March 7, 2008 - TOP STORIES
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Shiner minnows in short supply
Minnesota youth wins trip to '08 Kansas Governor's Turkey Hunt
Deer Hunter Ethics Award winners announced
Supporters of wildlife, arts money dismiss possible tax backlash
Chisago City bait shop has catered to fishermen for generations
Shiner minnows in short supply
Minnesota anglers and bait shops report a shiner shortage
By Dennis Anderson, Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – It’s the bait that catches fish. Walleyes particularly. Better than a fathead, a golden shiner flashes in the water, attracting predators big, small and in between.
But a shiner shortage has arisen. Even the state’s little-known shiner “black market” – which for years helped supply Minnesota anglers – has dried up, leaving fish seekers – some of them – high and dry.
Turns out, it wasn’t whiskey or drugs Minnesotans were smuggling into the state from Wisconsin all these years.
It was golden shiners.
As in minnows.
Perhaps the most effective bait Minnesota anglers use, golden shiners have long been a staple of minnow buckets from Warroad to Winona.
But importing these or any other minnows into Minnesota violates a law written decades ago by the state’s bait industry. As Phil Koep – widely considered the granddaddy of Minnesota bait rearers and dealers – says:
“It wasn’t the DNR that wrote that law. It was my dad and others in the bait industry. They wanted to keep competitors from outside the state from selling bait here.”
A good idea then.
And might still be.
Except for one big problem: Minnesota, it turns out, hasn’t been producing all of the golden shiners sold in this state. Some were instead reared in Arkansas and delivered to Wisconsin bait dealers, who in turn sold them to Minnesota bait dealers and retailers, who in turn sold them to Minnesota anglers.
Which, though illegal, seemed to work for everyone.
Then along came an ugly fish disease called VHS – viral hemorrhagic septicemia.
Working its way west from the East Coast, VHS is killing thousands of fish, and now threatens the Midwest’s multibillion-dollar sportfishing industry.
Already, VHS has stricken fish in Wisconsin.
“VHS is a very serious disease, and we want to keep it out of Minnesota waters if we can,” said Department of Natural Resources fisheries chief Ron Payer.
So serious is VHS that the federal government, in the form of the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service or APHIS, has imposed strict rules on the movement of fish and water in the eight Great Lakes states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Faced with the prospect of severe criminal penalties, and also worried about possibly introducing VHS into Minnesota from Wisconsin, Minnesota bait retailers and dealers no longer seem willing to chance the “Wisconsin connection” to keep their customers awash in golden shiners.
Instead, the state’s supply has dried up.
How big of a deal is the shortage?
Very big. Not only do shiners catch more fish than fathead minnows – by far the most widely sold bait in Minnesota – they’re more durable, particularly in winter.
One way to again supply Minnesota anglers with sufficient numbers of golden shiners is to open the state’s border to imports directly from Arkansas.
It’s there that shiner production is in full swing.
Ironically, Minnesota bait dealers – whose forerunners closed the state’s borders to imported minnows – favor this option.
“I think we should be able to import them, particularly in winter,” Koep said.
Not so fast, says the DNR, noting that VHS isn’t the only concern the agency has about importing bait.
Invasive species (plant and animal alike) also present a threat, said DNR commercial fisheries program consultant Roy Johannes.
“Arkansas doesn’t have VHS-infected fish,” Johannes said, “but it is possible that other diseases or invasive species could be imported to the state with golden shiners or other bait.”
But ... Wisconsin allows Arkansas golden shiners to be imported.
“True,” Johannes said. “But we have to be very careful about invasive species in Minnesota.”
No one knows exactly what percentage of golden shiners sold in Minnesota over the years have been illegally imported from Arkansas via Wisconsin.
But the amount probably was sizable, said Payer, the DNR fisheries chief.
“If you look at what Minnesota produces for shiners and all of the sudden you have a shortfall,” Payer said, “it would indicate a fair number of fish were coming through from other sources.”
Officially, the numbers look like this:
In 2005, 217,658 gallons of fathead minnows were reared and sold in Minnesota. Add to that number another 90,000 gallons of white suckers.
And golden shiners?
A comparably paltry 32,418 gallons.
Question: If golden shiners are so popular, why was production so low?
“They’re difficult to raise up here,” Johannes said. “Arkansas has a 10-month growing season, while we basically have a three-month season.”
For that reason, a shiner raised in Minnesota requires as many as three years of care before it reaches its ideal length of 4 inches.
Shiners also don’t play well with other minnows, so they have to be raised alone.
“They do best in ponds where there are no other fish,” Johannes said.
Most minnow rearing in Minnesota is done in wetlands and similar wild waters. By comparison, man-made ponds (such as those in Arkansas and other Southern states) are relatively few.
Minnesota bait dealers historically have had ready access to the state’s wetlands, many of which are tapped for their wild fathead populations.
But rearing pond access is more difficult today, Koep said, in part because competition for the ponds has heated up.
Wildlife officials, for example, believe minnows in wetlands may harm their fundamental ecology, making them less beneficial to ducks and other wetland wildlife.
“I don’t have the ponds I once did,” Koep said. “I’m losing more than I’m gaining.”
