News from the Outdoors

An aerial survey conducted in January estimates that the number of moose in northeastern Minnesota increased from 6,600 in 2007 to 7,600 in 2008, but the long-term trend suggests that Minnesota’s moose herd remains in decline, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“At first glance, the raw numbers appear to suggest that the population has increased,” said Dr. Mark Lenarz, DNR wildlife researcher. “The margin of error, however, overlapped between years, which means that there was no significant change in the number of moose this year.”

“Based solely on the survey results, I would be hesitant to infer a declining population,” he said. “But the long-term population trend suggests otherwise, and there are other factors that significantly impact moose population.”

Aerial surveys to estimate the moose population have been conducted every year since 1960. But wildlife researchers implemented a new methodology in 2005. Lenarz said statistical comparisons of data collected from 2005 to 2008 indicate that the population increase was not as significant as it appears.

When nonhunting factors such as disease, bull and cow pairings, cow pregnancy rates, calf survival and predation are considered, indexes used to estimate herd viability drop below the levels at which researchers would like to see them.

Lenarz said a study of radio-collared moose in northeastern Minnesota shows that non-hunting mortality has averaged 21 percent during the last six years. Elsewhere in North America, that rate generally falls between 8 and 12 percent.

“Biologically, issuing 200-250 permits a year for a bull-only hunt doesn’t negatively impact Minnesota’s moose population,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “What directly impacts moose population is the cow and calf survival rates.”

Minnesota is the only state in the central region of the lower 48 states with a significant moose population. The moose is the largest member of the deer family.

A copy of the aerial survey report, which was funded and staffed in part by the Fond du Lac Band and 1854 Treaty Authority, is available online at mndnr.gov.

Anglers who fish Lake Mille Lacs during the 2008 fishing season will be able to keep four walleye up to 18 inches in length. The bag limit of four may include one trophy more than 28 inches.

The regulation, which begins May 10 and requires anglers to release all walleye from 18-to 28-inches, was set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources following input from Mille Lacs area resort, angling and related interests.

The regulation aims to ensure that the state angler harvest falls within the state’s 2008 allocation of 307,500 pounds of walleye. Eight Chippewa Indian bands from Minnesota and Wisconsin may take 122,500 pounds of walleye.

In the first year of a new venison donation program, Minnesota hunters donated 1,977 deer, creating the opportunity for 97 food shelves located throughout Minnesota to distribute 78,000 pounds of venison.

“Overall, I think we had a very successful first year,” said Lou Cornicelli, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) big game program coordinator. “Most of the deer donated came from areas with overly high deer population densities, and the venison from those deer was put to very good use.”

The donations were made possible by a new venison donation program that allows hunters to donate harvested deer without having to pay processing costs. Managed by the DNR and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the program’s goal is to provide a sought-after food source to those in need while encouraging hunters to harvest additional animals to help manage the deer herd.

“Hunters always could donate harvested deer,” Cornicelli said. “But without funding, only a few deer were donated annually. The infusion of new money allowed us to greatly expand the program.” The program is funded by a legislative appropriation, a nonresident license fee increase and voluntary donations when resident hunters purchase a deer licenses.

Cornicelli said the hunting portion of the program is designed to allow hunters to harvest extra deer in areas where deer populations are above wildlife management goals. In 2007, permit areas that allowed individual hunters to take more than one deer provided 95 percent of the donations. Nearly 70 percent of donated deer came from permit areas that allowed the harvest of five or more deer.

The program requires that hunters donate deer only to processors certified by the MDA and that deer be free from signs of illness, field dressed with the hide intact, free of visible decomposition or contamination and properly identified with a DNR registration tag. In 2007, 72 certified processors distributed the venison to 97 Minnesota food shelves.

Permits for landowners and tenants to shoot deer as part of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) efforts to help eliminate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from wild deer in northwestern Minnesota’s deer management area 101 will be issued Tuesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m., during a public meeting at Wannaska Elementary School.

DNR officials will explain the expedited permitting process at the meeting before issuing permits, said Northwestern Regional Wildlife Manager Paul Telander. Landowners and tenants unable to attend can obtain a permit by contacting their area wildlife office.

All deer shot using an expedited permit must be taken within deer management area 101 and be submitted for TB testing at a designated location.

