The 2012 Minnesota firearms deer season harvest was down 7. ...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:31:15 +0100

By JESSE WHITE

TOWER - While some local papers splashed weighty headlines across the tops of their pages this week declaring a 7 percent drop in the deer harvest compared to 2011, most hunters were left to wonder just what that really means.

You see while dramatic headers may sell papers, in order to understand how significant the final harvest number is - and where it comes from - you need to take a look at past seasons.

That's where you'll find the real story.

Every deer hunter who spent significant time in the woods this November knew before the Department of Natural Resources released their final preliminary numbers that the harvest was going to be down.

We expected that going into the season - the DNR told us it was coming - and we saw it for ourselves from our deer stands once the 16-day season rolled around.

Still, I think it was a shock to many just how slow things were out there, myself included.

Consider this: Statewide, hunters had harvested 151,400 deer during the 2012 firearms season before the final tally from the late 3B season was taken into account. That's the lowest amount since 1998, when hunters killed 143,396 deer.

That total is also a far cry from the record setting harvest of 257,860 deer set nearly a decade ago in 2003.

Add that to the fact that the harvest has been slowly dropping the past few years (164,200 in 2011; 174,101 in 2010; 162,345 in 2009; and 183,793 in 2008) and it's easy to see why hunters have been doing a lot of grumbling this year - and pointing a lot of fingers in the direction of the DNR and the traditional enemy of the deer hunter and deer, the wolf.

But while predators and management decisions have an effect on the whitetail population - nothing hits the herd harder than harsh Minnesota winters that start too early and last too long.

It's just fact: Bad winters kill the young, the fawns and the elderly deer and the end result is what we are seeing now - a smaller population and a conservative approach to deer management.

This brings us to what 1998 and 2012 have in common when it comes to deer hunting: Both seasons followed a stretch of particularly tough winters.

The 1998 deer season followed two of the harshest winters on record in Minnesota. Both the winter of 1995-96 and the following winter, 1996-97, were devastating to the whitetail herd, particularly in the northern part of the state where an estimated 120,000 to 360,000 deer died, according to the DNR.

Interestingly enough, the three winters that followed those two seasons were some of the mildest on record and the deer population rebounded and eventually peaked in 2003 when the record harvest was set.

Flash forward to the winter of 2008-09 and we see another harsh winter that killed an estimated 20 percent of the deer herd in the Tower area. That winter was followed by another severe winter in 2010-11. The winter of 2007-2008 was no picnic for deer either.

And while last winter was considered mild, DNR wildlife managers decided to be conservative when it came to license options this year. Their goal was to maintain populations at levels determined by citizen-lead groups back in the mid-2000's after many in the state complained the deer herd was too big.

The DNR increased the number of lottery areas where hunters could only take an antlerless deer by permit. Many other Permit Areas which had been designated “Managed” (where hunters could harvest two deer) were changed to “Hunter's Choice,” where hunters could shoot one deer of either-sex.

And, as expected, most shot bucks.

“The increase in buck harvest and decrease in antlerless deer harvest is a reflection of slightly higher deer populations statewide, yet a more conservative harvest philosophy this year,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager, said in a news release. “What drives total harvest is how we manage antlerless deer."

Locally, where most Permit Areas are at or below population goals, the harvest was down 7.5 percent, said Tom Rusch, DNR Wildlife Manager in Tower.

The buck harvest in northern St. Louis and northern Lake counties was up 4.4 percent compared to 2011. Statewide the buck harvest was up 9 percent.

Locally the harvest broke down as follows in comparison to last year:

Permit Area (PA) 108 (International Falls): 1,270 deer in 2012; 1,026 in 2011.
PA 117 (BWCAW): 60 in 2012; 37 2011.
PA 118 (BWCAW) 662 in 2012; 984 in 2011.
PA 119 (North of Orr): 841 in 2012; 824 in 2011
PA 122 (East of Aurora): 529 in 2012; 835 in 2011.
PA 127 (Isabella): 140 in 2012; 120 in 2011.
PA 176 (Central Iron Range): 2,669 in 2012; 2,430 in 2011.
PA 177 (Cook): 1,378 in 2012; 1,751 in 2011.
PA 178 (South Iron Range): 4,570 in 2012; 5,092 in 2011.

