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BWA Newsletter - July 2005A Bluffland Whitetails Association quarterly publication for
DRN deer program updateLou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator Last month when BWA president Jim Vagts asked me to write a one-page article for the BWA newsletter, I said, “Sure. I’ll just do something on what’s going on in the deer program.” As I sit in front of my computer, I realize that’s a daunting task. There’s a lot going on in the deer program, and one page just isn’t enough to describe everything! I’m sure you’ve noticed there have been a lot of changes both in southeast Minnesota and the rest of the state. Statewide, we’ve made it easier for hunters to get an antlerless permit and moved some zone boundaries for the first time in over 25 years. Locally, we authorized lottery either-sex permits in what was formerly known as the “3A buck season.” This year, it will be even easier for some 3A hunters to harvest antlerless deer because some permit areas will be in the managed category. So what does that mean to the 3A hunter? That means in some permit areas (they haven’t been determined at the time of writing), a 3A hunter will be able to take an either-sex deer on their regular license and will also be able to use one bonus permit to take an antlerless deer. Since we authorized either-sex permits in 2003, the percentage of antlered bucks in the 3A harvest has declined from almost 100 percent to 78 percent. This year, in the 3A managed permit areas, I expect that percentage to look more like the rest of the state, which is generally around 60 percent. I recognize moving away from a buck season represents a shift in direction, but I think there are several benefits. Most importantly, it allows the DNR to more effectively manage deer populations. While these are the “good old days” for deer hunters, we can’t lose sight of the fact that hunters aren’t the only piece of the deer puzzle. Farmers, ranchers, landowners, and insurance agencies all have a vested interest in deer numbers. Because of conflicts, other states have seen legislation telling their wildlife agency how many deer should be on the landscape. Fortunately, we haven’t seen that response in Minnesota. However, we need to be aware of the fact that not everyone feels positively about deer populations, and they are watching our management closely. By utilizing the deer management tools that we have available, we’ll be better positioned in the future to counter those potentially negative attributes. Second, we’ll take some pressure off those yearling bucks, which I know is important to BWA members! Under the “old” buck season structure, if you want to end the season with a deer in the freezer, you were forced to take any antlered buck. In managed or intensive permit areas, you can take an antlerless deer on your regular license—you are not limited to an antlered buck. While we are still looking at the quality deer management issue, I can’t see a reason where I would recommend taking a yearling buck over a doe. It’s just sound deer management. Over the next three to five years, the DNR will be conducting a large research project to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative regulations on deer populations. For 2005, we’ll be looking at early season antlerless hunts on nine permit areas and earn-a-buck and antler point restrictions on seven State Parks. We recognize that throwing antlerless permits at a population does no good once the deer population has exceeded a certain level. We are challenged to come up with a harvest strategy that lowers overabundant deer populations. For antler point restrictions and earn-a-buck, we chose State Parks because they are typically special hunts with an application. In other words, we’re not forcing people to hunt a State Park. Therefore, we can evaluate the regulation because hunters are choosing the Park specifically knowing there are special regulations. At the same time, we’ll be conducting hunter surveys to assess the level of support for deer management and alternative regulations. While we may be able to implement a regulation that lowers populations, if it has no support from our hunting public, we may go in the opposite direction. If you don’t believe that statement, simply look to the east and see what happened in Wisconsin with earn-a-buck. Ideally, we would like to find a regulation that 1) lowers deer populations and 2) has broad public support. I admit that this approach may not be on the fast track that some would like to see. All I can say is that while it’s slower, it may be more effective long-term. Will we take these experimental regulations to permit areas someday? Probably, but not until after we have completed a fair and honest evaluation. As I said, there’s a lot going on in the deer program and there are a lot of issues out there. Long gun deer seasons, the effect of two discrete hunting parties (3A vs. 3B), rut hunting, teaching hunters that it’s okay to shoot a doe, and party hunting for bucks are just some of the challenges we’ll face in the upcoming years. Having said that, these are also exciting times to be involved in Minnesota deer management. We now have an employee, Ryan Bronson, who works full time bringing both new hunters into the field and keeping our seasoned hunters out there. We have a new research biologist, Dr. Marrett Grund, who is dedicated to learning how to apply cutting-edge research to deer management. You have a top-notch DNR southeast area staff that is there to help with wildlife management on private and public lands. Remember, these are the good old days; enjoy them. I wish everyone a safe and productive 2005 deer season.
