September 21, 2007 - TOP STORIES
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Hunters will find more birds, less land
Rustic cabins becoming more rare as lakeshore prices soar
Signs point to an excellent 2007 pheasant season
Conditions are right for a good waterfowl season
Minnesota boat owner wins ‘Bling My Boat’ Contest
Hunters will find more birds, less land
Strong demand for leases indicate plenty of hunters are pleased to get their own place to hunt
By Doug Smith
Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – When Minnesota’s ruffed grouse hunters head to the woods this season, they’ll likely find more grouse. The population is up about 30 percent from last year.
But some hunters also likely will encounter something they don’t want to see: more “no trespassing” signs.
That’s because the fragmentation of the state’s forests continues as major industrial landowners continue to sell or lease lands, most of which used to be open to public hunting. Those lands total 1 million acres in northern Minnesota – nearly the size of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Potlatch Corp., the largest private landowner in the state with about 312,000 acres, has leased about 155,000 acres of that to 1,240 individuals or groups – mostly hunters – under a program begun five years ago.
Strong demand for the leases indicate plenty of hunters are pleased to get their own place to hunt. And Potlatch said the leases provide revenue demanded these days by shareholders.
And Minnesota hunters are blessed with an abundance of public hunting land. Of the state’s forested lands, 27 percent are owned by the state, 13 percent by counties and 18 percent by the federal government. Forty-two percent is privately owned.
But there’s no denying that the new trend toward leases and land sales has changed access to Minnesota’s forests, probably forever.
“That’s land that was entirely open to the public, that now is leased by individuals or groups and posted,” said Dick Peterson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forest legacy program director.
“And those lands are ‘checkerboarded’ with other parcels of state, county and federal lands, which are open to the public,” Peterson noted. Access to those public lands sometimes is restricted by the posted private lands.
Said Peterson: “Yes, we have a lot of public lands already, but because this 1 million acres is checkerboarded, it’s an integral part of the North Woods. You take those out and there are some gaping holes. We need to keep that fabric together.”
The growing number of “no trespassing” signs hasn’t gone unnoticed by hunters accustomed to using those lands, Peterson said. The DNR has received complaints.
But those who lease land obviously have accepted the idea.
“It gives a good hunting experience to a lot of people,” said Matt Van Vleet, Potlatch’s director of corporate communications. “The program is growing every year. The results have been improved stewardship of the property; people who lease treat it like their own.”
And in a way we’re spoiled, Peterson said. Minnesotans have been fortunate that those large forest products companies traditionally allowed public access to their lands, something that wasn’t always the case in other states.
State and federal officials and conservation groups all have expressed concern about the fragmentation and the effect on public recreation and the forest industry.
“Until it’s gone, you don’t realize what you’ve lost,” said Tom Landwehr of The Nature Conservancy, part of a public-private coalition called the Forest Legacy Partnership that is trying to reverse the trend.
The program is using federal, state and private funds to buy development rights and conservation easements that allow public access from those large timber landowners.
The short-term goal is to raise $26 million to try to get easements on about 70,000 acres of those lands. The forest companies will continue to own the lands and manage them for timber harvest, but the lands will permanently remain open for public recreation – including hunting.
Most of that money has been raised, and easements have been signed or are in the works for about 60,000 acres of forest, Landwehr said.
That includes an easement that was purchased for 4,800 acres of Potlatch lands in Cass and Crow Wing counties. And an easement on 1,660 acres owned by Liila Forest Products in Itasca County – called the Sugar Hills property.
Officials aren’t sure how many of the 1 million acres they can secure. Money and time is the big obstacle.
The DNR is hoping for $20 million from the Legislature next session. And one proposal to dedicate a portion of the state sales tax for natural resources – a concept kicked around at the Legislature without success for nearly a decade – could provide millions of dollars annually for the forest legacy program.
But there’s no turning the clock back. “No trespassing” signs likely are here to stay. Because even that amount would only secure a portion of those 1 million acres, officials say. While they have no target goal, Landwehr said an argument could be made to protect about 500,000 acres over the next 10 years.
That could cost billions of dollars, he said.
