July 20, 2007 - TOP STORIES
Subscribe and get the full week of news delivered to your mailbox every week!
Breeding mallards up, ducks down
Gander wins trademark ruling against Cabela's
Gander Mountain buys Reeds in Baxter
Farm Bill could have first serious fisheries program
DNR announces change to a four fish bag limit for Upper Red Lake
Breeding mallards up, ducks down
Breeding mallards increase, total breeding ducks down slightly
DNR News
Minnesota’ s breeding mallard numbers increased from last year, but the total duck population estimate declined by about 6 percent, according to results of the annual May waterfowl survey released by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The mallard breeding population was estimated at 242,000, 51 percent above last year. This year’s mallard population estimate was 9 percent above the long-term average of 222,000 but 23 percent below the 10-year average of 315,000. The state’s total estimated breeding duck population fell to 489,000, 6 percent lower than last year and 22 percent below the long-term average.
“While it’s good to see improvement in breeding mallard numbers, we continue to be concerned about Minnesota’s overall duck population,” said Dave Schad, director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. “We need to continue to focus on the significant, long-term effort it’s going to take to restore the 2 million acres of additional habitat that are required to boost our breeding population to 1 million birds, the goal we identified in our Duck Recovery Plan.”
Blue-winged teal numbers decreased 29 percent from last year to 124,000 and were 46 percent below the long-term average. However, Minnesota’s teal count may have been skewed by earlier teal migration this year, caused by warm weather and strong southerly winds in April and early May, said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl biologist. Preliminary estimates from continental surveys completed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated blue-winged teal counts were up 14 percent to 6.7 million, the third highest count on record.
“Minnesota’s teal counts are generally much more variable than mallard counts because they migrate through the state later in the spring than mallards,” Cordts said. “In many years, we will likely end up counting fair numbers of migrant teal that are going to nest north of Minnesota. This year, it appears that teal migrated through the state early.”
The combined populations of other ducks, such as wood ducks, redheads and ring-necked ducks, decreased to 115,000, about 35 percent below the long-term average. Only 7,000 scaup were estimated during the survey - the lowest recorded since 1968, when the survey began. “Few scaup nest in Minnesota, so this isn’t a real concern,” Cordts said. “But, it does point to how early the spring was this year and that the vast majority of migrant ducks had already moved through the state before the survey started.”
Wetland habitat conditions were slightly improved from last year and similar to the long-term average. The estimated number of wetlands was 262,000, up from 211,000 last year. “There were a few spotty areas with very good conditions and extensive sheet water, but overall conditions were about average,” Cordt said. “The one exception was in the forested portion of the state where wetlands and shallow lakes remained very dry. We have seen some improved conditions in portions of the state from June rain events that should boost duck production and improve brood-rearing conditions.”
In each of the five years since the DNR first approved a plan to restore waterfowl hunting, more than 4,500 acres have been added to the state’s wildlife management area system. In addition, each year more than 50 to 100 acres of wetland has been restored and some 10,000 to 20,000 acres of grasslands have been planted.
A waterfowl biologist and a conservation officer pilot who count all waterfowl and wetlands along the same routes each year from a low flying, single-engine airplane conduct the breeding duck survey. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides ground crews that also count waterfowl along a portion of the same survey routes to correct for birds not seen by the aerial crew. The survey was designed to provide an index of breeding duck abundance in about 40 percent of the state that includes much of the best remaining duck breeding habitat in Minnesota.
Data on breeding duck populations across other regions of North America is not yet available, but preliminary reports suggest generally fair to good wetland habitat conditions in the Dakotas and the parklands of Canada.
CANADA GEESE
Since 2001, the DNR has conducted a helicopter survey of nesting Canada geese during April. This year’s estimate was 262,000 Canada geese, 27 percent lower than last years estimate of 358,000. The survey, which includes most of the state except for the Twin Cities metropolitan area, counts Canada geese on randomly selected plots located in prairie, transition and forested areas.
“The number of geese in the prairie zones of the state were similar to last year but we saw fairly large declines in both the transition and forest regions,” said DNR biologist Dave Rave. “In addition, we had a fairly significant drop in production this year. Extremely cold temperatures in early April froze some goose eggs. Other anecdotal reports indicate fewer goose broods in many areas of the state as well.
The goose population is still in very good shape, but the drop in production could influence hunting success this fall as fewer young geese will be available.”
The report can be viewed at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/waterfowl/index.html. The DNR will announce waterfowl hunting regulations for this fall in early August.
Gander wins trademark ruling against Cabela's
Federal judge in Minnesota rules in Gander Mountain’s favor in the latest round of logo and trademark dispute
By Josh Funk
AP Business Writer
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Cabela’s Inc. may soon face a new catalog and online competitor because rival outdoor outfitter Gander Mountain Co. won the right to use its own trademarks again in direct marketing.
A federal judge in Minnesota ruled in Gander Mountain’s favor Tuesday, July 10 in the latest round of the logo and trademark dispute between the two companies. So Gander Mountain announced plans to launch an online store and resurrect its catalog as soon as is practical.