A message from BWA's president...As I compose this message in mid-June, the summer weather has once more returned to southeast Minnesota. The last few days I have had several sightings of the 2005 fawn crop. Considering the number I have seen, I believe the herd continues to flourish despite attempts to reduce herd numbers. Our location here in Minnesota provides an excellent location for a very prolific deer herd. Due to the climate and habitat in our region, a majority of fawns breed their first fall, and twins are the norm for mature does. This allows our herd to rebound quickly each year despite high harvest numbers. These herd numbers are what make deer management such a challenge in today’s world. Season structure, hunter numbers, land access and several other variable factors all enter into the picture of managing our deer herd in southeast Minnesota. This newsletter contains several articles relating to what is happening in deer management in zone 3 for this fall and future years. The Minnesota DNR has just completed a study looking at deer population goals for southeast Minnesota. This has not been done for several years, and the herd has changed considerably since then. The DNR did a good job of getting public input, and this new population modeling will be very useful in the near future. Starting this fall, the DNR will conduct several hunts using alternative regulations (see cover article by DNR big game program coordinator, Lou Cornicelli.) There will be two state park hunts in zone 3 this fall using some new innovative (for Minnesota) deer harvest guidelines. Mr. Cornicelli has only been on the Minnesota DNR staff for a couple of years, having come here from a job in Utah, and has been doing a great job of keeping up with all the changes happening in deer management the past couple of years. Bluffland Whitetails Association truly appreciates the effort he has expended trying to keep up with all the demands from the hunting public. BWA has found Mr. Cornicelli very professional and reasonable to work with, even when we disagree on some key points. Permit areas 346, 347, 348 and 349 will see some major changes in harvest rules this fall. The 3A season will allow the license holder to harvest an either-sex animal for the first time. This basically eliminates the buck-only season for these permit areas. Additional anthlerless tags will also be available. When you have completed reading this newsletter, you will see many new things are happening with our deer hunting in zone 3. Some of you will dislike or disagree with a few of the new practices. This is an involved process, and some trial and error is necessary when trying to adapt to the changing world, which includes our deer hunting sport. Now is the time to start preparing for the fall hunting season. This is the appropriate time to visit with landowners and line up your fall hunting access. Remember, some of them are older, grumpy farmers like me and need some special approaches. Try to understand the point of view of the landowner when seeking permission to hunt. Good landowner-hunter relationships are crucial for the success of herd management in the future. The DNR cannot properly manage the herd if they cannot get hunters on the land to harvest. The last deer management tool I haven’t mentioned yet is us, the deer hunter. Hunter harvest is the main component of managing our deer herd population, so we as hunters all have a personal responsibility. If we want to achieve our goals of an improved herd composition (better buck-doe ratio and improved buck age structure), we all have to do our part. This includes harvesting does, letting young bucks walk, respecting private property, and most important of all, keeping a respectable hunter image by our behavior and following the rules of “fair chase!” BWA continues to move the monthly board of director meetings around zone 3 to provide the opportunity for members and other interested persons to attend a meeting that is close by for them. You’ll find the locations of the upcoming meetings on the events page of this web site. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by emailing me at info@blufflandwhitetails.org. —Jim Vagts, president
BWA forms alliance with whitetail groupsIn an effort to expand the support base for deer management changes, BWA directors recently formed an alliance with two organizations supporting legislation for Quality Deer Management within the state. In a recent meeting held at Cabela’s in Owatonna, representatives from BWA, Minnesota Quality Deer Management (MN QDM), and Minnesota Farmland Whitetails (MFW) discussed common goals between the organizations and agreed to enter into a coalition, known as the Minnesota Whitetail Alliance, in support of alternative deer management practices. All three organizations have worked for changes in the hunting seasons and/or harvest restrictions. BWA has proposed moving the firearm deer seasons out of the peak of the rut in order to protect yearling bucks and an increased doe harvest for population management. MN QDM and MFW also support proper population management and have both submitted bills to the legislature for the addition of mandatory antler restrictions. Although philosophies differed somewhat between the three organizations, there were some common goals. Changes that would protect young bucks were the top priority. The groups also support enhanced education of hunters about buck management, youth recruitment, and cooperative action. Additional meetings are scheduled to determine ways for the organizations to work together on measures which would improve deer hunting in Minnesota. Other organizations are encouraged to join the alliance.
—Chris Kolbert and Jim Vagts, BWA directors
Board member profile
I joined BWA four years ago because I believed in what this organization had planned for the future of whitetail hunting. After attending the monthly meetings and getting my face recognized and opinions heard, I was elected to the BWA board this year. Hopefully, with my legislative experience and other contacts, I will be able to help keep BWA moving ahead to reach their mission. In 1977, I started the business of Archery Headquarters in my parents’ basement. Teaching special education during the day hours and running the archery business in the evening became the way of life. In 1979, I married a wonderful woman, Wallene, from Hayfield, Minnesota, and we celebrated our 26th anniversary this June. I have two beautiful daughters; Karissa, 23, is completing her graduate work at Mankato University, and Jaclyn, 22, will be graduating from Bethel College in St. Paul this winter. In 1982, I purchased the Archery Headquarters location that I stayed in until this spring. I have been fortunate in being very successful in the archery business, and in March, I relocated into a relatively new building. This has been a dream come true with great parking, more space, great shooting lanes and real bathrooms. Archery has really been my whole life, and I have had great opportunities to hunt from Minnesota to Montana, south to Texas, west to New Mexico and as far east as Florida and everything in between. Twice I have traveled to South Africa for the ultimate bowhunting experience and successfully taken 12 different species. Education has always played a factor in everyday business, and I have taught the Bowhunters Education program for over 20 years. I also accomplished passing the bowhunting turkey bill. This spring many bowhunters took advantage of the new archery turkey season and hunted the wild turkey in Minnesota for the first time. In the past week, I helped facilitate a new Rochester City ordinance to bow hunt in the city limits. Reaching an objective is what makes my day. Helping BWA in accomplishing theirs is at the top of my list.
Member profiles
Rural Kasson, Minnesota is where I was born, raised, and have lived my entire life. My first adult job, off the farm, was at Crenloin in Rochester, Minnesota, where I was employed for five years. With wanting to get back to the farm life, we purchased our farm, raised our family, and still live here. We started our dairy when we purchased the farm, and did some embryo transfers with our registered Holsteins. This was a good life, and a good place to raise our family. We met some great people, and have developed lifelong friendships. After milking cows 365 days a year for 19 years, we sold our herd, and I started a job finishing cabinets at Country Cabinetry in Byron, Minnesota, where I am still employed. 1967 was my first year of hunting deer, and I have only missed two or three years since that time. The first year that I hunted, my dad told me to walk up the field road and stand along the fence line. Carrying a 410 gauge shotgun and walking out in the dark was a bit scary!!! A couple of hours later, I was running home to tell mom and dad, who were milking cows, that I had shot an 8-point, 2½-year-old buck. I'll never forget that morning!!! My first years of hunting were with family, relatives, and neighbors; we had a lot of good times. About 15 years ago, I bought my first bow to archery hunt and found it to be more peaceful and challenging. The past 10 years, I have been more serious, doing food plots and managing our own property for better "buck-to-doe" ratios and age structure of our buck population. My son has hunted with me since he was 12 years old and enjoys the outdoors also. He also hunts pheasants, turkeys, and likes to fish. Christopher graduated from college in May 2005 with a degree in Natural Resources and Conservation. He will start working at a fish hatchery in June 2005. Hopefully, when the time is right, I can introduce our grandchildren to the outdoors and hunting. I have a great respect for the whitetail deer and will continue to learn as much as possible about them. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are the states that I have hunted in. My passion for whitetails keeps me busy every week of the year; whether it's scouting, shed hunting, planting trees, or my food plots consisting of different clovers, corn, beans, turnips, chicory, rape, and mineral supplements. It is very rewarding to see improvements and positive results from your efforts. I am currently taking the Woodland Advisor Program through the University of Minnesota with the goal of someday doing some consulting on deer, food plots, and/or woodland management. About three to four years ago, I joined BWA because this group was trying to accomplish many of the same things that I was, but on a larger scale—working with the DNR and educating the public. This group has put an enormous amount of time, thought, effort, personal dedication, and sacrifice into a very worthwhile cause. I have become active in some of these projects, and it is a great feeling to give something back and to be a part of this effort. I urge you, if you are not a member, to join BWA and support this group. If you are a member, I hope all of you will take an active role in the BWA mission and work to keep this cause moving forward. If you are an accountant, writer, lawyer, farmer, wildlife biologist, hunter, or whatever your profession, bring your strengths and talents to the group and help make a difference and improve the future of deer and deer hunting! e more people and ideas we have, the stronger our voice will be, and the better off the deer herd will be.
I was born, raised and educated to the woods in the La Crescent area of southeastern Minnesota. Although I can't recall at what age I began hunting, trapping and fishing with grandpa; I can safely say that I have hunted and fished for well over 30 of my 39 years. I, like most kids, got my hunting start chasing squirrels up the tree for grandpa. It's back then I would imagine my love for the outdoors began. Today, I still occasionally chase the squirrels around, but most of my hunting efforts are based on the pursuit of deer. Unlike some of the members BWA has profiled, I've never known deer hunting as bad. I'm too young to remember the days when deer weren't around, and I'm fortunate to have always had a nice place in zone 3 to hunt. Although I enjoy the solitude of bow hunting by myself, some of my best times are associated with my hunting party on or around the 3A deer opener. Throughout the years I have evolved to an all-season trophy hunter that loves venison. But with the buck-only concept of 3A, I couldn't fulfill both my needs, and was thus forced to shoot a smaller buck or go home hungry. This dilemma attracted me to what was at that time a newly-formed organization called Bluffland Whitetails Association who had similar issues. I immediately joined up with BWA to support their move to get the hunt out of the rut and to eliminate the "buck only" concept of 3A. I thought I might even learn a little to help me out in the woods. Boy was I in for a surprise. It took one meeting and a short discussion with then board member Mike Sieve for me to realize where our herd structure was and the direction it was going. Four years later I am still amazed at the knowledge base and continual drive of this diverse group. Even with 25 years of deer hunting experience in four different states, I still constantly find myself reevaluating deer, deer hunters, the DNR and my own hunting theories. I try to stay active with BWA through board meetings, expos and banquets, all in order to keep trying to get the word out. I have come to the conclusion that the DNR can only do so much. We as hunters have to make the management thing work. They don't pull the trigger, we as hunters do. BWA also shares a lot of my thoughts on not limiting hunter opportunity through restrictions. I have always opposed restrictions because I don't think it is my place or anyone else’s to take away the chance of a successful hunt. My first buck kill is an experience that I will always remember. That was the beginning of my hunting maturity. If I had had restrictions then, I quite possibly could still be chasing squirrels. I understand the majority of hunters don't have the time or maybe even the interest in evaluating our deer herd statistics and success rates, but to bring zone 3 hunting back to world class levels, we have to spread the word to our fellow hunters on the effects of over harvesting our bucks and over population of does. Support Bluffland Whitetails Association; they are the respected voice of deer hunting in zone 3.
