2012 Hunting and Fishing Guide

A special supplement to the Saturday, September 22, 2012 Morris Sun Tribune

PAGE 2

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Hunter helps build healthy habitats Outdoorsman Dave Jungst works with landowners and hunters to promote conservation and respect for nature

By Michael Strand Special to theSun Tribune Outdoor sports are a longtime staple of Minnesota life. The beauty and bounty of Minnesota’s forests, prairies and wetlands provide invaluable resources for hunting, fishing and camping. Healthy habitat improves the quality of life in communities, attracts commerce and provides the bounty of the fall harvest.

Dave Jungst is a 24-year resident of Morris and w o r k s a s a We t l a n d Restoration Specialist for Ducks Unlimited in Glenwood. For decades, he’s worked to restore wetland habitat for public and p r iv a t e l y - o w n e d l a n d areas. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather. His experiences in the outdoors influenced his ethic as a sportsman and his career in conservation.

Jungst grew up on his

family farm near Garfield, Minn. Outdoor sports were a favorite part of his e a rly l i f e. H e ’d t r ap gophers for farmers, along with mink and muskrat.

His dad and grandfather would occasionally take him hunting and fishing.

“I have a lot of good memories of hunting, fishing, and trapping while growing up,” Jungst said. “They taught me about sportsmanship, that what you give is what you get.”

As he got older, Jungst began hunting ducks on his own on private and public land.

“I learned early on that it’s impor tant to be respectful to the people who own the land you are hunting on, and for the habitat itself.”

A few years ago, Jungst wrote a piece entitled “Courtesy’s Rewards,” a story about how he’d learned to be a respectful hunter, that was published in the national mag-

Submitted Photo

Dave Jungst and one of his English Setters hunting near Morris. azine of Pheasants Forever.

Just before leaving for college at Montana State in Bozeman, the duck season had slowed down in

the lakes around his hometown. On one hunting outing, Jungst found a slough with a number of ducks on it.

“I asked for permission to hunt on the pond for the day, and after a little hesitation, the landowner said ok. Walking through the reeds, I came upon a flock of ducks and scared them up. I got three right away, and cleaned one for the landowner before I drove home. I thought that was the decent thing to do.”

A f e w w e e k s l a t e r, Jungst’s mother returned from a garden club party smiling. She said some of her friends had been complaining about hunters trespassing on their land.

“But one of her friends

had told her about a ‘nice young man’ who’d given her a duck for allowing him to hunt on her land,” Jungst said, laughing.

“She said I’d ‘restored her faith in duck hunters.’

That experience taught me that when you do something good, it’ll come back.

I feel strongly that it’s important to respect the rights and concer ns of landowners about hunting, trespassing, and conservation on their land.”

In May, Jungst began wo rk i n g fo r D u ck s Unlimited, providing assistance to landowners to transform their land into wetland habitat. The majority of wetland contributing to good water quality and habitat in

Minnesota is privately owned. Jungst only works with private landowners.

“I think part of the reason why I’ve been able to work well with landowners is because I’ve always wanted to own my own land,” he said. “Once I’d acquired open land, I enrolled some acres in the public land management prog rams. I think that enrolling in the programs myself has really helped me to understand the concer ns and decisions of land owners.”

Jungst said that anyone who likes the outdoors, hunting and fishing realizes quickly that the key to a healthy animal popula-

See JUNGST page 3

Saturday, September 22, 2012

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

PAGE 3

Jungst Continued from page 2 tion is habitat. Without habitat, there is no food or shelter for ducks, geese, fish and deer.

“A lot of people, when they hear the word ‘wetland,’ think of an open pond with grass around it and nesting ducks. But there are categories of wetland. Many wetlands are shallow and only hold water for a month or two during wet periods like the spring. Those are valuable because they provide habitat for all kinds of animals in the food chain.

Each type of wetland has value,” he said.

“The program I work with is completely voluntary. The approach I take is to offer incentives and educate landowners on the importance of these projects and issues,” he said. “In that way, educating people about the process of restoration is a big part of my job.”

