jesse-whites-blog

It's never too early to plan for deer hunting

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:01:57 +0100

This is a tough time of the year for those of us who love hunting and fishing - especially when winter just won't go away.

The ice-fishing season is all but done and even though crappie fishing is always open there's very little reason to risk your life on the ice at this time of year. And good luck getting your boat on the lake!

Turkey hunting season isn't quite here yet and the walleye opener isn't until May. The snow is melting from the hilltops at local ski resorts and from the groomed snowmobile trails across most of northeastern Minnesota. Of course, that doesn't mean it's time to get the wheeler out. It's too cold, for one, and even if can find some trails without snow, chances are they are muddy and useless. And unless your Minnesota North Outdoors blogger Zach Johns, hunting or hiking right now is out of the question.

So what's a guy or gal suppose to do between April 1 and the walleye opener in May? How about get some deer stands ready and do a little brushing? Yes, I said get deer stands ready even though the archery opener is still six months away and the rifle opener is even further down the road.

Spring is a perfect time to get out into your deer woods and build those new stands you thought about all of last deer season for a number of reasons. Some of them include:

No mosquitos. Between now and June the chances of running into any of Minnesota's famous blood suckers is slim to none. Oh, you might encounter one here or there, but for the most part you won't have to worry about getting eaten alive out in the woods. Nothing sucks worse - no pun intended - than trying to work outside in the summer heat with swarms of nasty mosquitos tearing you apart.
Not a lot of vegetation. Spring is a great time to scout for stand locations or build at sites you mentally marked last fall because the conditions in the woods are going to be very similar to what they were the last time you were there in November or December - no leaves or other greenery. Now, this can change quickly so you'll want to get out there sooner than later. But what this allows you is the ability to put up a stand or position it in the best possible spot. If you try to put up a stand in the summer or even September you're not really seeing what you'll see when you're out there hunting and not being familiar with your surroundings puts you at a great disadvantage.
Seeing the trails. If you get out early enough, when there's still a little snow on the ground, it gives you an opportunity to really see where some of the well worn trails are. Keep in mind that deer will use different trails in the dead of winter than in summer or fall but what you're looking for here are ALL the trails and ins and outs around a potential stand position. And the wet ground, or a little leftover snow, will lay those trails out in a way that's easy to see compared to what you'd be dealing with when the vegetation is lush and closes the forest up until October. Combine what you are seeing at this time of year with what you observed during the deer season and you've got a good start at finding the best place to locate a stand.
Do not disturb. Perhaps the best reason to build stands and do brushing and lane clearing in the spring is because by doing it now you are giving deer six to eight months to get used the change in their surroundings. While deer are naturally curious animals, they are also extremely cautious and when you start chopping down trees and knocking down brush in September and October it tends to set off alarms. The really smart ones - you know, those trophy bucks - are wise enough to realize there has been a change and to avoid that area as best they can. But if you do your redecorating now, by the time you return to the area, you won't even remember what changes you made. And it'll give new bucks a chance to move into the area none the wiser. Another advantage: If you get some brushing done in the spring - removing winter's damage - you'll have less to do come fall after summer storms have wreaked havoc on your favorite trails. That leaves more time for scouting and hunting come September!

These are just a few reasons to get out and put up your stands and do your brushing now. Besides, what else are you going to do in April? Shovel slush and snow blow your front yard like your insane neighbor?

Hell no! Get out in the woods and get to work and if you're lucky you'll come across a antler shed or two while you are out there.

PLEASE, PLEASE count the wolves, put an end to the propaganda once and for all

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:16:52 +0100

It seems like every month the gray wolf is back in the news and I find myself getting more and more irritated by the conversation.

Why? It's not because I harbor some hatred for the animal. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I believe there is a place for the wolf in our world and like any other animal, I believe it should be treated with respect.

That being said, however, I've also maintained the wolf needs to be managed in Minnesota. The packs can no longer run unchecked. The population's turnaround in the state - from nearly gone in the 1970's to thousands in the woods today - has been an extraordinary example of how the endangered species, along with good, sound science and wildlife management, can save a section of our wildlife from extinction.

Today the gray wolf population is thriving - some would say growing by leaps and bounds - and it is time to stop with the lawsuits and constant propaganda painting hunters, trappers and the DNR as blood thirsty bad guys and gals, and time for us to let the experts take over and manage the the population.

BUT NOOOOO, that's not what's happening. Instead, groups like "Howling for Wolves" continue to push their anti-hunting agenda and of course the brains that power the capital in St. Paul (and I use the term brains loosely as I have little faith left in our elected officials) are listening.

Howling recently paid a Washington, D.C.-based company called Lake Research Partners to poll Minnesota registered voters on whether or not they favored a five-year delay before the state holds another wolf hunting season. According to the results, nearly two-thirds of the 600 people polled said there is no reason for a hunt.

As you may or may not know, Minnesota held it's first wolf hunting and trapping season this past fall after the wolf was de-listed by the federal government earlier in 2012. Hunters and trappers harvested 412 wolves, a dozen more than a pre-season estimate and goal of 400. The DNR issued 2,400 licenses and hunters had a 6.6 percent success rate, according to the agency.

The season has been done for three months now but this poll was done at the end of February to coincide with a bill to delay the next hunting season for five years the Minnesota Legislature is considering.

Five years.

That number is significant only because a wolf-advisory committee suggested it as the number of years that should come between when the wolf was de-listed and when hunting should begin 10 YEARS AGO - way back at the start of the on and off again de-listing process and before hundreds of thousands of dollars were wasted through frivolous lawsuits.

A decade later the wolf is finally off the list and there are an estimated 3,000 of them in the state of Minnesota. Well, maybe a little less now. Or maybe a lot more. We don't really know and that also pissed off the anti-hunting nuts as, according to the poll results, nearly 75 percent of the respondents thought there should have been a population survey before the first hunt.

I agree. It should have been done and I can't wait until it is (The DNR is currently doing a survey) )and reality sets in as we find out there are most likely a lot more wolves out there than we thought. And if there are more than 3,000, maybe it will finally put the question of whether or not the population has rebounded to rest once and for all.

But I doubt it. They'll find something else to complain about and another reason to put up their heinous billboards.

So be it, I guess. It's a free country and we all have a right to our opinion.

But what really pisses me off is these people expend SO MUCH energy worrying about a wolf when other issues go by the wayside. Imagine if they put this much passion (AND MONEY) into something more relevant to the human condition.

Imagine the possibilities.

Forkhorn Camp is a great way for youth to learn about the outdoors in Minnesota

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:57:31 +0100

While many organizations and experts preach getting youth involved in the outdoors in a positive manner, few push that agenda with as much conviction as the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and their partners involved with the Forkhorn Summer Camp programs held each year across the state.

The idea behind Forkhorn camp, which according to the MDHA was started in 1985, is to teach kids between the ages of 11 and 17 the ins-and-outs of the outdoors and hunting through a unique hands-on, interactive experience.

Each summer, week-long camps are held at eight different facilities across the state, including one in our backyard - the Laurentian Environmental Learning Center (LEC) in Britt. Other locations where Forkhorn Camps are held include: Audubon Center of the Northwoods near Sandstone, Minn.; Three Rivers Park District near Maple Plain, Minn.; Deep Portage Conservation Reserve near Hackensack, Minn.; Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro, Minn.; Kiwanis Boy Scout Camp near St. Croix, Minn.; Long Lake Conservation Center near Palisade, Minn.; and Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center near Spicer, Minn.

The MDHA offers three different levels of the camp including Forkhorn I, Forkhorn II, and Forkhorn III, where kids are taught everything from firearms safety to ethical hunting practices, bowhunting, map and compass navigation, big game ecology, advanced marksmanship and more.

Classes are taught by LEC professional teaching staff that hold Minnesota Firearms Safety Instructor, bowhunting and advanced hunting certifications and the camps include all meals, lodging, instruction and use of equipment, which is part of the appeal of the program considering some youth may not have access to the type of gear available to Forkhorn participants.

The camps normally cost upwards of $400 to participate but here's the catch - The MDHA offers hundreds of scholarships yearly to young campers who are either members of MDHA or an immediate family member to someone who belongs to the organization. MDHA chapters raise money all year long to fund the scholarships through different activities like the Hides-for-Habitat program or yearly banquets featuring auctions for guns and other outdoors equipment.

While membership doesn't guarantee a scholarship, chances are good youth members will get one, which minimizes the cost dramatically.

The following are short descriptions of the three levels of Forkhorn Camp and dates the camps are being offered at LEC. For dates and information related to any other locations, just click on the name above and you'll be taken to their web pages.

Forkhorn I is designed for beginning hunters and provides extensive hands-on instruction in basic firearms safety and shooting techniques using rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and bows. It also provides hunting tips for both big and small game. Students may earn their Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Firearm Safety Certification through the camp.

Classes include:
Firearm Safety
Beginning Rifle, Shotgun and Archery
Wildlife Management
Whitetail Deer Ecology
Outdoor Survival Skills
Map and Compass Orienteering
Deer Hunting Techniques
Safe Shooting Scenarios
Hunter Ethics

Students must be 11 years of age on the first day of camp to attend and cost (without a scholarship) is $425 per person which includes instruction, lodging, home cooked meals and use of equipment. Small class sizes for more individual instruction. Enrollment limited to 40 students. Parents may attend with their child at no additional cost.

Dates available at LEC for 2013 include:
June 16 - 21
July 21 - 26
Aug. 4 - 9
Aug. 11 - 16

Forkhorn II is an advanced Forkhorn Camp that focuses on bowhunting for youth who are graduates of Forkhorn I or have earned their Firearms Safety Certification. It is a more intensive camp that takes students beyond basic whitetail deer hunting knowledge and strategies, and provides them with advanced training.

Classes include:
Bowhunting

Map and Compass Navigation

Special Hunting Techniques

Ethical Hunting Practices

Big Game Ecology

Field Dressing

Students must be 12 years of age or older and have passed a Firearms Safety Training Course to be eligible for this camp and cost (without a scholarship) is $425 per person which includes instruction, lodging, home-cooked meals and use of equipment. Small class sizes for more individual instruction. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Parents may attend with their child at no additional cost. Students may bring their own bow for this program.

Dates at LEC for Forkhorn II include:

July 28 - Aug. 2 2013
Aug. 4-9 2013

Forkhorn III is designed for youth, ages 12-17, who already have their Firearms Safety Certification and significant hunting experience. This camp is designed for those seeking to expand their knowledge on big and small game hunting tips and techniques as well as hunter ethics.