“The window of opportunity might be five years, or maybe 10 years,” said Dave Schad, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director.
“If we don’t act and tie up some of this land with easements, we’ve lost the game. It will pass to private ownership and be broken up into small parcels and we’ll never get it back.”
Rustic cabins becoming more rare as lakeshore prices soar
By Dave Olson
The Forum of Fargo, N.D.
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) – In days of old, people went to a Minnesota lake to get away from it all.
At the most, a trip might involve dusting cobwebs off the cottage and setting up the lawn chair to soak up a little Mother Nature before rejoining the rat race.
Landscaping and upkeep, even TV, took a back seat to simple relaxation.
Rustic cottages can still be found, but you have to look harder to find them, said John Erickson, a Brainerd, attorney who specializes in representing individuals concerned about lakeshore development of one kind or another.
“I was in a place this past week where a very sophisticated client and his family did not have a television,” Erickson said, adding that low-amenity lake property becomes easier to find the farther north you go.
But in many cases, he said, “getaway places aren’t necessarily different in appearance than a Twin Cities suburb.”
Lakes country is undergoing a transformation, much of it driven by the soaring value of lakeshore property, Erickson said.
The change can be seen in the size of lake homes, but also in the extensive landscaping and other amenities that come with development, he said.
The latter are often accompanied by impervious surfaces that hasten pollution runoff and threaten lake water quality regardless of the size home involved, Erickson said.
Counties don’t track how quickly low-amenity cabins are disappearing, but assessors say rising land prices create a strong incentive for owners to make changes they feel will boost value even more.
“To do that, they’ll put a lot more improvements on the property,” said Becker County Assessor Steve Skoog.
He said a rule of thumb in appraising holds that improvements to a property tend to be four times the value of the land they sit on.
“For example, if you bought a $50,000 lot, you might put a $200,000 house on it,” he said.
Because lakeshore has become so expensive, people are increasingly buying rural land, Skoog said.
“They might look at 40 acres and say, that’s my next alternative,” Skoog said. “They’ll put a little cabin on there, or put an RV on there, do some hunting,” he said.
Holding onto an asset
Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County still has a surprising number of rustic-type cabins, said County Assessor Bob Moe.
“The family may have owned them for a hundred years and they really haven’t changed significantly,” he said.
Still, he said the pressures are great for owners to go with a bigger home, or sell out to someone who will tear down the old structure and build something new.
“It seems like there’s fewer and fewer because the piece of land they sit on usually is far more valuable than the cabin would be,” Moe said.
The changes make it harder for families to pass lake property from one generation to the next, Erickson said.
“I think there’s a tremendous drive to realize the capital gain that is present in lakeshore,” he said.
He also said the scattered nature of many families makes it difficult for land to be passed down from one generation to the next.
A cataclysmic health problem in a family can also put a lake home at risk, he said.
“It’s very difficult, no matter what the estate planning vehicle is, to maintain a lakeshore asset indefinitely in a family,” Erickson said.
“Shelters from medical assistance liens are extremely few and far between, and for practical purposes it’s not realistic to think you can shelter an asset like that,” he said.
A living trust will not protect a lake home, but something like a life estate deed might, Erickson said, though he stressed that given the complex nature of such arrangements, it would be wise for any property owner considering such a move to consult an attorney.
Signs point to an excellent 2007 pheasant season
Pheasants Forever’s 2007 Pheasant Population Forecast
All across the Midwest and Upper Midwest, signs are pointing to an excellent pheasant hunting season. The typical pheasant powerhouses - South and North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska - will again top the list.
Unfortunately, because of the potential for massive habitat losses this year and next, namely Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres under soon-to-expire contracts, we may soon be referring to 2007 as “the good old days.”
Key pheasant states, including South Dakota and Iowa, stand to lose literally hundreds of thousands of acres of critical wildlife habitat in the next few years to row crop conversion. That’s why now, more than ever, there is a need for all hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to become actively involved in the 2007 Federal Farm Bill process. The Farm Bill will be introduced in the U.S. Senate soon, meaning now is the time to contact your state’s Senators and let them know you want a Farm Bill with a strong Conservation Title. After all, CRP and other federal farmland conservation programs accounting for over 50 million acres nationwide are primarily responsible for the birds you’ll be chasing this fall.