Landowner profile
Craig MensinkPreston, MN Age: 49 Wife: Pam Children: Mike (25), Mandy (21) and Megan (18) Occupation: Farmer I’ve been a farmer in the Greenleafton-Preston area for 30 years. My family consists of my wife Pam (Hovey) of 28 years; my oldest son Mike, 25, who teaches Intro to Psychology and runs the lab at Macalister College in St. Paul; Mandy, 21, a fresh graduate of Gustavus and looking forward to starting her new job July 1st with the New Hope school district as a recreational therapist; and Megan, 18, who will be a senior at Fillmore Central. As you can see, I have done a great job inspiring my children to become farmers. Last year at my 30th class reunion, we were asked to define our most depressing thing since kindergarten. I said it would have to be having the same address and phone number all my 49 years. But I was only kidding because I enjoy farming and raising pigs on my family farm. I also have the opportunity to hunt and watch wildlife as I had when I was a kid. We used to hunt ducks and geese every morning before school, sometimes being two hours late if we happened to get into a good flock. It was an early sign for us that sharing your bounty with the landlords, and the principal, sure had its rewards! It has also given me the chance to hunt deer with the same group of guys for over 30 years. You can imagine the stories that we have to share. I think that is the greatest thing about hunting; somehow there is always a great story behind every hunt. I do not want to bore you, but I will tell a quick one. A few years ago we were coming back from Protivin after dropping off five nice bucks for processing, and coming into Granger we saw this 30”+ spread buck standing in the bean stubble. Having two days yet to hunt, we decided to try to chase him across the border. Just kidding. We turned on the gravel to try to get a better look at him, and he was headed right for us. I happened to have a disposable camera with me and got three pictures of him crossing the road right in front of us. We were so excited to share what we had seen, so my fellow hunting buddy drove up to Proex to process the pictures that night. Although they did not turn out, sometimes it is what you see and not what you shoot and kill that make the best stories. Believe me, we have seen some big bucks hunting around home, but nothing with the spread this guy had. I think it was right after this happened that I was told there were some guys trying to start a local whitetails group. Their ideas were the same as mine, so I joined BWA. I truly appreciate what this dedicated group has been doing for us as wildlife enthusiasts. Hunting with the same guys that you grew up with in the same neighborhood also has had its rewards. We have been able to teach all our kids about the great outdoors and what it means to truly appreciate what nature offers us. Also, with most of us being landowners ourselves, we have tried to teach how important it is to have a good relationship with where you are hunting. Hopefully, this year our harvest will move along a little faster so I will have a little more time to hunt. Again, thanks BWA and all its members for all you do. Let’s all sign up a new member so we can have an even stronger voice.
MN DNR holds meetings to set deer population goals“We would like to revolutionize how deer are managed in Minnesota!” Those were the words uttered by Farmland Deer Research Leader Marrett Grund and echoed by Big Game Program Coordinator, Lou Cornicelli during the first meeting of the MN DNR Southeast Deer Population Goal Setting Team. The idea for more structured population goals originated from the 2004 Legislative Report authored by the DNR Big Game Citizen Oversight Committee. According to Cornicelli, the deer population goals that had been set were old and probably not reflective of today’s reality. So the DNR looked at how other states addressed the issue and ultimately decided to use methods similar to, but less extensive, than those used by Wisconsin and New York. It was decided that the best way to set population goals was to bring to the table a variety of interests; hunters as well as nonhunters. Teams are being selected in all deer hunting zones in order to monitor and adjust deer population statewide. The southeast team, consisting of 17 people from the region, was formed to help the DNR determine whitetail deer population goals in zone 3 by providing focused public input on general trends within each permit area. Members included hunters, farmers, loggers, ecologists, and urban leaders representing BWA, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Bowhunters Incorporated, Pheasants Forever, Frontenac Sportsmen’s Club, The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Apple Growers Association, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and the City of Winona. The team worked closely with DNR representatives, providing first hand knowledge of population trends and later assessing how populations should be changed within each permit area. After extensive discussion, and additional input from within the special interest groups and the general public, the team recommended that the deer population in permit areas 346 and 349 be decreased. The deer population in permit areas 341, 342, and 347 were to stay the same. Little consensus among team members was reached in determining goals for remaining permit areas 343, 344, 345, and 348.
 Note: The DNR recognizes there is extreme variability across permit areas. We acknowledge and understand that while the estimate may be 20 deer/mi2, the area a person hunts most likely is not that density. In order to accurately model deer populations, we need to look at large areas. We can’t model populations at the township, section, or farm level. No specific modifications to seasons or suggestions on hunter harvest limits were recommended. However, information gained from the team will be used by the Minnesota DNR to change seasons where needed. One of the most obvious changes is to modify the buck-only season, making both firearm seasons either-sex in zones that are found to be overpopulated with deer. “In the end, it all falls into place with our alternative deer research project,” noted Cornicelli. “If the team recommends a 25 percent reduction in deer, I’d like to employ a harvest strategy that gets there, but has public support.” —Chris Kolbert
In the spotlight...Mitch BoyumSt. Charles, MN Age: 32 Occupation: Conservation officer, DNR Division of Enforcement I was born and raised in St.Charles and graduated from St. Charles High School. I attended Winona State University and also Vermillion Community College in Ely. I have worked for the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department and also for the Winona Police Department as an officer. In 2000, I was hired as a conservation officer (CO) and stationed in Fairmont, Minnesota. Soon after, Rochester was made a two-officer station, and I transferred back to the southeast. I knew I wanted to be a CO in high school when I listened to a conservation officer talk about the job in high school. Being a conservation officer has its up and downs, its long and short hours, and its good and bad days; but I wouldn’t trade it for any other job in the world.
I am thankful for groups like Bluffland Whitetails Association that devote their time and energy to the area of southeast Minnesota. Hats off to BWA for always being professional and positive. My experiences with BWA and its members have always been positive ones.
