February 6, 2009 - TOP STORIES
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Bill would allow anglers 2 fishing lines
Hunters harvest fewer deer in 08
DNR, NWTF expand youth turkey hunting opportunities in 2009
DNR seeks comments on proposed off-road vehicle trail near Eveleth
DNR urges snowmobile, ATV riders to use extra caution in road rights of way and ditches
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Bill would allow anglers 2 fishing lines
Bill could give Minnesota a new source of revenue
By Elizabeth Dunbar, Associated Press Writer
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota anglers could have one line rigged with bait and a bobber while casting with a spinner on a second line under a bill in the House.
“It makes the sport more enjoyable when the fish aren’t biting,” said Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, the bill’s author.
He told fellow lawmakers the bill allowing anglers to always fish with two lines fits better with what surrounding states allow and could give Minnesota a new source of revenue. Currently, anglers in Minnesota can use two lines only in border waters or while ice fishing.
The bill was heard last Monday in the House Game, Fish and Forestry Division. Similar legislation has passed the House before but has met opposition in the Senate.
Juhnke testified that he’s received calls and letters from anglers and resort owners from across Minnesota urging the two-line limit. But four people testified against the bill last Monday, saying it could put the state’s fishery at risk.
“It’s not a fishery population issue, it’s a quality issue,” said Ed Boggess, deputy director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Boggess said putting more lines in the water would result in more fish being caught, potentially causing more stress on the fish, sometimes leading to death. The DNR might have to respond with more restrictions on certain lakes if that became an issue, Boggess said.
Shawn Kellett, president of the Twin Cities chapter of Muskies Inc., said allowing anglers to use two lines for muskie could be especially harmful. Anglers distracted by having two lines might not reel in a muskie right away, leading the fish to swallow the hook and eventually die, he said.
“The bill is more about angler greed than creating a better fishery,” Kellett said. “If the fishery isn’t what it is now, people won’t come to our resorts from out of state anyway.”
But Juhnke said states like Wisconsin haven’t had problems with the quality of their fisheries in allowing multiple lines.
He also said the bill could bring in potential revenue if the DNR were to make anglers buy an extra stamp to fish with two lines. For example, if the stamp cost $10, the state could bring in an additional $1 million a year, Juhnke said.
Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, said he still opposes the bill. Chaudhary, chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, has said the change could hurt Minnesota’s conservation efforts.
Hunters harvest fewer deer in 08
DNR News
Minnesota deer hunters harvested nearly 222,000 deer in 2008. This is a decline of 38,000, or about 19 percent, from 2007, but the ninth consecutive year the harvest has exceeded 200,000.
“Bad weather opening weekend, lower deer populations in many permit areas and more lottery areas all had a role in the lower harvest,” said Dennis Simon, wildlife section chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Still, hunters found success and we were able to lower deer populations in some areas.”
Overall, the statewide firearm harvest was down 15 percent from last year. The archery harvest was down 7 percent and the muzzleloader harvest down 25 percent. Firearms hunters harvested 190,100 deer, archery hunters 22,550 and muzzleloader hunters 9,300. Hunters who participated in the early antlerless season, which was expanded to 30 areas in 2008, tagged 5,250 deer.
Despite the decrease from 2007’s harvest total of 260,604 and the lowest total harvest level in five years, 2008 ranked as the eighth-highest Minnesota deer harvest ever recorded.
“The majority of our deer harvest comes during the first weekend of firearms season,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “When the weather is bad like it was, we never fully make up the difference the next weekend.”
Deer populations in many permit areas also were lower than previous years, which is a direct result of aggressive antlerless deer management.
“In many deer areas, we’ve allowed hunters to take up to five deer each, which by design has likely lowered populations toward our established goals,” Cornicelli said.
Final population estimates will be completed after the winter ends and the DNR will re-evaluate populations relative to established goals. Additional significant winter weather in some parts of Minnesota this year could reduce deer populations in some areas.