Complicating matters, and further reducing the chance that golden shiners will be imported into Minnesota anytime soon, the DNR has proposed to the Legislature this session that it be allowed to impose still tighter rules governing the movement of fish and water within the state.
“Movement of fish and water around the country is being scrutinized a lot more carefully,” Payer said. “Maybe eventually we’ll find ways to safely move it without worrying about also moving diseases or invasive species with it.
“But until we do, we’ll probably have to have new restrictions.”
Minnesota youth wins trip to '08 Kansas Governor's Turkey Hunt
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NWTF Reports
ATLANTA - Dylan Hansen, 17, of St. Charles, Minn., won the 2008 Kansas Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt Essay Contest. The essay contest is hosted by JAKES, the National Wild Turkey Federation’s youth outreach program.
The NWTF’s JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program is dedicated to teaching the principles of wildlife management and passing along the traditions of safe, ethical and responsible hunting to youth up to age 12. The NWTF’s Xtreme JAKES program provides advanced outdoor opportunities and challenges for teens between the ages of 13 and 17.
Hansen was awarded his Kansas hunting license and tickets for his all-expense-paid turkey hunt during the annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center Feb. 21 to Feb. 24, 2008.
“Representing my city and school and seeing the hard work I invested in this project pay off in such a big way is very exciting,” Hansen said. “But the best part of winning this hunt is having the opportunity to spend time hunting in the woods with my dad, who has taught me almost everything I know about hunting.”
Hansen’s winning essay, titled “Hunting is About...,” was an assignment given by teacher Craig Wills in his Natural Resources and Wildlife Management class. Hansen said hunting is mainly about bonding with his dad. While the whole class received the same assignment, Hansen was one of few who submitted an essay to the contest.
“Dylan’s classmates have been thrilled to see him win the hunt, and now wish they had entered the contest,” said Wills. “Seeing one of my students win such a prestigious award is very exciting, and hopefully will motivate future students to work hard and put forth their best efforts.”
In his essay, Hansen also noted that hunting gets youth interested in outdoor activities and instills an appreciation for nature in addition to offering quality time to spend with family.
“Getting young people connected to the outdoors at an early age is essential for the future of hunting and conservation,” said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. “The NWTF’s JAKES outreach programs are excellent tools for involving youth in outdoor activities.”
A junior at Saint Charles High School, Hansen is a member of the Future Farmers of America Chapter and the Fish and Wildlife Team, and plays both football and basketball. He has hunted turkey and deer since age 12, and hopes to take his fourth wild turkey during the 21st annual Kansas Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt this April.
Former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden developed the hunt to bring key people from various professions to Kansas to experience the tremendous natural resources and business opportunities in that state.
More than 650 volunteers donate their time during the event including guides, landowners, sponsors and the many people who do the hands-on work. The Kansas Governor’s Annual One-Shot Turkey Hunt has become a nationally recognized event.
The NWTF is already accepting entries for the 2009 Kansas Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt Essay Contest. For a downloadable flyer, visit www.nwtf.org.
Deer Hunter Ethics Award winners announced
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DNR News
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA), and Turn In Poachers have announced the winners of the 15th annual Deer Hunter Ethics Award. They were honored at the 2008 MDHA State Habitat Banquet on Feb. 23 at Breezy Point Resort near Brainerd.
The award honors deer hunters who have exhibited conduct during the 2007 season that can serve as an example of admirable hunting practices, according to MDHA State President Dan Splittstoser. “The awards are designed to bring the spotlight to those we hope positively represent the majority of hunters - ethical, thoughtful outdoors people,” he said.
Many excellent nominations of wonderfully ethical hunters were submitted again this year, Splittstoser said. “Everyone should be proud of these people. We are.”
Wayne Edgerton, DNR agriculture policy coordinator and a judge for the contest, agreed. “We received a wide array of nominations describing high ethical standards and compassion for other hunters and the game they pursue,” Edgerton said. “Seeing both adult and youth nominated for similar activities is very gratifying to me as a deer hunter.”
ADULT WINNER
The adult winner is Greg Waite of Circle Pines. He has been instrumental in helping create the Becklin Homestead Park Wildlife Management Area near Cambridge, which is dedicated specifically for use by physically challenged hunters. His insight into the needs and requirements of these hunters has proven invaluable.
Waite has also given countless hours of his time to assist with the design and implementation of habitat management and access trails at the WMA. He alone collected donations for materials to build improved elevated hunting blinds at strategic locations within the area.
Perhaps most notably and most important, Greg gave up his entire deer hunting season to host and assist his many friends in all facets of deer hunting during their experiences at the WMA.
Greg’s unselfish dedication and passion for caring about others epitomizes what the ethical deer hunter award is all about.
YOUTH WINNER
The youth winner is Blake Holbrook, a 12-year-old from St. Cloud. He was participating in his first full season as a licensed hunter. On opening day, Blake had a bad case of stomach flu. He spent only an hour in the deer stand, and the rest of the day in bed. He felt better the next morning, so Blake and his dad, Tim, returned to the woods. While walking to their separate deer stands, Blake mentioned his interest in seeing a really big deer.