Even if a wetland is dry for part or most of the year, it still provides an essential barrier to not just the loss of wildlife, but also in mitigating erosion and flooding.

“A dry sponge is still a sponge, right?,” he said. “ F l o o d i n g eve n t s l i ke those in the Red River Valley cause millions of d o l l a r s o f d a m a g e.

Wetlands are sponges, they act as reservoirs that hold water and keep it from flooding major rivers.

“One of the wetland restoration projects on my own land is a small pond about a foot or two deep.

One day, I did the calculations and figured that my little pond holds almost seven million gallons. All that water, if you drain it, would flood fields and ditches, and run into the big rivers, causing damage downstream.”

For Jungst, his biggest priority is getting more young people involved in outdoors sports and conservation. He’s spoken to g roups like Pheasants

Michael Strand/Sun Tribune

Top: Dave Jungst is a 24-year resident of Morris and works as a Wetland Restoration Specialist for Ducks Unlimited in Glenwood. His hunting dogs, Tuli (left) and Olive (right), are English Setters. English Setters are bred to scent (sniff out) the location of a bird or birds and freeze in a pointing stance to show the hunter where the birds are located, rather than rushing in and pushing the birds to fly out. This allows the hunter time to get in a better position for a shot, explained Jungst.

Forever to spread the word that, without the energy of youth, efforts for conservation lose momentum and begin to die.

“My kids both enjoy the outdoors. My daughter loves dogs, so when our English Setter had her first litter this summer, she enjoyed helping raise the 10 pups!” Jungst said.

“I’ve also been volunteering as a mentor to help introduce people to hunting and other outdoor sports. I want everyone to realize that being outdoors is fun.

“Many of my generat i o n we r e i nvo l ve d i n hunting and fishing growing up, but are not as active as they get older. Nearly 80

percent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas,” he added. “I feel too many people are out of touch with nature, with reality.

My work as a sportsman is helping provide the resources we need to enjoy the natural world into the f u t u re. I re a l i z e d a s a young man that giving back to the natural enviro n m e n t i s e x t re m e ly worthwhile.”

PAGE 4

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Saturday, September 22, 2012

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

PAGE 5

Addition of nearly 6,000 acres to WMAs adds opportunity Minnesota’s hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife populations will benefit from the recent addition of 5,778 acres to the state’s wildlife management area (WMA) system, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Much of this newly protected land is in the southern half of the state. It includes an expansion of 17 WMAs and the addition of six new WMAs. Many areas were open for public use when the fall hunting seasons started in September. The remainder will be ready later this year or early next year for public use. WMAs are open to public hunting and other compatible uses such as hiking, bird watching and snowshoeing.

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr thanked Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Cass County, The Trust for Public Land, Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society and Ducks Unlimited for their partnership in protecting more than half of these acres.

“Partners are the key to conservation,” said Landwehr. “We appreciate

the help of these groups, our sportsmen for the legacy they leave for future generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.”

Nearly 1,500 acres were purchased with funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds created by the Clean Water, Land and Le gacy Amendment, which receives one-third of the money raised by the state sales tax increase approved by Minnesota citizens in 2008.

According to Kim Hennings, DNR wildlife land acquisition coordinator, other major funding sources were the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Matching program and the $6.50 surcharge on the small game license.

Most of the RIM matching dollars came from the sale of the critical habitat license plates. The $30 per year charge for the colorful plates generates more than $3 million a year that can be used to equally match p r ivat e d o n at i o n s t o acquire or develop critical habitat in the state.

“Most of the designated lands are additions to existing WMAs, comple-

m e n t i n g o u r p rev i o u s investment in wildlife habitat,” said Ed Boggess, DNR fish and wildlife division director. “The new WMAs will expand opportunities for hunting and trapping.”

The largest of the acquisitions is the new 888-acre Pittman-Robertson WMA, located 13 miles east of Crookston in Polk and Red Lake counties. This acquisition was purchased with RIM matching dollars made available by previous donations from TNC and federal wildlife restoration funds.