Minnesota
Season Opener: October 13
In each of the past two years, hunters in Minnesota have harvested nearly 600,000 roosters, the most since 1964. With favorable pheasant nesting and brood-rearing conditions this year and abundant habitat, Minnesota hunters can expect more of the same. The state’s pheasant index remained at its highest level in 20 years, (107 birds per 100 miles driven) topping 100 for the third consecutive year. Protected grassland habitats in the state’s pheasant range account for approximately 6% of the landscape - the highest number in more than a decade - and those areas are the major contributing factor to the increased population. Hunters will want to take note of the southwest portion of the state, where observers reported 223 birds per 100 miles driven; the south-central area, with 121 birds reported per 100 miles driven; and the west-central area, where 118 birds were reported per 100 miles driven.
North Dakota
Season Opener: October 13
The forecast again looks bright for North Dakota’s upland hunting season, with one of the best recent years expected for pheasants, sharptails and prairie chickens. Good population carryover from last year and decent nesting conditions have contributed to the conditions prime for a banner year, though some fairly heavy rains during peak hatch likely affected reproduction in the southeast corner of the state. State biologist Stan Kohn expects a year comparable to 2005, when NoDaks harvested 809,000 roosters. Traditional pheasant hotspots include the northwest corner of the state, the area around Lake Sakakawea and areas south of I-94, however, Kohn did say that counties just north of the interstate are starting to catch up to southern counties in terms of population.
South Dakota
Season Opener: Multiple
Simply put, South Dakota has the makings of a banner 2007 pheasant season, with pheasant survey routes indicating one of the largest pheasant populations in South Dakota history. In fact, brood count surveys by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department show an estimated pheasant population that easily surpasses the 40-year high mark set in 2005. Overall, statewide numbers for 2007 are 23% higher than the 2006 counts and 18% higher than the 2005 mark. The growth in population can be attributed to a perfect scenario of weather and habitat conditions at peak hatch. Tom Kirschenmann, Sr. Wildlife Biologist for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department, said that with cooperative weather and corn harvest, this year’s pheasant harvest could approach 2 million birds. Unfortunately, while the pheasant population has soared, future habitat conditions in the “Pheasant Capital” appear to be at risk. Kirschenmann said that the state is set to lose nearly 300,000 CRP acres this fall. South Dakota, which currently has 1.55 million acres enrolled in CRP, could potentially see that number drop under 1 million acres in a few years. The detrimental effects would be three-fold: The loss of all-important pheasant habitat, as well as fewer public access opportunities, and the resulting downturn in the economic impact visiting hunters have on the state’s fall economy.
Wisconsin
Season Opener: October 20
The Badger State’s rural mail carrier survey showed a 22% increase in pheasants, and the outlook for the state’s pheasant hunting is equally as good. Wisconsin hunters have harvested 200,000 pheasants annually the past two seasons, and look to hit that mark once again. While the southern half of the state has traditionally been the pheasant stronghold, DNR biologist Sharon Fandel reported that hunters can expect more birds in Dunn, Pepin and Polk Counties in the west/northwest region.
Iowa
Season Opener: October 27
Despite a March blizzard, an ice storm, and flooding during the spring nesting season, the Iowa pheasant population remained relatively unchanged compared to last year. Iowa’s 2007 August Upland Wildlife Roadside Survey saw an average of 27 birds per route across the state, compared with 28 last year. Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, said Iowa pheasant hunters should harvest between 700,000 and 780,000 roosters this fall. Once again, northwest, north-central and central Iowa reported higher bird counts, but small, localized areas of good pheasant numbers were reported in the northeast, east-central and southeast. Unfortunately, Iowa stands to lose a significant amount of crucial habitat before the pheasant season opens on October 27. Iowa is expected to lose almost 200 square miles of CRP habitat after October 1 as farmers plow up land in preparation for row crop conversion next spring to try and meet the needs of the ethanol industry. With no CRP sign-up in 2008, the state is expected to lose another 350-400 miles of CRP after October 1, 2008. Bogenschutz said a habitat loss of this magnitude will certainly mean Iowa’s pheasant population will be lower in 2008 and 2009.
