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October 21, 2005

Northeastern Minnesota experiences real estate boom

St. Cloud VA reports successful Disabled Veteran’s Deer Hunt

Fargo commissioners put off decision on urban deer

No firearms safety certificate, no hunting license for those under 25

DNR expects another good year for Minnesota deer hunters

Special deer hunts to be held in 26 Minnesota state parks

DNR to test deer for bovine tuberculosis in NW Minnesota
Since 2000, the number of lake home sales has nearly doubled and property values have soared

LAKE VERMILION, Minn. (AP) – A decade ago, northeastern Minnesota’s lakes and forests were considered too far away for Twin Cities buyers seeking land for a vacation getaway.

But now, large tracts of land in the state’s rugged north country – from the rocky shore of Lake Superior to the clear waters of Lake Vermilion – are being bought and developed into vacation homes, as people look for land that provides more solitude and better prices.

Since 2000, the number of lake home sales has nearly doubled and property values have soared.

“What we have now is the last great land rush,” said Steve Lotz, a longtime resident in the Lake Vermilion area.

Much of northern Minnesota’s forests – especially along Lake Superior’s North Shore – remain in the hands of federal, state or local government, but chunks of private land are changing hands.

Large tracts of land owned by power companies, paper companies and mining operations have long been used by hunters and hikers. But it is on the market now. Families also are selling properties because of skyrocketing property taxes.

“With the scale of these developments, you’d say it’s greed,” said Lotz, who has watched the shoreline change for nearly 40 years. “But it’s really just economics.”

Real estate agents say the developments are just a natural expansion of the development of the second-home market booming nationwide. Last year, more than one-third of all real estate transactions were vacation homes and investment properties, according to the National Association of Realtors.

In Minnesota, more and more buyers are heading to the northern part of the Arrowhead region in St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties. In the past five years, the median sale price of waterfront homes throughout much of Arrowhead has risen from $189,000 to $320,000, according to data from the Arrowhead Multiple Listing Service.

Land values have gone up by nearly 20 percent annually over the past few years in Lake and Cook counties. And this year, St. Louis County recorded its first million-dollar transaction.

“This is kind of the last of the development areas,” said Teresa Sterns, a developer from St. Paul who has a cabin on the Iron Range and is developing an old North Shore hotel into vacation condominiums.

“And there are tons and tons of lakes.”

Affluent baby boomers also are driving the real estate boom in the north country.

“Putting your money in land up here is as good as putting it in the bank, or better,” said Holly Harwig, a real estate broker and appraiser in Grand Marais. “The appreciation that happens up here is just mind-boggling.”

Bob and Char Sprague of Inver Grove Heights paid $175,000 last month for a five-acre hillside lot up the North Shore, not far from Grand Marais. Char Sprague, 55, is retired, and Bob, 52, is an attorney.

The couple hope to build a retirement home on the property within a few years after digging a well and connecting to power.

“This is definitely our getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life,” Char Sprague said while walking the lot on a recent afternoon. “It’s going to be perfect.”

Critics say developers are selling the soul of the northwoods, tearing down the very things that attract tourists in the first place.

“You hear more boats on the horizon and less solitude,” said Dale Mulfinger, an architect who co-owns a cabin on Lake Vermilion. “The ‘putter putter’ of the little fishing boat you heard before is now the whine of a 100-horsepower bass boat.”

Fitz Fitzgerald, Minnesota Land Trust conservation director in Ely, sees development as a double-edged sword.

“I can’t find fault with people who like the area, but that’s why we need some limitations and controls over how the areas are expanded and developed – so it doesn’t look just like the areas they’re trying to escape.”

In Cook County, planners are considering adopting development standards to make sure development along the North Shore doesn’t clutter up the hillside and destroy its beauty.

And as private consultants complete an environmental impact statement on the US Steel development on

Vermilion’s east end, area residents are debating a lake-wide management plan to controlling construction around the lake.

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St. Cloud VA reports successful Disabled Veteran’s Deer Hunt
Forty-nine disabled hunters harvest 12

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The St. Cloud VA Medical Center, along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota National Guard - Camp Ripley, held the 14th Annual Disabled Veteran’s Deer Hunt October 4-6, 2005. Forty-nine disabled veterans participated in this year’s event.

Veterans from the state-sponsored Veteran’s Homes at Minneapolis and Fergus Falls attended the event. Of the 49 veteran hunters, 12 were successful. George Aleshire of St. Cloud harvested a seven-point buck weighting 158 pounds, and Jim Vandenheuvel of Sartell was successful with a three-point buck. This was Vandenheuvel’s first deer hunt since he was wounded in Iraq.

