December 11, 2009
Snowmobiling getting a slow start this year
Survey gauges hunters’ opinions on deer regulation changes in southeastern Minnesota
Leech Lake: Great fishing in 09’; new five-year plan underway
Deer hunters asked to participate in northwestern Minnesota late-season hunt
McQuade Public Access wins national award
Snowmobiling getting a slow start this year
Following the recent snowfall throughout Minnesota, some snowmobile trails are open but likely not groomed, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Several conditions must be met before trails are open for travel. The ground must be frozen to allow for the crossing of wet areas; there must be about 12 inches of snow to allow for adequate packing and grooming of most natural surface forest trails; and trails must be cleared, signs installed and gates opened.
In agricultural areas, crops need to be harvested and fields prepared. With the wet fall and very mild temperatures the harvest is running well behind schedule this year which has put snowmobile trail preparation behind schedule as well.
“We are waiting for more cold weather, the crop harvest to be completed, and adequate snow," said DNR’s Northeast East Regional Parks and Trails Manager, Les Ollila. “Each year, a few snowmobile enthusiasts take to the trails after the first snowfall only to find they are rushing the season. It takes a lot of work to get trails ready each year and with the wet and warm fall this effort is taking longer in many cases.”
Snowmobile clubs and the DNR are working to open grant-in-aid and state trails as winter conditions improve throughout the state.
When the trails open, the DNR urges early season riders to use caution. Early season trails may have trees or other debris across trails, unfrozen areas, rocks or ruts, or standing crops and closed gates. Also, road ditches have obstacles to watch for under grass and snow, such as culverts, signposts, and rocks. And, even though there have had some cold spells, the ice is not yet thick enough to support snowmobiles. The DNR recommends five inches of new clear ice for snowmobiles.
Ollila also reminds trail users that many snowmobile trails cross private land. Landowners give permission for snowmobile use on the trails beginning as early as Dec. 1, if the land is available and crops have been harvested. Landowner permission is for snowmobiles only; all other use is considered trespass.
Minnesota has more than 22,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Snowmobile trail maintenance costs are partially funded through snowmobile registrations, trail pass sales, and the un-refunded gas tax attributed to snowmobile use. Donations and volunteer work by trail clubs make up the remainder of the costs and efforts to operate these trails. Ollila suggested trail users should call ahead or they can check state trails conditions on the DNR Web site at or by calling 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-MINNDNR
(646-6367)
Trail information and local contacts are on the Web site under Maps and Contacts and are also on the back of the Minnesota DNR Snowmobile Trails maps which show the snowmobile trails in each of four quadrants of the state.
Survey gauges hunters’ opinions on deer regulation changes in southeastern Minnesota
A majority of southeastern Minnesota hunters support regulations that protect a majority of yearling bucks, according to a new survey from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The survey, conducted this fall, was designed to assess proposed or possible regulatory changes. It was mailed to a statistically representative sample of 3,000 deer hunters age 18 or older who indicated they hunted either the 3A or 3B firearm deer seasons during 2008.
Hunters’ top choices for deer regulation changes in southeastern Minnesota were prohibiting the cross-tagging of bucks and instituting an antler point restriction.
The DNR received responses from 1,740 hunters – a margin of error of
2.2 percent.
Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator who developed the survey with the assistance of DNR research staff and three deer hunting groups, said hunter support for various management strategies was as follows:
● 53 percent support enacting regulations that protect a majority of yearling bucks.
● 54 percent support implementing a four-day youth-only deer hunt over what is commonly known as Minnesota Education Association (MEA) weekend.
● 50 percent support requiring hunters to shoot and tag their own buck, rather than allowing cross-tagging.
● 47 percent support instituting an antler point restriction regulation.
● 41 percent support restoring the 3A season to 9 days.
● 34 percent support restoring the 3B season to 7 days.
● 31 percent support delaying the 3A firearm season one week.
● 18 percent support delaying the 3A firearm season to late November.
“It’s interesting to note there weren’t any differences in attitudes between hunters from the 3A and 3B seasons,” said Cornicelli, who noted 3A hunters self-identify as more traditional and selective buck hunters whereas 3B hunters describe themselves as more meat-oriented and less concerned about mature bucks.
“The survey results illustrate that 3A and 3B hunters have the same opinions on deer management issues,” he said. “The differences lie in the season they hunt, not the type of deer hunted.”
Overall, Cornicelli said, a majority of hunters support regulations that protect yearling bucks.
While support was lower than previously reported in other DNR surveys the question was more specific on this survey. Previously, DNR has asked generically if hunters supported mature buck regulations and support was hovered around 60 to 65 percent.
“This survey specifically mentioned protecting yearling bucks so it wasn’t surprising that overall support was slightly lower than previously reported,” Cornicelli said.
Responses to other survey questions indicate:
● 24 percent also hunted the archery season and 15 percent also hunted the muzzleloader season.
● The average of number of years a person has been hunting is 25 and they have hunted their specific deer area for 18.5 years.
● 30 percent hunt on land they own, 74 percent hunt on land they don’t own and 4 percent leased land for hunting.
● Only 7 percent belonged to an organized hunting group.
● Only 8 percent hunted exclusively on public land.
● 3 percent of landowners allow public hunting to anyone who asks.
To put the survey in context, beginning in 2003 the DNR made antlerless permits available during the 3A season in response to increasing deer populations. Also in 2003, several other changes were instituted that included shortening the 3A season by two days and lengthening the 3B season by two days. In 2004, youth hunters were allowed to hunt both seasons.