Letter to the editorFriends, As a founding member of Bluffland Whitetails Association and one who wrote many of the organization's first public documents, I'd like to clarify why the original BWA board took great pains to distinguish its new organization from the group Quality Deer Management (QDM) in its charter and its communications. While the case can be made that both BWA and QDM share the same ultimate goal—to increase the number and percentage of mature bucks in the deer herd—the differences between the underlying philosophies of the two groups are profound. When BWA was founded, it had already become clear that QDM was more than a creative deer management tool to grow bigger bucks; that along with it came—whether intended or not—lease-fee hunting. While some landowners do apply "QDM-like" harvest restrictions on their property without charging hunters a fee, the vast majority of official QDM projects involve a landowner and a select group of hunters agreeing on a defined set of harvest rules by which all must abide and compensation to the landowner for exclusive hunting privileges. One could argue that QDM is as much a "business plan" designed to produce an alternative income source for landowners as it is a deer management plan to produce better deer hunting. In fact, the QDM organization has promoted its concept as a means for landowners to maximize income on "their" deer herd and for hunters to harvest more "trophy bucks." The founding BWA board members understood the long-term affects QDM would have on the ability of average hunters to access private land. Upon careful consideration, the board decided that BWA should not follow or support a strategy that would promote the privatization of a public natural resource—white-tailed deer. Our goal was to create a management strategy that produced a healthy, balanced deer herd, without adversely affecting the majority of firearms and archery hunters, and without imposing negative restrictions. The central tenants of that strategy were to work cooperatively with wildlife professionals—while respectfully agreeing to disagree when necessary—and to move the firearms deer season—and if necessary the bow season—out of the peak of the rut to reduce the overharvest of immature bucks. I believe those tenants are as solid and viable today as they were when BWA was formed. I should note that none of the founders were opposed to landowners charging land access fees (many founders were, in fact, landowners), or to hunters paying such fees. It's a fact that many BWA members engage in leasing, which is their right. We were also well aware that lease-fee hunting is a socio-economic reality—based on the fundamental law of supply and demand—that has been spreading across the country for decades, and over which we would have little control. We simply felt that BWA, in working to achieve its goals, should be a voice and advocate for the majority of deer hunters, rather than the economically advantaged. In the early days of the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that wildlife and fisheries belonged no longer to the King of England, but rather to the people. This concept of public ownership of wildlife is a fundamental principle of our democratic society, and one that is threatened when individuals develop a sense of private ownership of these precious resources. QDM, as practiced today, encourages this self-serving view. It is a quick-fix with serious long-term consequences. Yes, those fortunate enough to own land do control the playing field and their rights should be respected. But I hope for the sake of the next generation and the future of hunting that landowners, like the King, never come to "own" the grouse, wild turkeys, deer and other wildlife that rightfully belong to us all. I believe it is essential that BWA's members understand the aspirations of the founding members for the organization to forge a new deer management strategy based on sound science and the higher principle of public ownership of the resource. Our vision for BWA was optimistic and positive, yet tempered by pragmatism based on years of experience in the politics of natural resource management. My hope is that you will not allow the trials and frustrations of the journey to tempt you to compromise the principle BWA goal to create better deer hunting for all deer hunters. While working in coalition with groups such as QDM, MDHA, MBI and others will be necessary to achieve our goal, remember what makes BWA unique: the conviction that quality deer hunting does not have to come at the expense of the common deer hunter and the future of deer hunting. As for the best way to accomplish the goal of restructuring the seasons to better protect bucks—working cooperatively with the DNR, the legislative alternative, etc.—I'll trust that decision to the board and its ability to read the political winds and implement a plan that brings change. In conservation,
Dave Kolbert
Oak pests of the Blufflands
The spring and summer months bring questions to a forester about what is killing the tree in my yard or trees in my woodlot. In this article I will briefly describe some common pests that affect oak trees in the Blufflands. There are many insects and diseases that attack all of the trees in the forest, but I will focus on the oaks since they provide an important food source for deer, turkeys and many other forest wildlife species. More information about these and other forest pests are available at your local forestry office or at the following web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth. Many forest pests are secondary killers of trees. A healthy, vigorous tree is much less vulnerable to attack from insects or diseases than a tree that is growing poorly. A tree stressed by crowding, drought or man-caused damage is more vulnerable to pests that may end up damaging or killing the tree. Man-caused damage may include root damage from driving over roots, cutting roots when constructing trails or roads in the woods or multiple wounds from screw-in tree stand steps and tree stands. A healthy forest is an important step toward keeping losses to forest pests minimized. Two-lined chestnut borer Two-lined chestnut borer is a small insect found throughout our area. This beetle lays eggs on the bark of oak trees in spring or early summer. After hatching, the larva burrows into the bark of the tree and spends the next year or two feeding on the wood and the inner bark of the tree. When mature, usually in the spring, the adult chews a small ‘D’-shaped exit hole in the bark, and continues its life cycle. The insects usually attack branches in the upper portion of trees and, if successful, the branch may die. The loss of branches intensifies stress on a tree, more beetles attack the tree, and often the tree will die. Healthy trees are able to fend off the insects, but trees stressed by drought or other factors are more vulnerable and often become heavily infested. Keeping a healthy, vigorous stand of oak trees is the best prevention for damage from this insect. Crowded trees or those growing on poor soil are more likely to be stressed, particularly in times of drought, resulting in tree mortality. Armillaria root rot Armillaria (shoe string) root rot is the name for a group