Shortly after the legal shooting time, Tim’s cell phone started vibrating alerting him that Blake was on the line. Tim figured the flu big had returned. That was not the case.
Blake was excited and called to describe to his dad how an eight-point buck had stood broadside 15 yards away from his stand. He noticed how the ears were moving to catch the sounds, and how the buck’s nose looked as it tested the air. He even talked about the deer’s tail swishing back and forth.
After listening for a while, Tim asked Blake if he had gotten the deer. His son replied, “Dad,” I didn’t even pull the trigger. It was 5 minutes before the legal shooting time.”
Tim was very impressed with Blake’s composure to sit and watch the trophy buck and not pull the trigger because he knew it was illegal to do so.
As a father, Tim said he had never been more proud of his son than he was at that moment and that he exemplifies all that is good about the future of the sport.
Turns out, Blake never did get a deer last fall, but the memories of seeing a really big buck will last for a long time.
Each of the 2007 Ethical Hunter Award winners received a framed MDHA print, complimentary MDHA membership, and a $250 gift certificate provided by Cabela’s. Banquet organizers thanked the dozens of people who took time to forward nominations for this award.
Supporters of wildlife, arts money dismiss possible tax backlash
By Jeff Baenen
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s gas tax gets a few bumps by this fall – bad timing for supporters of a November ballot measure to boost the state sales tax to pay for wildlife and arts programs.
But supporters of the so-called “Legacy Act” say they’re not worried.
“It’s important to explain to people this (sales tax increase) is not a huge cut out of their economic well-being,” said Don McMillan, president of the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance, a group that includes Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.
Lawmakers overrode Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of a $6.6 billion transportation bill on Feb. 25. That clears the way for the first increase in the state gasoline tax in 20 years – an overall rise of more than a nickel a gallon – as well as other fee increases to help pay for roads, bridges and transit.
Just a week earlier, legislators decided to ask Minnesota voters whether the sales tax should go up to guarantee money for natural resources and arts programs – by 3/8ths of 1 percent. That amounts to just under 4 cents on every $10 spent, McMillan said.
McMillan said the amendment’s supporters will point out that sales of prescription drugs, food and clothing are not taxed in Minnesota.
“Yeah, it is a tax increase, but take a look at it,” McMillan said. “It’s not going to break you.”
But voters may be in an anti-tax mood once the election arrives. The first 2 cents of the gas tax hike kick in on April 1. There is another half-cent increase on Aug. 1, then another 3-cent increase on Oct. 1 – a month before the election.
“This is going to torpedo that thing. People are loathe to raise their taxes anyhow and now we’ve laid another bundle on their burden,” said Rep. Michael Beard, R-Shakopee. “I’m feeling pretty pessimistic about its chances.”
The gas tax increase isn’t the only one in sight.
By Oct. 1, shoppers in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area likely would see the sales tax increase by 0.25 percentage point, with the extra money going to transit projects. Minnesota’s statewide sales tax is currently 6.5 percent, but in Hennepin County, for example, shoppers pay an extra 0.15 percent tax to pay debt on the new Minnesota Twins ballpark.
Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, a vocal backer of the Legacy Act, said he thinks the publicity about the gas tax increase will calm by November.
“I think we will try to frame the question, do we want to give ourselves clean water. Do we want to ensure a future – the future of our outdoors heritage – for our children?” Chaudhary said.
Paul Austin, executive director of Conservation Minnesota, said he thinks voters will keep the tax increase issues separate.
“When you talk to Minnesotans about what this money is for – for protecting our lakes and streams – they overwhelmingly support protecting those resources and passing them on to their children,” Austin said.
Minnesota mourning dove hunting under attack
Sportsmen’s immediate action needed to protect dove hunt
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Reports
Legislation that will ban the hunting of mourning doves in Minnesota was heard Monday by committees in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate. Sportsmen’s grassroots action against House File 2501 and Senate File 2329 is imperative if this threat is to be stopped.
If passed, these measures would ban hunting for the nation’s #1 game bird, the mourning dove. In fact, more people hunt mourning doves across the U.S. than ducks and geese combined. Anti-hunting groups have wanted to take the season away since sportsmen successfully fought to get it established in 2004. Mourning dove hunting is a time honored tradition in 40 states, including Minnesota, and there is simply no justification for ending the hunt.
“Minnesota sportsmen must take immediate action to stop this impending threat,” said Rob Sexton, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA). “Anti-hunters see these bills as a foothold in Minnesota to attack hunting again.”
The USSA worked with Minnesota sportsmen’s groups to pass mourning dove hunting legislation in 2004.
Minnesota sportsmen must contact their legislators today to urge them to oppose banning mourning dove hunting in Minnesota.
To find your State Representative call the information desk at 651-296-2146 and ask them to transfer you to your representative. Ask your representative to oppose House File 2501.
To find your State Senator call the information desk at 651-296-0504 and ask them to transfer you to your senator. Ask your senator to opposed Senate File 2329.
Legislator contact information can also be found by using the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.
© 2008 Outdoors Weekly (PK Outdoors, Inc.)