February 15, 2008 - TOP STORIES
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Sharpshooters return to TB deer area
2008 spring light goose hunting begins March 1
Experimental regulations for northern pike and bass remain in place on Pelican Lake near Orr
2007 fishing and shelter licenses good until April 30, 2008
Sharpshooters return to TB deer area
Sharpshooters for the USDA will assist the Minnesota DNR to reduce population in bovine tuberculosis deer management zone
DNR News
Sharpshooters for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will assist the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this month in agency efforts to reduce the deer population in the designated bovine tuberculosis (TB) deer management zone of northwestern Minnesota.
“Our goal is to use all the tools we have available to get ahead of this disease and ensure it doesn’t persist in Minnesota’s deer population,” said Michelle Carstensen, DNR wildlife health program coordinator. “Sharpshooters are one of those tools.”
DNR helicopter surveys taken in January show that there about 800 deer, an estimated five deer per square mile, in the 140-square mile area that is managed for bovine TB. Last year, similar helicopter surveys in the same area showed 920 deer, an estimated 6.5 deer per square mile. Deer numbers were high enough in 2007 to prompt DNR officials to seek assistance from USDA sharpshooters to help reduce the bovine TB area’s deer population.
DNR officials tested more than 1,100 hunter-harvested deer for bovine TB in 2007. They discovered four infected animals, bringing the total number of infected deer to 17 since surveillance efforts began in 2005.
“Because TB continues to be found in wild deer and the deer population in the core TB area has not appreciably declined from last year, sharpshooters remain a necessity,” Carstensen said. “We need to keep the pressure on deer within this small area to reduce the risk of this disease becoming established in the herd.”
For the 2007 deer season, the DNR created a new bovine TB permit area and greatly liberalized deer hunting regulations in that area. The purpose of the management strategy was to allow hunters to reduce deer densities in the bovine TB area by maximizing hunting opportunity.
Hunters harvested 1,609 deer during the 2007 season from the bovine TB area. That total includes the early anterless season, the 16-day regular firearm season and a special January hunt.
“While the increased deer harvest in the area certainly helped manage the deer population, this level of harvest pressure must continue for multiple years to have a significant effect in bringing deer densities down,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator.
“Throughout the season, it was encouraging to see that hunters recognized the importance of this project by harvesting deer, even during the January cold when they harvested 120 additional animals.”
“The good news is that the prevalence of the disease in wild deer remains low and is restricted to a small geographic region,” Carstensen said.
All deer taken by sharpshooters in the bovine TB management area will be tested for the disease. People interested in obtaining field-dressed carcasses that show no signs of infection must place their name on a waiting list by contacting Thief Lake Wildlife Management office at (218) 222-3747.
Individuals are responsible for retrieving the carcass from Thief Lake, which is about 300 miles northwest of the Twin Cities. Although risk of human infection from bovine TB remains low, DNR officials advise all consumers of venison to properly cook the meat to 165°F.
See photos and full results only in the Feb 15 issue of Outdoors Weekly on newsstands now!
By Jerry Carlson
The annual St. Joe Rod and Gun Club Ice Fishing Contest was another big success for both the participants and the Rod and Gun Club. This recent event was held at Kraemer Lake near St. Joseph on February 2 and was attended by nearly 600 participants.
This ice fishing contest, which is in its 15th year, has always been promoted as a family event. It doesn’t take long to see the ‘family’ focus come through as the first 200 kids 15 and under received a free jiggle stick when they walked through the entrance gate.
Not only did it turn out to be a nice day to be on the ice, but the fish were biting, as well. All participants that register a fish become eligible for one of twenty $25 cash prizes given out at the end of the contest. During the 2½ hour event, more that 1200 fish were brought to the scales for registration.
Although most of the fish were small, there were some good sized game fish registered. Northern and largemouth bass took the first four places in the game fish category with first place paying out $250 and fourth place paying $100. Crappies won all of the pan fish prizes and were paid out at the same rate for the top four places.
The contestants that received one of the many door prizes or cash prizes were not the only winners in this event. The St. Joe Rod and Gun Club also came out ahead.