Also attending this year’s event were Major General Larry Shellito, state commander of the Minnesota National Guard, and Cal Van Horn, the state Commander of the American Legion.

A dinner for participants and sponsors was held at the Little Falls VFW. Lunches were also provided for the hunters by the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries. Other sponsors included the Rice Sportsman’s Club, the Brainerd Sertoma Sunrise Club and the Morrison County Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA).

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Fargo commissioners put off decision on urban deer

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Deer will run freely here for at least another two months while city officials study how to deal with them.

The City Commission on Monday, Oct. 10 accepted a petition signed by 118 north Fargo residents, but took no action on their request to control the urban deer population.

Commissioners voted unanimously to have city staff study the issue and return with recommendations in four weeks.

A hunting season within city limits would require a change in city ordinance, which would take at least another month.

Billy Nustad, who lives near the Red River in north Fargo and organized the petition, told commissioners he has noticed a growing number of deer in his neighborhood over the past five years.

The animals are causing property damage by eating plants and leaving droppings in yards, he said.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials have said they will help Fargo establish a controlled bowhunting program along the Red River if the city decides to go that route.

Nustad said Minneapolis and Bismarck have successful bowhunting programs to control their deer populations. Since Bismarck started its program in 1987, bowhunters have killed 765 deer in three designated areas of city-owned land.

However, Fargo City Commissioner Tim Mahoney – serving in his first meeting on the Commission – said Bismarck has a different greenway situation than Fargo.

“We have to study it and see what the best way to handle it is so we don’t have any accidents,” he said.

South Fargo resident Marv Heaton said deer aren’t the only problem. Wild turkeys have created traffic issues, he said.

No one attending Monday’s meeting spoke out against hunting deer within city limits, but there is opposition, Mayor Bruce Furness said.

“I can tell you already, we have polarization in the community on this issue no matter what we do,” he said.

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No firearms safety certificate, no hunting license for those under 25
Hunters encouraged to complete firearms training NOW

DNR Reports
Completion of a Hunter Education/Firearms Safety course is a must to purchase a hunting license for anyone born on or after Dec. 31, 1979.

“A previous hunting license, that does not indicate hunter safety training was completed, is no longer enough to buy a new hunting license in Minnesota for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Education Program coordinator. Hunters born before that date and those with proof of completing the training in another state are not affected.

Hammer said previous license buyers on record as not completing the training were sent a letter in August outlining the requirement. But DNR officials want to make sure everyone has gotten the word.

“We’ve had indications that some hunters in that age group never completed a Hunter Education/Firearms Safety Training course and were still somehow able to purchase a hunting license in past seasons,” Hammer said. “But during the recent extended Legislative session, lawmakers clarified legislation that was passed in 1992 that mandated a person born after Dec. 31,1979, could not purchase a hunting license without first completing the training and having proof of that training. So, no firearms safety certificate, no hunting license for people in that age group.”

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979 must have completed a training course in Minnesota or another state before obtaining a license to hunt wild animals by firearms and must have proof of having taken the training.

“When you attempt to purchase your license this year you will be required to show proof of having taken a Firearms Safety/Hunter Education course,” Hammer said. “Unfortunately, the 2005 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook went to print before the clarification requiring ‘hard copy’ proof of training was made in statute.”

Of particular concern to DNR officials are those preparing for the upcoming Firearms Deer Season, which gets underway on Nov. 5.

“We’re encouraging those hunters to complete a hunter education course on line or through home study now,” Hammer said. “They can also attend a local hunter education class.”

Otherwise, be sure to bring proof of completing a Firearms Safety/Hunter Education course with you to the license agent this year.

Failing to complete the Firearms Safety/Hunter Education course as required and unlawfully purchasing a license can be a misdemeanor violation with a maximum fine of $1,000. If a wild animal is taken under the license, the penalties can include loss of hunting privileges, loss of firearms, and wildlife restitution costs, in addition to the criminal fine.

Proof of having completed the course can include:

• A valid Firearms Safety/Hunter Education certificate from Minnesota or an equivalent certificate from another state.

• A Minnesota Driver’s License or Minnesota Identification card that has a valid Firearms Safety/Hunter Education indicator on the back side of the license/card.