Permit areas 108, 118, 119 and 122 were Lottery Areas where hunters could only shoot one deer and needed to apply for antlerless permit. Otherwise it was bucks only.

Permit Areas 117, 127, 176, and 177 were Hunter Choice where hunters could shoot either one buck or one antlerless deer with an over-the-counter license.

Permit Area 178 was Managed, where there was a two deer limit. And either-sex license was sold over-the-counter and hunters could also purchase an antlerless bonus permit.

According to DNR numbers, the antlerless harvest in northern Minnesota was down 20.2 percent and 21 percent statewide.

The state harvest number does not include the tally from the late 3B season in southeastern Minnesota, which closed Sunday, Nov. 25.

Ample hunting opportunities remain as the statewide muzzleloader season runs Sunday, Dec. 9. The archery season closes on Monday, Dec. 31.

In Minnesota, hunters normally bag 7,000 to 9,000 deer by muzzleloader and 15,000 to 20,000 by bow.

The 2013 KC PRO-East Ice Racing season is upon us

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:29:27 +0100

By Cindy Kujala

MOUNTAIN IRON - The 2013 KCPRO-East race season is just around the corner, and the group has a special offer for new members.

The non-profit kids racing organization, open to kids ages 4 to 14, offers a regular membership for $75 per family but is offered a reduced 2013 rate:

- Only $25.00 if you register and pay before December 1, 2012; or
- Just $50.00 for all other new 2013 members.

KCPRO-East is a non-profit youth snowmobiling organization that has been around since 1991 and encourages friendship and sportsmanship through competitive racing from the Beginning Racer to the more experienced Modified Racers.

KCPRO-East is a great organization and offers family fun, an entertaining atmosphere, and a great way to spend the Minnesota winters.

We have 15 different classes that the kids race depending on their age and race experience. Each racer receives awards and goodie bags at the ceremony following each racing event.
KCPRO-East membership allows racers to accumulate points for year-end awards, grants voting rights on issues affecting the organization, allows for payment of reduced race fees, entitles you to a copy of KCPRO-East’s annual yearbook, as well as a copy of the current ISR yearbook, and provides a variety of
racer benefits at the year-end race banquet.

There is substantial benefit to being a KCPRO-East race member. And the membership fee is the same whether you have one, two or more racers in your family.

The group recently set its 2013 race schedule, which begins on Jan. 5 at Side Lake (north of
Chisholm). From there, they compete at Pike Lake (outside of Duluth) on Jan, 12; and Bailey Lake in Virginia on Jan. 26.

February includes events in Grand Rapids on Feb. 2; Feb. 9 at Longyear Lake in Chisholm for Polar
Bear Days; and event at Fortune Bay on Feb. 16 on Lake Vermilion; and a race on Feb. 23 atFish Lake outside of Duluth.

March 2 and 3 is the group's big two-day Northern Nationals event at Side Lake. The State Championship event attracts many racers from the Kids Pro Ice group from the Twin Cities area, as well as racers from KCPRO-West and other organizations come to compete.

The final event of the year is March 9 in
International Falls.

At the end of each race event an awards ceremony is held at a local sponsor’s place of business. At the
awards ceremony, in addition to the variety of awarded handed out, all of the racers receive a treat bag filled with goodies. To our young racers, the awards ceremony is almost as much fun as the race day.

Our year-end race banquet will be held in April. The banquet is held in conjunction with our spring race
meeting and is always a great day celebrating the end of the race season. Keep an eye on our website www.kcproeast.com for updates and changes to our race season and banquet information.

If you’re thinking about racing this winter, now is the time to join. The membership form and lots of
other information can be found on our website. The enclosed brochure also provides additional
information about KCPRO-East ages and race classes.

We hope to see you on the ice in 2013!

Encampment River Bridge repaired months after devestating floods destoryed it

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 02:38:19 +0100

By Zach Johns
Aug. 20, 2012

TWO HARBORS - On Sept. 8, nearly three months after a devastating flood swept away the Superior Hiking Trail’s Encampment River bridge, a team of nearly 30 volunteers were able to replace the span. The Encampment bridge, which had been rebuilt three times before due to ice jams and floods, was the last bit of major clean-up left after ten inches of rain hit the area on June 20.