Telander said DNR officials also are seeking approval for an emergency rule allowing landowners or tenants in deer management area 101, which is considered the TB management zone, to take deer without a permit or license provided each deer taken is submitted for testing.

Once the rule takes effect, Telander said, special shooting permits will no longer be required. The rule is expected to be in place by the end of March and to extend at least through May 15.

The DNR also will issue elk-shooting permits in the TB area on a case-by-case basis, he said. Elk permits will be considered in areas where there is direct interaction with elk and either cattle or stored feed and there are no other feasible options.

Bovine TB was first discovered in area cattle herds in 2005. Since that time, 17 deer have been confirmed with TB out of a sample of more than 3,000 tested in northwestern Minnesota.

While most of southern and central Wisconsin began experiencing some truly spring like conditions this week, winter was holding on in northern Wisconsin, which received anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of wet, heavy snow this week. Despite the warm up, snowmobile and cross country ski conditions were still being reported as fair to good in about the northern third of the state as of early this week in the Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report. But with warm weather in the forecast, conditions could begin to deteriorate rapidly, so it is best call ahead to destinations for updates.

Lakes throughout the state still have good ice cover, with more than 18 inches of ice being reported on many lakes. But as creeks and rivers have begun flowing, ice near inlets and outlets of lakes will be deteriorating very quickly. The last deadline for removing ice fishing shanties comes this Sunday, when shanties must be removed from all northern lakes as well as the waters of Green Bay. Ice anglers can continue to use portable shelters as long as they are removed each day.

Ice anglers have been picking up some panfish. The upcoming thaw should stimulate some good late season action. Oxygen levels were dipping pretty low on some lakes. A thaw should help elevate oxygen levels. Perch continued to be caught on Green Bay at several locations, and whitefish action has also been going strong over the last week with some limits caught.

The Fox River is starting to break up at DePere, but there were still a few ice anglers venturing out on to the ice for walleye. The upper Rock and Crawfish rivers have open water in many locations. Trout streams in the south are open and running at peak flows with the recent snowmelt. Ice is now breaking up in slower moving stretches of Lake Michigan tributaries and there should be more open water and steelheading opportunities by the weekend. The Menomonee River at Miller Park is free of ice, and flows are good for drift fishing. Oak Creek and the Root River are ice free in most areas and good numbers of brown trout and steelhead have been caught. The Pike River in Kenosha is open in stretches with some steelhead reported. In Milwaukee, open water was found all the way out to the harbor and shore anglers have been catching a few brown trout.

This week’s warm daytime temperatures and cool evening temperatures initiated the maple sap run in northern Wisconsin. Predicted cooler temperatures later this week may slow down the process. This time of year is a good time to think about pruning trees and bushes. Any pruning of oak trees should be completed before mid April to avoid the possibility of exposing them to oak wilt disease.

A few male wild turkeys have been seen strutting and displaying. While these behaviors are signs of the impending breeding season, there is still a ways to go before breeding actually begins. Fox and gray squirrels have taken advantage of warming weather and lengthening days by feeding furiously on acorns and other nuts and seeds that have remained buried under the snow all winter.

The onset of spring was most apparent in southern Wisconsin with early migratory birds showing up in good numbers in many locations this week. Flocks of sandhill cranes were reported, along with the return of red-winged black birds, grackles and robins. There has been an early influx of geese, including some snow geese and Ross’ geese. The first real movement of bald eagles along the Mississippi River also began with warm weather.

And a reminder that hunting and fishing licenses for the current season expire at the end of this month; licenses for the 2008-09 seasons are now on sale through the DNR Web site, at DNR service centers and at license sales outlets.

A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.

BABCOCK, Wis. — Applications are now available to participate in a “Learn to Hunt Deer Workshops and Hunt” for youth and beginner adults that are planned at the Department of Natural Resources Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center near Babcock in central Wisconsin.

The one-day workshop includes information on deer biology and management, instruction on compasses, scouting for sign, firearm safety, hunt rules and regulations, and hunter ethics. Those who complete the workshop are allowed to return for a special hunt on Nov. 1-2 at the Sandhill Wildlife Area.