• A previous hunting license from Minnesota or another state with a valid Firearms Safety/Hunter Education indicator. The ‘indicator’ is a Firearms Safety Training identification number that appears on the license. PLEASE NOTE: A previous license that does not have the indicator is no longer acceptable, and is not acceptable as proof of having completed the required course.

• Other documentation that you have completed a Firearms Safety/Hunter Education course in Minnesota or another state.

For assistance in locating a class or for assistance in locating proof of having previously taken a Firearms Safety/Hunter Education course in Minnesota, contact: DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6367 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367). Visit the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/firearms/index.html

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DNR expects another good year for Minnesota deer hunters
Hunters encouraged to harvest antlerless deer where densities are high

DNR Reports
With more than 1 million whitetails in the state, Minnesota’s 500,000 deer hunters have been enjoying some of their best seasons ever. This year should be no different according to wildlife managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Statewide, the deer herd numbers 1.2 million, similar to last year when hunters harvested 260,600 deer, the second highest harvest on record. Hunters will also have additional opportunities to harvest deer, thanks to regulation changes.

“Hunters are our best tool for managing the state’s deer populations and we’re making it easier for them to harvest antlerless deer where densities are high,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “We moved some zone boundaries for the first time in more than 25 years, adopted an early season antlerless hunt in limited areas and liberalized hunting in the greater metro area.”

“As an agency, we’re putting a real emphasis on harvesting does. Taking a buck out of the population does little to lower overall numbers because one male can breed several females,” he said. “If you want to control deer numbers, you need to reduce the number of females available for breeding.”

This year, there are 57 intensive harvest permit areas, roughly two-thirds of the state, where hunters may use bonus tags to legally harvest up to five deer (only one buck). There are 42 managed permit areas where hunters may use a bonus tag to harvest up to two deer (only one buck). In 40 lottery permit areas, hunters need to apply for a permit to harvest antlerless deer.

To further encourage the harvest of additional deer, hunters may once again arrange to have deer donated to food shelves and other food distribution programs through approved meat processors. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Bluffland Whitetails, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and the Safari Club are currently cooperating in the program.

More details are available online at www.venisondonationmn.com or the venison donation page of the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

OPPORTUNITIES STATEWIDE
Paul Telander and Jeff Lightfoot, regional wildlife managers in the northwest and northeast, respectively, expect a similar season to last year, when firearms hunters harvested 71,800 deer in zone 1 and 67,600 deer in zone 2.

“Barring poor weather, hunting is going to be good again this year,” Telander said. “As usual we encourage hunters to talk to landowners to get permission to hunt prior to the opener of deer season.”

Telander also urges hunters to check the regulations book for changes and additional hunting opportunities. Changes this year include the Oct. 15-16 early antlerless season in permit areas 209, 210, 252, 256, and 257 and the realignment of the northwest zone boundary. Although the zone boundaries have changed, the rifle-shotgun line remains the same as in previous years.

Lymph-node samples will be collected during the opening weekend of the firearm season in the Roseau County area. Bovine tuberculosis was discovered there in cattle earlier this year. Details about the bovine tuberculosis surveillance in wild deer will be released before the firearms deer season.

In central Minnesota, the DNR is encouraging hunters to shoot additional antlerless deer by offering hunting opportunities during the early antlerless season and in the newly created Metro Deer Management Zone.

In permit areas 228 and 337, the DNR has introduced a 22-day metro deer zone to maximize harvest where hunting is legal around the Twin Cities. From Nov. 5-27 hunters in permit areas 228 and 337 may use a firearm license valid for any zone to legally harvest up to five deer using bonus tags.

“The entire metro zone is privately owned, so hunters will need to seek permission from landowners before hunting,” said Tim Bremicker, central region wildlife manager. “But it’s a great opportunity for a few extra days of hunting. We encourage hunters to take advantage.”

In addition to the Metro Deer Zone, three permit areas (225, 227 and 236) are included in the early-antlerless hunt on Oct. 15-16.

In southeast Minnesota, hunters will be able to take one deer of either sex and purchase one bonus tag to harvest an antlerless deer during the 3A season in permit areas 346 through 349. Antlerless permits are available by lottery in the remainder of the zone. It’s the second year antlerless permits have been available to hunters during the 3A season, which has been traditionally a “bucks only” season.

“Aside from some permit areas in Zone 3, southern Minnesota deer harvest has been stable and we expect that to continue,” said Ken Varland, DNR regional wildlife manager. “We’re not dealing with exceedingly high deer numbers, but there are still a lot of opportunities.”