The storm that hit the Duluth area made national news. Of course, most of the coverage focused on the homes and businesses damaged during the storm, but area hikers were immediately concerned with the condition of the Superior Hiking Trail - one of the most popular trails in the Midwest.

In the days after the flood, Superior Hiking Trail staff, maintenance supervisors and volunteers mobilized to asses the damage along the nearly 300-mile trail. The good news was that everything north of Gooseberry Falls State Park received very minor damage. South of Gooseberry, however, was another story. The Two Harbors and Duluth area saw extensive damage to the trail. Bridges were lost at Crow Creek, Wilson Creek and many tributaries.

In the weeks that followed, teams of volunteers, including a Minnesota Conservation Corps Summer Youth Crew, built three new bridges and pulled the others back into place, repairing them as needed. The largest bridges that were lost were on the Encampment and Sucker Rivers. The Sucker River bridge is an impressive A-frame design and took a monumental effort to rebuild a crib and lift the bridge back into place.

The Encampment bridge took a bit longer to replace as it was redesigned to be supported only at the ends of the bridge without a crib in the middle. The hope is the new design will help it withstand floods and ice jams in the future. The loss of the Encampment bridge was difficult for local hikers as being surrounded by private land, there was no easy way to get around it. Hikers were forced on an extra seven mile road walk - not pleasant for hikers who would rather be deep in the woods.

Two weekends ago the redesigned bridge was ready to go. Lumber and hardware was carried-in, volunteers were recruited (including a group of United States Marines) and the bridge was finally reconstructed. After a morning of pounding bolts, more than sixty hands picked-up the enormous span and raised the downstream side of the bridge gently upon both riverbanks. A cheer rang through the gorge as many volunteers who had thought “How in the world are we going to do this?” realized the trail was once again open.

The recovery from this 500-year flood event is still far from over. Although the vast majority of the trail is now open, there is still a lot of work to do, particularly in the West Duluth area and in Jay Cooke State Park. The Superior Hiking Trail Association will be working closely with the Minnesota DNR in the coming months as the entire Jay Cooke segment was decimated. But with the volunteer spirit exhibited since the flood, hikers have little doubt the work will get done.

For the latest updates, see the Superior Hiking Trail Association’s web site at www.shta.org.

Deer, grouse seasons open Saturday, Sept. 15

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:48:47 +0100

Sept. 13, 2012

By JESSE WHITE

TOWER - Fall officially arrives on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Come sunrise that day licensed Minnesota hunters will be able to chase small game, grouse and deer (with a bow) for the better part of the rest of the year.

Many hunters will be after the state's favorite game bird - grouse.

And many hunters may find the going a little slow this year as Department of Natural Resources officials say the bird is on the downside of its 10-year population cycle.

The best hunting usually occurs at the peak of the cycle and for a couple of years on either side of it.

According to Tom Rusch, DNR Wildlife Manager in Tower, spring drumming counts indicate the population is in the declining phase of the cycle. Officials try to get a handle on the population each year by counting the number of male birds heard drumming on established routes around the state.

This year counts were the lowest they had been in four years, down 24 to 60 percent in northeastern Minnesota.

According to Rusch there were 1.9 drums per stop in 2011 and only 1.1 in 2012.

A second concern this year is reproduction. June was extremely wet Rusch said and that is the prime time for nesting and that could have an effect on the population.

According to the DNR, on average, 115,000 hunters harvest 545,000 ruffed grouse in Minnesota each year. The grouse season runs through Jan. 1, 2013, and includes a daily limit of five and a possession limit of 10 birds.

Archery deer season

Hunters can expect deer populations throughout much of northern Minnesota to be at levels similar to the late 1990's and early 2000's, said Tom Rusch, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Manager in Tower.

A combination of three out of five harsh to severe winters combined with an aggressive management plan to thin herds after record harvests in the late 2000's, has lead to most deer permit areas being at or below population goals set by citizen-lead roundtables several years ago.

At that time, the public - including many land owners and hunters - wanted to see lower population densities and so the DNR offered more liberal permit options starting in 2003 to reach desired goals.

This past spring there were similar roundtables throughout the state but this time it was to discuss increasing deer populations.

"We've come full circle, basically," Rusch said. "The first time it was to reduce the population by 25 percent and now we're leaning the opposite way - that there aren't enough deer. There's going to be some fine tuning."

On the positive side the historically mild winter of 2011-2012 led to a strong fawn crop throughout the Tower work area, Rusch said, and much of northern Minnesota saw the best fawn production since 2006.

A resident archery license is $26. There are several options for hunters depending on what Permit Area they are in including: Lottery (one deer, antlerless permit required to shoot an antlerless deer); Hunter's Choice (one deer, either-sex); Managed (two deer limit); and Intensive (five deer).

See the 2012 Deer Map on this website for more information.

The archery deer season runs through Dec. 31.

There is a one buck limit statewide regardless of the season.

Local resident Phil Peliska bags bear on opening weekend with a bow

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:56:31 +0100

Sept. 6, 2012

GILBERT – Phil Peliska always wanted to try bear hunting but never thought he would have the time to do it right.

But an opportunity to hunt on a friend’s family land changed that and after finally being drawn for a tag this year the 38-year-old Mountain Iron was able to set up shop in rural Gilbert to hunt during the 2012 season.

That hunt proved to be very successful, as Peliska bagged a nearly 300 pound boar (male) on the first day of the season.

And, he did it with a bow and arrow.

“Once I was drawn, then it was a matter of choice as to which way to hunt bear,” Peliska said by e-mail this week. “In my personal opinion, there's no bigger challenge than trying to harvest a bear - or any other big game - with a bow and arrow set up. To see the animals breath, the whites of their eyes and their eyelashes - there's nothing else like it to me. Outsmarting their nose and their ears takes some serious skill and know how in my opinion.”

Peliska’s bear hunting odyssey started a few years ago when his friend and UPS co-worker Ron Paul told him that there had been several bear sightings on a property in rural Gilbert owned by Paul’s parents Rich and Rose.

Once he had the place to hunt it was just a matter of getting drawn in the bear lottery. Department of Natural Resources officials only release a certain number of permits each year and it took Peliska three tries to get a tag.

Then, he says, the real work began.

One of the things that kept him from the sport in the past was the amount of time needed for pre-season scouting and baiting.

But with help from his friend Ron Paul and using bait from various sources, including an apple tree in his parent’s yard, Peliska was able to set up shop.

“I was able to do the baiting on days off and on weekends. Ron’s dad and mom did the baiting Monday through Friday when I wasn't able to make it out there,” Peliska said. “Over a two-week baiting period, we determined via trail cam that we had a yearling cub, two 200- to 250-pound bears, a 300-pound bear and a 400-pound-plus pound bear coming into this bear station. My goal was to try and harvest a bear over 200 pounds.”

On opening day Peliska and Ron Paul (who was going to video the hunt) made their way to Peliska’s stand in the early afternoon.

Peliska said that through the use of the trail cams they had a pretty good idea what bears bears were hitting the bait pile and when.

And at about 6 p.m. the action picked up.

“We started hearing some really cool yet odd noises coming from straight behind us. It sounded like a bear knocking down dead trees,” Peliska said. “So (Ron) got himself and the video camera positioned that direction, east. The noise was on going for the better part of 10 to 15 minutes. I was looking back over my left shoulder and panned back to the bait pit and from the straight south from behind a pine tree out popped a big black blob.”

Peliska said he immediately grabbed his bow, a Mathews Z7-Xtreme, off the bow hanger, knowing immediately that it was a shooter (no cubs with it).

“The bear came around the tree and climbed up on top of the bait pile and started to move around the logs to get to the bait. I had about six different opportunities to shoot but I remembered that on the Outdoor Channel they always said you want to let the bear expose its shot side armpit,” he said, adding that waiting that 30 to 45 seconds felt like forever.