Classes include:
Firearms Safety Review
Advanced Marksmanship
Beginning Handgun Shooting and Safety
Big and Small Game Ecology and Hunting
Hunter Ethics and Responsibilities

Students must be 12 years of age or older and have passed a Firearms Safety Training Course to be eligible for this camp and cost (without a scholarship) is $425 per person which includes instruction, lodging, home cooked meals and use of equipment. Small class sizes for more individual attention. Enrollment limited to 20 students. Parents may attend with their child at no additional cost.

Dates at LEC for Forkhorn III include:

July 28 - Aug. 2, 2013

Again, financial assistance and scholarships are available through the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. To find out if you qualify contact your local chapter. If you aren't a member of MDHA, you can get more information on how to join at www.mndeerhunters.com or by calling 218-327-1130.

You can also get more information about the camps at Laurentian Environmental Center in Britt by visiting their web site HERE or by calling them at 1-888-749-1288.

So far, so good for deer this mild winter - the result could be another excellent spring for fawns

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:21:52 +0100

Even after a snowstorm this past weekend that dumped upwards of eight inches to a foot of snow on parts of northern Minnesota, the winter of 2012-2013 has been pretty tame, according to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials.

That's great news for a deer population still rebounding from one of the toughest winters on record just two years ago.

The DNR measures winter severity by assigning a point for each day the snow depth is 15-inches or more and one point for each day the temperature is below zero and through Feb. 3 the Winter Severity Index (WSI) in and around St. Louis County was 31.

Considering a harsh winter - one that kills fawns and elderly deer - scores 130 or higher by the end of March, a 31 at the start of February means the stress level on deer so far has been pretty much non-existent.

What that means for deer - and the hunters who chase them each fall - is the potential for a excellent spring fawn crop for the second year in a row and a good chance population levels are going to rise in the very near future.

And that could mean extra opportunities for hunters because regardless of what type of management approach the DNR takes with the deer herd - or how many predators may or may not be killing deer each year - survival and fawn crops are most affected by winter, particularly how long it lasts into the spring fawn season.

Deer are generally equipped to handle about 90 days of normal winter conditions and when the season starts to last a little longer than usual, like it did in 2010-2011 when much of the area finished the season with a WSI score in the 140's and 150's, the population begins to suffer. When winter is stretched or reaches a "harsh" condition certain segments of the population, particularly fawns and yearlings, begin to suffer and die.

The antlerless deer, carrying the fawns, are also overtaxed and a long winter can sometimes result in singles (does often give birth to twins and sometimes even triplets) or no fawns being born at all.

When winter is more mild, like it has been this year, it bodes well for the population. And the fact that this is the third - so far - mild winter in four years has a doubling and tripling effect on things.

Tower Area DNR Wildlife Manager Tom Rusch said this week that as it stands he is predicting this winter will end around average, at a WSI score of 120.

"If that is indeed the scenario that plays out, the 2013 fawn crop would be the second consecutive bumper fawn crop in St. Louis County, with back-to-back mild winters," Rusch said. "Consecutive large fawn crops historically have put population growth on the fast track. Time will tell, but the prospects for the northern Minnesota deer population appear to be on the rise. By March first we will have a firm grasp the effects of this winter on our white-tailed deer population."

While no one can predict what Mother Nature has in store for us over the next couple of months, historically, low WSI scores in February translate into low end of season scores. For example, over the past three winters in the Eveleth area the WSI scores in February and March were as follows:

The winter of 2009-2010 had a WSI score of 30 on Feb. 5 and ended with a score of 49.
The winter of 2010-2011 had a WSI score of 85 on Feb. 5 and ended with a score of 150.
The winter of 2011-2012 had a WSI score of 20 on Feb. 5 and by March 21 most areas of northeastern Minnesota were registering WSI scores between 26 and 70 or 80 further north.

Rusch said this year, December was very open with snow depths less than 6 inches and that the first half of January continued to be very mild with temperatures as high as the upper 40’s and rain, which diminished snow cover. Temperatures plummeted in the latter half of January, but snow depths were still less than 10 inches at Tower and Eveleth.

That meant deer movement was not restricted and they were able to access food sources across their home ranges throughout December and January.

"Deer remained dispersed in fall cover until early February, when they shifted to better winter thermal cover with the wave of cold that moved in," Rusch said, adding that snow depth is the key factor in deer survival in northern Minnesota.

"Snow depth surpassed the 15-inch threshold north of Orr in St. Louis County, and in Northern Lake County, in late January. Snow depth surpassed 15-inches on the Iron Range on Feb. 10, but the next WSI report isn’t until February 18," he said. "Snow points are now accumulating in each deer permit are in the Tower Area and will continue until snow depths again drop below 15 inches in March."

Also, Rusch added, wolf predation, so far, has likely been very light with deer having excellent mobility and wolves being at a disadvantage.

For more information on WSI see: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/index.html.

A high tech look at what is happening to Minnesota moose

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:54:00 +0100

Sometimes it feels like I've been following the plight of northeastern Minnesota moose for as long as wildlife managers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have been, so when I read this week that officials finally got 31 moose fitted with some new high tech GPS collars as part of a ground-breaking new mortality study I got a little excited.

Maybe we will finally get an answer to the question that has been vexing state wildlife officials and moose hunters and enthusiasts since the early 2000's: What is killing adult moose at a rate of 20 percent annually in Minnesota.

The DNR, which has been doing aerial counts of moose in Minnesota since the 1960's, launched the moose mortality research project last week. Their goal this winter is to capture and collar 100 adult moose in the Grand Marias, Ely and Two Harbors areas in the weeks ahead as part of the most sophisticated moose research project ever conducted.