The new WMA will be an important part of the grassland and prairie corridor involving the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge and a number of other WMA and TNC lands. Many of the wetland and g rassland restorations have been completed

by TNC. The unit honors the 75th anniversary of the Federal Wi l d l i f e Restoration Act, which provides millions of dollars to the DNR to help fund wildlife habitat work in Minnesota. Also known as the Pittman-Robertson program, it is funded by a

Taking a big one!

federal excise tax on sporting ar ms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

Dedication of the Pittman-Robertson WMA is planned for spring 2013.

Closer to the Twin C i t i e s, 2 8 2 a c re s we re transferred from the DNR’s parks and trails division to the Ney WMA as part of a realignment of DNR lands. Located just six miles southeast of Belle Plaine, these lands expand the existing 157acre WMA to provide a large block of habitat for close-to-home public hunt-

ing and wildlife watching opportunities.

Locations of existing public hunting, fishing and trail opportunities are available online using the DNR’s recreation compass.

DNR Public Recreation Information Maps (PRIM) also can assist people in finding land open to public recreation.

New WMA additions and expansions won’t be listed on these resources until later this year or next.

The complete set of 51 separate PRIM maps iden-

Golden rules for great food plots for wildlife If you have harsh winters and want to help wildlife through them, food plots can help. But there are a few key rules you should follow in planning and planting the plots to attract and aid your favorite wildlife species.

Place food plots near escape cover.

Food plots will tend to concentrate wildlife--both the species you want and the species you don’t. If you’re planting the plot so you can find a covey of quail or pheasants, you can bet that fox and other predators will also be looking in the prime feeding area for them.

So escape cover needs to be close so that the food plot isn’t a cruel trap for your favorite species.

Several small food plots are better than one larger one.

You’ll get more diversity of species with more locations, and the escape cover will be closer to feeding wildlife.

But larger food plots may be needed if you have heavy deer populations that wipe out the food supply before the winter is over. You want your food supply to be available to your favorite species all winter.

Send us your outdoor photo for our Wildshots Photo Gallery!

607 Pacific Avenue, Morris, MN 56267 www.morrissuntribune.com

(320) 589-2525 1-888-589-2525

tify a wide variety of federal, state, and county lands available for public recreation activities such as hunting, camping, hiking, and boating. PRIM maps, which cost $5.95 each, are available from the DNR gift s h o p, Minnesota’s Bookstore and several s p o r t i n g g o o d s s t o re s around the state and online.

Guard against soil erosion.

Steeply sloping soils plowed or disced for planting are exposed to water and wind, and will erode if precautions aren’t taken. See the National Resources Conservation Service to be sure the land is protected against erosion.

Plant food to attract and support the species you want.

Along with other recommendations, the Stevens County NRCS office has information on the best foods to offer various wildlife species. The three common types of food plots are annual grain plots; green browse plots, and fallow areas. Corn, grain sorghum and forage sorghum are favorite grain plots for pheasants and quail. Green browse plots with pure stands of highprotein legumes and grasses are used by quail, pheasants, turkeys, songbirds and others. Winter wheat, rye, millets and buckwheat are favorites of migrating waterfowl. Fallow plots are disced or otherwise disturbed croplands that are tilled but not planted, that encourage new annuals and weeds to grow that are essential to young quail, turkey and many songbirds. NRCS technical guides, available on the internet, suggest favored food sources.

PAGE 6

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Hunting or fishing...

Saturday, September 22, 2012

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

PAGE 7

large or small... it’s all in the fun!

PAGE 8

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Stream barbs preserve fishing hole Project is good for anglers, Pomme de Terre River The Mill Dam just east of Morris has been a popular fishing spot for generations, and now thanks to the Legacy Project and some local initiatives, anglers will be able to enjoy this area for years to come.

A series of four stream barbs were installed to minimize bank erosion below the dam.

Stream barbs are low rock sills which project out

from the bank into the river. The purpose of a stream barb is to redirect water flow away from the eroding bank.

After months of planning, Ron Feigum, district technician with the Soil and Water Conservation District in Stevens County, is pleased with the outcome.