Naturally, the purpose of the fishing contest is to raise money. This money is used for a variety of projects. Some of it is given to other outdoor oriented groups like Pheasants Forever, the Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited. A portion of the profits also pays for kids to attend the Long Lake Conservation Camp.
Other activities by the Rod and Gun Club include bird house building, stocking lakes, supporting a kids’ fishing event, wildlife feeding, maintaining accesses on two area lakes and Firearms Safety Training.
Fund raisers, such as this ice fishing contest, do not happen without lots of help. The Club would like to thank all of the volunteers that participated in this event as well as the sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Stop Light Bait, JM SpeedStop in St Joe, Corky’s Gas and Bait, Hi Tech Tackle, St. Joe Meat Market, and Gander Mountain.
2008 spring light goose hunting begins March 1
DNR News
Minnesota hunters will be allowed to harvest snow geese, including blue-phased and the smaller Ross’ geese, this spring under the provisions of a federal conservation order.
Since 2000, when Minnesota began participating in the conservation order, the state spring harvest of light geese has varied dramatically from a few hundred to 6,000, depending on weather conditions. Hunting during 2008 will be open from March 1 to April 30.
“Minnesota is at the extreme eastern edge of the spring migration through the Midwest,” said Ray Norrgard, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wetland wildlife program leader. “March weather, particularly snow and ice conditions, can have a tremendous effect on the migration routes of light geese.”
A spring light goose permit is required and may be obtained after Feb. 20 at any of the 1,800 Electronic License System agents statewide. Spring light goose permits also will be available by telephone at 1-888-665-4236 or online after March 1 at mndnr.gov.
No other license, stamp or permit is required to participate. Although the permits are free, there is a $3.50 application fee to cover permit issuing costs.
Non-toxic shot requirements and federal baiting regulations as well as most regulations that apply to fall goose-hunting seasons also will apply during the spring light goose conservation action. The use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is allowed.
Refuges closed to either duck or goose hunting during fall seasons also are closed during the spring conservation action. Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day. No daily or possession limits apply.
The conservation order is part of an international effort to reduce populations of lesser snow geese, which breed in high Arctic coastal areas and the Hudson Bay area. High populations of the birds cause habitat damage on breeding grounds and negatively impact other bird and waterfowl species that breed in the high Arctic.
A summary of regulations will be available from license vendors, DNR wildlife offices or by
calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367.)
N.D. spring light goose season opens Feb. 16
North Dakota’s spring light goose season opens Feb. 16, and hunters are reminded to register with the Harvest Information Program before venturing out into the field.
Residents can hunt during the spring season by having last fall’s 2007-08 bird licenses. Otherwise, hunters will need to purchase either a 2008-09 combination license; or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Licenses are available only from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Bismarck office, the department’s website at gf.nd.gov, or by calling 800-406-6409.
Those purchasing a license are able to register with HIP at that time. Otherwise, hunters should call 888-634-4798. The HIP number is good for the fall season as well, so spring hunters should save it to record on their fall license.
Nonresidents need a 2008 spring light goose season license. The cost is $50 and the license is good statewide. Nonresidents who hunt the spring season remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring season does not count against the 14-day fall hunting season regulation.
A federal duck stamp is not required of either residents or nonresidents.
The Game and Fish Department will provide hunters with migration updates once geese have entered the state. Hunters can access the department’s website, or call 701-328-3697, to receive generalized locations of bird sightings in North Dakota until the season ends or geese have left the state. Migration reports will be updated periodically during the week.
The spring season is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The season is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.
The statewide season is open through May 4. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit. Electronic and recorded calls, as well as shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, may be used to take light geese during this season.
There are no waterfowl rest areas designated for the spring season. Hunters should note that private land within the waterfowl rest areas closed last fall may be posted closed to hunting.
Nontoxic shot is required for hunting all light geese statewide. Driving off established roads and trails is strongly discouraged during this hunt because of the likelihood of soft, muddy conditions, and winter wheat that is planted across the state.
To maintain good landowner relations, hunters are advised to seek permission before hunting on private lands or attempting any off-road travel during this season. Sprouted winter wheat is considered an unharvested crop. Therefore, hunting or off-road travel in winter wheat is not legal without landowner permission.