“I finally drew, brought my pins down on him and put my 20 yard pin on him. He then exposed that armpit at a slightly quartering away angle and I dropped the string on him. I saw the arrow hit right where I was aiming,” Peliska said.

The bear blew off the bait pile like an explosion and ran off to the southeast, Peliska said, adding that the two men heard crashing sounds not long after.

About 10 minutes later they climbed down and followed the blood trail, finding the massive bear about 40-yards away.

“It was amazing to see this fella up close. He was massive. The kicker was the other bear knocking down dead trees was still there and now madder than ever because we were between him and the food source,” he said. “We exited the woods and went back to the house to get help hauling this big bear out of the woods.”

After registering it, he brought the bear to a taxidermist friend, who measured the bear, skull and paws and estimated it was at least six-feet tall and more than 300 pounds.

Peliska, who considers himself an extremely avid deer hunter, said he might have found something to rival that sport.

“It was an amazing experience. One I will never forget. I'm pretty sure I've found a new addiction,” he said.

DNR proposing no motors on Big Rice Lake; management plan revisions to be discussed at Oct. ...

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:54:09 +0100

Sept. 6, 2012
TOWER - Department of Natural Resources officials are considering restricting the use of motors on Big Rice Lake from June 15 to Nov. 25 annually as part of an overall management plan revision.

The change, they say, could improve duck hunting on the very popular waterfowl and wild rice lake in northern Minnesota.
"Around the state people are fishing later and that's chasing ducks away. We're trying to improve duck hunting," said Dawn Plattner, assistant wildlife manager at the Tower Area DNR.

Right now, any changes are still in the proposal stage and the DNR is inviting citizens to attend a public meeting to discuss the proposed revisions to the Big Rice Lake management plan at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3 at the Tower Area DNR Wildlife Office in northern St. Louis County.The original management plan is being revisited to assess effectiveness and determine if changes or updates need to be made.

Big Rice Lake is located within the Superior National Forest approximately 10 miles northeast of Virginia.

According to the DNR, the lake is approximately 2,072 acres in size and was designated a Wildlife Management Lake in 1992. Big Rice Lake is a feeding and resting area for migrating waterfowl and is one of the most popular waterfowl hunting lakes in the area.

According to DNR officials it is an important natural wild rice lake in St. Louis County and in years of good wild rice production the lake is traditionally used by mallards, wood ducks, blue winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and geese.

The proposal to limit motorized use for part of the year is intended to protect breeding waterfowl and their broods, and to minimize disturbances to feeding and resting wildlife during fall migration. The plan proposes that from June 15 until Nov. 25, motorized surface use will be restricted to watercraft with electric trolling motors only.

Motorized access will be unrestricted during the rest of the year.

Other proposals include: Monitoring and removing beaver and beaver dams to maintain normal water levels and improve wild rice; and working to reduce the abundance of pickerelweed.

Big Rice Lake management plans are available at the Tower DNR Office and on the DNR website. Written comments on the management plan revision, including the proposed motor restriction, will be accepted until Saturday, Nov. 3. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Tom Rusch, Area Wildlife Supervisor, at tom.rusch@state.mn.us or Dawn Plattner, Assistant Area Wildlife Supervisor, at dawn.plattner@state.mn.us. Comments can also be mailed to the Tower DNR office at 650 Hwy 169, Tower, MN 55790.

Lack of natural foods could lead to high harvest up north

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:51:21 +0100

Aug. 31, 2012

TOWER - When northern Minnesota bear hunters hit the woods Saturday for the start of the 2012 season they could be in for plenty of action.

It's been a poor year for food sources like blueberries, raspberries, choke cherries, pin and burr oak and hazel in the Tower area and traditionally when that happens bears are more apt to target hunter bait piles.

That in turn leads to high harvest numbers, said Tom Rusch, Tower Area Wildlife Manager for the Department of Natural Resources.

"Bear numbers are up again and we have very poor natural foods. Blueberries were a bust and fall foods like hazel and acorns were not strong," Rusch said. "When they aren't around (bears) come looking for food."

The season runs through Oct. 14.

Rusch said permits for the season needed to be purchased by Aug. 1 and that surplus tags made available on Aug. 6 sold out in 30 minutes.