“We are now going to accelerate our pace toward becoming the leading multichannel outdoor retailer in the nation,” said Mark Baker, Gander Mountain president and CEO.
Gander Mountain spokesman Tim Martin said July 11 he wasn’t sure how quickly the company, which is based in St. Paul, Minn., would launch its new retail outlets.
Cabela’s officials in Sidney, Neb., said July 11 that they had not decided whether to appeal.
Cabela’s said in a statement that the company believes the judge’s ruling contradicts a 1996 agreement between the two companies.
Gander Mountain shares gained $1.27, or 12.6 percent, to trade at $11.36 Wednesday afternoon (July 11). The stock has ranged from $5.05 to $16 in the past year.
Cabela’s shares lost 16 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $21.50 Wednesday afternoon (July 11). The Nebraska retailer’s stock has ranged from $19.06 to $26.49 in the past year.
Gander Mountain hasn’t been able to use its brand to market its hunting, fishing and camping products directly to consumers outside of its stores since 1996. That’s when Gander’s predecessor company sold a short-term trademark license and its direct-marketing division to Cabela’s for $35 million.
Also included in the sale was a seven-year noncompete clause that led to litigation between the two firms, but has since expired.
Then Gander Mountain filed for bankruptcy in 1996, and Holiday Cos. bought its stores. The chain went public in 2004 and expanded.
Both Cabela’s and Gander Mountain have a network of retail stores across the country. Cabela’s has fewer stores, but they are generally bigger than Gander Mountain’s stores.
Cabela’s has stores in 19 U.S. cities – including Sidney, Kearney and La Vista in Nebraska – and 13 more are planned, including one in Canada. Gander Mountain has 108 stores in 22 states and plans to open seven more by the end of the year.
Gander Mountain buys Reeds in Baxter
Reeds will continue to operate its store in Walker, Minnesota, its on-line store, catalog businesses and other retail locations
Gander Mountain Company, the nation’s largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, boats, marine, and outdoor lifestyle products and services, along with Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters, a well known regional outdoor retailer based in Walker, Minnesota, announced Friday, July 13 that Gander Mountain will acquire the inventory and certain assets of the Reeds Outdoor Super Store located in Baxter Minnesota. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur in September 2007.
As a part of the agreement, Reeds will no longer have a presence in Baxter, but will continue to operate its store in Walker, Minnesota, its on-line store, catalog businesses and other retail locations in the future.
“Gander Mountain opened our Baxter store in 2005, and while we have been pleased with the business, we believe the Brainerd Lakes area could be better served by one store with the quantity and quality of service and inventory that our store and the Reeds store are both offering,” said Mark Baker, Gander Mountain president and CEO. “It makes sense for both companies and will be good for outdoor enthusiasts. We have great respect for Reeds as good competitors and we wish the Arnold family all the best in Walker and wherever they do business in the future.”
Between now and September, Reeds and Gander Mountain will continue customary daily operations in their respective Baxter locations. Gander Mountain and Reeds will integrate the Reeds Baxter store inventory into Gander Mountain’s Baxter store. It is expected that some current Reeds Baxter staff will be employed by Gander Mountain as a part of the transition. Reeds will move some staff members to its Walker store.
“Everyone connected with Reeds is very grateful to all of our customers, staff, friends, businesses, and to the communities in the Brainerd Lakes area,” said Adam Arnold, Reeds president. “Reeds Baxter store performed very well over the years with continuous sales growth year after year and it gained great success by establishing a strong, loyal following of friends and customers with great service and customer care. We look forward to continuing to serve customers and friends in our Walker store and on-line.”
Farm Bill could have first serious fisheries program
By Babe Winkelman
Question: What do farms and fish have in common? Well, nothing – and everything. Nothing, because farms in and of themselves don’t raise fish. And everything, because the way farmland is managed often defines the health of the waters (rivers, streams, lakes, etc.) that surround it.
Put another way, consider the old fisheries management credo: Good fishing begins on the land. It makes sense, too: Manage the land and clean water, healthy fish and balanced aquatic systems follow. It isn’t a difficult concept to wrap your arms around and embrace. Still, politicians who craft policy with no eye toward environmental health, apparently haven’t received the memo.
Enter U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, of Wisconsin. He introduced legislation that would create a new fisheries and stream-habitat restoration program as part of the conservation title of the Farm Bill. The new legislation would earmark what’s been described as an unprecedented sum: $60 million annually for fish and riparian habitat.
Characterized another way, Kohl’s legislation is the first meaningful fish-centric program to be introduced as part of the federal Farm Bill. And if Kohl’s proposed program makes the final bill, which should be signed into law by October, you will undoubtedly see additional federal dollars leveraged for fish conservation in the years ahead.
When Kohl introduced his fish-friendly legislation earlier this year, he said there is “simply no downside to anything that helps our nation’s water quality.”
Great line, and undeniably true: There is no downside to improved water quality; everyone benefits. Anglers. Hunters. The public-at-large. Economic interests, from guides to motel owners to other tourism efforts.
Said Kohl: “The fisheries community, including anglers who contribute over $116 billion to the U.S. economy annually, has recognized the loss of habitat as a major threat to the health of sport fish populations all across the country.”
