DNR announces special youth deer season

Youth ages 10-15 also are eligible to participate in a special deer season that runs from Thursday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 24, in 12 permit areas of southeastern and 15 deer permit areas of northwestern Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“This youth-only season provides an opportunity for parents, guardians and mentors to schedule and plan a special deer hunt with youth,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator.

Deer permit areas open to the hunt are 101, 105, 111, 114, 201, 203, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 263, 264, 267, 268, 338, 339, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349 and 601.

Youth must meet all firearms safety requirement, purchase a license and use the appropriate firearm for the permit area in which they are hunting. Youth may take a deer of either sex. An adult mentor must accompany the youth but may not hunt or carry a firearm.

The special season should occur when students are on school break.

Public land is open as is private land, provided the youth hunter has landowner permission.

Participating in the youth deer season does not preclude the youth from participating in the regular firearms deer season but any deer harvested do count against the youth’s season bag limit.

Apply by Aug. 20 for October special youth deer hunts

Minnesota youth have until Friday, Aug. 20, to apply for 15 mentored deer hunts in October, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“With a relaxed pace, these hunts provide high-quality introductory experiences where the total focus of the adult is on mentoring the youth hunter” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator. “Youth deer hunts provide the ideal learn-by-doing experience.”

Youth ages 12-15 may apply for one of 11 special firearms youth deer hunts at selected state parks and refuges. Youth ages 12-17 may apply for special archery youth deer hunts. Participating in a youth deer hunt does not preclude the youth from participating in the regular firearms deer season, but any deer harvested do count against the youth’s season bag limit.

A limited number of either-sex permits are available for the following hunts:

ARCHERY    

·    Camp Ripley Archery Hunt (open to youth 12-17), Archery, Morrison County, Oct. 8-10, 150 permits
·    Lake Alexander Preserve, Archery, Morrison County, Oct.8-10, 20 permits
·    Arden Hills Site A, Archery, Ramsey County, Oct. 21-22, 30 permits
·    Arden Hills Site B, Archery, Ramsey County, Oct. 23-24, 30 permits

FIREARMS

·    Lake Bemidji State Park, Firearms, Beltrami County, Oct. 16-17, 20 permits
·    St. Croix State Park, Firearms, Pine County, Oct. 30-31, 90 permits
·    Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, Firearms, Polk Count, Oct. 23-24, 20 permits
·    Savanna Portage State Park, Firearms, Aitkin County, Oct. 30-31, 20 permits
·    Buffalo River State Park Hunt A, Firearms, Clay County, Oct. 23-24, 10 permits
·    Buffalo River State Park Hunt B, Firearms, Clay County, Oct. 310-31, 10 permits
·    Tettagouche State Park, Firearms, Lake County, Oct. 16-17, 10 permits
·    Itasca State Park, Firearms, Clearwater County, Oct. 16-17, 75 permits
·    Banning State Park, Firearms, Pine County, Oct. 30-31, 6 permits
·    Father Hennepin State Park Hunt A, Firearms, Mille Lacs County, Oct. 30-31, 3 permits
·    Father Hennepin State Park Hunt B, Firearms, Mille Lacs County, Dec. 4-5, 3 permits

Youth must apply for the hunt of his or her choice, which can be done at any DNR license agent; the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, in St. Paul; or online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense . If the number of applications exceeds the number of permits, a lottery will be conducted. Youth may only apply for one archery hunt and one firearms hunt.

An adult parent or guardian must accompany the youth at all times while hunting but only the youth may hunt. Youth and their mentor must attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation session. Successful applicants also must meet all firearms safety requirements, purchase all appropriate licenses and follow hunting regulations.

Recently, MDHA collaborated with several other conservation minded organizations on joint letters to Senator Al Franken and Senator Amy Klobuchar regarding the "Land & Water Conservation Authorization & Funding Act of 2009" - a bill that will finally ensure the necessary level of federal investment in wildlife refuges, forest, parks, trails and historic landscapes in Minnesota and across the country.  Our hope is that Senators Fraken and Klobuchar will co-sponsor S.2747.

To view the letter sent to Senator Franken click HERE .

To view the letter sent to Senator Klobuchar click HERE 

On March 18, 2010, MDHA sent letters and copies of a 700+ signature petition to each of MN’s Senators and Congresspersons in Washington. In the letter, MDHA pressed our Washington delegates with the following message:

"this letter is our official request for your advocacy to influence USFWS (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) toward immediate delisting of MN’s wolves from the ESA (Endangered Species Act). Further, we seek your help to enact legislation to prevent future partisan legal log jams in the delisting process of the ESA as have been evident in this case.

In response, MDHA received return phone calls and email correspondence from most of our Senators and Congresspersons in Washington asking exactly how they could help. As a result of MDHA’s letter and the positive reaction, Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Oberstar sent a joint letter to the USFWS (Click HERE to see letter).  Shortly thereafter, Senator Franken and Congressman Walz circulated a similar letter to MN’s delegation and were joined by Congresspersons Bachmann, Kline, Paulsen and Peterson in co-signing and forwarding  that letter to USFWS (Click HERE to see letter). Both letters sought USFWS action to recognize the successful recovery of the wolf in MN and to delist them. Only Congresspersons Ellison and McCollum were absent from signing the letter. Why? We are not sure, but MDHA is seeking feedback from Congresspersons Ellison and McCollum hoping they too will join this united effort.

The ESA was designed to help endangered species return to self-sustaining populations. Without a doubt, just as it helped the Bald Eagle, the ESA has helped MN’s wolves fully recover beyond all benchmarks. Consequently, MDHA is actively urging that MN’s wolves be delisted and brought under MN DNR management as called for in the ESA recovery plan. For our efforts, MDHA has received messages of thanks from the MN Farm Bureau Federation and Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife (two of our colleagues in this battle). You too can help in this effort by contacting your Senators and Congresspersons in Washington to thank them for their help thus far and to urge their continued intervention on our behalf. If we cooperatively keep up the pressure, together we can make delisting happen.

Thank you to those of you who purchased tickets for the 40-Gun Raffle & congratulations to this years winners.

To see a complete winners list, click HERE .

Click HERE to visit our event section for event details.

Minnesota Deer Hunters Association March 15th BioBaler Demonstration

Many guests had already gathered on the MDHA property as the large tractor made its way down Peterson road to begin the BioBaler demonstration. As the machine stopped and hoisted its large Baler mechanism, large blades were exposed to show attendees the means at which this machine can completely remove brush and trees up to 6” in diameter. It was amazing.

As the demonstration started and the BioBaler entered the woods, many on-lookers followed safely behind to see the machine at work watching it as it ate away large sections of alder and hazel. As the baler filled, the machine would stop momentarily and drop a large woody bale that many gathered around for inspection. Occasionally the machine would stop and the owner and operator would answer questions regarding the machine and its potential uses.

The demonstration day was over at 2:00pm that day and the biobaler was still removing brush from the area. There were a total of 15 bales that were harvested and removed from the MDHA property to be grinded and sent in to MN power to use. They were picked up that afternoon and transported to the Floodwood site for grinding and mobilization to the bioenergy plant.

Following this harvest a variety of different management techniques will be performed to promote the wildlife species of the area such as deer, grouse and woodcock.

For more information about the BioBaler and how it works, click HERE to visit the mndeerhunters.com Habitat Section

MDHA was recently a signing party on a letter to Governor Pawlenty. The letter is in opposition to the Governor's veto of a $25 million RIM appropriation that would have garnered $35 million in Federal match.  To see MDHA's stance regarding this topic, click HERE.