01-01-2005, 08:44 AM
The state's first mourning dove season in 60 years, a doubling of walleye fingerlings stocked and numerous improvements to shoreline, grassland and wetland habitat were among notable accomplishments in 2004, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
In addition, youth hunters saw expanded opportunities with a new youth deer season in northwest Minnesota and the state's first youth hunt for wild turkey. Young anglers continued to learn about fish and aquatic habitat through the MinnAqua program, which has introduced more than 400,000 new anglers to the sport.
"Thanks to the cooperation and hard work of numerous conservation groups and individuals, we were able to expand opportunities for hunters and anglers in 2004," said C.B. Bylander, chief of outreach for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. "In addition we took important steps to encourage youth participation and continue our state's outdoor heritage."
Following are a few highlights from the past year:
JANUARY
-"Tom and hen walking through spring habitat" by Laurence Huls of Avon is chosen to be featured on the 2005 Wild Turkey Stamp.
- Conservation Officer Brad Schultz of Center City is named wildlife enforcement officer of the year by the National Wild Turkey Federation. "Our wildlife law officers have played a vital role in the comeback of the wild turkey," said Rob Keck, National Wild Turkey Federation CEO. "Trap and transfer is one portion of the success story, protection is the other."
- The 1837 Ceded Territory Fisheries Committee (CTFC) composed of state and tribal biologists, agree that 480,000 pounds of walleye can be safely harvested during the 2004 fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake.
FEBRUARY
- DNR wildlife traps 70 wild turkey for transplant in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Morrison County and the Snake River State Forest. The birds are monitored with radio transmitters to determine the effects of food plots on winter survival.
- A draw down of Lake Geneva, an important wildlife lake north of Albert Lea, likely results in a winterkill that reduces the carp population. Carp are known to decrease water clarity and inhibit aquatic plant growth. In anticipation of the winterkill the lake was opened to liberalized fishing.
- Jeff Halverson, Staples, is awarded the 2003 DNR Conservation Officer of the Year Award.
MARCH
- The DNR contacts private aquaculture facilities in hopes of purchasing about 40,000 additional pounds of walleye fingerlings this fall to help increase stocking in the state's lakes.
- A study suggests that multiple deterrents, which may include an acoustic barrier, expanded public outreach and more regulation, will be necessary to slow the advance of Asian carp into the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The DNR continues to seek support for the project from neighboring states and federal agencies.
- Researchers from Louisiana State University, the DNR and other cooperating agencies ask for help in tracking color-coded scaup as they migrate through the Upper Midwest. The ducks are part of a research project to document migration corridors and wetland habitats used by migrating scaup.
APRIL
- Earl Johnson, DNR area wildlife manager at Detroit Lakes, is named wildlife manager of the year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
- Thirty kids participate in the first youth-only wild turkey hunt, held by the DNR in the lower Minnesota River Valley. Partners included the National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- New regulations designed to protect the recovering lake sturgeon population take effect on the Minnesota-Ontario border.
- The DNR, in conjunction with other resource management agencies, takes steps on Lake Superior, Leech Lake and Lake of the Woods to reduce numbers of double-crested cormorant on that may affect populations of walleye and other game fish.
- Five managers who have held top positions at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are named as the Division of Fish and Wildlife's new management team. The team, which includes Ed Boggess, C.B. Bylander, Ron Payer, Dave Schad, Pete Skwira is led by Division Director John Guenther and Deputy Directory Larry Nelson.
MAY
- Tony Gawarecki, of St. Mary's School in Bird Island, Samuel Moudry of BOLD-Bird Island Elementary and Eric Johnson of Kasson-Mantorville were selected as grand prize winners in the 20th annual "Roadsides are for the Birds" poster contest.
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who marked the 55th annual Governor's Fishing Opener on Big Detroit Lake, managed to pull in a 6-pound northern pike just 45 minutes after leaving the dock at 5 a.m.
- Minnesota's first mourning dove season in nearly 60 years is announced. The season will provide additional opportunities for an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Minnesota hunters with no adverse effect on the bird's population.
JUNE
- The spring waterfowl count found 375,313 breeding mallards in Minnesota, 34 percent higher than 2003 and 9 percent above the 10-year average. Blue-winged teal numbers were 353,209, an increase of 83 percent from 2003 and 54 percent above the long-term average.