And while this might be the first phase of a new multiple-year project, in my mind it's the continuation of a nearly decade-long look at a species fading from the deep woods of Minnesota at an alarming rate.

I first became interested in the state of the moose back in the mid-2000's when I did my first story on their mysterious decline as a writer for the Mesabi Daily News in Virginia, Minn.

To be honest, at the time I didn't think much of the decline - the fact that several hundred moose were were dying during a year seemed sort of natural to me. After all, with hunting and wolf pressure and, of course, vehicle/moose collisions, it didn't surprise me.

It wasn't until a couple of years later, when I did a follow-up story on the continued drop in the population, that I realized what a serious situation it was because that's when officials started to say out loud that hunting and predators weren't the main cause of death and that they weren't sure what was going on.

And while there are plenty of guesses as to the cause, officials still haven not pinpointed the reason why since 2006 the population has gone from an estimated 8,501 moose to 4,230 in 2012.

Wildlife officials first turned their attention to northeastern Minnesota in 2002 after moose in the northwestern part of the state essentially disappeared over the prior 20-year time period.

After several years of study through various means, including traditional collaring techniques, in 2008, the Minnesota Legislature told the DNR to create a Moose Advisory Committee to make recommendations that would be the basis of a Moose Management and Research Plan.

That plan was released last year and includes capturing 75 cow and 25 bull moose in northeastern Minnesota and fitting them with GPS collars that will track the animals’ movements. Wildlife researchers will also implant a second device in the digestive tracks of 27 of the collared moose to record the animal’s heartbeat and internal body temperature. If the device senses that the moose’s heart has stopped beating, the implant will instruct the GPS collar to notify researchers via a text message.

If a collar determines that a moose has not moved for six hours, the collar will text its location every 30 minutes for the next six hours so DNR researchers can find the animal within 24 hours. The timing is particularly important because fresh samples are key to identifying the cause of death. According to the DNR, once the text message is received, researchers will locate the moose within 24 hours to either retrieve the remains or conduct a field necropsy.

In the past, on many occasions, by the time DNR officials could get to a dead moose (and they are found in some of the most remote areas of the state including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness), other wildlife had already been to the scene and there has been little left of the specimen.

Also, in order to test for disease or parasites, the carcass needs to be tested soon after death. The DNR developed this project to collect accurate and timely biological data on the moose’s physical condition and the likely cause of death before decomposition.

Using this technology researchers are hoping to learn more about why moose are dying and that information may be used to help inform wildlife management decisions. The $1.2 million research project is funded by state’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

According to the DNR:

Each of the 100 adult moose captured and collared later this month will be tracked for the next six years. Six locations will be recorded each day for each moose. The collars will store that information, as well as ambient outside air temperature, and transmit those locations once each day to a central base station.
The DNR study is primarily about better understanding the causes of moose mortality. Annual population estimates show that Minnesota’s northeastern moose population has declined significantly since 2008.
About 20 percent of adult moose die annually, although the exact causes of that mortality are not well understood. Previous research has demonstrated that hunting and predation by wolves are not the primary causes of adult deaths, and multiple signs indicate the causes are likely health- and stress-related factors.
The body conditions of moose collared so far have varied, but many have been on the thin side. Bulls tend to fare worse than cows in winter because bulls have less body fat after the fall breeding season depletes their nutritional reserves. These reserves are difficult to build following the breeding season with the sparse browse available in winter.
A second phase of the project will examine moose calf mortality. After calving in spring, the locations of cows collared this winter will be used so their calves can be located, captured and fitted with collars that will provide data similar to that being collected from adults.
Data from calves will provide much-needed information about calf survival and causes of mortality.
Partners in the project include the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, 1854 Treaty Authority (Bois Forte and Grand Portage Bands); the University of Tennessee, the Smithsonian, and the University of Minnesota.

Research project updates and additional information about moose management and research are available on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/moose.

The aerial survey results from 2012 can be found here: www.files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/moose/moose_survey_2012.pdf.

The Bobberstop Ice Fishing contest on Ely Lake - A popular event that helps plenty in need ...

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:49:47 +0100

The fish in Ely Lake near Eveleth, Minn. might not like the Bobber Stop but those around the Iron Range in need of some assistance sure do.

As do area anglers of all ages who have made the annual February ice fishing contest such a success since it was started in 2009 by officials at Range Transitional Housing (RTH) as a fundraiser for the organization's Furniture Donation Program.

This year's version, which will feature thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, takes place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 on Ely Lake in Fayal Township. Entry tickets are $30 if purchased before Feb. 10 and $40 after that.

Prizes will be awarded for the top 25 fish caught including $1,000 in cash and a Vexilar FL-22 Ultra Pack with Pro View for first place. Second through fourth places will win various Vexilar packs and fifth place will win a Vexilar Cold Snap Parka and Bibs.

The top three youth anglers will win ice fishing starter kits which include an ice house, hand auger, sled, fishing rod, and tackle tote and anglers who catch the top 25 fish (including youth) will be automatically entered into a drawing for a 2013 Polaris Sportsman.

There is also a separate cash raffle with 500 tickets available (at $10 each) for: First place, $1,500; second place, $1,000; and third place, $500.

Tickets are available by contacting RTH at 218-735-6324 or at Ely Lake Short Stop, Goodfellas in Eveleth and Silver Creek Liquor in Mountain.

Adam Venne, Executive Director at RTH, said organizers wanted to create a contest that would become a yearly tradition when they came up with the idea for the Bobber Stop and judging by past participation it seems they have done just that.

