DNR announces changes to Minnesota moose season

[Realtree]

DNR announces changes to Minnesota moose season (2007-03-23)

Allowing Minnesota hunters to harvest only antlered moose this year is among several changes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has implemented for the 2007 moose season. The application deadline has been moved up to May 4 and some zone boundaries have been changed.

In the past, hunters who drew one of the state's once-in-a-lifetime moose permits could harvest either a bull or cow moose. The change was a precautionary measure prompted by a DNR research project that has shown above-average moose mortality in northeastern Minnesota.

"While hunter harvest is only a minor part of overall moose mortality, DNR biologists feel that restricting cow harvest is a prudent measure, given the unexplained moose mortality in northeastern Minnesota," said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator.

A study of radio-collared moose has identified nonhunting moose mortality that ranged from 9 to 34 percent in the past five years. This year's nonhunting mortality rate in northeast Minnesota was 34 percent. The nonhunting mortality rate for moose is generally between 8 and 12 percent elsewhere in North America.

Details of changes for this year's moose season include:

- Moose zones have been reconfigured to better reflect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) boundaries. Previously, several moose zones included land both inside and outside the BWCAW, concentrating hunters in more accessible areas. The new zones will allow hunters to more clearly identify their zone of interest before applying for a permit. Hunters are strongly encouraged to consult the moose application guide, available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold in late March.

- The application deadline has been moved up to Friday, May 4. This change, which will allow the DNR to inform successful applicants about six weeks earlier than in past years, will also give hunters more time to prepare.

Applications for moose permits may be made at any of 1,800 businesses where hunting and fishing licenses are sold electronically and from the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.

This year 233 antlered bull-only permits are available in 30 zones in the northeastern part of the state. There is no hunting season in northwestern Minnesota. The season dates are Sept. 29 through Oct. 14.

Moose hunters must apply in parties from two to four individuals. An application fee of $3 per individual must be included with the application. Only Minnesota residents, at least sixteen years of age, are eligible for the moose hunt.

Permits are issued through a random drawing, except that applicants who have been unsuccessful at least 10 times since 1985 will be placed in a separate drawing for up to 20 percent of the available licenses. A person who is still unsuccessful in this separate selection will also be included in the regular drawing.

Because the moose hunt became a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in 1991, hunters who received permits for moose hunts for the 1991 hunt and later are not eligible to apply for the 2007 drawing. The license fee is $310 per party. There will be mandatory orientation sessions required for all hunters chosen for moose licenses.

In 2006, 2,952 parties applied for the 279 available state permits. State licensed hunters killed 133 bulls and 28 cows, for a party success rate of 60 percent.