Because much of southern Minnesota is private land, Varland urged hunters to make arrangements with landowners in advance of the season.

EVALUATING NEW HUNTING REGULATIONS
Beginning in 2005, DNR will be evaluating the effects of alternative regulations on deer populations. At the following parks, the DNR will evaluate how deer populations respond to regulations that put more pressure on antlerless deer and relieve harvest pressure on some bucks.

Itasca-Savanna-Portage – bucks with at least a single three-point antler may be harvested.
Forestville – bucks with at least a single four-point antler may be harvested.

St. Croix, Maplewood, Wild River and Great River Bluffs – hunter must harvest an antlerless deer prior to harvesting a buck.

“We chose state parks to evaluate these regulations because they are typically special hunts with an application,” Cornicelli said. “Because hunters are choosing the Park specifically knowing there are special regulations, we can more effectively evaluate the regulation.”

The DNR will also conduct hunter surveys to assess support for deer management and alternative regulations. “While we may be able to implement a regulation that lowers populations, if it has no support from our hunting public we may go in the opposite direction,” Cornicelli said.

Early antlerless youth deer season to open
Any hunter, age 12 to 14, who has their firearms safety certificate and a Minnesota Firearms Deer License, is eligible to participate in the northwestern Minnesota special youth antlerless deer season Oct. 22 and 23. The hunt will be held in Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington and Roseau counties.

There is no application or lottery for the season. Participating youth must get a northwestern Minnesota youth season license endorsement at a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) electronic license agent. The license endorsement is license type 632, and there is no fee.

Participating youth must have the endorsement with their firearms deer license when hunting. The DNR requires this endorsement so that they can estimate the number of participants each year.

Participating youth must be accompanied a parent, guardian, or another adult who is authorized by a parent or guardian to take the child hunting. The adult may not shoot or carry a firearm during the hunt, and has to remain with the child at all times while hunting.

While the area of the hunt is located in Zones 1 and 2, youth with any 2005 Minnesota firearms license may participate, including youth with Zone 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and multiple zone licenses.

Harvested deer must be tagged by the individual who took them, since party-hunting is not allowed during this special season. Only one antlerless deer may be taken per hunter during this season. A bonus permit may be used, and is recommended so the youth’s regular firearms license is still available during the regular firearms deer season.

A youth who participates in the special youth season may still participate in the regular firearms deer season, however any tag used during the special season counts against their annual bag limit.

The northwestern Minnesota special youth antlerless season was created in 2004 by the State Legislature. In 2004, approximately 600 youth harvested more than 100 antlerless deer.

The Minnesota Quality Deer Management organization has created a bulletin board for finding private landowners willing to allow access to their property during the hunt. Go to www.mnqdm.com/forum/ for more information.

Electronic registration expanding in Minnesota
Registering big game and wild turkeys will become easier at more locations this year, thanks to additional Electronic Licensing System (ELS) terminals outfitted for registering big game animals.

At many registration stations throughout the state, possession tags will be printed by the ELS terminal.

ELS-printed possession tags still need to be attached to the deer with a string or a wire. The move will make it easier for wildlife managers to track harvest data.

“It’s more efficient and more accurate,” said Lou Cornicelli DNR big game program coordinator.

“Electronic registration allows us to eliminate the need to hand-count registration tags. We’ll be able to provide timely harvest estimates.”

Every deer harvested in Minnesota must be registered at one of 1,000 registration stations throughout the state (a complete list is online at www.dnr.state.mn.us). The deer and the person who tagged it must be present to receive a big game possession tag.

“Big game registration provides essential information for managing deer populations,” Cornicelli said.

“This is a very valuable service provided by business owners and we appreciate it.”

Don’t wait to buy deer licenses
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging deer hunters to buy their license early and avoid the frustration of a last-minute rush.

The sale of deer licenses, often one every second in the hours before firearm deer season, may be slowed at some locations due to a glitch during the electronic swipe of the hunter’s driver’s license, according to the DNR. The glitch does not prevent the sale of licenses but may require the vendor to enter license numbers via keypad rather than card swipe.

“We are working to correct this situation,” said Karen Beckman, DNR License Center supervisor.

“Meanwhile, we want hunters to know about it so they can buy early and avoid a potential delay or slow-moving line.”

Deer licenses are also available online at www.dnr.state.mn.us or by phone at 1-888-665-4236 or 1-888-MN-LICENSE. There is a $3.50 convenience fee for telephone or online purchases. Hunters will receive their deer tags by mail, which can take three to five days.