“We know people use that bank a lot for fishing,” explained Feigum. “That’s

why the city (of Morris) has been looking to get this taken care of.”

Although it only took one day for local contractor Koehl Excavating to install the barbs, it required a lot of patience on Feigum’s part to see the project to fruition.Permits were applied for, permission from a landowner was secured, an archeological dig was completed, and a g rant was applied for

before any work could be done.

Everything was ready to go in July. Large rocks were hauled in and placed at a 30-degree angle from the bank, extending into the water about one-third

the width of the river.

The bank was also reshaped at a 2-to-1 slope and seeded with native grasses.

It was necessary to remove only a minimal number of trees to com-

plete the project.

Not only was the safety of anglers a cause for concern,but also the welfare of the Pomme de Terre River watershed.

See STREAM BARBS Page 9

Ross Reiffenberger, Area 2 Soil and Water Conservation District engineer, and Ron Feigum, Stevens SWCD technician, watch the placement of rocks during stream barb construction.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Stream barbs Continued from page 8 “We don’t want all that sediment going down the river,” said Feigum.

Brett Arne, Pomme de Terre River Watershed Project Coordinator, was also very involved in the project.

The grant money came from Clean Water Legacy Funds. These dollars are from the Le gacy Amendment and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Minnesota voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Le g acy Amendment in 2008 which increased the state sales tax by threeeighths of 1 percent. The additional sales tax revenue is distributed into four funds, with 33 percent going to clean water projects.

Partners in the Stone’s Mill Stream Barb project were the City of Morris, the Pomme de Terre River Association, Stevens Soil & Water Conservation District, Minnesota Board o f Wa t e r a n d S o i l Resources, the Minnesota Department of Natural R e s o u r c e s , a n d We s t Central TSA2 Engineers.

Now that the project is complete, Feigum hopes it it will not only be safer for people fishing from the bank, but also more productive.

“Fish love it behind those stream barbs,” ensured Feigum.

The bank below the Mill dam is shown before the stream barb project (above) and after (below).

PAGE 9

PAGE 10

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Good duck opener expected When Minnesota’s waterfowl season opens Saturday, hunting is likely to be pretty good.

That from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which reports that record continental duck breeding populations combined w i t h l ow w a t e r l eve l s across much of the state will work to the hunter’s advantage.

“A pile of ducks are coming down from Canada and they are going to be more concentrated this year because of less water across the landscape,” said Steve Cordts, the DNR’s waterfowl specialist.

“Somewhere someone is going to have the best duck

hunting they’ve ever had.”

Cordts said the Sept. 22 opener – the earliest since World War II days – also will help hunters be more successful. That’s because wood ducks and teal, early migrants, should still be abundant throughout the state. Moreover, the DNR has split the state into three hunting zones with different dates as part of an effort to provide additional hunting opportunity as birds migrate from north to south. By adding a third zone in souther n Minnesota, the hunting season now extends through the first weekend in December.

“There’s a lot of opportunity this year,” said

Cordts. “The duck hunter who moves around the state can hunt for more than 70 days.”

Cordts said teal and wood ducks are migrating out of the state every day, but more of them will be around this weekend than if the season opened the following weekend. He also noted that Minnesota has good numbers of molt mig rant Canada g eese moving into the state.

These are nonbreeding birds that were in Minnesota this spring, mig rated this summer north to the Hudson Bay to shed their flight feathers, and are just now returning to Minnesota for the fall.

These birds have not yet

been hunted.

It’s possible that more duck hunters will be hitt i n g t h e sw a m p s a n d sloughs this fall than in recent years, too.

As of last week, waterfowl stamp sales were running ahead of last year and so were youth small game license sales that indicated the licensee intended to hunt migratory birds.

“We won’t have a final license tally until the season ends on Dec. 2, but it’s g o o d t o s e e p re s e a s o n interest above that of last y e a r, ” said Steve Merchant, acting DNR wildlife chief.

