February 22, 2008 - TOP STORIES
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Plan for outdoors funding hits ballot
DNR Commissioner Holsten gives nod to Mississippi headwaters road and trail plan
Temporary hunting rules to become permanent
Simplifying deer hunting regs is topic of public meetings
Plan for outdoors funding hits ballot
Minnesota voters will get to decide if the state sales tax should rise to guarantee money for Minn. outdoors, arts
Ballot question voters will confront in November
“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?”
By Brian Bakst, Associated Press Writer
ST. PAUL (AP) – Minnesota voters will get to decide if the state sales tax should rise to guarantee money for programs that protect wildlife habitat, drinking water and the state’s cultural heritage.
The House and Senate gave final authorization on Feb. 14 to a November ballot measure known as the Legacy Act. It seeks to amend the state constitution and earmark more money for natural resources and arts programs.
The 3/8ths of 1 percent increase to the tax – a tad below 4 cents on every $10 purchase – would take effect in July 2009 and remain in place for 25 years. It is projected to raise $276 million by 2011, the bulk of which would go for environmental conservation.
“For most people in Minnesota who treasure our outdoors, they’re going to say it’s worth it,” said Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul.
Said Sen. Gen Olson, R-Minnetrista: “This is going to be an interesting test of values.”
The votes to place the initiative on the ballot – 85-46 in the House and 46-17 in the Senate – didn’t fall along party lines. Minnesota governors don’t get a say on which amendments are put to voters.
Some Republicans complained that arts programs shouldn’t be on par with natural resources and they argued the money should be carved from the existing sales tax. Several Democrats objected on the grounds it would hit the poorest Minnesotans the hardest because the sales tax consumes a greater portion of their income.
The state’s sales tax is currently 6.5 percent. But some local governments have won permission to tack on more for specific purposes, like Hennepin County’s additional 0.15 percent tax to pay debt on the new Minnesota Twins ballpark. The transportation plan under consideration would tack another 0.5 percent onto the sales tax in the seven-county metropolitan area for transit projects.
“Those pennies add up,” said Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville.
The bill had been kicking around the Legislature in various forms for nearly a decade, starting as a dedicated money plan mainly for habitat protection and wetland rehabilitation. In recent years, it evolved to encompass arts and cultural heritage programs.
Advocates promote it as a way to insulate key features of Minnesota’s quality of life from budget pressures. Outdoors programs are often the first squeezed in hard budget times because lawmakers are loath to trim bigger-dollar categories like education and health care.
Groups that back the amendment are already mobilizing for a multimillion dollar campaign to get it passed.
Don McMillan, president of the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance, is nervous as the effort enters is next phase. The alliance is made up of 45 groups, including Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.
“We feel our constituents are not going to vote for this,” he said, stressing his own support for the measure.
McMillan said the Legislature could ease concerns of skeptical hunters and anglers by passing a separate bill creating a citizen oversight council to watch over spending from the accounts and make sure they are not raided for other purposes.
Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, said linking the dedicated funding to a higher sales tax jeopardizes the initiative and creates false hope for its backers. He predicted a November failure.
“We’re going to be left with nothing once again,” he said.
How dedicated money in Legacy Act amendment would be split
Here’s how the money would be split if voters adopt a constitutional amendment raising the state sales tax for outdoors and arts programs:
OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND: 33 percent for restoring, protecting and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for game, fish and wildlife.
CLEAN WATER FUND: 33 percent toward improving water quality in lakes, rivers and streams with at least 5 percent to protect drinking water sources.
PARKS AND TRAILS FUND: 14.25 percent to support parks and trails of regional and statewide significance.
ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND: 19.75 percent to further arts, arts education and arts access and to preserve the state’s history and cultural heritage.
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DNR News
A trophy size deer poached in 2006 is now on display at Kathio State Park thanks to the Turn-In-Poachers hotline.
Joshua R. Lincoln, 20, of Hillman, Minn., was recently ordered to $1,500 in fines and restitution for shooting the eight-point buck in the park in November 2006. He also served five days in jail and had his big game hunting privileges suspended for three years.