The youth workshop is offered to young hunters, 12 to 15 years old. Each child must be accompanied by an adult, 21 years or older, who acts as chaperon and teacher. Youth workshops will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2, Monday, Aug. 4, Wednesday, Aug. 6, Thursday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 9.

A one-day beginner adult workshop is offered to people 16 or older who have never hunted deer with a gun before. Beginner adults must also be accompanied by an adult chaperone. The Beginner Adult workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27.

To qualify for the program, all participants must either be enrolled in a Hunter Safety course or must possess a valid Hunter Safety Certificate. Students will be required to have a license by the time of the hunt. Previous participants are ineligible.

Chaperones should have some deer hunting experience and are expected to attend the workshop as well as the hunt with the student. Their primary role is to assist the beginner in developing the skills necessary to become a responsible hunter and outdoors person. The chaperone will not be allowed to carry a firearm during the hunt.

Applications for the Sandhill Learn to Deer Hunt Workshops are available on the DNR Web site and will be available throughout April and May at DNR Service Centers. Applications must be postmarked on or before May 31, 2008. Enrollment is limited to 168 students. Applicants will be randomly selected and successful applicants will be notified by June 20. A fee of $35 will be charged to enter program. Fee waivers are available for those unable to afford the fee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dick Thiel at 715-884-6333

MADISON – Wisconsin’s second annual turkey hunt for young hunters will be held April 12-13 to give young hunters an opportunity to hunt turkeys and gain valuable hunting experience.

The Youth Hunt is held annually on the weekend prior to the opening Wednesday of the spring turkey season. Youth ages 12 through 15, both residents and non-residents, who have successfully completed a hunter education program and have purchased a 2008 spring turkey license, 2008 turkey stamp, and have a valid carcass tag for spring 2008 may participate in the two-day hunt. The youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is not allowed to hunt during this time.

“Turkey hunting is a unique sport,” says Scott Hull, upland game ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. “The youth hunt gives young hunters an opportunity to have an adult mentors by their side to not only learn the basics of turkey hunting, but also the extra safety precautions and ethics the sport requires.”

Participants may only hunt in the Turkey Management Zone for which their permit was issued, and may only harvest one bearded or male turkey. Youths who do not fill their tags, or have purchased extra tags over-the-counter, may still use any remaining unused tags during the original time period and zone for which the tags were issued.

A full set of regulations for the youth hunt will be available in the 2008 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations. More information can be found on the Youth Turkey Hunt page of the DNR Web site.

Hunters looking for further information can refer to the spring turkey hunting regulations available on the Hunting and Trapping Regulations page of the DNR Web site.

Learn to turkey hunt programs being conducted statewide

In addition to the youth turkey hunt, “Learn to Hunt Turkey Programs” will soon be under way statewide. Youth and novice hunters can participate in these programs, that are organized by local sporting and conservation clubs, to learn about and then hunt turkeys under the guidance of an experienced mentor.

“The Learn to Hunt Program provides a unique opportunity for people to try hunting sports without the usual barriers new hunters face,” explains Ben Mott, who coordinates the program for the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement. “New hunters do not need to purchase licenses or many of the usual supplies they would need. Conservation organizations donate countless hours, equipment, and knowledge to make this program work. They do all this to share their knowledge with someone new to the sport because someone at one time taught them how to hunt, and they want to pass on the favor.”

The program is designed to create knowledgeable and safe hunters by pairing novices with experienced members of conservation organizations. These members answer questions and teach new hunters during an education day and then in the field on an actual hunt.

More information on the Learn to Hunt Program is available on the DNR Web site or contact your local Wildlife Biologist, Conservation Warden, or Learn to Hunt Coordinator Ben Mott at 608-444-1244.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: on the youth turkey hunt contact Scott Hull at 608-267-7861 or Sharon Fandel at 608-261-8458; on the Learn to Hunt program contact Ben Mott at 608-444-1244

CLAM LAKE, Wis. — Elk cow number “26” has been found.

“26” was the first wild Wisconsin born elk calf that was radio collared of the Clam Lake elk herd established in 1995. She has been unaccounted for since her break away radio collar was shed in 1998.

“It is great to know she is still alive but a mystery as to where she’s been keeping herself,” said Laine Stowell, a Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist tracking the state’s elk herd.

