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January 23, 2004

2003 registered furbearer harvest numbers change

Crosslake man wins Ice Fishing Extravaganza

2005 turkey stamp design contest goes to Avon resident

MWA restores valuable wetland

2003 registered furbearer harvest numbers change
Increase in river otter registration

The number of pine marten, fisher and bobcats registered decreased while river otter registration increased in the Grand Rapids DNR Wildlife area in 2003.

The three registration sites with the Grand Rapids work area, Effie, Deer River and Grand Rapids, all had similar changes in furbearer numbers.

The number of trappers registering fur was also down at about the same percentage as the decrease in marten, fisher and bobcat harvest.

“The increase in otter harvest may be attributed to the anticipated high price paid for that fur compared to anticipated stable or lower prices for the other furbearers” stated Perry Loegering, Area Wildlife Manger.

Trappers are required to register all pine marten, fisher, river otter and bobcat taken during their respective seasons. Furs must be registered by the DNR within 48 hours after the close of each respective season. The take per individual trapper is five fisher or marten in combination, four otter and five bobcats.

Pine marten, fisher, river otter, and bobcat fur registration provides an accurate count of the harvest so that these species are not over harvested, allow for range expansion, and still maintain healthy populations for all Minnesotans to enjoy.

Crosslake man wins Ice Fishing Extravaganza

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) – Dean Olson of Crosslake (pictured below) caught a 4.46 pound walleye to win the $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Saturday, January 17.

The contest drew 11,986 anglers, the second highest turnout in the contest’s history. They faced a stiff northwest wind on Gull Lake to catch 930 fish. Twenty-five percent of the catch was released live.

Bob Langer of Hector took second place with a 4.07 pound walleye. Third place went to Kendra Sande of Silver Bay, with a 3.97 pound walleye. Randy Josephson of Finland took fourth with a 3.82 pound walleye, and Linda Koopman of Baxter took fifth place with a 3.64-pound eelpout.

The contest is billed as the world’s largest ice fishing event.

Next year’s Extravaganza is tentatively scheduled for January 22, 2005.

100th place isn’t so bad!
Audra Popp, Royalton, points to her 100th position on the stage after they announced her the $10,000 winner Saturday at the Brainerd Extravaganza.

Her winning 0.59-lb. rock bass hit a red hook tipped with a silver shiner minnow. She was using a red Northland Tackle sinker and was fishing in 60 feet of water, six inches off the bottom.

Audra Popp, Royalton, kisses her prized 0.59-pound rock bass that won her $10,000 during Brainerd’s Ice Fishing Extravaganza held Saturday on Gull Lake.

This was Audra’s first year in the contest. Her husband Tim Popp has fished in previous Gull Lake tournaments and has not had any luck. This year, however, he came in 72nd place by landing a 0.68-lb. rock bass, taking home an Aqua-Vu Ice-Pro camera.

Tim used the same bait and set-up as Audra. Both his and Audra’s fish were caught out of the same hole at different times in the tournament.

When asked what Audra was going to do with the money, she shouted, “We’re taking the kids to Disney World!”

For full results, see www.icefishing.org

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2005 turkey stamp design contest goes to Avon resident

“Tom and hen walking through spring habitat,” a painting by Laurence Huls of Avon, will be featured on Minnesota’s 2005 Wild Turkey Stamp. His design was chosen from among 18 entries in a contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Judging took place in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) state convention on Jan. 16 at the Thunderbird Hotel in Bloomington.

Minnesota DNR photo

“It’s a humbling experience,” said winning artist Laurence Huls from his Avon home. “There are so many good wildlife artists in Minnesota that I don’t expect to win any of the contests, especially the Turkey Stamp contest. Painting is only a hobby for me, so I am both surprised and honored to be selected.”

This is the first time Huls has won the Turkey Stamp contest, but not the first time he has won a DNR stamp contest. His work was featured on the 1998 Trout Stamp. Huls finished in fourth place in last year’s Turkey Stamp contest.

Other finalists in this year’s Turkey Stamp contest are Daniel Bates of Willmar, second place, and Karlstad resident Nick Reitzel, third place.

An artist whose work is selected for a Minnesota fish or wildlife stamp receives no compensation from the DNR, but does retain reproduction and marketing rights.

The 2005 Turkey Stamp contest judges were: Joe Cannella, NWTF regional director; Bill Torhorst, NWTF Board of Directors; Bob Welsh, Minnesota DNR area wildlife manager; Larry Webinger, Minnesota DNR conservation officer; and Tara Olson, Women in the Outdoors regional coordinator.

The Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of the Wild Turkey Stamp in 1996 at the request of turkey hunters. Stamp sales generate revenue for wild turkey management and research. Anyone 18 and older must possess the $5 stamp or electronic stamp validation to hunt turkeys.

Revenues from stamp sales are dedicated to wild turkey population management, and the development, restoration, maintenance and preservation of wild turkey habitat in Minnesota.

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MWA restores valuable wetland

Jim Cox, President of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, announced that the Hoff’s Slough Restoration Project has been completed and the property sold to Pheasants Forever.

In April 2000, the Minnesota Waterfowl Association (MWA) completed the acquisition of and began development of the 480-acre tract of tillable land known locally as Hoff’s Slough, located just west of Benson, Minnesota, in Swift County. It lies adjacent to the 2,500-acre Danver’s Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

MWA purchased the property from the Pederson Family Trust. The family had previously enrolled the property in a perpetual easement under the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), with the understanding that a non-governmental entity would agree to purchase the property afterwards, which MWA did. The conservation provisions of the easement required the restoration of wetlands and uplands on the property; responsibilities that MWA assumed.

The original objectives were to restore wetlands and grasslands on the property to provide suitable habitat for waterfowl, other wetland wildlife and upland species, and then sell the property to a buyer that would maintain the wildlife values. Restoration work was conducted during 2000-2003.

The wetland restoration effort was complicated. It consisted of rerouting County Ditch #83 to prevent partial drainage of a 160-acre basin on the property. The completion of the wetland restoration has resulted in improved wetland habitat on the project and improved water quality for the Chippewa River by reducing chemical pollution and sedimentation.

Upland restoration consisted primarily of reseeding native grasses and forbs on suitable tracts, totaling about 300 acres. Work completed provides a significant increase in acreage of high quality habitat for ground-nesting birds. The property supports a good population of pheasants and deer, and waterfowl numbers should increase in the future.

On December 5th, 2003 the restored Hoff’s Slough was sold to Pheasants Forever with the hope that the property will eventually become apart of the adjacent Danvers Marsh WMA. This would provide for additional public access and hunting opportunities on all or portions of the restored area.

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