All regular hunting season regulations not addressed above apply to the spring season. For more information on regulations refer to the 2008 Spring Light Goose Hunting Regulations and the 2007 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide.
Experimental regulations for northern pike and bass remain in place on Pelican Lake near Orr
DNR News
The size limit for northern pike on Pelican Lake near Orr will be modified to a 24- to 36-inch protected slot limit on March 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In a possession limit of three, anglers will be allowed to harvest one northern pike more than 36 inches.
Pelican Lake has had experimental regulations for northern pike and bass since 1998. The current northern pike regulation requires the immediate release of all pike from 24 to 32 inches.
All largemouth and smallmouth bass from 14- to 20-inches must be released, with one bass more than 20 inches allowed in a possession limit of six. The bass regulation will remain unchanged.
The northern pike size limit was modified as part of a statewide effort to simplify angling regulations by applying a consistent slot limit in Minnesota lakes where it is warranted. Having many lakes across the state with the same regulation will also help fisheries biologists evaluate the effectiveness of length-based regulations.
As an added bonus, anglers will have fewer size limits to remember. The new size limit on Pelican Lake will be identical to ones already in place on nearby Vermilion and Ash lakes.
Size regulations on northern pike were implemented to improve the size structure of the population, improve angler catch rates of larger fish, and maintain historical population size and growth rates. Preliminary results of the regulation review conducted in 2007 indicate the size regulation has made progress toward these objectives. The size structure of the northern pike population has improved, and anglers are catching more big fish, according to the DNR.
Pelican Lake has an early bass opener (two weeks before Memorial day), which exposes bass to harvest when they are spawning or preparing to spawn. Creel surveys from the 1990s showed that anglers were harvesting large bass during this time period, which could reduce the quality of the bass fishery.
The goal of the bass regulation was to maintain or improve the size structure of the bass population and catch rates of the bass fishery. The bass regulation has achieved these objectives.
Nineteen people attended a recent public input meeting in Orr. Most of the discussion was focused on northern pike. Although the majority of those who commented supported the concept of managing Pelican Lake for larger northern pike, opinions expressed about the size limit were mixed. Anglers who like to spear northern pike were opposed to the size regulation. They asked for some accommodations for spearing, such as relaxing the size limit during the winter or allowing one fish within the protected slot.
The DNR appreciates the perspective of those who enjoy the sport of dark house spearing, but analysis showed that relaxing the slot limit during the winter spearing season would jeopardize the gains achieved thus far.
Forty-one comments were received on the regulation during the public comment period. Summer anglers, cabin owners and the Pelican Lake Association supported extending the regulations for northern pike and bass, as did 81 percent of the 929 angling parties interviewed in the 2007 creel survey. A petition received at the meeting also supported continuing the current regulations or expanding the size limit to a 24- to 36-inch protected slot.
The new northern pike and bass regulations will be in place for a 10-year trial period.
People with questions or comments should contact Kevin Peterson at the DNR area fisheries office in International Falls, 392 Highway 11 East; by phone (218) 286-5220; or by e-mail kevin.
peterson@dnr.state.mn.us
2007 fishing and shelter licenses good until April 30, 2008
Minnesota anglers are reminded that their 2007 fishing and shelter licenses are good through April 30, 2008.
“This was a mid-season change by the Legislature last session so it isn’t contained in the 2007 Fishing Regulations Handbook which was already in print at the time,” said Major Roger Tietz, DNR Enforcement operations support manager. “To avoid any confusion, we’re issuing a friendly reminder that the fishing and fish-house licenses in peoples pockets are good until April 30, 2008.”
State statute now states that the license year for resident fishing, the angling portion of a sporting license, nonresident fishing, resident fish house, resident dark house, and nonresident fish house begins on March 1 and ends on April 30 of the following year.
Tietz said the Legislature’s reasoning was folks wouldn’t have to buy a new fishing license in the middle of the winter fishing season. However, they would need to buy a new one by the 2008 spring fishing opener.
“Current year licenses are good through April 30th, even if that date isn’t reflected on your 2007 fishing and shelter licenses or the 2007 Fishing Regulations Handbook ,” Tietz said.
© 2008 Outdoors Weekly (PK Outdoors, Inc.)