State Conservation Officer Paul Kuske of Pierz received a call from the TIP hotline that Lincoln had the poached deer in the back of his pickup. A visit to the Lincoln residence unveiled an untagged buck deer and the head of a tagged buck under some tires in the bed of Lincoln’s truck.
Lincoln initially told the conservation officer that the tagged deer was being processed and that the untagged deer belonged to a hunting partner who had forgot to register the animal. Lincoln later changed his story.
“While returning home after work around 10:30 at night he saw what he described as ‘the biggest buck he had ever seen’,” Officer Kuske said. Using a spotlight and 30-30 rifle, Lincoln shot the deer, drove into the park and retrieved it.
“Mr. Lincoln then tried to get a friend to tag the deer, but the friend wanted no part of any illegal activity,” Kuske said.
A portion of the restitution amount was used to mount the deer, which is now on display at the Kathio State Park interpretive center.
“It was a beautiful buck that likely spent its days in the state park,” Kuske said. “It only seems appropriate that it be mounted and shared with those who visit Kathio. It’s about the only positive way to look at this poaching case.”
Anyone who witnesses a game or fish violation in Minnesota can report the incident to the state’s Turn in Poachers hotline at (800) 652 9093.
DNR Commissioner Holsten gives nod to Mississippi headwaters road and trail plan
Orders will take effect on Dec. 31, 2008
DNR News
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Mark Holsten will classify DNR-managed state forest lands within the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest as “limited” to motorized vehicles in Commissioner’s Orders to be published Feb. 25. The Orders, which designate forest roads and trails for specific types of uses, will also classify scattered DNR-managed lands within Southwest Beltrami County as “limited.”
“The final plan charts a new course for this state forest,” said Holsten. “Thoughtful consideration was given to all of the public comments received regarding the draft plan. Specific route designations will be more restrictive.”
Under the “limited” classification framework, the general rule is that forest roads are open to all highway-licensed and off-highway vehicles, which include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs) such as Jeeps and four-wheel drive trucks.
Forest trails, however, are closed to all motorized uses, unless posted open for specified types of motorized travel. The classification does not affect the use of snowmobiles in the area.
The Commissioner’s Orders mark the culmination of 1½ years of cooperative planning among the natural resource management departments from DNR and Beltrami, Clearwater and Hubbard counties. The Commissioner’s Orders will take effect on Dec. 31, 2008, after field teams have had an opportunity to erect the necessary signs.
“We worked with the counties and were able to make changes in response to public comments,” said Mike Carroll, DNR Northwest Region director. “We believe the plan strikes a balance between quality motorized and non-motorized opportunities while protecting the Mississippi River.”
Field teams will begin signing trails this spring, according to Carroll. “Of course, the hard work of monitoring and enforcement will continue,” Carroll said. “This will require the ongoing cooperation and support of our partners. We will have to adapt our management practices to deal with changing recreational use patterns and their increasing demands on our forests.”
Other notable elements of the Mississippi Headwaters plan:
• almost 15,000 acres of land adjacent to the Mississippi River will be designated as an Area with Limitations where the hunting and trapping exemptions for ATV use do not apply
• all Motor vehicles must use only designated and signed roads and trails in the Area with Limitations on DNR and Hubbard County lands
• approximately 3.8 miles are designated hunter walking trails
• a proposed ATV/OHM trail crossing of the Mississippi River at Coffee Pot Landing was removed.
Temporary hunting rules to become permanent
DNR News
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on a number of hunting regulations, including many already set forth as temporary rules, that will be permanently added to state regulations in this year.
Written public comments will be accepted on the proposed rules through March 20. The proposals cover a variety of areas pertaining to deer registration; deer, bear elk and moose hunter selection; and deer, elk, wild turkey and prairie chicken area designation.
“The majority of these temporary rules fhave been in effect or the past several hunting seasons,” said Jason Abraham, DNR season setting specialist. “We are completing the process to make these rules permanent.”