The one-day event annually attracts 350 to 400 people and raises $5,000 to $7,000 for the worthwhile program aimed at getting furniture into the hands of area residents who need the donations the most.

"We pick up furniture donations from local businesses and community members and distribute to those in need free of charge," Venne said. "We need money to pay for staff, vehicle and storage expenses. Typically we serve about 400 people every year with that program and half of those people are kids."

The furniture program was set up to help people in need of household goods and not only serves RTH participants but also low-income households that are in need depending on availability of resources. Referrals come from St. Louis County, AEOA and Range Mental Health, among other places.

Before the contest was started in 2009, Venne said RTH was having a hard time paying for the program.

As part of this year's Bobber Stop there will be a "Kegs and Eggs" event at Goodfellas from 9 a.m. to noon which includes a free breakfast buffet and drink specials for Bobber Stop participants.

Bus rides will be available from Goodfellas to the lake between 10 a.m. and noon and back to Goodfellas from 2:30 to 4 p.m. There is also free parking 7487 Ely Lake Drive (the Ely Lake Aviation Landing Strip).

An awards ceremony and prize giveaway will be held at Goodfellas after the contest.

Venne said that last year there was almost $22,000 in prizes and that if you do the math it becomes obvious that contest organizers give out a lot more in prizes than they take in for entry fees.

"(That is) thanks to our sponsors and donations from other individuals and businesses in the community," Venne said. Some major sponsors include Minnesota Ore Operations United States Steel, Goodfellas, Short Stop, Silver Creek Liquor, Miller Lite distributed by Norri, Ely Lake Aviation and Herc-U-Lift, among others.

Venne said he hopes this is the most successful contest yet.

"This will be our fifth year, the previous four years have been pretty consistent from about 375 to 415 people. The last few years there were typically 60 to 70 fish caught. Usually smallmouth bass and perch," he said. "We are hoping for more than 400 (participants) this year so we can raise more money."

He also said the Bobber Stop is a great family event.

"We have the bonus Youth Division for youth who do not place in the top five spots. We have three really nice fishing packages for them. And they are still eligible for the four wheeler and other prizes if they get in the top 25," Venne said. "Normally we have other prizes to hand out to the youth like fishing rods and other door prizes. Typically there are quite a few kids signed up. Two years ago an 8-year-old won the four wheeler."

More information is available at www.bobberstop.org.

New Year's resolutions are only worthwhile if they get you in the woods or on the lake more

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 18:42:13 +0100

    Generally, I try not to make New Year's resolutions that are going to take a lot of work or require any life altering changes.
    It's not that I'm lazy or afraid of a challenge, I just feel that if you are going to go with one of the usual resolutions like lose weight or stop drinking alcohol or whatever, then you should mean it when you declare "I'm not doing (fill in the blank) anymore."
    Otherwise, you're really wasting your time. You have to be willing to commit to your goal.
    That's why I traditionally keep my New Year's resolutions focused mostly on the outdoors and ways for me to get there.
    First, I know there's a 99 percent chance that I'm going to do whatever I have to do to make those declarations happen.
    Second, let's be honest, it's an easy win.
    A slam dunk.
    We all like a winner and winning makes us happy so why not reach for goals that are not only attainable and winnable but damn fun at the same time.
    My advice: Forget the treadmill and skip the AA meetings - make it a goal this year to get your butt outside and enjoy what Minnesota has to offer!
    So with that in mind I've come up with three New Year's Resolutions for the year 2013 that I will - I repeat - I WILL make happen.
    No. 3: Go wild turkey hunting.
    This is one of those things I've said I was going to do many times in the past but never really took the initiative to actually do it. Part of the reason I've failed to act on this wish is that there aren't a lot of wild turkeys near my home on the Iron Range and finding a spot to go hunting will take a little work.
    But this year I'm willing to put in the effort to find a good place, put in my application and see what I can do. The idea of calling a wild turkey and getting a shot off is fascinating to me. From what I've heard and read, it's not an easy hunt by any means, particularly because you only get a couple of days to get the job done.
    It will be a challenge no doubt, but a challenge I'm looking forward to. By the way, the application deadline for this year's spring turkey hunt in Minnesota is Jan. 11. An application information sheet is available from any DNR license agent and online. Hunt information materials include a map of wild turkey permit areas, permit quotas and season dates.
    Information also is available by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free -888-646-6367.
    A total of 5,781 permits are available.
    No. 2: More fishing.
    Living in the heart of the Land of 10,000 Lakes, just 30 minutes from Lake Vermilion in Tower/Cook and about an hour from Grand Rapids area lakes, AND being an outdoors writer, you'd think I'd be on the lake fishing for walleye or crappie everyday.
    But alas, over the past decade or so it just hasn't worked out that way.
    When I was young and ambitious I was on the water or near the water chasing fish whenever I had a spare moment. When it was raining I was in the outdoors store searching out new and better and shinier lures.
    The fishing started to slow down when I got married and after I started having kids it quickly became the first thing on the list I didn't have time for.
    For several years I went entire summers without dipping a line but the trend as of late has been me and my dad or a kid or two getting out on the lake once, maybe twice each summer.
    Once or twice is really just unacceptable.
    There just always seems to be some excuse, of course, or some reason why I can't go or can't get out there.
    But not this year. I resolve to fish as much and as often as I can rain or shine.
    No. 1: More hunting.
    Of the three resolutions we've discussed here, and this one kind of goes hand-in-hand with No. 3, more hunting should be the easiest to keep.
    I know it will be easier to keep then No. 2 if for no other reason other than the hunting season coincides with when the kids go back to school so that opens up several hours a day right there.
    The only problem I see with maximizing this particular resolution is finding MORE days to go hunting this fall then I had last fall.
    As some of you may know, I quit my longtime job as Outdoors Reporter at the Mesabi Daily News last August and that afforded me mucho free time to get out and chase game.
    What many of you don't know (although those close to me probably had their suspicions) I quit when I did just so I could hunt each and every day!
    Now, whether I'll be working a job other than this blog and website come next September is anyone's guess at this point, but even if I'm just a full-time house husband and outdoors writer, it's still going to be tough to top the fall of 2012.
    But it won't be for a lack of trying. That is why we make resolutions, after all, to motivate us to succeed and push ourselves to be the best that we can be.
    Hey, a guy's gotta have goals.
    See ya in the woods!