“Many hunters will see lower bag limits and, in some cases, placement of their hunting area into lottery designation,” Cornicelli said. “It’s important that hunters pay close attention to the hunting synopsis when it comes out in late July.”
Looking ahead to the 2009 season, the deadline for the either-sex permit application is Thursday, Sept. 3. Archery deer hunting will begin Sept. 19 and the early antlerless deer season will be the weekend of Oct. 10. The statewide firearms deer hunting season will open on Nov. 7 and the muzzleloader season will open Nov. 28.
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DNR, NWTF expand youth turkey hunting opportunities in 2009
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the National Wild Turkey Federation will again team up to offer special hunts for youth who are first-time turkey hunters. And thanks to NWTF volunteers, about 130 more young people - up from 407 last year - will get a shot at one of the 39 mentored events.
But hurry - the application deadline is 4 p.m. on Feb. 23.
All but one of the special hunts will occur April 18-19, the first weekend of the regular wild turkey season. Nearly all of the youth will hunt on private land thanks to the generosity of private landowners.
To be eligible, a youth hunter must be age 12 to 17 on or before April 18, have a valid Firearms Safety Certificate, and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Any youth who has ever purchased or been selected by lottery for a Minnesota turkey license of any type is ineligible. Hunters and their mentors will be assigned a NWTF volunteer guide, who must accompany both the youth and parent/guardian throughout the entire hunt.
“Mentored hunts are an opportunity for youth to learn from experience,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator. “They provide an opportunity for mentors to pass their turkey hunting knowledge onto the next generation.”
Applications for the wild turkey hunt are available online at the DNR Web site: http://mndnr.gov/youthturkey. Participants will be selected through a random lottery. A map of areas open to special youth hunts and a listing of hunts can be viewed and printed online.
To participate as a mentor or volunteer your land for the youth mentored hunts, contact your local NWTF chapter at http://www.nwtfchapter.org/minnesotastatechapter/index.html. Click “In Your State,” on the left hand side of the page, for the nearest chapter.
DNR seeks comments on proposed off-road vehicle trail near Eveleth
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The state Department of Natural Resources says 12 people died in boating accidents on Minnesota lakes last year.
Boating fatalities have been on the decline in recent years, with 15 in 2007 and 14 in 2006. By comparison, 57 boaters died in 1961, 30 died in 2002 and 23 died in 2005.
DNR officials say more people are wearing life jackets and taking boat safety classes. There are also tougher alcohol laws and larger, more stable boats.
Of the 12 deaths last year, 11 were single-boat accidents. Half of the boats were non-motorized canoes or paddle boats.
Ten victims weren't wearing life jackets. Alcohol was a factor in five deaths and cold water also contributed to five fatalities
Water safety information and accident statistics are available on the DNR’s Web site at www.mndnr.gov/safety/boatwater.
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DNR urges snowmobile, ATV riders to use extra caution in road rights of way and ditches
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges snowmobilers and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders to use extra caution this winter when operating their machines in ditches and other areas within road right-of-ways.
Vehicle operators should reduce speed in construction areas (particularly at night) and be aware of such hidden dangers as equipment, silt fences, wood survey stakes, steel right-of-way-markers, brush piles, sedimentation ponds, and boulders. Some of this material may remain months after construction activity ceases.
State snowmobile regulations allow riders to operate on outside ditch slopes and ditch bottoms but prohibit operation on roadways, shoulders and the inner slopes of a state or county road. Regulations also prohibit operation on the medians of four-lane highways and within the rights of way of any interstate highway.
Regulations also prohibit riders from operating against traffic at night within highway right of ways.
ATV operators must possess a valid driver’s license where it’s legal to drive on highway right-of-ways such as slopes and ditches, and when crossing roads. Minnesota residents born after December 31, 1976 must have a snowmobile safety certificate in their possession, or a snowmobile safety certificate indicator on their driver’s license or on their Minnesota ID card, to operate a snowmobile in Minnesota.
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