I remember those mild winters like it was yesterday. The entire winter was mild. Spring actually came in March. The resulting long growing season was exactly what northern whitetails needed. Just like the winter of 2024 is what the deer herd needs now.

Why? Because the deer seasons that follow exceptionally mild winters have been good to me and I look forward to this fall with anticipation. Mild winters have a dramatic impact on our deer herd just as severe winters do. But, the impact is positive! Short winters produce longer growing seasons in the North.  Shorter winters drastically increase winter survival. Does come through in excellent physical condition, fat and healthy versus skinny and emaciated. As a result, does produce a high percentage of twin fawns and with early green-up, does also produce higher quantities of nutritious milk for two, and sometimes three, healthy fawns.   

The first thought most people have when someone mentions Minnesota’s Camp Ripley is that it is a premier military training site for the Minnesota National Guard. However, for the avid whitetail deer enthusiast, Camp Ripley is thought to be home to one of the most coveted deer populations in the state. While both trains of thought are correct, the focus of this article is deer and the role MDHA has played in sharing this wonderful resource with our veterans and the general public.

If you aren’t or never have taken full advantage of spring scouting before green-up, you’re missing out on a lot of whitetail information that could be applied to following seasons. Many times, you’ll hear from successful deer hunters that the most important time of the year for a deer hunter is spring. The more hours you spend scouting, the better odds for success next fall. Here are three things you should pay attention to while you’re out scouting and/or shed hunting this spring.

In the sprawling landscape of wildlife advocacy, discerning the true conservationists from the mere façade of conservation can be a perplexing exercise. With the environmental stakes higher than ever, it is not just a matter of labeling oneself a conservation group, but rather what one does, stands for, and ultimately, achieves. The essence of conservation lies in the profound, often unsung commitment to preserving our planet's irreplaceable ecological balance. And yet, within the cacophony of organizations parading under the banner of conservation, there are whispers of disingenuity and counterproductivity.

If you shed hunt strictly to find antlers, you'll come home disappointed a lot of days. Even the best shed hunters get skunked. Shed hunting is a great way to beat back cabin fever, get some exercise, learn about deer bedding and feeding areas and if you're lucky, maybe bring home some antlers. But sometimes you get more than you bargained for.

On February 19, Representative Lislegard (DFL) of Aurora, MN introduced House File 3903. This bill has two goals: to mandate an open wolf season once the gray wolf is federally delisted; and to establish the Northeast Deer Management Taskforce to develop effective and timely policies to increase deer populations in the northeastern part of the state. The bill is co-authored by Rep. Skraba (R) and Rep. Johnson (R). The companion bill in the Senate, SF3988, introduced on February 20, was authored by Senator Hauschild (DFL) from Hermantown, MN.

The highly-anticipated Deer and Turkey Classic is almost here, and we're thrilled! Head to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota for a weekend filled with hunting excitement and outdoor product showcases. Swing by our booth for lively chats, answers to your guestions, and share your passion for deer hunting.

Gear up for giveaways featuring top-notch products from Arctic Shield and Maluna coolers. Pop in to say hi, sign up for a membership, and participate in our raffle for a chance to win.

This event is a must-attend for both seasoned hunters and outdoor enthisaists. It's the perfect opportunity to connect, see the latest products, and have an amazing time.

Save the date, round up your hunting pals, and make sure not to miss this fun weekend.

The 2024 MDHA State Habitat Banquet and Corporate Board weekend was full of awards, celebration and camaraderie!

The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association held the Annual Corporate Board Meeting and State Habitat Banquet on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The weekend kicked off on Friday night with "Bygone Days of Deer Camp". A night of camaraderie reminiscing over photos and sharing hunting camp stories all while enjoying a camp cookout featuring chili and smores. 

We are pleased to announce that as of February 20, 2024, House File 3903 and Senate File 3988 have been introduced to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and policy; and Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committees. These bills mandate a wolf season so long as the Gray Wolf is not listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The bills also aim to establish a Northeast Deer Management Task Force that must include a representative of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. This is a direct result of MDHA’s wolf management advocacy efforts over the years. This does not happen overnight. This happens over decades of fighting for our wild deer herd and for responsible wolf management in a respectful manner. We must be willing to engage in civil conversation on both sides of the aisle if we want to enact meaningful change.

HF3903 has bipartisan support with authors: Reps. Lislegard (DFL), Skraba (R), & Johnson (R). SF3988 is authored by Sen. Hauschild (DFL). This is significant in that bipartisan bills have a much higher likelihood of receiving a hearing and becoming law, especially when the primary authors are from the majority party. We thank these elected officials for taking a stand for our wild deer and for sound wildlife management practices. Please contact your elected officials and express your support for these bills!

Thank you for your support of Minnesota Wildlife and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association.

Sincerely,

Jared J. Mazurek

Executive Director

Join us again this year at the Duluth Sport Show! Our booth will be manned by our staff all weekend, from Thursday to Sunday. Don't miss the chance to purchase a raffle ticket for the Chevy Truck Giveaway and enter into a drawing for a custom MDHA Maluna Cooler. Plus, with every membership purchased at the show, you'll receive gear from Arctic Shield absolutely free. And that's not all - we'll also have a special guest from Adventuress in our booth throughout the weekend. Be sure to stop by and ask for your complimentary copy of the special wolf issue.