As of Sept. 14, Minnesota duck stamp sales totaled 46,001 com-

Small game hunting is big opportunity for new hunters Minnesota small game hunting seasons are an ideal way for friends and families to get outdoors and discover the opportunities Minnesota has to of fer, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Small game hunting started on Saturday, Sept.

15, when the seasons for ruffed grouse, rabbit and squirrel began.

“Small game season is a forgotten pleasure,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator.

“With nothing more than a small caliber rifle or shotgun, a bit of patience and

some blaz e orang e, Minnesota’s fields and forests are there to be explored and enjoyed.”

Small game hunting is inexpensive. Youth licenses (age 15 and under) are free and those for 16 and 17 year olds are just $12.50, a discount from the standard license price of $19.

Hunters must meet firearms safety requirements or obtain an apprentice hunter validation and go afield with a licensed h u n t e r. M i n n e s o t a ’ s apprentice hunter validation prog ram enables those who need but have not completed firearms

safety training to hunt under prescribed conditions designed to ensure a safe hunt.

“Once you’ re in the field, careful observation of wildlife habits and a bit of stealth will begin to give small game hunters the experience they need,” Kurre said.

Minnesota offers public hunting on more than 1.4 million acres of wildlife management areas, 15,000 acres of Walk-In Access lands in southern Minnesota, and millions of acres of state forests.

Grouse hunters have access to 528 designated hunting areas in the ruffed g rouse range covering nearly 1 million acres, 43 designated ruffed grouse management areas, and 600 miles of hunter walking trails.

Lingering summer foliage early in the season makes harvesting grouse c h a l l e n g i n g , s a i d Te d

Dick, DNR grouse coordinator. But, he said, learning where and when grouse can be flushed is beneficial knowledge that hunters can use as colors change in the woods and leaves drop.

“Flush rates and total h a r ve s t p ro b ably w i l l decline because we’re on the downward side of the 10-year grouse population cycle,” Dick said. “But Minnesota offers some of the best grouse hunting in the country and, even in down years, has flush rates that hunters in other states envy.”

In northwester n Minnesota, the sandhill crane season also began Sept. 15. Waterfowl season opens statewide on Saturday, Sept. 22, as does the season on woodcock, a woodland migratory bird.

Pheasant season opens Saturday, Oct. 13.

pared with 44,479 in 2011 for the same time period.

Youth small game license sales with a Harvest Information Program certification totaled 7,194 this year compared to 5,879 last year.

The Minnesota DNR issued 89,520 state waterfowl stamps last year, up from the previous year but below the 100,000-plus licenses sold from 1990 through 2007.

Merchant said there is no one explanation for why waterfowl hunting interest is rebounding, but record continental duck breeding numbers, early openers this year, long seasons and other organizations’ efforts to get kids

outdoors are all likely factors.

The DNR will post a weekly waterfowl migration report each week during the duck season. The first report was posted Friday online.

“If you’ve been sitting on the duck hunting sidelines, this would be a great year to get back in the game,” said Merchant.

“You may have to drive a bit based on your local water conditions – but where there is good water there should be good duck numbers.”

Waterfowl hunting regu l at i o n s a re ava i l abl e wherever DNR licenses are sold and online.

Walk-In Access program active in Stevens County Hunters in Stevens and s u r ro u n d i n g c o u n t i e s have additional land available to them for hunting in 2012.

There are ten Walk-In Access sites, totaling over 1,100 acres, established in Stevens County for hunting in 2012, as well as several in surrounding counties such as Grant, Swift, a n d Po p e. T h e s i t e s, marked by yellow WIA signs along their borders, are open to public hunting from Sept.1 to May 31,from half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.

Yo u can visit http://dnr.state.mn.us/ walkin/index.html for infor mation about the W a l k - I n A c c e s s Program in Minnesota.

There are i n t e r a c t ive m ap s o f t h e sites and downloadable GPS information, as well as more hunter infor mation and details a b o u t enrolling land.