- The Build a Wildlife Area partnership campaign spearheaded by Pheasants Forever, Outdoor News and Game Fair raised funds from individuals and corporations to purchase one of the few basins in Morrison County to attract canvasbacks, the 400 acre WMA was adopted by the newly formed Pheasants Forever Morrison County Chapter.
- The DNR announces expanded youth hunting opportunities for the fall of 2004, including seven youth deer hunts and a youth deer season in October.
- Minnesota's pheasant hunters will have additional hunting opportunities this year, thanks to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decision to extend the 2004 season through Dec. 31.
- Hunters are offered the chance to hunt elk in Minnesota for the first time since 1998. Five elk permits are offered through a lottery drawing.
- An unexpected decline in ruffed grouse survey numbers is thought to be related to inclement spring weather, DNR researchers say. Statewide, spring drumming counts fell 11 percent.
JULY
- Conservation-minded motorists "drive" proceeds from the sale of Critical Habitat License Plates past the $10 million mark. More than 100,000 loon and deer license plates are traveling Minnesota's roads and highways. Proceeds protect and manage critical habitat across the state.
- Eurasian watermilfoil is discovered growing in Leech Lake. The non-native, invasive aquatic plant was discovered in several harbors from Stony Point to Rogers Point on the southern shore.
- Generations and cultures share skills and tell stories and learn more about fishing at the Festival of Fish in St. Paul. The event is fosters stewardship of Minnesota's natural resources and helps preserve fishing opportunities for Minnesotans well into the future.
AUGUST
- The DNR holds public input meetings across the state to discuss and take comments on special regulations proposals for walleye, bass, northern pike, crappie, sunfish and trout on 54 lakes and one river.
- Outdoor enthusiasts buy DNR licenses, pick up informational brochures and get questions answered at the DNR booth during Game Fair, a six day hunting and shooting event, at Armstrong Ranch in Anoka.
- Jason Alan Brown, a part-time artist from Cambridge, wins the 2005 Minnesota Trout and Salmon Stamp contest. His oil painting of a brook trout was selected from among 13 entries.
- The 2004 waterfowl regulations supplement gets a new look with color illustrations to help hunters identify ducks on the wing as well as shooting tips and information on how to avoid common waterfowl hunting violations. The cost of adding new information was offset by the sale of advertising.
SEPTEMBER
- Minnesota's first mourning dove hunting season since 1946 begins Sept 1. With a fall flight of more than 400 million birds, mourning doves are North America's most abundant and widely disbursed migratory game bird.
- The DNR takes another step forward in the restoration of lake sturgeon in the Red River Watershed when fisheries crews release approximately 10,500 lake sturgeon fingerlings at two locations in the watershed. About 9,500 fingerlings roughly six inches long are stocked in Otter Tail Lake and the remaining 1,000 are released into the Otter Tail River near Fergus Falls.
- A painting of white-winged scoters by David Chapman of Minnetonka is chosen from among 25 entries for the 2005 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (Duck Stamp).
- The 2005 waterfowl season opens Sept. 25 with hunters reporting mixed success across the state. The season runs through Nov. 23.
OCTOBER
- Minnesota's first-ever youth antlerless deer season is held Oct. 23 - 24 in Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall and Pennington counties. Hunters ages 12 to 14 accompanied by a legal guardian, are allowed to take one antlerless deer.
- A painting by David Chapman of Minnetonka is chosen as the winning design from among 27 entries in the 2005 pheasant habitat stamp contest.
- The 2004 moose-hunting season in northeastern Minnesota ends with 246 hunting parties harvesting 149 moose. That compares with 224 parties harvesting 143 moose in 2003.
- Researchers note improvements in water quality and aquatic plant abundance in Lake Christina, an important waterfowl migration habitat lake, especially for canvasbacks and other diving ducks. In 2003, the 4,000-acre lake was treated with a fish-killing chemical, rotenone, to remove several species of fish that were decreasing water quality, and hence aquatic vegetation abundance.
- The DNR and Department of Agriculture reach an agreement that allows deer hunters to donate their extra venison to programs that distribute food to the needy.
NOVEMBER
- The DNR announces changes to trout regulations for 22 streams in six southeast counties. The changes are intended to improve fishing quality for larger trout while maintaining diverse fishing opportunities for anglers. The regulations take effect April 16, opening day of the 2005 stream trout season.
