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Saturday, March 14, 2009
DNR releases rules for new BWCA hunt
by Nick Wognum.... Ely Echo
The DNR will be holding a public meeting March 25 in Tower to take public comment on a proposed special deer hunting season in the BWCAW.
Details of the proposal were made public on Thursday. The idea originated with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, which approved a resolution on the new season at a statewide meeting.
"We waited for the deer hunters to vote and if they said no then it would have been but they approved it so we're moving forward," said DNR Area Wildlife Manager Tom Rusch.
Rusch said the proposed rules would include a nine day firearms season in the BWCAW portion of area 115. A lottery would be held for 150 permits.
"Nine days is a compromise from 16. If we did it this year it would be from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. The timing of that was pushed back from mid-October because the bucks are starting with scraping," said Rusch.
"The changes in the proposal from MDHA have to do with the Fernberg corridor. We heard that (opposition) loud and clear," said Rusch. "It would only be in 115 of which the east line is the Range River and Horse River. So there would be nothing on the Fernberg, all of that area is outside of this.
"The motorized areas (of the BWCAW) along with Fall Lake and the Moose chain are not in the proposal which I think will go a long ways. Some people will not be pleased at having any special season but I don't think you can appease everyone."
The BWCAW area in 115 is 535 square miles, which is roughly 343,000 acres.
The hunt would be open to muzzleloaders and rifles. Archery hunters can hunt the area without a special permit, just as they can now.
"The next concern was how many people will be coming in. There is no zoning in this proposal. My thought was put 20 there and 20 there and so on. But with the commissioner wanting simplification, that is not the direction they wanted to go," said Rusch.
The number of permits is partially based on how many bear permits there are for that area.
"Right now we're at 150 permits. That's a first year stab but I know we put out 150 bear permits in zone 22 and it's undersubscribed every year. That would be five square miles per hunter if they were evenly distributed which we know they're not. That's a compromise for those concerned about over harvest," said Rusch.
When the proposal was pitched at a deer hunter meeting in Ely, there was discussion on limiting the number of out-of-state hunters. The proposal went down to defeat in Ely, with only one person voting in favor.
"It was pretty strong coming from St. Paul that this is open to anyone with a valid deer license. This is 100 percent public land. This part is not negotiable - any resident or non-resident can apply," said Rusch.
The special hunt will also be open for antlerless tags, if you can win two lotteries depending on the status of 115.
"This area will have the same designation as the rest of 115 and it looks like 115 will be lottery this year for a doe tag. You would have to be drawn twice," said Rusch.
He said the success ratio would likely be low, around 20 percent. "If we get 30 deer then probably 25 percent of that would be does, which is the ratio for 115," said Rusch.
Unsuccessful lottery applicants for the special hunt would get preference points when they apply again the next year.
Rusch said the lottery would start the first Thursday in September with successful applicants finding out three weeks later.
In addition to the BWCAW hunt, there is a proposal that would simplify regulations for hunting Canada geese during the early fall season in the metro and southeast parts of the state. Over-the-counter turkey license sales will also be discussed.
The first public meeting on the new rules was held Thursday in St. Paul. There are meetings scheduled for Rochester, New Ulm, Grand Rapids and Duluth.
The Tower meeting on March 25 will start at 7 p.m. at the DNR headquarters on the west side of town.
People who cannot attend the meetings are urged to complete a questionnaire online.
Written comments also may be mailed to: Season Comments, DNR Section of Wildlife, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007.
"It ain't over until it's over and that won't be until after these meetings," said Rusch.
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Topic: bwca deer hunt ..take aim fellow hunters (Read 1659 times)