One new rule included in this package would allow bear hunters to accumulate preference points during years they don’t wish to hunt by applying for a “preference only” zone.
A copy of the proposed rules will be published in the State Register and available online at http://www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/state_register.asp after Feb. 19. A copy of the proposed rules is also available on the DNR Web site mndnr.gov.
The DNR will accept written comments supporting or opposing the rule changes through 4:30 p.m. on March 20. Submit comments to: Jason Abraham, Box 20, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020 or by e-mail at Jason.Abraham@dnr.state.mn.us.
Among the rules that will be made permanent are:
• registration of deer
• seasons and zones for taking deer by archery
• zone descriptions
• arms use areas and restrictions
• taking deer using disease management permits
• bear permit procedures
• application procedures for a moose license
• moose zones
• general regulations for taking elk
• elk license application procedure
• elk zones
• registration blocks
• wild turkey permit area descriptions
• prairie chicken permit area descriptions
• taking geese and brant in the west goose zone.
Simplifying deer hunting regs is topic of public meetings
DNR News
Simplifying regulations governing Minnesota’s deer hunting seasons will be the topic of nine public meetings scheduled in March by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“This is an opportunity for hunters to provide input on proposals that would significantly simplify deer hunting regulations,” said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife programs manager. “We encourage anyone with an interest in hunting issues to attend.”
The proposals are based on recommendations from a 13-member citizen committee assembled by the DNR. Committee members represented a variety of backgrounds and interests including deer hunting groups, new hunters, outdoor media and individuals with local knowledge of deer hunting issues. The committee’s complete report is available online at mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/simplify.
Meetings will be conducted so participants may attend any time during a meeting to discuss issues and offer comments. Meetings are scheduled in:
• Deer River, 7-9 p.m., March 5, at Morse Town Hall, 32775 Minnesota Highway 46
• Aurora, 6-9 p.m., March 6, at Aurora Community Center, 15 West 1st Ave. North
• St. Paul, 7-9 p.m., March 6, at the DNR/PCA Cafeteria, 500 Lafayette Rd.
• Hutchinson, 7-9 p.m., March 10, in Room 141 of Ridgewater College, 2 Century Ave.SE, Hutchinson
• Winona, 7-9 p.m., March 11, at Elks Club, 4540 Service Drive
• Near Watson, 7-9 p.m., March 12, at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area headquarters, 14047 20th St. NW
• Park Rapids, 7-9 p.m., March 13, at Century School Cafeteria, 501 Helten Ave.
• Mora, 7-9 p.m., March 13, at Mora Public Library, 200 Maple Ave. West
• Thief River Falls, 7-9 p.m., March 25 in at Northland Community College Auditorium.
Each year, the DNR conducts public meetings throughout the state to gauge hunter opinions about regulations, seasons and other wildlife management issues.
Those who cannot attend the meetings are urged to e-mail comments to wildlife@dnr.state.mn.us.
Simplification proposals to be discussed include:
• eliminating the all-season deer license but still giving hunters the opportunity to participate in the firearms, archery and muzzleloader seasons
• consolidating the number of deer hunting zones from six to two
• eliminating license validation
• changing cartridge requirements.
Winter Severity Index for deer is average, so far
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) annual Winter Severity Index (WSI) for white-tailed deer in Northeastern Minnesota indicates 2007-2008 is average compared with the long-term. Two significant December snowstorms left 16 to 24 inches of snow across northern St. Louis and northern Lake counties. Temperatures, through the second week in February, have also been about average.
DNR wildlife managers have conducted the WSI for the past 40 years to statistically analyze our winters and the effects on deer and other wildlife. The WSI is measured by combining the number of days below zero with the number of days with 15 inches or more of snow on the ground. These measurements are taken throughout northern Minnesota and compiled at DNR wildlife offices. An average winter in the Tower area would total about 120 WSI points by the end of April.
