Here is your chance to vioce your opinion so it is heard

[h2ofwlr]

DNR gives hunters chance to weigh in
For 36 years, Minnesota's daily bag limit for pheasants has been two birds.
Doug Smith, Star Tribune
Last update: February 25, 2007 – 1:46 AM


For 36 years, Minnesota's daily bag limit for pheasants has been two birds.
Should the daily bag be increased to three birds? And should the ringneck possession limit, now six, be increased to 10 or even 15 birds?

Those are some of the topics that hunters can comment on at a series of statewide Department of Natural Resources public meetings beginning this week.

"Apparently there's some interest in the Legislature to do this," said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife program manager. "We just thought it would be an opportune time to get some idea of what people think about it."

There is no biological reason not to increase bag limits, he said. "It's a social issue," he said.

Other topics: Reducing the minimum draw weight for hunting bows, now 40 pounds, to 30 pounds and changing regulations on the use of conibear traps on land. But citizens can offer comments on any hunting and trapping topic at the meetings, which begin Monday at the Minnesota Community and Technical College in Detroit Lakes.

Other meetings this week: Tuesday, Glenwood, Minnewaska High School cafeteria; Wednesday: Brainerd, Northland Arboretum, 6-9 p.m.; and Thursday: St. Paul, DNR/PCA Cafeteria, 500 Lafayette Rd.

See www.startribune.com/outdoors for a complete list of locations. Comments can be sent to wildlife@dnr.state.mn.us.



So any of you who want to see a 6 duck limit again, full use of ALL the goose hunting days allowed by the Feds, or any other hunting issue, get to these meetings, and get up to the Mike and say your piece. If you can not make it, then write a email expressing your concerns. This is when they listen to everybody and then evaluate and consider changes for the upcoming season over the next couple of months.

So ACT now--attend or write an email

[Mayfly]

The pheasant limit is fine. I do not think we need to see a change in that.

[Mayfly]

People sure are getting greedy!  :-\

[JD]

The pheasant limit is fine. I do not think we need to see a change in that.

I agree, even if you're seeing alot of birds, it can still take a full day to fill your limit with a group of guys or gals

[Bufflehead]

Mayfly, I'm with ya on this

 You couldn't imagine the people who are B1tching about wanting a 6 duck limit again.

 If ya need that many birds to feed the family...try Chicken

 Same with the Pheasant

 With habitat disappearing at a alarming rate and now the Ethanol thing. I see us needing every bird we can get to keep pace with those who can't see the forest for the tree's

[Mayfly]

Mayfly, I'm with ya on this

 You couldn't imagine the people who are B1tching about wanting a 6 duck limit again.

 If ya need that many birds to feed the family...try Chicken

 Same with the Pheasant

 With habitat disappearing at a alarming rate and now the Ethanol thing. I see us needing every bird we can get to keep pace with those who can't see the forest for the tree's

Amen!

Success in the field or on the water should not be measured by limits!

I will say it again.......

Success in the field or on the water should not be measured by limits!

[GRIZ]

Am I the only one who can remember the 3 pheasant daily limit in the early to mid 80's? It hasn't been 2 for 36 yrs.

[h2ofwlr]

Greedy????  ::)

The DNR said biologically there is no reason not to set it at 3 pheasants per day.  Remember, we nead to thin the cock pheasants out.  They are dominant for food resources in the winter, overpowering the hens when food is scarce, and as a resulkt the hens die off.  No hens = no new broods in the summer.  Ideal ratio going into the winter is 1 cock bird to 4 hens.

As for the ducks, do you realize how many times I have shot my 4 Mallards and then waiting around for a couple more hours hoping for the redhead or teal to wing by?  And in the mean time shot photos of Mallards working the decoys.  It is not being greedy, it is about hunting.  I love to hunt.   If biologically the duck resource can handle the harvest as set by the Feds, then by God why not allow it at 6 ducks a day?  MN DNR are idiots, the reason for the 4 a day limit is because 3 years ago the seasons were so lousy that most hunters would have been quite happy to shoot 4 daucks a day.  Not that the limit should be 4 per day.  The DNR says the 4 a day is to protect the hen Mallrds breeding in MN.  Huh? The limit was still 4 mallards. Doh!  If the DNR wanted to put the Mallards to say 2 or 3 the first 15 days of the season and maybe 4 a day total ducks until that time,  then I could see how it could protect locally raised Mallards and other ducks.  And so how does 4 a day after Mid Oct matter to Mn ducks when we are shooting predominately migrators at that point?  It makes no sense.

What really bothers me is this term the DNR uses called "Social issue".  You know what that really means?  It is the publics attitude towards it.  So what do you think will happen 30 years from now and there are 3 times as many anti hunters out there and 1/2 the # of hunters?   For example, I could imagine the DNR saying, "becasue of social pressures, we have curtailed all deer bow hunting because it is socially viewed as poor way to kill an animal"   I am dead serious, when the social issue is brought into play, that is a another way of saying we want to be politically correct.     The DNR needs to stay on biological based determinations, not social ones.

So some common sense needs to be used, and the DNR is not known for having too much of that.  Thus I am writing them a nice polite and courteous letter outlining what needs to be changed.

[guythathunts]

I am no scientist. In fact I'm not even a scientist, nor am I a scientist, or a scientist. Our biggest concern should be whatever is best for the birds. Oh and the whole chicken argument is ridiculous. It sounds to me like a comment like that could only come from someone who needs to spend some time at the shooting range.

Shoot strait,

Greg