Statewide, the DNR estimates there are 20,000 bears and the agency is currently managing for a slight increase in the population - looking to raise numbers to around 22,000.

That means permits were down as much as 15 percent in some places.

In the Tower area the harvest has been down over the past five years due to lower bear numbers. Hunters harvested 245 bears in 2011; 214 in 2010; 249 in 2009; 190 in 2008 and 318 in 2007.

Statewide, 1,732 bears were harvested in 2011; 2,699 in 2010; 2,801 in 2009; 2,135 in 2008; and 3,172 in 2007.

Rusch said hunter success has increased over that time however due to less permits available and varies from 20 to 38 percent depending on location.

But that could all change this season.

"The bottom line is when we have poor natural foods we have more hits on bait and now that we have lower permits there's going to be high hunter success," Rusch said, adding that hunter success is about one in five in a poor year.

This year it could be closer to one in three, with Rusch said the harvest could be around 300 bears in the Tower area.

And while higher than last year's tally it's nowhere near how many were harvested in 1995, a record setting year that was similar to this year as far as food production goes.

That year 610 bears were harvested and hunters had a 40 percent success rate.

Bear Nuisance complaints 'daily' in 2012

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:50:40 +0100

Aug. 31, 2012

TOWER - Hardly a day has gone by this summer at the Department of Natural Resources offices in Tower without someone calling about bears.

"We're getting a nuisance complaint a day," said Tom Rusch, DNR Wlidlife Manger at Tower. "From all over our work area."

Poor natural food production has lead to a lack of the kind of treats bears prefer - berries and nuts - and the animals have been hitting garbage cans, grills and bird feeders across the Iron Range looking for something to eat.

And while DNR officials admit the bears are out roaming, they also concede there is nothing they can do about it.

"We don't trap them," Rusch said, adding that the agency used to do it years ago but found the practice to be time consuming, expensive and inefficient.

"It's a poor use of taxpayer money. In the 90's we trapped and ear tagged them. We went 40 miles away with them and found out they would just come back," Rusch said. "Either that or the young ones just created problems where we put them."

While the DNR won't move bears that are causing a problem, officials there do try to work with residents to help them remove attractants.

Rusch said bears have great memories and will remember where they got easy food from year to year no matter how far they travel.

So the best thing to do is avoid making it easy for them to get at things like garbage cans, grills and bird feeders.

Rusch suggest not putting garbage cans out at night or storing them in locked sheds. He also said it's probably a good idea to stop feeding birds during late summer and early fall as bears are attracted to sunflower seeds and other things found in the food.

Zebra mussels found in Gilbert's Lake Ore-Be-Gone

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:48:34 +0100

Aug. 31, 2012

GILBERT - Zebra mussels have been discovered in Gilbert Pit near Gilbert in St. Louis County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Wednesday.

Following an initial report by persons recreating in Gilbert Pit (also known locally as Lake Ore-Be-Gone), further inspections were made by a DNR invasive species specialist to confirm the extent of the infestation.

Adult zebra mussels were located in abundance approximately 250 yards south of the pit’s boat access. Most of the zebra mussels were large and none less than 1 centimeter were located.

“This is the first time we’ve located zebra mussels in a mine pit lake, and it’s the furthest north in the state where we have found them,” said Rich Rezanka, invasive species specialist. “It’s another reminder that aquatic invasive species can travel great distances and don’t have to be in a near-by lake or river to be a threat.”

Boaters who use Gilbert Pit are urged to be extra thorough when decontaminating their boats, trailers, anchors, and other equipment when leaving the infested lake.

Boaters should:

• Clean off all aquatic plants, zebra mussels and other prohibited invasive species.

• Drain water from bilge, livewell, motor, ballast tanks, and portable bait containers. before leaving water accesses or shoreline property.

• Keep drain plugs and water draining devise open when transporting boats and equipment.

It is unlawful in Minnesota to transport aquatic plants or prohibited invasive species on roads or to launch watercraft with them attached.

Gilbert Pit will be designated as an infested water, as required by law, when a zebra mussel population is identified in the lake. Some activities, such as bait harvest and transport of water for any purpose, will now be restricted there.

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