First year with the bow was a learning experience

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 03:53:03 +0100

Well, after bowhunting multiple times nearly every week since the Minnesota deer archery opened on Sept. 15 I've figured out two things - don't hesitate when a nice buck walks up to you on the first day of the season regardless of how many deer you think you will see the rest of the year and I need more stands.

Make that three things: I also learned I really, really love it!

For those who forgot, are just joining us or don't really read my stuff to closely, on the opening morning of the 2012 archery season an 8-point buck walked - well, rather ran - to within 10 yards of my stand and stopped in it's tracks.

Perhaps I was in shock or maybe I thought I was hunting on a game preserve like all those experts on TV but for whatever reason I decided I would video record the deer instead of draw on it and then when I decided that maybe I needed to take the shot the deer had moved too far away and I misjudged the distance and missed.

My reasoning at the time was that I was convinced I was going to see plenty more deer before the season was over, particularly a giant buck I had caught on my trail camera the week before. Turns out I never saw that giant buck nor did I see that 8-pointer again.

Not during the archery season or the rifle season or again on my camera for that matter. In fact, after the first week of the archery season, I never saw another deer while hunting with a bow.

I'm assuming part of the problem were wolves. It turns out the day I saw that somewhat agitated 8-pointer, at nearly the same time, I also caught a wolf on a trail camera about 200 yards away on another major deer trail. I think the wolves were chasing that eight and that's how it ended up in front of my stand.

And as far as I could tell from tracks and sign I saw throughout October and November, that wolf and his buddies pretty much lived where I deer hunt and deer movement - at least during the day - essentially came to a halt for most of the archery and firearms seasons.

The other problem for me was my inability to move around while bow hunting. That's my fault because I decided to take up the sport a little late in the year and didn't have the proper time to prepare. I bought my bow in late July and by the time I was comfortable with it and somewhat confident that could hit what I was aiming at, the season was upon me.

So I didn't have any time to scout different areas or build new stands. I was pretty much tied to one deer stand we already had in place for the rifle season because the others weren't wide enough for me to be able to pull the bow back should I see a deer.

And that was a bit of a handicap.

For one, I really overworked that particular stand and that probably contributed to the lack of traffic around it the past two and a half months.

Second, scent plays a huge role in bow hunting deer because most time you need the animal to get within 30 or 40 yards of you for a good, confident shot. That meant that every time I found a day to get in the woods and the wind was blowing from the wrong direction, I had to abandon my plans.

The other problem with using the same stand every time is that deer begin to recognize the threat and start to either pattern your movements - using those trails in the area near your stand when you are less likely to be there - or they avoid the area all together.

So then you have to find a new place to hunt and while I did try some still hunting and sitting on a couple of logs and rocks in various places I just never found a comfortable place to set up camp near any deer routes I was familiar with.

On the positive side, throughout all my wandering and searching for a place to set up camp on the ground I found several new areas to consider for next bow season. I'm looking forward to getting out in the woods this spring and putting up some stands in those areas in hopes of a more successful bow season in 2013.

I also learned that I absolutely love bow hunting. It's a whole different experience from the rifle hunting I've done my whole life. First, you're in the woods by yourself for the most part. No party hunting and very few other hunters are out and about.

Second, it was pretty neat to get into the woods and sit during some different times of the year - particularly early fall when everything is still pretty green and then again in December when it's colder and the snow is on the ground.

You don't really see just how much an area changes from early September to late December until you spend as many hours in the same spot as I did.

It's like two different worlds.

If you've never tried archery deer hunting and it's something you've contemplated, give it a try this next year, you won't regret it. It's a great chance to spend time in nature and really soak in the seasons.

But do yourself a favor - if you're going to do it, start planning early in the year!

Next on my list of things to try: Wild turkey hunting. But more on that later...

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and Happy New Year!

Hey extremists - this ain't no Kevin Costner movie but wolves aren't evil either

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:39:09 +0100

    I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really tired of hearing about the gray wolf from the extreme fringes of two particular groups: Gray wolf lovers and gray wolf haters.
    Enough already: This ain't no Kevin Costner movie but wolves aren't on a mission to eradicate the whitetail population in Minnesota either.
    As most of you reading this blog are aware, the state of Minnesota conducted a legalized wolf hunt this fall after the gray wolf was removed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's threatened and endangered species list late last year after many decades under the protection of the federal government.
    Two seasons were created and harvest targets were set for various parts of the state.
    Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials, using a management plan that was created years ago through sound biological research and reference, determined wolf hunting/trapping seasons would be an acceptable way to help control a population in the state that has easily reached the 3,000 mark and, by all accounts, is considered extremely healthy.
    The statewide harvest target was set at 400 wolves and the state was broken down into three zones: Northwest, northeast and north central.
    The DNR issued 3,600 permits to early-season wolf hunters and 2,400 permits for late-season hunters and trappers. The second season started Nov. 24 and runs through Jan. 31. During the early season hunters bagged 147 wolves.