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Special deer hunts to be held in 26 Minnesota state parks

DNR Reports
Deer hunts will take place this fall in 26 state parks for those persons who have received special deer hunt permits. Most of the parks holding a special hunt will remain open to the public. However Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials strongly suggest visitors wear blaze orange while they are in a park and take care to remain within the designated no hunting areas.

For safety reasons, public use of some parks will be restricted. These restrictions will range from closing trails or areas of the park, to restricting use of the park to special hunt permit holders only. For example, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park will be open to the public during the special hunt in the park, but the park’s horse trails will be closed and use of the other hiking trails is discouraged.

At Interstate State Park, the hunt area is confined to parkland north and west of Highway 8. The park’s popular day-use areas, including the campground, canoe access, picnic and pothole areas, are located on the east side of the highway and will remain open to the public. Hiking trails at Interstate that cross into the hunt area will be marked and closed to the public.

Day-use facilities and the cart-in campground at Tettegouche State Park on the North Shore will remain open during their hunt but the park’s main campground, Tettegouche cabins and the Illgen Falls guesthouse, will be closed.

At Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls state parks on the North Shore, areas of the park that remain open to the public during the hunt include all facilities on the Lake Superior side of Minnesota State Highway 61.

At Gooseberry Falls, the campground, picnic areas, wayside/visitor center and trails along the river/falls on the lakeside will remain open to public use.

At Split Rock, the Lighthouse historic site, park trail center picnic shelter, pebble beach picnic area, cart-in and backpack sites, Gitchi-Gami State Trail, lakeside hiking trails, Gold Rock Point and the Madeira shipwreck will remain open. All trails on the other side of the highway are included in the hunt area and will be closed to the public. This includes the Superior Hiking Trail.

At Crow Wing, Frontenac, Jay Cooke, Lake Shetek, Nerstrand-Big Woods, Old Mill, St. Croix, Savanna Portage, Scenic, Wild River and William O’Brien state parks, the use of the park is restricted to special permit holders only, due to the extensive area being hunted.

PICK UP A MAP AND WEAR BRIGHT COLORS
Visitors who plan to use the parks during the special hunt event should stop at the office when they arrive to pick up a map of the no hunting zones in the park. Maps of these zones will also be posted in various locations in the park.

Visitors might also think about choosing an alternate park nearby for recreation if a special hunt is being conducted at the park they had planned to visit.

Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River is an alternative choice for fall hiking or picnicking on the weekends in early November when nearby Wild River and William O’Brien state parks are holding their hunts. Likewise, Wild River or William O’Brien would be good alternatives to visit when Interstate holds its hunt late in November.

SPECIAL HUNTS AS A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL
The DNR Division of Parks and Recreation annually holds a number of deer hunts in order to manage park resources including the deer population. While this effort has been relatively successful overall, there are some parks where a combination of factors, such as mild winters and undersubscribed hunts, have allowed deer populations to expand beyond acceptable levels.

“Deer are part of the natural communities that we seek to preserve or restore in state parks,” said Ed Quinn, resource management coordinator for Minnesota state parks. “When deer populations in an area become too high, however, they can have significant negative impacts on native plant and animal communities. Heavy deer browsing on seedling trees during the winter can nearly eliminate regeneration of some tree species, such as pine. In addition, deer can also greatly reduce the numbers and variety of wildflowers and other herbaceous plants that grow on the forest floor.

“Techniques, such as budcapping and exclosures also are used to control the amount of deer browse,” Quinn said. “Our overall goal is to manage the deer population in the parks so that their numbers are at a level that does not negatively affect the other natural resources. In some cases, that is best accomplished through special hunts.”

YOUTH HUNTS SCHEDULED FOR THREE STATE PARKS
Lake Bemidji, William O’Brien and St. Croix state parks are hosting a youth deer hunt in addition to the regular deer hunt in the park. The youth hunts are scheduled for October, outside the regular deer season time frame, in order to harvest more deer. The youth hunter must be accompanied by a nonhunting adult.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED HUNTERS
A special deer hunt for hunters with disabilities is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at Lake Bemidji State Park. During the regular firearms hunt at Wild River State Park from Nov. 5-8, accessible elevated platforms will be available for disabled hunters.

While most of the hunts are designated for regular firearms, seven parks will hold hunts for muzzleloaders. At Flandrau State Park, the park is open to use by the public during the city of New Ulm archery deer hunt.

For more information on special hunts, call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

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