The full survey report is available on the DNR Web site at mndnr.gov
Leech Lake: Great fishing in 09’; new five-year plan underway
Anglers in search of a hot walleye bite rediscovered Leech Lake in 2009.
Doug Schultz, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) large lake specialist, said fishing pressure during the open water season totaled 785,000 hours, the highest total observed since 1999.
“It was great to see so many anglers returning to town and their favorite stretch of structure,” Schultz said. “And they weren’t disappointed. The walleye catch rate was nearly a fish an hour and the harvest rate was a quarter of that. Those are strong numbers. ”
Schultz attributed the success to a combination of factors, including a special walleye regulation, habitat conservation, walleye stocking and cormorant control. The fishery, he said, is in good shape for the upcoming ice fishing and 2010 open water seasons.
“Our 2009 netting surveys indicate walleye, perch and northern pike populations remain above long-term averages,” Schultz said. “That’s good news for anglers and benefitting businesses alike.”
Joe Mix, DNR assistant regional fisheries manager, said the DNR aims to maintain Leech Lake as a premier fishery and angling destination. He said the agency is already working with a citizen committee to adopt another five-year fisheries management plan similar to the one that will expire in 2010.
“DNR staff and citizens of the Leech lake community have learned a lot in the last five years,” Mix said. “Our intent is to build on that knowledge to sustain a strong fishery for years to come.”
Work of Walleye Advisory Committee
The new Leech Lake Walleye Planning Advisory Committee comprises 17 stakeholders who represent diverse interests from around the state. The committee makes recommendations to the agency on walleye stocking, fishing regulations, cormorant management and habitat protection.
In addition to local citizens who represent the Leech Lake Fishing Task Force, Leech Lake Watershed Foundation and the Leech Lake Association, the advisory committee includes representatives from outside the Walker area who involved in organizations such as the Izaak Walton League and the newly created Anglers for Habitat.
“Leech, like Minnesota’s other big waters, is a multi-faceted lake of statewide significance,” Mix said. “The committee makeup reflects this.”
other public input will be considered when the DNR approves the final Leech Lake plan for 2011-2015.
“A lot of the committee work has revolved around building a common understanding of the issues and the realities of resource management,” Mix said. “The committee has met with a University of Minnesota fisheries geneticist, top DNR research biologists and a fisheries manager involved with the Red Lake walleye recovery. These have been good, informative conversations that will help shape recommendations.”
Mix encourages people to learn more about the committee and its work by visiting . The web page contains the technical materials that committee members receive and review during their meetings.
Those not directly involved in the citizen advisory committee will have an opportunity to review and comment on its recommendations when they are completed later this winter.
Deer hunters asked to participate in northwestern Minnesota late-season hunt
As part of Minnesota’s effort to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in northwestern Minnesota, hunters can participate in a special late-season deer hunt from Saturday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 10, in deer permit area 101.
“This hunt is another opportunity for hunters to actively help us meet our disease sampling goal,” said Lou Cornicelli, big game program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“We always have relied on our hunters as the primary methods of meeting our surveillance goals and want them to participate.”
Rules governing the special hunt allow hunters to:
· Take an unlimited number of deer of either sex.
· Tag deer of either sex with any remaining unused tags from the 2009 season including bonus and disease management permits.
· Use any archery, firearm or muzzleloader 2009 license and any bonus, disease management or early antlerless permit.
· Purchase additional disease management permits for $2.50.
Hunters must have a license and use the legal weapon for that license.
People with an archery license, for example, cannot hunt with a firearm.
New or replacement licenses may be obtained at any DNR license agent.
All deer harvested during the special hunt must be registered at one of the following registration stations during regular business hours:
· Olson Skime Store in Skime.
· Riverfront Store in Wannaska.
· DNR offices at Thief Lake or Red Lake wildlife management areas.
· There will also be collection barrels placed at these locations.
Hunters can drop off a deer head if staff is not available to collect a sample.
For more information on Minnesota's bovine TB eradication efforts, visit http://mndnr.gov/bovinetb and http://mntbfree.com
McQuade Public Access wins national award
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently received the “Large Access Outstanding Project Award” for the McQuade Public Access and Small Craft Harbor on Lake Superior. The award was presented at the annual States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The McQuade Public Access and Small Craft Harbor is nine miles north of the Duluth Harbor entry at scenic Highway 61 and McQuade Road. The site has three ramps for boat launching and retrieval, one kayak launch ramp, 54 vehicles with trailer spaces, 23 vehicle-only spaces, and a 3.1-acre harbor, where small craft can seek protection from inclement weather. The site was designed to have a park-like setting with walkways and benches along the harbor and breakwater, three platforms for fishing, and a restroom facility.
The site was developed by the DNR, in cooperation with St. Louis County, the city of Duluth, Duluth and Lakewood townships, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A volunteer group known as the McQuade Public Access Committee was instrumental in making the facility a success by assisting the DNR with project implementation and more than 16 years of support. The USFWS Boating Infrastructure Grant Program will provide two boat tie-up docks for the site.
The SOBA award committee judged the facility on specific criteria including sound engineering principles, innovative design, safety, and accessibility. Several challenges unique to the location had to be overcome during the construction process. For example, scenic Highway 61 was realigned in order to install a bridge and pedestrian tunnel under the highway to allow safe access from the parking area to the launch ramps and harbor area.
Other key elements of the award-winning design include:
SOBA has members from almost all 50 states and works to promote the acquisition, development, and administration of public recreational boating facilities nationwide. More information is available online.
More information about Minnesota’s public water accesses and the Lake Superior Small Craft Harbor Program in available online or by calling 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
© 2009 Outdoors Weekly