December 4, 2009
Furbearer registration for northwestern Minnesota announced
DNR issues ice warning for aerated lakes
Hunters take fewer deer during firearms season but harvest is on track
Minnesota’s firearms deer harvest is down 11.6 percent from 2008 but on track with expectations, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Since the season opened Nov. 7, preliminary results show that hunters have harvested 151,000 animals, 20,000 fewer than last year following the third weekend of hunting. The decrease reflects fewer opportunities for hunters to harvest antlerless deer in about half of the state’s deer management areas.
“The strategy for 2009 is to allow deer populations to build and stabilize by reducing opportunities to take antlerless deer,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator. “We expect hunters to harvest about 200,000 deer, or one-fifth of the state’s wild deer population.
We’re on track to do just that once the final numbers are in and counted for all deer seasons.”
Hunters have harvested about 19,000 fewer antlerless deer than last year, accounting for the majority of the decline. Harvest of bucks is only about 1,200 animals behind last year. Hunter numbers are nearly identical to last year.
“The harvest of bucks is the most stable indicator of deer population,” Cornicelli said. “Nearly the same number of bucks has been harvested, which suggests that deer are still there to be taken.
Since fewer hunters have the option of harvesting an antlerless deer, the overall numbers have decreased.”
Cornicelli said hunters also have been especially cooperative in the DNR’s efforts to sample deer for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in southeastern Minnesota and Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in northwestern Minnesota.
DNR-staffed stations in southeastern Minnesota have sampled 2,350 deer for CWD. In northwestern Minnesota, 1,468 deer have been sampled for Bovine TB. Minnesota hunters harvested about 222,000 deer last year. The highest recorded harvest was 290,000 deer in 2003.
“Hunters are harvesting more deer than we did historically but not as many as when the deer population reached its peak in the early 2000s,” said Cornicelli. “With population goals being met in many areas, harvest numbers are showing that we’re beginning to level out to where we want to be.”
Furbearer registration for northwestern Minnesota announced
Northwestern Minnesota fur trappers can register their pelts at one of several Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) furbearer registration stations in December and January.
Furbearers, which include bobcat, fisher, pine marten and otter, may be registered between noon and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, with bobcat and otter-only registration from 3-6 p.m.
on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the following locations:
Backus DNR Forestry Office
4391 State Hwy 371
218-947-3232
Baudette Area Wildlife Office
204 Main Street East
218-634-1705
Bemidji Area Wildlife Office
2114 Bemidji Avenue
218-308-2348
Park Rapids Area Wildlife Office
603 First Street West
218-732-8452
Roseau City Center
Library Meeting Room
101 Center St. East
218-463-1130
Thief Lake WMA Office, Middle River
42280 240th Avenue
218-222-3747
Wadena
National Guard Armory
517 N Jefferson
218-732-8452
Furbearers also may be registered from noon-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Gene Knutson residence in Roosevelt, 218-783-6861. The Warroad DNR Forestry Office, 804 Cherne Drive Northwest, 218-386-1304, also will be open for registration from 3-5 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Registration is available by appointment throughout the furbearer season at any DNR area wildlife office, which also include:
Crookston Area Wildlife Office
204 Main St. S
218-281-6063
Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office
14583 County Highway 19
218-847-1578
Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office
1509 1st Ave N
218-739-7576
Glenwood Area Wildlife Office
28070 N Lakeshore Dr.
320-634-0342
Karlstad Area Wildlife Office
202 Main St. N
218-436-2427
Red Lake WMA Office
Norris Camp
218-783-6861
Thief River Falls Area Wildlife Office
246 125th Ave NE
218-681-0946
Roseau River WMA Office, Roseau
27952 400th Street
218-463-1130
Pelts must be removed from the carcass and thawed to allow for inspection. The carcasses of bobcats and the heads of pine martens also will be collected at the time of registration. Pelts, carcasses and heads must be presented for registration before the pelt is sold or removed from the state and no more than 48 hours after the season closes.
To expedite registration, trappers should bring the following written information for each animal to be registered: species, sex, date, location (county, township and range) and method of take, including type
of trap used and small game hunting and trapping licenses.
Fur registration forms and additional information are available from the area wildlife offices or online at http://mndnr.gov/trapping.
DNR issues ice warning for aerated lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warns ice anglers, snowmobilers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts to use caution when going onto any lake covered or partially covered with ice, especially those that feature aeration systems.
“Open water areas created by aeration systems can shift or change shapes depending on weather conditions,” said Marilyn Danks, DNR aquatic biologist. “Leaks may develop in air lines creating other areas of weak ice or open water.”
About 285 Minnesota lakes will have aeration systems operating this winter. Private hatchery operators also use aeration systems, usually on small lakes without public accesses.
Aeration systems generally operate from the time lakes freeze until ice break-up in the spring. They help prevent winterkill of fish, but they also create areas of open water and thin ice, which are significant hazards.
Both “Thin Ice” and Warning” signs are used to identify aerated lakes. The person who applies for a permit is required to maintain “Warning” signs at all commonly used access points to the lake. This sign warns people approaching the lake that an aeration system is in operation and to use extreme caution.
“Thin Ice” signs are used to mark the perimeter of the thin ice and open water area. These signs are diamond shaped with an orange border and white background with the warning “Thin Ice” in bold print. It is the permittee’s responsibility to post and maintain “Thin Ice” signs at 100-foot intervals. Some municipalities may have ordinances which prohibit entering into the marked area and/or prohibit the night use of motorized vehicles on lakes with aeration systems in operation. These local regulations are often posted at accesses where they apply.