Indeed it is.
“It’s a great bill, and one I hope gets full funding because we need to start investing more into our nation’s fisheries,” says Chris Wood, vice president for conservation programs for Trout Unlimited, the nation’s largest and oldest coldwater conservation organization.
Trout Unlimited, which has declared the federal Farm Bill as its top “legislative priority” for 2007, worked hand-in-hand with Kohl on his legislation. “Sen. Kohl deserves a lot of credit because he came to us and asked if there was anything he could do for anglers and water quality,” says Wood. “That’s the way it always should be. I wish there were more legislators actively pursing what they can do for conservation.”
Indeed, our land and waters need more lawmakers like Herb Kohl.
Kohl’s program would be voluntary, providing cost-share and incentive payments to landowners. According to Trout Unlimited, a “ranking mechanism would be used to prioritize projects and would give priority to those that benefit at-risk species.”
Wood says existing partnerships – Trout Unlimited’s Driftless Area Restoration Effort and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, to name two – could provide invaluable input to guide the program. That’s important because there’s already a logistical blueprint to follow – no small point.
“You could argue that all Farm Bill conservation programs benefit fish in some capacity,” says Wood. “But this bill would target watersheds with restoration work on rivers and streams that benefit fish. We want to give landowners the incentives they need to do this type of work because we know many of our aquatic systems are overly stressed.”
Wood argues, and persuasively, that without improving the health of some of our nation’s coldwater fisheries, for example, global climate change may have a disproportionate impact on them.
For example, trout and salmon require clean, cold, well-oxygenated water. If our fragile coldwater streams warm and become dirtier, what will happen to trout and salmon populations?
“We believe if we lay the conservation groundwork with this program, trout and salmon will do much better in a warming climate,” says Wood. “If we don’t, there likely will be consequences.”
As many of you already know, the conservation title of the Farm Bill is the single largest source of federal money for conservation efforts on private land, which covers roughly two-thirds of our nation’s landscape.
While Sen. Kohl’s bill holds tremendous promise and potential, it could face stiff opposition from some conservation and farm groups, because federal dollars for the new Farm Bill will be tighter than ever.
Still, Kohl’s bill deserves support and funding. Right now, only 4.5 percent of the current Farm Bill dollars directly support fish habitat restoration. Sen. Kohl’s bill would begin to narrow that gap, and that’s good, smart public policy – for anglers and the public-at-large.
Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows on Versus (formerly OLN), Fox Sports Net, WILD TV, WFN and many local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.
DNR announces change to a four fish bag limit for Upper Red Lake
The four fish bag limit will be in effect through Nov. 30, 2007, with regulations reverting back to a two fish bag on Dec. 1
DNR News
Anglers who fish the State waters of Upper Red Lake will be able to keep four walleye starting 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 14.
The higher bag limit is an increase of two fish from the regulation that began in May of 2006 when the lake was reopened to walleye fishing. The regulation will afford anglers more opportunity to keep fish while still limiting the take to within the safe harvest level.
“The citizen advisory group up here had recommended we relax regulations for the remainder of this open water season if possible,” said Gary Barnard, Bemidji area fisheries supervisor. “That possibility is now a reality because anglers caught fewer fish than anticipated during May and June, primarily due to less-than-expected fishing pressure because of windy weather.”
The current protected size limit will remain in effect requiring all walleye from 17-26 inches to be immediately released. Only one walleye larger than 26 inches may be kept. The four fish bag limit will be in effect through Nov. 30, 2007, with regulations reverting back to a two fish bag on Dec. 1 for the 2007-2008 winter season.
Red Lake was closed to walleye fishing from May 1999 through February 2006 after the population collapsed from over-harvest. The regulation that went into affect last spring has been successful in managing angler harvest under the target level of 3.5 pounds per acre, or 168,000 pounds. A local citizen advisory group recommended that, if possible, the DNR should try to allocate the harvest equally between winter and open-water angling seasons, or 84,000 pounds per season.
Barnard said the winter harvest estimate was 70,000 pounds for 2006-07 season, very near the seasonal target level. However, fishing pressure and harvest rates this spring have been lower than anticipated, resulting in a total harvest of 24,000 pounds through the May-June period. The DNR, through its rule-making process, is able change to a four fish bag limit if total winter harvest plus May and June harvest are less than 134,000 pounds.
“We had the ability to make the change and we were glad to do it,” said Barnard. He said winter angling pressure on Upper Red has been much more predictable than the open water angling. This reflects how ice fishing, which now features overnight rental houses, large portable wheeled houses, and a thriving winter ice road business, allows anglers to access to the lake and to fish in comfort through all kinds of weather conditions. The same isn’t true for open water fishing.
Harvest projections under a four fish bag limit for the winter season indicate a high probability of exceeding target harvest levels. Therefore, reverting to a two fish bag limit on Dec. 1 will be necessary to manage winter harvest and minimize the risk of an early season closure. Barnard said the DNR will continue to monitor harvest and work with local citizens and businesses to maximize angling opportunities on State waters of Upper Red Lake.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation