Deer Hunter Ethics Award winners announced
The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Turn In Poachers have announced the winners of the 15th annual Deer Hunter Ethics Award. The hunters were honored at the 2007 MDHA State Habitat Banquet on Feb. 17 at the Kato Ballroom in Mankato.
The Deer Hunter Ethics Award honors deer hunters who have exhibited conduct during the 2006 season that can serve as an example of admirable hunting practices, according to Mark Johnson of the MDHA. "The ethical hunter awards are designed to bring the spotlight to those we hope positively represent the majority of hunters - ethical, thoughtful outdoors people," Johnson said.
"The few rotten apples who endanger our hunting heritage by unethical and illegal behavior hog the headlines too often," Johnson said. "Again this year, we received many excellent nominations of wonderfully ethical hunters. Everyone should be proud of these people. We are."
Wayne Edgerton, DNR agriculture policy coordinator and a judge for the contest, agreed. "We received an array of exceptional nominations describing high ethical standards and compassion for other hunters and the game they pursue," Edgerton said. "Seeing both adult and youth nominated for similar activities is very gratifying to me as a deer hunter."
ADULT WINNER
The adult winner is Charlie Nordlund, a 65-year-old hunter from Cambridge. While hunting in the Browerville-Long Prairie area, Nordlund came across a blood trail of a wounded deer. He followed the trail and eventually found a nice buck with a big rack lying dead on the ground. He waited for some time, but when no one showed up, he cleaned the deer and dragged it to the road.
Nordlund then asked neighbors in the area if anyone had wounded a big buck. They suggested he check with the Pederson family who had hunted in that area. There he learned that 14-year-old Casey Pederson had shot at a deer but thought he had missed it. Nordlund had a different idea.
He brought Casey and his father to the buck he had found. When the teenager realized he had actually shot the big deer, he had a huge smile on his face. The Pederson's are thankful that Nordlund went the extra mile in finding the hunter who shot the deer instead of claiming it as his own.
YOUTH WINNER
The youth winner is 17-year-old Michael Bringgold of South St. Paul. He was hunting during a youth archery deer hunt at Camp Ripley. Two deer, one healthy and one wounded, wandered by his stand. As he drew on the healthy deer, he saw the wounded deer about 25 yards away. He made the decision to shoot the wounded deer. He could tell it was a kill shot.
He followed the blood trail to the deer. When he arrived at the deer, two other hunters were already there. They asked Michael if it was his deer. He said yes, but that he shot it knowing it was already wounded.
One of the other hunters said he shot the deer but had lost the blood trail. They asked Michael if he wanted the deer. He said no because he did not draw first blood. He only wanted his arrow back, which he did recover. By his actions, Michael exhibited ethics we hope every hunter would employ. He is an excellent example to us all.
YOUTH WINNER HONORABLE MENTION
Erin Goebel of Mankato earned honorable mention honors in the youth division. Last fall, she was part of a three-person party hunting on private land. Each person was situated in a deer stand.
Two does passed close by Erin's stand. She chose not to shoot. Her hunting partners wondered why there were no shots and that maybe she was not paying attention.
As it turns out, Erin decided not to shoot because the deer were in the "no shooting" lane that the group had established. She realized if she did take a shot, she would be firing directly towards another hunter.
Later in the season, the hunting party was back in the same deer stands. This time a big buck wandered by Erin's stand about 75 yards away before disappearing into the woods.
She did not have a clean shot, so she chose not to shoot. She explained to her hunting party that since it was not a clean shot, the buck would probably end up being wounded and left to die.
Erin was disappointed she did not fill her tag again this season, but certainly showed her hunting party that she has what it takes to be a great deer hunter. For her sound and consistent judgment, Erin received the honorable mention award.
Each of the 2006 Ethical Hunter Award winners received a framed MDHA print, complimentary MDHA membership, and a $250 gift certificate provided by Cabela's. Banquet organizers would like to sincerely thank the dozens of people who took time to forward nominations for this award.
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