As of February 12, 2008, Tower has 68 WSI points, Isabella 90, Snowbank Lake 75, Brimson 62, and Eveleth 60. Currently, there are 14 to 16 inches of snow across most of the Tower DNR wildlife work area. Five measurements are taken from a mature hardwood stand of birch or aspen and averaged at these five weather stations. There is a band of deeper snow from Isabella up to the Gunflint Trail. Wildlife managers will continue to monitor deer populations and WSI as the winter progresses.
Last year at this time Tower recorded a WSI of 46 with 14 inches of snow on the ground. The total WSI for the winter of 2006 was 88. Historically, the winter of 1995-1996 had the highest WSI ever recorded in the Tower area with 202.
Research has shown that deer have the ability to withstand very cold temperatures. Deep snow is the most critical factor with 15 inches as the threshold. Extended periods of deep snow combined with cold temperatures, especially in mid to late winter, lead to deer mortality. It is estimated that about 10 percent of the deer herd typically dies in an average winter.
Fawns (less than 1 year old) are the first to starve or be killed by wolves or other predators, as they are the most expendable part of the herd. As the WSI increases to a level of 140 or higher, increased adult buck mortality is expected. Adult does are the best prepared to withstand a severe winter in the Northland, one of nature’s way of perpetuating the species.
Currently, wildlife managers are seeing deer using good winter “thermal” cover such as conifer swamps and they are mostly restricted to established trails within cover.
The lack of any significant snowfall in January and February has really decreased the severity of this winter. Snow conditions have firmed up and mobility has improved since mid-December. Three out of five weather stations are reporting less than 15 inches of snow.
Field staff have checked the bone marrow of some road-killed and wolf-killed deer. Body fat reserves are good, which indicates that deer have not been overly winter-stressed thus far. If the winter of 2008 continues to be average, deer populations will not be significantly affected. However, the WSI could drastically change with one major snowfall and prolonged cold temperatures. What happens from now through April will determine how deer fare this winter.
TOWER AREA WSI
1995 71
1996 202
1997 69
1998 24
1999 103
2000 45
2001 139
2002 59
2003 80
2004 149
2005 169
2006 88
2007 73
State's 2007 deer harvest ranks as fourth highest
Minnesota hunters harvested slightly more than 260,000 deer during 2007, the fourth-highest deer harvest ever recorded, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“Once again, Minnesota deer hunters enjoyed another great deer season,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “The last five years have yielded the top five harvests ever recorded, which not only indicates an abundant deer population, but also shows the great flexibility our seasons offer.”
Before 2003, Minnesota hunters never had killed 250,000 deer in any one season. But during the last five years, he said, total deer harvest exceeded 250,000 each year.
With nearly 500,000 deer hunters enjoying long seasons and liberal bag limits, DNR officials anticipated a strong 2007 deer harvest. In total, firearms hunters harvested 224,250 deer while archery and muzzleloader hunters harvested 24,200 and 12,000 deer respectively. During the early antlerless season, which was expanded to 23 areas in 2007, hunters tagged 7,166 deer.
Overall, the statewide firearms harvest was down 2 percent, archery was 4 percent lower and muzzleloader harvest decreased 11 percent from 2006. Cornicelli said the declines likely were caused by management changes that reduced the number of deer that could be taken in some areas.
“Last year, the DNR finished a public process of setting deer population goals,” Cornicelli said. “Consequently, the DNR lowered bag limits and restricted what all-season hunters could harvest.”
The DNR’s goal is to manage for established objectives, which means annual adjustments to the number of deer an individual hunter can take in each permit area.
Final deer harvest numbers are computed using information provided by hunters when they register harvested deer. A final report, which includes more detailed harvest information, will be available online at mndnr.gov/hunting/deer in the coming weeks.
For the 2008 season, the deadline for the either-sex permit application is Thursday, Sept. 4. Archery deer hunting will begin Sept. 13. The early antlerless deer season will be the weekend of Oct. 11-12. The statewide firearms deer hunting season will open on Nov. 8. The muzzleloader season will open Nov. 29.
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