Begun as a pilot program in 2011, the Walk-In Access Program was established in 21 counties in southwester n Minnesota. The program will pay landowners for

allowing their private land to be hunted by the public, while limiting liability for the landowners. DNR Conservation Of ficers handle trespass and hunting violations. The DNR works with area Soil and Wa t e r C o n s e r v a t i o n Districts, who assist landowners with enrollment, and funding is obtained from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the USDA. Program enrollment for 2012 is closed, but if you are a landowner considering putting some of your land into Walk-In access, there will likely be anoth-

er signup in 2013.

When purchasing your 2012 deer or small game licenses, you can choose to donate to this program.

This funding will help ensure continuation of increased hunting access.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

PAGE 11

2012-13 MINNESOTA HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING SEASONS FISHING

HUNTING/TRAPPING

04/14/12 - 09/30/12 S t r e a m T r o u t i n s t r e a m s , ex c e p t S E - 2 0 1 2 s e a son

07/15/12 - 10/15/12 C row H u n t i n g ( 2 n d s e a s o n )

04/14/12 - 09/14/12 S t re a m T r o u t i n s t re a m s S E - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n

08/20/12 - 09/12/12 L a c q u i P a rl e C o n t r o l l e d H u n t Z o n e A p p l i c a t i o n Pe r i o d

05/01/12 - 02/24/13 B ow f i s h i n g - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n

09/01/12 - 11/05/12 S n i p e a n d Ra i l H u n t i n g s e a s o n

05/12/12 - 02/24/13 Wa l l eye , s a u g e r, n o r t h e r n p i ke - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n

09/01/12 - 11/09/12 M o u r n i n g D ove s e a s o n 09/01/12 - 10/14/12 Bear season

05/12/12 - 02/24/13 L a rg e m o u t h B a s s - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n - N o r t h a n d E a s t o f U. S . H w y 5 3 f ro m D u l u t h t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l Fa l l s a n d Pe l i c a n a n d A s h l a ke s i n S t . L o u i s C o u n t y 05/12/12 - 02/24/13 Smallmouth Bass-2012 season-North and E a s t o f U. S . H w y 5 3 f ro m D u l u t h t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l Fa l l s a n d Pe l i c a n a n d A s h l a ke s i n S t . L o u i s C o u n t y 05/12/12 - 09/30/12 L a ke T r o u t ( s u m m e r ) - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n 05/12/12 - 10/31/12 S t r e a m T r o u t i n l a ke s - 2 0 1 2 s u m m e r s e a s o n 05/26/12 - 02/24/13 L a rg e m o u t h B a s s - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n - S o u t h a n d We s t o f U. S . H w y 5 3 f ro m D u l u t h t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l Fa l l s a n d Pe l i c a n a n d A s h l a ke s i n S t . L o u i s C o u n t y 05/26/12 - 02/24/13 Smallmouth Bass-2012 season-South and We s t o f U. S . H w y 5 3 f ro m D u l u t h t o I n t e r n a t i o n a l Fa l l s a n d Pe l i c a n a n d A s h l a ke s i n S t . L o u i s C o u n t y 06/02/12 - 12/01/12 M u s ke l l u n g e ( M u s k i e ) - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n 09/10/12 - 02/24/13 S m a l l m o u t h B a s s - 2 0 1 2 C at ch a n d Re l e a s e s e a s o n o n l y ( s t a t ew i d e ) 09/15/12 - 09/30/12 S t r e a m T r o u t ( Fa l l ) S E - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n C a t c h a n d Re l e a s e s e a s o n o n l y 11/15/12 - 02/24/13 D a rk H o u s e S p e a r i n g - 2 0 1 2 s e a s o n 05/11/13 - 02/23/14 Wa l l eye , s a u g e r, n o r t h e r n p i ke - 2 0 1 3 s e a s o n

09/01/12 - 09/21/12 E a rl y C a n a d a G o o s e s e a s o n 09/15/12 - 02/28/13 S m a l l G a m e - Ra b b i t s, S q u i r r e l s s e a s o n 09/15/12 - 11/30/12 S h a r p t a i l e d G ro u s e s e a s o n 09/15/12 - 01/01/13 S m a l l G a m e - G r o u s e , G r a y Pa r t r i d g e 09/15/12 - 12/31/12 D e e r H u n t - A r ch e r y s e a s o n