of fungi that are present in all of our forested soils. The various diseases attack nearly all tree species, including both hardwoods and conifers. This root rot generally attacks oak trees that are under stress. Once the fungus attacks, it frequently will kill the tree or the tree succumbs to other factors like the two-lined chestnut borer. The fungus will feed on the roots of the dead tree, strengthen, and can move to other nearby trees. Armillaria as a cause of tree death can be detected by finding the ‘shoestrings’ under the bark of the dead tree. The shoestrings (technical term is rhizomorphs) are dark, flattened structures of the fungus. In Fillmore County, most of the calls about dead oak trees in the past several years have resulted in a diagnosis of this disease as at least one of the causes of death. Oak wilt Oak wilt is another disease that kills oak trees. Unlike the previous two problems, oak wilt doesn’t focus on stressed trees. Oak wilt is spread by sap-feeding beetles that carry spores of the fungus on their bodies. When feeding on a fresh wound on an oak, the spores are transmitted to the wound and enter the tree. Once in the tree, the fungus spreads, eventually cutting off the tree’s supply of water to the leaves. Red, black and northern pin oaks frequently die within two weeks of the first leaf wilting (browning and wilting leaves near the top). White and bur oak trees are able to resist the disease and may take several years to die. Once an oak is infected, the disease spreads through the roots to other nearby oaks of the same species. This root spread is through root grafts, locations where the roots of one tree grow together with the roots of another nearby tree of the same species. Spreading through the roots will usually continue until there are no more adjacent trees of the same oak species to spread to. Sandy soil with Black and Northern pin oak seems to be the most favorable condition for the spread of the disease after an infection takes place. Control of oak wilt usually consists of root plowing about 60 inches deep to break up the root grafts between infected and uninfected trees in yards and urban areas. In the woods, harvest and stump treatment is generally the recommended treatment. Removing oaks killed during the previous year is important to reduce the number of spores present. The removed wood should be debarked or covered to keep the spores from developing and from being carried by insects to other trees. Keep oak wilt from infecting trees by not pruning or otherwise cutting oak trees in the vulnerable months of April, May and June. If an oak is damaged during these months, immediate application of a tree wound paint may decrease the chance of disease infection to the damaged tree. Gypsy Moth This insect pest was introduced into Massachusetts from abroad in the 1860s. The caterpillars of the moth eat the leaves of trees during the spring. Oak trees are one of their preferred foods. During heavy populations of the insect, trees will be completely stripped of their leaves. Early summer is the time of year that trees can least afford to lose all their leaves. This defoliation causes stress to the trees. Successive years of defoliation will often cause trees to die from secondary insects and disease like the ones mentioned earlier. In the near future, the gypsy moth will be moving into Minnesota in higher and higher numbers from just east in Wisconsin. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources monitor the state for Gypsy moth, and when a population is identified, eradication is attempted using a variety of methods. So far this tactic has worked, and the insect has not become established. Unfortunately, Gypsy moth is present in Wisconsin and other states east of us and will eventually become well established in Minnesota.
Early opportunities for youth hunters aim to help parents
Ryan Bronson Sociologists, psychologists and biologists have collaborated to determine what factors are needed to recruit a young person to hunting. Based on sound research, they have broken recruitment down to five key factors. As the DNR and Bluffland Whitetails ramp up efforts to encourage hunting in the next generation, we need to make sure all these factors are addressed. 5-factor model of hunter recruitment
Optimally, a parent or other family member nurtures the next generation of hunters and provides these five factors, although they probably don’t recognize them as such. For generations this is the mechanism that has sustained the hunting population. A parent brings a young person with them before they were ready to carry a gun to introduce them to the sport, gets permission for the place they are hunting, provides them the gun and clothes they need, teaches them the skills it takes to be a safe hunter, and provides the kind of home life that encourages hunting. These factors aren’t as easy to provide as they once were. For instance, fewer people hunt small game than in previous generations, so often deer hunting is the first opportunity kids get to hunt. Since a Firearms Safety Certificate is required, kids can’t go hunting until they are 12, thus delaying their introductory experiences. Plus, deer hunting is a relatively short season with limited opportunities in commonly harsh weather; so die-hard hunters may be torn between hunting hard and hunting at their kids’ pace, which generally are distinctly different activities. Special youth hunts, by being held before the regular firearms deer season, can give parents a chance to take their kids hunting in milder weather with less pressure. For the kids, the experience is much the same as a regular hunt, except their adult mentor is focused on them and not torn between competing priorities. The other traditions associated with regular deer camp can still be experienced when the regular opener comes around, but by that time the kid has a few days of fun hunting under their belt. Access is usually the number one barrier to hunting cited by resource managers and hunters. Urbanization has resulted in fewer people with connections to the land, and as each generation gets farther removed from their rural relatives, the impact is getting worse. Throw leases and increasingly restricted access to hunting land on top of that, and it is becoming more difficult for average hunters to find places to go, particularly in the southeast where public land is at a premium. Special youth hunts provide access to places with abundant game that are not otherwise open to public hunting. This makes them a boon to people who may not have a place to hunt, but want to introduce a child, or want a location with less hunting pressure to increase the quality of the experience. Access to equipment remains a challenge. Hunting families have gear, but non-hunting families do not. Getting kids a gun and clothing that fit them should be a priority. In some special hunts, sponsors donate clothing and other accessories. Some programs are looking into leases of youth model guns, but these are not widely available. A parent or adult guardian is required for all special youth hunts. We have this requirement for two reasons. First, because we want to make sure that the family is hunting together to provide social support. Second, from a liability standpoint, we don’t want to pair a kid alone with a stranger, and we make efforts to provide experienced guides for parent/kid teams that don’t feel comfortable hunting alone. The hunting skill set is very complicated—tracking, shooting, spotting game, moving quietly, placing tree stands, etc. are all unique skills that need to be learned. Very few hunters are completely self-taught, and almost no young people are. By providing guides for the parents and the kids, the adults can learn new skills that they might not yet have. This is particularly true with the special youth turkey hunts. Finally, special youth hunts provide an opportunity for young people to meet other kids their age who like to hunt. They might not get that in school, or in their other social settings, and it is particularly important for adolescents to feel like they belong and fit in. Even if parents provide social support for hunting, many kids need reinforcement from other young people. Youth hunts can provide this. Even though special youth hunts are designed to accomplish real and tangible things, they are still criticized by some existing hunters as a squishy feel-good program. Some hunters point out that previous generations didn’t need special hunts, Youth Waterfowl Days, Take a Kid Hunting Weekend, and half-priced youth licenses. That is true. Previous generations did a better job of getting kids involved in hunting, but the current generation of hunters faces many more obstacles, and I’m not talking about the anti’s. The days of kids chasing squirrels for a few hours out in the pasture after chores or hunting pheasants on their way to and from school are over. X-Box, soccer, and Instant Messaging have taken the place of .22s, traplines and trips to the woods for most of our youth. It is the modern reality that today’s hunters have to put more work into recruiting the next generation of hunters. Between 1991 and 2001, the national participation rate for hunters age ‘16 to 24’ declined by more than 30 percent. The only age group that saw an increase in participation rates was the ‘55 to 64’ age group. If an emergency exists, it is among our youngest hunters. From a cost-benefit standpoint, recruiting young hunters (age 15 and lower) provides the best return on investment. Research indicates that the younger a person is initiated into hunting, the more avid they are, and less likely they are, to desert the sport. Hunters that are recruited as adults tend to be more sporadic hunters (hunting one year but not another) and tend to desert at higher rates. Minnesota is bucking the national trend and holding its own in hunter numbers. However, demographics and societal trends are working against us; and without investments in our future hunters now, the very future of hunting may be in peril. For details on the upcoming hunts, click here.
Bowhunting summit heldCHATFIELD, MN — Hosted and facilitated by the Pope and Young Club, a National Bowhunting Summit was held in Springfield, Missouri on April 17 and 18, 2005. The historic gathering of the representatives of 32 state and provincial-level bowhunting organizations was for the purpose of sharing information and strategies on a variety of important bowhunting issues. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) provided an update on the substantially increased anti-bowhunting threat as the result of the recent merger of the Humane Society of the United States and the Fund For Animals. The USSA's pro-active Bowhunter Rights Coalition is designed to fight the anti-bowhunting movement. All state bowhunting organizations can directly assist in combating anti-bowhunting efforts through their active support of the BRC. To assist the state organizations in being more effective politically, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation presented the CSF's rapidly expanding State Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus program. States are organizing their sportsmen legislators through the caucus program to increase effectiveness in addressing hunting, fishing and other wildlife related issues at the state level. "Our organization has long wanted a forum such as the National Bowhunting Summit to share ideas and strategies," stated Mike Foust, president of the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania. "Many of the issues that individual states and provinces face are being experienced, or have been experienced, in other parts of the country. The summit provided the opportunity to address many of those issues and put in place the means to accomplish effective follow-on networking." The organizational representatives at the Bowhunting Summit were unanimous in their opposition to crossbows being allowed in bow seasons. The position taken is that crossbows are not bows and therefore they should not be allowed in bowhunting only seasons, except where the states already have exemptions for qualified physical disabilities. To further address important bowhunting issues, the state and provincial organizations will meet again August 6 and 7, 2005, at the Pope and Young Club's headquarters in Chatfield, Minnesota.
August food plotsby Colin Williams I don’t know about you, but July and August are when I begin itching my hunting scratch. Glassing fields at twilight for bachelor groups, erecting early season stand locations, clearing shooting lanes and now, instead of just a target, I see an imaginary stud whitetail through my peep site. For north-country landowners and managers, like us, July and August are also an opportune time to prepare fall attractant food plots. The first food plot establishment question you may ask yourself is; Do I just want something green to hunt over, or do I want plants that feed deer in the spring, nourishing lactating does and their fawns? The answer to that question; both. We could talk in great detail about the changing nutritional requirements throughout the year and how it considerably changes a whitetails’ food preference, but for the purposes of this article, let’s focus on those “hunting plots.” Most of the food plots we establish in this area are simply hunting plots; supplemental food is simply unnecessary. Are food plots then merely an effort in futility? Certainly not; a well-planned and maintained food plot program can, and will, improve your hunting. While many landowners think of food plots as a spring thing, the window of opportunity for those fall attractant plot establishments is now. “Almost anything can yet be done in July and August,” said Don Ramsden, southeastern Minnesota’s DNR wildlife specialist, “from perennial to bi-annual to annual plantings.” Depending upon what weed and grass species dominates the site now will dictate what site-prep measures will be necessary. A start may be to mow the site, let it re-grow four inches or so, and spray it with Roundup. After the grass dies off, some light tillage, just enough to expose some dirt, should be enough to get something planted in August. Yet in July, if time, weather conditions and weed re-growth allows, spraying the site again after the tillage work will do much to help with weed control this fall and into next spring. In the absence of soil tests, three to four hundred pounds per acre of lime and two hundred pounds per acre of 