November 6, 2009
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Prepares For Firearms Deer Season
Pipeline construction continues during deer season
Nominees sought for 17th annual Minnesota Deer Hunter Ethics Award
DNR offers survival tips for lost hunters
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Prepares For Firearms Deer Season
During the state firearms deer season, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge will close the Wildlife Drive and the Brande Road. From November 6 to 16 the Wildlife Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic and the Brande Road will be closed to all public entry. The Brande Road will reopen following the deer season, as weather permits, to provide access to this portion of the refuge for small game and deer archery hunting. According to Refuge Manager Anne Sittauer, vehicle access on the refuge is limited during the firearms deer season to improve the quality of the deer hunt.
The Mahnomen Trail is open to deer hunting during the state firearms season, November 7 to 15. Hikers using the trail during this time are advised to wear at least one blaze orange item above the waist. The Blue Hill Trail is closed to all hunting and open to hiking.
A leaflet containing refuge hunting information and special regulations for hunting on the refuge is available at information kiosks located at entry points to the refuge on County Roads 9 and 5
and at refuge headquarters. The leaflet contains a map showing hunting areas, service roads, and wetlands. Only designated portions of the refuge are open to hunting some species. Some areas are closed to all hunting. Hunters are advised to review refuge hunting information closely before venturing out on a hunt. The hunting leaflet is also available on the refuge web side at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne/.
A hunting blind for hunters with disabilities is available on a reservation basis. For more information contact the refuge office at 763-389-3323. TTY users may reach the Refuge through the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
Pipeline construction continues during deer season
Hunters can expect roadway changes and construction crews and equipment along a pipeline project in northern Minnesota this firearms deer season.
The Enbridge Energy project stretches from the North Dakota border through Thief River Falls, Clearbrook, Bemidji, and Grand Rapids to Superior, Wis., including the Chippewa National Forest.
“With Minnesota’s Firearms Deer Season opening on Nov. 7, the company is concerned that hunters may encounter many right-of-ways that have been changed or closed due to the construction project,” said Jeff Wiklund, senior compliance specialist, Enbridge Energy. “We are also asking hunters to be careful and cautious around our employees, construction traffic and periodic congestion on roadways.”
Maps of the construction area are available at many sports and retail outlets frequented by hunters. Enbridge will also be informing landowners along the pipeline corridor that work will continue during the deer season.
Nominees sought for 17th annual Minnesota Deer Hunter Ethics Award
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) and Turn In Poachers (TIP) are asking hunters to share stories of exemplary hunting behavior by nominating hunters for the 17th Annual Minnesota Deer Hunter Ethics Award.
The award will honor a deer hunter who has exhibited conduct during the
2009 season that can serve as a positive example to all hunters. Awards for youth and adult divisions will be presented to the selected recipients at an upcoming MDHA event held in their vicinity.
"MDHA is pleased to again co-sponsor this award along with TIP and the DNR," said MDHA Executive Director Mark Johnson. "This is an important award that highlights the ethical behavior of our deer hunters and singles out the types of ethical hunters we hope all hunters aspire to be: hunters who care about our hunting heritage, care about fairness and care about the image we as hunters portray."
Patsy Bernhjelm, TIP Board president, added that it recognizes hunters who go the extra mile. "This award encourages ethics above and beyond legal hunting and TIP is proud to be a part of it again this year."
Anyone may nominate a hunter by writing a letter or e-mail explaining the actions of the nominee and why that person is worthy of this recognition. Both youth and adults are eligible, but nominees must be Minnesota residents. The incidents for which hunters are nominated must have occurred during any of the 2009 Minnesota deer hunting seasons (archery, firearm or muzzleloader).
Nominations will be accepted for the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Ethics Award until Friday, Jan. 22. Nomination letters should be sent to Ethical Hunter Award, MDHA, 460 Peterson Road, Grand Rapids, MN 55744-8413, or faxed to 218-327-1349, or e-mailed to kimhanson@mndeerhunters.com
More information is available on MDHA's Web site at www.mndeerhunters.com.
DNR offers survival tips for lost hunters
Even experience hunters can get lost, so people should be prepared for that possibility before heading out for their hunt, according to Capt.
Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Education Program coordinator.
"Survival is an attitude, but you need to be able to think clearly for that to happen," Hammer noted.
Hammer offered tips for those heading outdoors.
TELL PEOPLE WERE YOU ARE GOING
Always let someone know where you will be going and when you plan to return. Be aware of changing weather conditions. Plan to be out of the woods before a storm changes familiar surroundings into something no longer recognizable.
HAVE A SURVIVAL PLAN
Being lost in the woods does not have to be life threatening. Plan for the possibility by bringing matches in a waterproof container, a compass, a knife, a small candle, a whistle, a pocket survival blanket, high-energy snacks and a water container. A person can survive up to three weeks without food, but only three days without water. These life-saving items can be carried in one small fanny pack.
ADMIT YOU'RE LOST
If you get lost, don’t pretend otherwise. Admitting you’re lost is critical. A person who continues to assume that they will find a familiar landmark over the next hill or around the next comer will just heighten their sense of panic if that doesn’t happen. Panic could cause a person to discard clothing or hide from would-be rescuers.
STAY WHERE YOU ARE
Plan to stay in one spot until rescued. Find a good spot to use as shelter. There should be shelter materials, water and firewood nearby. A natural shelter such as a cave or rock overhang is great, but sometimes a large downed tree, a boulder, cliff base or rack wall will do. Gather wood and start a fire for warmth, companionship and as a signal for searchers. Build a shelter with the top closest to the fire to reflect heat, but safely away from sparks and smoke. Use sticks, branches and pine boughs if available. Gather plenty of firewood. It will take about one hour to build a fire and up to three hours to build a shelter, depending on materials available.
STAY DRY
Hypothermia is the main factor in making bad decisions outdoors. Stay dry to improve the chance of staying warm. Keep the head and neck warm and dry to retain body heat. If the blood gets cooled due to lack of head and neck protection, the body core is cooled and hypothermia can set in. A person’s ability to think clearly can be affected by even one degree of core temperature loss.
© 2009 Outdoors Weekly