    As you can imagine the idea of a wolf hunt, regardless of how few wolves would be be targeted, drew the ire of several groups in the country and state including one created just recently named "Howling For Wolves (www.howlingforwolves.org)."
    Before we go into them, however, perhaps we should clarify my stance on the whole thing: I've honestly never understood the obsession some people have with the gray wolf. I don't find the gray wolf majestic or spiritual and I don't place it any higher on the "prestige" list of animals wandering the forests of northern Minnesota than the deer, the fox, the moose, the bear or any other furry critters.
    In my mind it's just another four-legged animal doing what animals do - eating, craping and sleeping.
    But then again I'm not selling or collecting wolf related do-dads, trinkets, sweatshirts, posters, books or blankets. I guess what I'm saying is that if one thing can be deemed as an absolute truth about the gray wolf it is by far one of the most marketed wildlife images ever.
    Ask Kevin Costner or a couple of the shop owners in Ely, Minnesota.
    Then there's the other side of the coin - those who promote the idea that gray wolves are savage hunters with an unquenchable thirst for fresh meat that are hell bent on destroying the whitetail population across the state of Minnesota.
    They relate tails of violent, brutal attacks by the wolf on unsuspecting deer and moose, and bark for the elimination of all wolves. To them the wolf is the scurge of northeastern Minnesota and a danger to every dog, cat, cow, deer, moose, and human around.
    I don't subscribe to that theory either.
    While it's undeniable wolves eat their fair share of deer and moose - probably more than the DNR or any other wildlife biologist will ever admit - I find it hard to believe the animal is capable of destroyed an entire population of anything.
    Nature just doesn't work like that.
    Now, do I believe the gray wolf has become an ever-increasing problem for farmers and others who live in rural areas?     Absolutely.
    There's no doubt in my mind that as the wolf population has outgrown the habitat available to them in this state over the past 20 years or so and because of that the animal has become more brazen and more visible to the average Minnesotan.
    And as their population grows and the area they have to roam shrinks, you're going to see them doing more damage to livestock and deer. This is documented truth based on sound science - not emotions.
    According to the DNR:
    "The greatest long-term threat to wolf conservation is habitat reduction and destruction. Human population growth and subsequent increases in human dispersion on the land are contributing to the decrease of available habitat for large ungulates, and hence wolves. This growth also increases the chance of human-wolf encounters, which usually end poorly for wolves... gray wolves have a demonstrated ability to adapt to human pressures, and human intolerance of their presence may be the limiting factor for wolves in Minnesota."
    And that's where the idea of hunting/trapping seasons comes into play. The DNR, through research and study, has concluded that the best way to lower the chances of human/wolf interaction is through population management and thus we get some seasons to do just that.
    That idea comes out of sound science and research.
    Years and years of it.
    Still, despite the fact that the DNR and wildlife experts from various other agencies - including some native Americans - have come to this conclusion, there are those extremists on both sides convinced that their way is right and everyone else is wrong.
    And that's how you get groups like "Howling For Wolves," the entity that took the time to ship members from their group up north recently to stage a wolf-hunting protest outside a local mall in hopes of garnering attention to their cause.
     I didn't attend the event. I can pretty much guess what their stance is and how closed-minded and unrealistic they are after seeing their disturbing billboards on the sides of Minnesota highways this fall like the following three examples:

    Looking at those fake, photoshop images, makes me more sick than the idea of unethical hunters gut-shooting wolves for no reason. You can't possibly take any group serious that uses that type of imagery and false advertising to further their agenda.
    But then again, after seeing some of the pro-wolf hunting groups and pages that have popped up on the Internet, particularly on social media sites like Facebook, since the wolf was delisted, it's no wonder groups like "Howl" feel the need to go the route of "shock and awe."
    It's two extreme sides pushing each others buttons while the rest of us are left to wonder whatever happened to common sense.
    And perhaps the most ironic part of it all is that the most vocal on both sides of the issue are probably the least likely to have actually ever seen a gray wolf outside of a picture book or the Ely Wolf Center.
    Because despite all the claims by so-called hunters out there who swear they've come eye-to-eye with gray wolves in the wild, I'm willing to bet 99 percent of the time what they actually saw was a coyote - an animal often mistaken for a gray wolf by those who don't know any better.
    Then there are those members of extreme wolf loving groups like "Howl" who live nowhere near wolf territory and have never, ever had the opportunity to glance at one in the backwoods of northeastern Minnesota - an area they've most likely never been to to begin with.
    Because let me tell you, having actually seen three gray wolves in the woods over my 25 years of deer hunting, I can say this - when they come through the trees from out of nowhere and glance in your direction, the last thing you think is: "Oh, my, how majestic."
    And when you come across the remains of a fresh wolf kill on the ground and there's deer hair, fat, hide and limbs strewn about you certainly don't envision doing a fancy dance with one like your name is Kevin Costner.

Audrey's first deer - A memory not soon forgotten

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:57:42 +0100

My daughter, Audrey White, has been wearing an ear-to-ear grin since 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, just moments after she harvested her first deer ever – a five-point buck.