10-12-30, or similar, starter fertilizer should be applied. Fertilizer will make a difference in available forage and is worth the $60 per acre or so it will cost. Last fall, Ross Greden, a dairy farmer, Blufflands member, and owner of Back Forty Wildlife Management, conducted a forage comparison experiment on his southeastern Minnesota farm. “In an effort to research forage productivity and herd use, I planted six different August-planted types/blends in a side-by-side comparison,” Greden said. “After evaluating deer utilization throughout the fall, I was most impressed with ryegrass.” Ryegrass is one of the most polarizing forages within the deer hunting community. People either hate it or love it. Some managers feel there is no nutritional value whatsoever, it’s reputed to be low in protein, and can become a weed problem if the wrong variety is chosen. Ryegrass can be a good bet though if your food plot site-prep measures have been lacking, and a late August, even early September, planting is necessary. Ryegrass is easy to grow, pretty darn cheap, and can even take being shaded to a degree much more so than most forage crops. If your food plot area has had nothing done to it as of yet, annual ryegrass may be a good bet for this fall. Greden’s second choice: a brassica blend. “A mixture of rapeseed and clover worked well,” said Greden, “as the rapeseed provided excellent late fall/winter food availability while acting as a nurse crop for the clover coming in for the spring.” Brassica varieties, such as rapeseed, are generally untouched until after the first hard frost. Cold weather speeds up the sweetening process which will dramatically increase late season usage creating a dynamite late season hotspot. Rapeseed may not fit well for your farm. If deer seem to leave the farm come late November or early December, they may not use the rapeseed much; chickory or forage oats may be better choices. Greden planted two types of oats; a forage oat variety specifically designed for a fall deer food source and the generic oats you can purchase at any small town elevator. “The generic oats compared very well to the forage oats in productivity until late November, when temperatures began stressing the generic oats,” Greden said. “The forage oats lasted another three weeks or so.” The cost for the forage oats was around $70 an acre; the generic oats at about $15 an acre. Because of the cost, there just may be a place in your August food plots for generic oats. After the ryegrass at number one, Greden ranked a brassica blend at number two, followed by the forage oats at number three. Chickory ranked fourth on his preference list followed by generic oats, winter wheat and finally a blend of peas, vetch and oats; a mix of which he was not impressed. After many years of experimentation, I have fine tuned my food-plot program using clover and rapeseed. I found these two forages work the best on my place, and utilization of these forages has been consistent. Each paddock is rotated every two years, sometimes a year longer if the clover is coming back, in order to provide forage diversity and weed control. As you begin experimenting with different forages, whether they be August-planted annuals or the spring-planted perennials, record and document everything. According to Don Ramsden, this is something few managers pay attention to; and they should. “Keeping good records of each step in your food plot establishments will do much to educate future forage selections,” noted Ramsden. “Take note of everything, from that first mowing or tillage pass to the seed tags, rates and forage planted.” You would also be well advised to seek out a reputable local habitat professional or consultant. Find someone who can walk you through each step of your management program and be available for on-site consultations. Anyone can sell you some seed, but find that outfit willing to sell you the service to help you every step of the way. Come that December bowhunt, when I start filling the freezer with doe venison, my August-planted food plots gives this bowhunter something he very much needs; an advantage.
TSA advisory on transporting firearms
Office of Security Reminder to Travelers of Requirements for Transporting Firearms, Firearm Parts and Ammunition on Commercial Aircraft I. Passengers are prohibited from carrying firearms, firearm parts and ammunition Federal regulations administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibit the carriage of firearms and guns, as well as parts of firearms and guns (such as magazines or clips, bolts, firing pins, and other components), in the traveler’s possession or in carry-on luggage on commercial aircraft. Ammunition also is NOT allowed as a carry-on item. Carrying even a single round of ammunition through airport security checkpoints is a violation of regulations. There are certain limited exceptions for law enforcement officers (LEOs) who are authorized to fly armed by meeting the requirements of 49 CFR § 1544.219. TSA regulations are strictly enforced. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and imposition of civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. In the case of violations by government employees, TSA may also forward the matter to the employee’s agency. In the case of violations by military personnel related to the performance of military duties, TSA will forward an Enforcement Investigative Report to the service member’s command for appropriate action. II. Checked-baggage requirements for transporting firearms and ammunition All persons carrying firearms and ammunition in checked baggage, including LEOs, must comply with the provisions of 49 CFR § 1540.111. Following is a summary of key requirements of this section and other regulatory provisions.
Air carriers may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition an individual may place in checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the air carrier regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies. Additional information about the carriage of firearms, firearm parts and ammunition, as well as other air travel tips, can be found at www.tsa.gov or by contacting the TSA Contact Center toll- free at 1-866-289-9673 or by email at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.
2005 Whitewater Youth HuntThe 2005 Whitewater Youth Hunt will be held October 20-23, 2005
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Marty Stubstad
Allen Iverson
Collin Johnson
I grew up fishing and hunting with my dad and friends and spent most of my time in the Whitewater area chasing trout and grouse. I started bow hunting in early high school and killed my first deer with a bow just south of town. I enjoy bow hunting as well as waterfowl hunting, but turkey hunting tops them all. Chasing a gobbling tom is as good as it gets. My wife, Katrina, is also into hunting turkeys and bow hunting deer. We now hunt together and are looking forward to her getting a chance at her first deer this fall. She is already on the board in the turkey department with one at the taxidermist as I write this. I could not do my job as effectively without her. She has many times answered calls at home and notified me when I am not there, or taken important messages and TIP calls.
Jim Edgar