Wildlife biologists are currently trapping and radio collaring elk near Clam Lake as part of the state’s ongoing monitoring of the herd. Stowell said cow 26 has avoided capture of the biologists’ traps since that project was started seven years ago and had not been seen prior to that.

Each winter, DNR biologists with volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the local area, trap elk to collar them and do health checks. This is done using a baited pen with a series of doors and a triggered trap. To date, the crews have captured 65 elk in five outings, collaring 19 cows, two bulls, and three calves.

The cows and the calves they drop this spring can then be monitored throughout the year. A total of 70 elk currently have radio collars.

“The animals have come through the winter in good shape,” Stowell said, “despite deep snows and the cold temperatures.”

“As the cows later move in with members of the herd we can keep track of the group’s locations,” Stowell said. At last count, the herd totaled about 130 animals.

The major health threat facing the herd, Stowell said, is the chance of being hit by vehicles on state Highway 77. Some motorists ignore the elk warning lights and signs that were put along the highway to alert motorists when elk are in the area.

“We need all motorists in this area to slow down to 45 miles per hour and watch for elk, for the safety of drivers and passengers as well as for the sake of the elk,” the biologists said.

Historic records show elk once inhabited at least 50 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, but the last elk were last recorded in Wisconsin in 1886. An attempt at bringing elk back to the state in the 1930s failed because of poaching and the last four elk were reportedly killed in 1948.

In 1995, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in cooperation with the DNR and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, conducted another experiment to evaluate the potential for reintroducing elk in Wisconsin. Twenty-five elk were trapped in Michigan and then held in quarantine for 90 days while undergoing rigorous disease testing. They were then shipped to the Chequamegon National Forest near Clam Lake and eventually released into the wild in May 1995. Once the research was completed, the field responsibility for management of the elk herd was transferred to the Department of Natural Resources.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laine Stowell, 715-634-9658

MADISON — Results of this past deer season indicate that hunters had a quality hunting experience and a positive impact on moving populations in parts of Wisconsin toward goals. With final 2007 season harvest numbers now in the books, deer hunters posted the second largest harvest in state history, registering 518,573 whitetails.

Archers established a new season record of 116,042, eclipsing the previous record of 113,918 that was only one year old. Gun deer hunters brought in 402,531 deer, their third best season ever.

“Bringing the herd down to established population goals and maintaining herd and ecosystem health are our main management objectives,” said Keith Warnke, DNR big game biologist. “And while record harvests are not part of our objectives, the fact remains that hunters had a hugely successful season.”

Wildlife officials point to the large herd size and wide-spread earn-a-buck requirements as a primary reason for the large harvests. The pre-2007 season population projection was 1.6-1.8 million deer. Biologists will complete population modeling in the next few weeks resulting in a post-2007 hunt estimate to compare to population goals. A population projection for fall 2008 will be available then as well.

“This was a large harvest,” commented Warnke, “hunters put in a great effort and we’re making progress moving the population toward goals.”

Hunters across the state will be learning details of the harvest in their hunting areas at a series of deer management unit information meetings that will be held across the state. Other important deer-related meetings hunters should be aware of include hearings on proposed CWD management area hunting rules. Hunters can testify for the record a these hearings or send in written comments by March 25.

Hunters also posted the second safest gun hunt on record with three fatalities. Which, officials note, were all preventable providing hunters strictly observe the four rules of firearm safety.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023

Several national wildlife refuges and a state wildlife management area will offer sharp-tailed grouse observation blinds for public use this spring. The blinds are popular with wildlife photographers and others interested in watching the spring courtship rituals of sharp-tailed grouse.

Grouse blinds typically receive widespread interest and are available by reservation only. Those locations offering blinds usually start taking reservations for late March or early April, weather permitting. Peak grouse dancing activity usually occurs from mid-April into early May.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has an observation blind at Lonetree Wildlife Management Area southwest of Harvey . Call 324-2211 for reservations.

Contact the following national wildlife refuges for information on blind reservations:

* Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Kenmare, 848-2722.
* Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, Kenmare, 385-4046.
* Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Moffit, 387-4397.
* Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, Pingree, 285-3341.
* Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, Berthold, 468-5467.
* J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Upham, 768-2548.