So have I and so has her grandpa.

Audrey, who turned 12 in August, has been hunting with me and my crew – which includes my dad (her grandpa), my uncle, and a longtime family friend – since she was 10. Deer hunting is a tradition in our family like no other. I've been in the woods with a rifle nearly every November since I was 14. That's nearly 30 years ago at this point. And my kids – all five of them – and my wife truly enjoy a good venison meal.

So we don't just hunt for the sport of it. We hunt to fill the freezer and to create the kind of memories only a day in the woods chasing game in northern Minnesota can produce.

Last year, after completing firearms safety, I bought her a rifle – a Savage .243 – and her grandfather and I took her to the range to learn about the weapon and hone her skills. We could tell early on that she had an eye for shooting. Her practice rounds filled the area around the center of the small paper target we planted 50 yards down field. With her confidence high, she headed into the 2011 season hoping to get a shot at a deer.

Unfortunately, after spending a couple of days hunting, she never saw a deer. That's hard on a young kid just testing the waters of the sport – especially a girl – and I wondered if she would lose interest sooner than later.

Heading into the 2012 season, however, her interest hadn't waned at all. In fact, she seemed more determined than ever to bag a buck.

With that in mind I hit this fall determined to help make her hunting dreams become a reality the best I could. The first thing I needed to do, in my mind, was prepare the area around the stand we believed would give her the best opportunity to not only see a deer, but also to get a good shot off.

And that meant doing some pre-season brushing. In 2011, while sitting in the same stand with Audrey, I actually saw a deer she might have had an opportunity to take aim on, but the brush and branches around where I saw the animal were much too thick for a new hunter to see a deer in a timely manner, let alone get off a good shot.

So I hit that spot and several others with my pruning blades and after several hours of chopping and clipping and general forest sculpturing, I had created what I believed would be the ultimate hunting hole for my little girl.

I found all the best deer trails and groomed openings aimed at providing her with the best and easiest shots possible. I figured I had every possible scenario covered.

Then it was grandpa's turn. He took Audrey to the rifle range in late September and helped her polish her gun skills so that, when the time came, she would be confident with her weapon.

Finally, I took Audrey to our hunting land a week before the season and sat her in the stand. I walked the deer trails around her, pointing out all the areas and openings where I believed a deer could emerge so that she could study those spots and be prepared when or if the opportunity later arose.

Then came the fateful day. We arrived early with a plan in mind. Audrey would sit with her grandfather – definitely the more patient, teacher-type of the two of us – in the main stand while I would sit in a stand not far away.

On my way in I kicked up a deer. At the time I didn't think much of it, but looking back I have a feeling I know exactly where he went – and it wasn't anywhere near where I thought he would when I was doing all that pre-season planning.

A half-hour after I settled into my stand I heard the gunshot to the north of me and knew it was Audrey's Savage. The only problem was it sounded like what we refer to as an air-ball – a shot that misses a deer.

It's not an exact science, but I believe any good hunter eventually gets an ear for shots that connect with deer, especially so close. There is a bang/thump effect that happens when a shot connects, whereas a miss usually seems to echo and just sound like the bullet is flying off into the distance. Audrey's shot sounded like that and when I arrived at her stand the look on her grandpa's face told me he believed the same thing.

The reason for the doubt, you see, was this: More times than not when a deer comes out of the woods in front of you it happens in the last way you would expect. It's random, chaotic and nerve-wracking and nothing like you see on television hunting shows where hunters set up shop over fields full of home grown deer bred to be shot.

It is wildlife acting as wildlife should – wild. So in Audrey's case, the buck came directly at her deer stand, through thick branches and there was limited visibility. The deer caught wind of her and my dad 15 yards away. When it spotted them – and they spotted him – the buck turned sharply to the right and got onto one of the well-worn trails. That move would have offered the perfect shot had the buck just walked along the trail and offered a broad-side opportunity like we planned.

But this guy, perhaps spooked, decided to deviate from the trail seconds before the shot presented itself and head away from their stand in three quick leaps.

Then, just before it would have disappeared forever into the darkness of the forest, it stopped in the last possible place it could, in one of the very spots I had spent time brushing and pruning to perfection before the season. It stood there with its tail toward the stand, facing away from them, but turned ever so slightly, offering her one shot, and one shot only.

She calmly put the crosshairs of her scope on the animal's front shoulder area as best she could and asked her grandpa, “should I shoot?”

He replied, “Go for it.” And she squeezed the trigger. The deer reacted like nothing ever happened and then slowly sauntered away into the brush.

After hearing the story I felt even less confident that we would find a dead deer that day. What a difficult shot, I thought to myself. So little to aim at and at 60 yards away, it would have been a hard shot even for seasoned veterans.

But when we found that deer, not 30 yards from where it had last been seen, a bullet hole in the very spot she had aimed, three sets of doubting frowns were immediately turned upside down – especially on Audrey's face.

When things had calmed down and I had time to reflect on everything, I came to realize that Audrey never really did have a frown on her face. She wasn't dejected when her grandpa and I discussed all the reasons she probably missed or when there was no blood in the spot where she had shot at the deer.

She knew she got that deer and told me so later that day.

“I knew I was going to get a deer this year. I kept dreaming about it and thinking about what I would do if one came out and how I would shoot it,” she said. “It just didn't happen the way I thought it would.”

“It usually doesn't,” I replied.