10/20/12 - 10/24/12 P r a i r i e C h i ck e n s e a s o n 10/20/12 - 03/15/13 R a c c o o n , R e d Fo x , G r a y Fo x , B a d g e r, Opossum (North) Hunting & Tr apping 10/20/12 - 03/15/13 R a c c o o n , R e d Fo x , G r a y Fo x , B a d g e r, Opossum (South) Hunting & Tr apping 10/27/12 - 04/30/13 F u r b e a r e r T r a p p i n g - B e ave r - n o r t h z o n e 10/27/12 - 02/28/13 F u r b e a re r T r a p p i n g - M i n k a n d M u s k r a t n o rt h zo n e 10/27/12 - 01/05/13 F u r b e a re r T r a p p i n g - O t t e r - n o r t h z o n e 10/27/12 - 10/28/12 D e e r H u n t - C a m p R i p l ey A r ch e r y H u n t - 2 n d season 10/27/12 - 04/30/13 F u r b e a r e r T r a p p i n g - B e ave r - s o u t h z o n e

09/15/12 - 10/21/12 Sandhill Crane season-NW zo n e

10/27/12 - 02/28/13 F u r b e a re r T r a p p i n g - M i n k a n d M u s k r a t south zo n e

09/22/12 - 09/23/12 T a ke - a - K i d H u n t i n g w e e ke n d

11/03/12 - 11/11/12 D e e r H u n t - F i re a r m s e a s o n - 2 A a n d 3 A

09/22/12 - 11/05/12 Wo o d c o c k s e a s o n

11/03/12 - 11/18/12 D e e r H u n t - F i re a r m s e a s o n - 1 A

09/22/12 Wa t e r fo w l s e a s o n o p e n e r

11/17/12 - 11/25/12 D e e r H u n t - F i re a r m s e a s o n - 3 B

09/29/12 - 10/14/12 Moose Hunt - Northeast season

11/24/12 - 11/29/12 Fisher and Pine Marten season

09/29/12 - 10/28/12 F a l l T u rk e y s e a s o n

11/24/12 - 01/05/13 B o b c at - H u n t i n g & T r a p p i n g s e a s o n

10/13/12 - 01/01/13 Pheasant season

11/24/12 - 12/09/12 Deer Hunt - Muzzleloader season

10/18/12 - 10/21/12 D e e r H u n t - S p e c i a l Yo u t h D e e r H u n t 10/18/12 - 10/19/12 D e e r H u n t - C a m p R i p l ey A r ch e r y H u n t - 1 s t season

PAGE 12

SUN TRIBUNE HUNTING & FISHING EDITION

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Youth Mentor Hunt held Sept. 7 & 8 in Morris area The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently hosted a Yo u t h M e n t o r h u n t .

There were six hunt areas around the state. Kids up to age 15 applied during the summer to participate in the youth hunt. The pur-

pose of the hunt is to provide opportunities to youth that have no experience hunting and whose parents don’t have experience hunting waterfowl.

The events are run by vo l u n t e e r s f r o m l o c a l Ducks Unlimited chap-

t e r s. M a t t S o l e m s a a s, Stevens Soil and Water Conservation District Administrator and Ducks Unlimited member, was the Morris area hunt coordinator. Mentors for this area were Jef f Hellermann, Brian

Lanners, Kurt Nelson, and Aaron Weinandt.

For the Morris Area hunt, the DNR and DU partnered with the US Fish & Wildlife Morris Wetland Mana g ement District.

DNR Conservation Officers and enforcement officials from the USFW gave Friday night presentations regarding hunting laws and ethics and bird identification. The F riends of the Mor ris WMD served dinner for the youth hunters and mentors.

On Saturday Sept. 8, the mentors hosted four youth and their parents and each g roup had successful hunts.

A Morris area youth poses after his successful hunt on Sept. 8 with volunteer mentor Jeff Hellermann and his dog, Candi.