Conditions are right for a good waterfowl season
NDGF Reports
North Dakota waterfowl hunters should find good hunting opportunities this season. However, hunters are urged to spend time scouting because water conditions typically vary from year-to-year within localized areas.
The 2007 brood index from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual mid-July survey was 72 percent above the long-term average, and the water index observed during the survey was up 49 percent from the long-term average.
Additionally, water conditions and duck production in prairie Canada were good this spring, bringing a higher potential for more young birds to move through the state this fall than in recent years, according to Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird biologist for the Game and Fish Department.
Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 22 for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Nonresidents may begin waterfowl hunting in North Dakota Sept. 29.
While the outlook appears good, the best opportunities will most likely be found early. Hunters are reminded that 20-30 percent of the breeding population is attributed to blue-winged teal, which are early migrants. “Based on federal estimates, generally less than 10 percent of the total duck harvest in North Dakota is comprised of blue-winged teal,” Szymanski said. “Hunters who want to hunt blue-winged teal need to do so early in the season, as most have moved out of the state by early October.”
Wetland and weather conditions are important factors that affect duck availability in the fall. Generally speaking, Szymanski mentioned, wetlands in the eastern part of the state are more likely to have water this year, while wetland conditions in the northwest and central parts of the state are poorer and could be more variable.
Variable wetland conditions aren’t necessarily a bad thing, Szymanski explained, because it means they are progressing within their natural cycle. “Shallow basins generally are meant to dry up by late summer,” he said.
Snow goose and Canada goose populations remain high and large numbers will migrate through the state this fall. “However, hunters may encounter fewer juvenile snow geese, making them more difficult to hunt,” Szymanski said.
Conditions in arctic breeding areas were poor this spring and summer, Szymanski said, with many arctic researchers calling it the summer that never came. “Harsh weather conditions can drastically reduce production for arctic nesting geese,” he added. “Nonetheless, hunting opportunities for light geese will be mostly dictated by weather patterns.”
All migratory bird hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting. Hunters who purchase a license through the Game and Fish Department website (gf.nd.gov) or instant licensing telephone number (800-406-6409) can easily get HIP certified.
Otherwise, hunters must call 888-634-4798, or access the department’s website, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. Those who registered to hunt the spring light goose season in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required only once per year in each state that is hunted.
Hunters should refer to the 2007 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide for season regulations including dates, bag limits and nonresident hunting zones.
Minnesota boat owner wins ‘Bling My Boat’ Contest
The Minneapolis Boat Show announces the Uran family of Excelsior, Minnesota has won the 2008 “Bling My Boat” contest. This is the second year the Minneapolis Boat Show has chosen to restore a boat for one lucky Minnesota family. Representatives from the Minneapolis Boat Show surprised the family last week at their home in Excelsior. The newly refurbished boat will be revealed on the opening day of the Minneapolis Boat Show on January 23, 2008.
Family friend Kevin Westfall nominated the 1974 Donzi Hornet in memory of John Uran, who passed away in 2003. “John lived near Lake Minnetonka his entire life, and he really loved that boat,” said Westfall. “John and his family spent most of their spare time out on the water. He knew that lake like the back of his hand.”
John Uran was a well driller in the Lake Minnetonka area. After his death in a work accident, the family was forced to liquidate much of his business and personal assets. “I just couldn’t bring myself to part with that boat,” said Cindy Uran. “John loved it so much. He would be so excited that it’s going to get a makeover this year.”
Shipwreck Boat Works, a marine repair company in Princeton, Minnesota sponsoring the contest, will restore the Donzi Hornet. Shipwreck also restored a 1970 SeaRay for the 2007 Bling My Boat contest. The refurbished Uran family boat will be on display during the Annual Minneapolis Boat Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center January 23-27, 2008.
For more information about the 2008 Minneapolis Boat Show and the Bling My Boat competition, please visit http://www.minneapolisboatshow.com. For more information about Shipwreck Boat Repair visit http://www.shipwreckboats.com.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation