Fewer moose permits, but success ratio up

[Lee Borgersen]

Fewer moose permits, but success ratio up



DNR officials reported better than expected results from the recently completed bear and moose seasons.

"It was good to hear some good news," said DNR Area Wildlife Manager Tom Rusch.

A total of 94 parties ended up hunting moose, with 54 bagging a bull, a success rate of 58%, up from the 48-52% average over the last five years.

"With all of the complicating factors from the Pagami fire and travel restrictions to the hot weather, those are all negatives and we still came up on the positive side as far as hunter success," said Rusch.

For the Tower area, nine moose were registered at Lucky 7 in Ely, five at the Virginia Lucky 7 and two in Eveleth.

For the North Shore, there were 33 moose registered, with 10 in Finland, 18 in Grand Marais, three in Two Harbors and two in Beaver Bay.

The DNR had cut the number of once-in-a-lifetime permits in half to 105, but 11 permits were returned due to the Pagami fire.

"I saw some dandies come in. A 48-inch, a 44 and a long-tined 42-inch. Most of the big ones were from Cook County," said Rusch.

Results from the bear season were promising as well. The late summer drought left bears without many of their normal food sources, meaning baits were more effective.

A total of 2,074 bears were harvested in Minnesota.

Last year, hunters took 2,699 bears when 7,086 licenses were sold. There were 7,050 licenses sold for this season.

"Overall the numbers are down, but permits were down. Hunter success was up around here with the drought," said Rusch.

"We did really well relative to the number of permits. For awhile we were the top area in the state, then other areas caught up because we don't have the hunter numbers they have."

In the Tower area 251 bears were taken, including 138 males. The top registration area was Cloquest with 316, while International Falls had 256 and Two Harbors had 236.

"Around here there was limited natural foods although the bog and high bush cranberries were pretty decent," said Rusch. "In other places it was an unbelievable acorn year so that made it tougher."