Greetings MDHA Members!
Last night the Minnesota Legislature adjourned after completing the work of assembling a two-year budget for Minnesota. Barring any need for a special session, they won't return to the capital until February of next year.
By no stretch was this a typical legislative session. The 2022 election gave Minnesota a DFL trifecta - coupled with a record near $19 billion dollar surplus and nearly a third of the legislature being brand new - all bets were off as to what the end result might be.
With the passage of a $72 billion dollar state budget - the largest in Minnesota's history, it remains to be seen the impact the increased spending will have on the state's economy. In addition - the majority party in St. Paul passed their ambitious social issue agenda without too much trouble - even considering they had just a one vote margin in the senate.
By most measures, the MDHA had a good legislative session. Several policies were included in the final Omnibus Environment bill that will benefit deer hunters across the state for years to come. Nearing the top of that achievement list are unprecedented measures to slow the spread of CWD, new investments in public lands, updated statutes around paperless licensing, and appropriations for new sport shooting facility grants.
We cannot forget the work done on prevention either. Stopping dangerous anti-wolf hunt policy was at the top of the list - and we built a successful coalition of partners that will continue to be effective into the future.
We built relationships - identified challenges - and worked to ensure your voices were present at the capital. And that effort will continue through the interim and into preparations for the next session.
We did not prevail on every issue - you prioritized opposing legislation that violated rights guaranteed under the second amendment. We made your voice heard, as did many other sporting and gun enthusiast groups, but in the end the legislature slid two of their own priorities into the omnibus public safety bill. Background checks will be expanded to include private transfers of certain semi-automatic weapons and pistols. And the "red-flag" law, which provides for court orders to law enforcement to confiscate weapons from people deemed a hazard to themselves or others was passed. I am confident we will hear much more about these provisions in the coming months - and it's safe to assume there will be legal challenges in court.
From my perspective - it has been a pleasure representing you at the capital - I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your organization and many of you. I look forward to working to make your efforts pay off as we go forward!
Enjoy your summer!
Erik Simonson
MDHA Lobbyist
Featured
Shown left to right: Sarah Dixon, Itasca Chapter Vice President Elect and Jared Mazurek, MDHA Executive Director, drawing the winning Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Chevy Raffle ticket Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The winning ticket was sold by the MDHA Alexandria Chapter.
Sure Game Wilderness Resort has been around since 1941. A lot has changed over the years. On June 1st, 2022 our family’s adventure took a new turn. My husband Aarron, I and our two daughters recently purchased this amazing resort in Northern Itasca County. I bet you have lived your whole life in Minnesota and never heard of Wirt, MN. You are right, it is a small community surrounded by many wonderful attractions. We have learned a lot in our first year of owning a resort. I will never get over the beauty of Clear Lake. With only 5 houses and the resort on Clear Lake, some would say it’s extremely serene.
Join us:
Saturday, February 25, 2023 at the TimberLake Lodge
Pokegama Ave. Grand Rapids, MN
4:30 p.m. - Social , Silent Auction, Raffles 6:00 p.m. - Dinner & Program
Tickets $45 each and available: online at mndeerhunters.com, by phone at 218.259.1368 or by emailing order form to
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT MINNESOTA S WILDIFE HABITAT! .
Our 2022 goal is to raise enough money for ten 2023 Forkhorn Camp Scholarships, or $5,000. Will you help us sponsor ten children with your generous donation. The cost of one scholarship is $425-$450.
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is excited to announce the search for our Executive Director is over!
We are proud to announce Jared Mazurek as the new Executive Director for the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA). Mazurek will be responsible for the leadership and management of MDHA in accordance with the strategic plan, Corporate Bylaws and MDHA’s mission of “working for tomorrow’s wildlife and hunter’s today.”
Congratulations to all our previous winners and good luck to all participants this year!
The Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant Program funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota. Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the people of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is committed to building habitat benefiting deer and deer hunters in Minnesota. We have participated in 87 Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) grant projects since 2010 with over $5.5 million worth of habitat projects accomplished or in progress across the State of Minnesota. As part of that total, in 2018 MDHA applied and was fully funded for 6 new grant projects totaling over $253 thousand.
In the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 the MDHA completed Phase I of the Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative which was funded for $960,000. In Fiscal Year 2018-2019 the MDHA completed Phase II of the Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative funded for $2,000,000. In Fiscal Year 2018-2019 the MDHA was awarded $1,938,000 for Phase III of the Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative. The three grants are for habitat enhancement in Northeast Minnesota
During Fiscal Year 2016-17 the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $3,570,000 to enable the MDHA to close on the largest acquisition in our history with $3,209,542.50 spent on acquiring 2,280 acres of Forest Habitat in Cass and Hubbard Counties with LSOHC Grant Funds with partners The Conservation Fund (TCF) and Ruffed Grouse Society. As the primary landowner, Potlatch Corporation, began divesting forest lands in Minnesota, MDHA made it a priority to prevent thousands of acres from being turned into row-crop agriculture and remain open for public use in perpetuity. The acquired 2,280 acres were donated to Crow Wing and Hubbard Counties. Restoration work was done on Hubbard County parcel during the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year.
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
460 Peterson Rd
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