- An additional 4,300 permits are made available in the lottery for 2005 spring turkey season. The decision to increase permits, which is supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation, is based on current hunter densities, hunter satisfaction and the amount of turkey habitat available.
- Archers harvest a record of 484 deer harvested at Camp Ripley in 2004, a 19 percent increase from the previous record harvest of 406 deer taken in 1992.
- No positives were found in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) tests of 682 lymph node samples taken from wild deer harvested during the 2004 firearms season. The results are the first from 12,500 samples taken from wild deer harvested by hunters. Samples were collected at 130 big game registration stations.
- The number of deer harvested during the 2004 firearms season will likely be among the highest on record, according to preliminary estimates. The 2004 harvest is down about eight percent compared with 2003, the highest harvest on record. The harvest may exceed 2002, when 197,000 deer were registered during the firearms season, the second highest total on record.
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty harvests a fork-horn buck at the 2004 Governor's Deer Opener. He donated the venison to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Grand Rapids.
DECEMBER
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported a perfect hunter safety record in 2004. For the second time in six years, there were no fatalities during small game, big game, waterfowl, wild turkey and prairie chicken hunting seasons in the state. Only a dozen non-fatal hunting-related accidents occurred this year, a 50 percent reduction compared with last year.
- Rather than being developed, an 850-acre wilderness Boy Scout camp near Crosslake will be saved thanks in large part to an anonymous couple's donation of $415,000. Camp Cuyuna, which has provided a low-cost camping for 700 Scouts each summer since 1967, was nearly sold for $1 million to help the Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of Mankato reduce its debt. The couple's donation, along with funds raised by camp supporters, will be matched with critical habitat license plate funds from the DNR. The scouts will retain ownership of a 13-acre site that contains a family camp. The remaining area will be an Aquatic Management Area (AMA).
- State and private fish hatcheries produced three million walleye fingerlings for stocking in more than 250 lakes this year, almost twice last year's total of 1.7 million fingerlings, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The number of fingerlings increased because the average size and weight of fingerlings decreased. This year's fingerlings averaged 4 to 6 inches or about 21 fingerlings per pound. Last year's fingerlings were 6 to 8 inches, or about 10 fingerlings per pound.
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In addition, youth hunters saw expanded opportunities with a new youth deer season in northwest Minnesota and the state's first youth hunt for wild turkey. Young anglers continued to learn about fish and aquatic habitat through the MinnAqua program, which has introduced more than 400,000 new anglers to the sport.
"Thanks to the cooperation and hard work of numerous conservation groups and individuals, we were able to expand opportunities for hunters and anglers in 2004," said C.B. Bylander, chief of outreach for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. "In addition we took important steps to encourage youth participation and continue our state's outdoor heritage."
Following are a few highlights from the past year:
JANUARY
-"Tom and hen walking through spring habitat" by Laurence Huls of Avon is chosen to be featured on the 2005 Wild Turkey Stamp.
- Conservation Officer Brad Schultz of Center City is named wildlife enforcement officer of the year by the National Wild Turkey Federation. "Our wildlife law officers have played a vital role in the comeback of the wild turkey," said Rob Keck, National Wild Turkey Federation CEO. "Trap and transfer is one portion of the success story, protection is the other."
- The 1837 Ceded Territory Fisheries Committee (CTFC) composed of state and tribal biologists, agree that 480,000 pounds of walleye can be safely harvested during the 2004 fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake.
FEBRUARY
- DNR wildlife traps 70 wild turkey for transplant in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Morrison County and the Snake River State Forest. The birds are monitored with radio transmitters to determine the effects of food plots on winter survival.
- A draw down of Lake Geneva, an important wildlife lake north of Albert Lea, likely results in a winterkill that reduces the carp population. Carp are known to decrease water clarity and inhibit aquatic plant growth. In anticipation of the winterkill the lake was opened to liberalized fishing.
- Jeff Halverson, Staples, is awarded the 2003 DNR Conservation Officer of the Year Award.
MARCH
- The DNR contacts private aquaculture facilities in hopes of purchasing about 40,000 additional pounds of walleye fingerlings this fall to help increase stocking in the state's lakes.
- A study suggests that multiple deterrents, which may include an acoustic barrier, expanded public outreach and more regulation, will be necessary to slow the advance of Asian carp into the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The DNR continues to seek support for the project from neighboring states and federal agencies.
- Researchers from Louisiana State University, the DNR and other cooperating agencies ask for help in tracking color-coded scaup as they migrate through the Upper Midwest. The ducks are part of a research project to document migration corridors and wetland habitats used by migrating scaup.
APRIL
- Earl Johnson, DNR area wildlife manager at Detroit Lakes, is named wildlife manager of the year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
- Thirty kids participate in the first youth-only wild turkey hunt, held by the DNR in the lower Minnesota River Valley. Partners included the National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- New regulations designed to protect the recovering lake sturgeon population take effect on the Minnesota-Ontario border.
- The DNR, in conjunction with other resource management agencies, takes steps on Lake Superior, Leech Lake and Lake of the Woods to reduce numbers of double-crested cormorant on that may affect populations of walleye and other game fish.
- Five managers who have held top positions at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are named as the Division of Fish and Wildlife's new management team. The team, which includes Ed Boggess, C.B. Bylander, Ron Payer, Dave Schad, Pete Skwira is led by Division Director John Guenther and Deputy Directory Larry Nelson.
MAY
- Tony Gawarecki, of St. Mary's School in Bird Island, Samuel Moudry of BOLD-Bird Island Elementary and Eric Johnson of Kasson-Mantorville were selected as grand prize winners in the 20th annual "Roadsides are for the Birds" poster contest.
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who marked the 55th annual Governor's Fishing Opener on Big Detroit Lake, managed to pull in a 6-pound northern pike just 45 minutes after leaving the dock at 5 a.m.
- Minnesota's first mourning dove season in nearly 60 years is announced. The season will provide additional opportunities for an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 Minnesota hunters with no adverse effect on the bird's population.
JUNE
- The spring waterfowl count found 375,313 breeding mallards in Minnesota, 34 percent higher than 2003 and 9 percent above the 10-year average. Blue-winged teal numbers were 353,209, an increase of 83 percent from 2003 and 54 percent above the long-term average.
- The Build a Wildlife Area partnership campaign spearheaded by Pheasants Forever, Outdoor News and Game Fair raised funds from individuals and corporations to purchase one of the few basins in Morrison County to attract canvasbacks, the 400 acre WMA was adopted by the newly formed Pheasants Forever Morrison County Chapter.
- The DNR announces expanded youth hunting opportunities for the fall of 2004, including seven youth deer hunts and a youth deer season in October.
- Minnesota's pheasant hunters will have additional hunting opportunities this year, thanks to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decision to extend the 2004 season through Dec. 31.
- Hunters are offered the chance to hunt elk in Minnesota for the first time since 1998. Five elk permits are offered through a lottery drawing.
- An unexpected decline in ruffed grouse survey numbers is thought to be related to inclement spring weather, DNR researchers say. Statewide, spring drumming counts fell 11 percent.
JULY
- Conservation-minded motorists "drive" proceeds from the sale of Critical Habitat License Plates past the $10 million mark. More than 100,000 loon and deer license plates are traveling Minnesota's roads and highways. Proceeds protect and manage critical habitat across the state.
- Eurasian watermilfoil is discovered growing in Leech Lake. The non-native, invasive aquatic plant was discovered in several harbors from Stony Point to Rogers Point on the southern shore.
- Generations and cultures share skills and tell stories and learn more about fishing at the Festival of Fish in St. Paul. The event is fosters stewardship of Minnesota's natural resources and helps preserve fishing opportunities for Minnesotans well into the future.
AUGUST
- The DNR holds public input meetings across the state to discuss and take comments on special regulations proposals for walleye, bass, northern pike, crappie, sunfish and trout on 54 lakes and one river.
- Outdoor enthusiasts buy DNR licenses, pick up informational brochures and get questions answered at the DNR booth during Game Fair, a six day hunting and shooting event, at Armstrong Ranch in Anoka.
- Jason Alan Brown, a part-time artist from Cambridge, wins the 2005 Minnesota Trout and Salmon Stamp contest. His oil painting of a brook trout was selected from among 13 entries.
- The 2004 waterfowl regulations supplement gets a new look with color illustrations to help hunters identify ducks on the wing as well as shooting tips and information on how to avoid common waterfowl hunting violations. The cost of adding new information was offset by the sale of advertising.
SEPTEMBER
- Minnesota's first mourning dove hunting season since 1946 begins Sept 1. With a fall flight of more than 400 million birds, mourning doves are North America's most abundant and widely disbursed migratory game bird.
- The DNR takes another step forward in the restoration of lake sturgeon in the Red River Watershed when fisheries crews release approximately 10,500 lake sturgeon fingerlings at two locations in the watershed. About 9,500 fingerlings roughly six inches long are stocked in Otter Tail Lake and the remaining 1,000 are released into the Otter Tail River near Fergus Falls.
- A painting of white-winged scoters by David Chapman of Minnetonka is chosen from among 25 entries for the 2005 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (Duck Stamp).
- The 2005 waterfowl season opens Sept. 25 with hunters reporting mixed success across the state. The season runs through Nov. 23.
OCTOBER
- Minnesota's first-ever youth antlerless deer season is held Oct. 23 - 24 in Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall and Pennington counties. Hunters ages 12 to 14 accompanied by a legal guardian, are allowed to take one antlerless deer.
- A painting by David Chapman of Minnetonka is chosen as the winning design from among 27 entries in the 2005 pheasant habitat stamp contest.
- The 2004 moose-hunting season in northeastern Minnesota ends with 246 hunting parties harvesting 149 moose. That compares with 224 parties harvesting 143 moose in 2003.
- Researchers note improvements in water quality and aquatic plant abundance in Lake Christina, an important waterfowl migration habitat lake, especially for canvasbacks and other diving ducks. In 2003, the 4,000-acre lake was treated with a fish-killing chemical, rotenone, to remove several species of fish that were decreasing water quality, and hence aquatic vegetation abundance.
- The DNR and Department of Agriculture reach an agreement that allows deer hunters to donate their extra venison to programs that distribute food to the needy.
NOVEMBER
- The DNR announces changes to trout regulations for 22 streams in six southeast counties. The changes are intended to improve fishing quality for larger trout while maintaining diverse fishing opportunities for anglers. The regulations take effect April 16, opening day of the 2005 stream trout season.
- An additional 4,300 permits are made available in the lottery for 2005 spring turkey season. The decision to increase permits, which is supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation, is based on current hunter densities, hunter satisfaction and the amount of turkey habitat available.
- Archers harvest a record of 484 deer harvested at Camp Ripley in 2004, a 19 percent increase from the previous record harvest of 406 deer taken in 1992.
- No positives were found in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) tests of 682 lymph node samples taken from wild deer harvested during the 2004 firearms season. The results are the first from 12,500 samples taken from wild deer harvested by hunters. Samples were collected at 130 big game registration stations.
- The number of deer harvested during the 2004 firearms season will likely be among the highest on record, according to preliminary estimates. The 2004 harvest is down about eight percent compared with 2003, the highest harvest on record. The harvest may exceed 2002, when 197,000 deer were registered during the firearms season, the second highest total on record.
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty harvests a fork-horn buck at the 2004 Governor's Deer Opener. He donated the venison to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Grand Rapids.
DECEMBER
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported a perfect hunter safety record in 2004. For the second time in six years, there were no fatalities during small game, big game, waterfowl, wild turkey and prairie chicken hunting seasons in the state. Only a dozen non-fatal hunting-related accidents occurred this year, a 50 percent reduction compared with last year.
- Rather than being developed, an 850-acre wilderness Boy Scout camp near Crosslake will be saved thanks in large part to an anonymous couple's donation of $415,000. Camp Cuyuna, which has provided a low-cost camping for 700 Scouts each summer since 1967, was nearly sold for $1 million to help the Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of Mankato reduce its debt. The couple's donation, along with funds raised by camp supporters, will be matched with critical habitat license plate funds from the DNR. The scouts will retain ownership of a 13-acre site that contains a family camp. The remaining area will be an Aquatic Management Area (AMA).
- State and private fish hatcheries produced three million walleye fingerlings for stocking in more than 250 lakes this year, almost twice last year's total of 1.7 million fingerlings, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The number of fingerlings increased because the average size and weight of fingerlings decreased. This year's fingerlings averaged 4 to 6 inches or about 21 fingerlings per pound. Last year's fingerlings were 6 to 8 inches, or about 10 fingerlings per pound.
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