Aeration systems are inspected for safety and compliance with regulations by permittees and DNR personnel.
For more information call a regional fisheries office or the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
The following is a list of lakes that will likely have aeration systems in operation this winter.
When there are lakes in the county with the same name as the aerated lake, the nearest town is shown in brackets. Names in parentheses are alternate lake names. Those names followed by an asterisk are newly aerated lakes.
REGION 1 (NORTHWEST)
COUNTY: LAKE
BECKER: Big Cormorant, Bijou, Eunice, Fifteen, Island, Little Cormorant, Melissa, Sallie, Wolf.
BELTRAMI: Ewert’s Pond.
CASS: Leech.
CLAY: Blue Eagle, Lake Fifteen.
CLEARWATER: Pine.
DOUGLAS: Aldrich.
HUBBARD: Petite, Wolf.
MARSHALL: Unnamed [Florian Reservoir].
OTTER TAIL: Adley, Big McDonald, Fish (Parkers Prairie), Fish (Pelican Rapids), Lida, Lizzie, Marion, Pelican, Perch, Pete, Tamarac, West McDonald.
POLK: Badger, Cable, Maple.
POPE: Johanna, Signalness.
STEVENS: Hattie, North and South Baker.
WADENA: Stocking.
REGION II (NORTHEAST)
AITKIN: Cedar (McGrath).
CASS: Eagle, George*, Loon, Meadow.
CROW WING: Nisswa.
LAKE: Superior (Marinas).
ST. LOUIS: Colby.
REGION III (CENTRAL)
ANOKA: Centerville, Coon, Crooked, Golden, Ham, Martin, Moore (East), Peltier, Shack Eddy, Spring.
CARVER: Eagle, Oak, Susan.
CROW WING: Platte.
DAKOTA: Alimagnet, Birch Pond, Blackhawk, Bur Oaks, Carlson, Cliff, East Thomas, Farquar, Fish, Gun Club, Hay, Heine, LeMay, Manor, Marion, Pickeral, Rebecca [Hastings], Roger’s,
Schwanz, Thomas, Thompson.
GOODHUE: Pottery Pond [Red Wing].
HENNEPIN: Arrowhead, Bass, Crystal, Gleason, Hadley, Hyland, Indianhead, Mitchell, Penn (Lower Penn), Powderhorn, Rebecca [Maple Plain], Red Rock, Rice, Round, Snelling, Sweeney-Twin, Wirth, Wolfe.
KANABEC: Knife.
MORRISON: Alexander, Shamineau.
RAMSEY: Beaver, Bennett, Como, Island, Loeb, Otter, Owasso, Pleasant, Silver (East Silver), Silver (Columbia Heights), Shoreview Community Center Pond, Vadnais, Willow.
SCOTT: Cedar, Cleary, Crystal, Lakefront Park Pond, Legends, McColl, McMahon (Carls), Murphy, O’Dowd, Thole.
SHERBURNE: Ann [Becker], Birch, Fremont, Unnamed [Fawn].
STEARNS: Becker, Black Oak, Dullinger, Marie (Maria) [Kimball].
WASHINGTON: Battle Creek (Mud) [Woodbury], Benz, Cloverdale, Goose, MacDonald, Pine Tree, St. Croix River, Sand, Shields.
WINONA: Winona.
WRIGHT: Augusta, Crawford, Dean, Little Waverly, Louisa, Mink, Somers.
REGION IV (SOUTH)
BIG STONE: Artichoke, East Toqua, Long Tom.
BLUE EARTH: Crystal, Ida, Loon [Lake Crystal], Lura, Mills.
BROWN: Clear, Hanska, Sleepy Eye.
COTTONWOOD: Bean, Bingham, Cottonwood, Double [North and South basins], Mountain [Mountain Lake].
COTTONWOOD/MURRAY: Talcott.
FARIBAULT: Rice.
FREEBORN: Albert Lea, Fountain, Morin.
JACKSON: Clear [Jackson], Independence, Little Spirit, Loon [Jackson], Pearl, Round.
KANDIYOHI: East Solomon, Elizabeth, Foot, Long, Mud (Monongalia) [New London], Nest, Ringo [Spicer], Swenson [Pennock], Unnamed [Tadd], Unnamed [Upper], Wakanda, Willmar.
LESUEUR: Clear [Lexington], Gorman, Greenleaf, Mabel [Kilkenny], Scotch, Silver [Elysian].
LINCOLN: Benton, Dead Coon, Hendricks, Shaokatan, Stay (East Stay).
LYON: Clear, Cottonwood, East Goose, East Twin, Lady Slipper, Rock, School Grove, West Twin, Yankton.
MARTIN: Big Twin, Budd, Buffalo, Cedar, Fish [Trimont], George, Sisseton.
MCLEOD: Marion, Swan [Silver Lake], Winsted.
MEEKER: Star, Thompson.
MURRAY: Bloody, Buffalo [Currie], Corabelle, Currant, First (South) Fulda, Lime, Louisa, Sarah,
Shetek, Wilson (North & South Basins).
NOBLES: East Graham, Indian, Kinbrae, Okabena, Ocheda, West Graham.
PIPESTONE: Split Rock.
RICE: Circle, Cody.
SIBLEY: Silver [Henderson].
STEELE: Kohlmeier.
WASECA: Elysian, Loon [Waseca].
WATONWAN: Fedji, Kansas, St. James.
YELLOW MEDICINE: Tyson, Wood.
© 2009 Outdoors Weekly