the second time in as many years, Bismarck has made Outdoor Life's list in the Top 200 Towns for Sportsmen.

Last year was OL's inaugural list, and if you remember, Bismarck nailed down the No. 10 spot.

This year, Bismarck moved up four places into sixth place.

There are probably some very scientific reasons for the jump, although the article didn't specify.

Bismarck also made a list as one of the top 10 places to retire.

Fishing, hunting and retirement; there seems to be a correlation there.

Out of curiosity, I dug out the first list, and back then, the cities were rated on a scale of 10, with 10 being the highest score possible.

In the last list, they used a report card type of scoring system to evaluate five different categories.

On the first go-round, we scored 7 of 10 in hunting and fish availability; 6 for trophy potential; 8 for public land access; 4½ for year-round hunting and fishing opportunities; and a 10 for favorable gun laws.

This year's report card read: A- for huntable species; A for fishable species; A for public land access; B+ for trophy potential; and finally an A for gun laws.

As with anything new, it takes a few years of tweaking to get all of the bugs out and with the Top 200 list, that is more than likely the case.

Last year, OL looked at cities with a population of 4,000 and more, and while Mandan did not make the list, neither did Devils Lake or Pierre, S.D.

But, Mobridge (pop. 3,231) did make the list. How they made the population cut isn't known.

Last year, the top place to live belonged to Mountain Home, Ark., with Lewiston, Idaho, in second place.

It must have been a close vote last year, because Lewiston was No. 1 this year.

Speaking of lists, North Dakota has the dubious distinction of being on a few for various reasons.

I found these gems on some obscure Web site, so here are some in no particular order of importance:

n Dakota Gasification Co. near Beulah is the country's first and only synthetic natural gas producer.

n A man named Max Taubert of Casselton built an empty pyramid 50 feet tall out of used oil cans. It's believed to be the highest oil can pyramid.

n Lewis and Clark encountered their first grizzly bears in North Dakota.

n The world's largest buffalo monument is in Jamestown - 26 feet high, 46 feet long and weighs 60 tons.

The Web site didn't say so, but I'm guessing Salem Sue is probably the biggest Holstein cow around.

OK, I know these things don't have much to do with the outdoors, except for the fact they are, well, outdoors.

But, they are kind of fun.

River fishing highlighted

Jason Mitchell of Devils Lake was in Bismarck the last week in May fishing and filming.

Mitchell hosts the outdoor series "Jason Mitchell Outdoors" and was filming a segment on walleye fishing with local angler and former NHL player Mike Peluso.

Mitchell said the fishing was outstanding, and they had the show filmed in about two hours.

He said the scheduling for the segment has not yet been finalized, but it will like air some time in February or March.

The show is carried on FSN North and KXND, the Fox affiliate in Bismarck.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring at 250-8254 or brian.gehring@bismarcktribune.com.)