DNR accepting comments on hunting rules

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, on a proposal to make permanent a number of temporary hunting rules that have been in place for at least one hunting season.

The rules pertain to registration of game taken by hunting or trapping, hunter selection and descriptions of various hunting area boundaries such as wild turkey permit areas, deer areas and waterfowl hunting zones.

“Hunters have been applying for licenses and registering game under most of these rules for the past several seasons,” said Jason Abraham, DNR season setting specialist. “By making these temporary rules permanent, we provide additional consistency for hunters and streamline the process for managing a sustainable harvest.”

Many of the rule changes are intended to streamline regulations, reduce paperwork and modify zone boundaries to better match habitat conditions. The rules, summarized below:

• Modify deer tagging provisions.
• Allow deer hunters to apply for an either-sex permit and a special hunt in the same year.
• Allow for online and telephone registration of bears and bait stations.
• Update elk zone boundaries.
• Provide for site validation coupons for fisher, marten and otter.
• Modify farmland furbearer zone.
• Consolidate wild turkey permit areas from 77 smaller areas into nine larger ones.
• Streamline wild turkey license sales procedures.
• Modify and consolidate prairie chicken zone boundaries.
• Moved the prairie chicken license application deadline to the Friday nearest Aug. 17.
• Correct rail and snipe possession limit for consistency with federal regulations.
• Provide for three waterfowl zones and standardize waterfowl season definition.
• Correct Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Area descriptions and
• Clarify eligibility of hunters and mentors participating in Youth Waterfowl Day.

The proposed rules are published online in the April 7 edition of the State Register.

They are also is available on the DNR website.

Comments may be submitted to: Jason Abraham, Box 20, DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55115-4020 or by emailing jason.abraham@state.mn.us.

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Comments sought on southeastern Minnesota deer population goals

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, on a proposal to make permanent a number of temporary hunting rules that have been in place for at least one hunting season.

The rules pertain to registration of game taken by hunting or trapping, hunter selection and descriptions of various hunting area boundaries such as wild turkey permit areas, deer areas and waterfowl hunting zones.

“Hunters have been applying for licenses and registering game under most of these rules for the past several seasons,” said Jason Abraham, DNR season setting specialist. “By making these temporary rules permanent, we provide additional consistency for hunters and streamline the process for managing a sustainable harvest.”

Many of the rule changes are intended to streamline regulations, reduce paperwork and modify zone boundaries to better match habitat conditions. The rules, summarized below:

• Modify deer tagging provisions.
• Allow deer hunters to apply for an either-sex permit and a special hunt in the same year.
• Allow for online and telephone registration of bears and bait stations.
• Update elk zone boundaries.
• Provide for site validation coupons for fisher, marten and otter.
• Modify farmland furbearer zone.
• Consolidate wild turkey permit areas from 77 smaller areas into nine larger ones.
• Streamline wild turkey license sales procedures.
• Modify and consolidate prairie chicken zone boundaries.
• Moved the prairie chicken license application deadline to the Friday nearest Aug. 17.
• Correct rail and snipe possession limit for consistency with federal regulations.
• Provide for three waterfowl zones and standardize waterfowl season definition.
• Correct Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Area descriptions and
• Clarify eligibility of hunters and mentors participating in Youth Waterfowl Day.

The proposed rules are published online in the April 7 edition of the State Register.

They are also is available on the DNR website.

Comments may be submitted to: Jason Abraham, Box 20, DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55115-4020 or by emailing jason.abraham@state.mn.us.

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MDC limits firearm antlerless permits for upcoming deer season

Decrease in deer numbers and resulting hunter and landowner input prompt changes.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission approved regulation

changes at its meeting today (April 17) in Jefferson City that will reduce the availability of firearm antlerless deer hunting permits from “any number” in most of the state to one in most of the state.

Exceptions to this regulation change allow hunters to fill two firearm antlerless deer permits in Chariton, Randolph, Macon, Linn, Sullivan, and Adair counties, which surround the area where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in a small number of deer in Macon County. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), continuing to maintain stable deer numbers in this “CWD Containment Zone” will help limit the spread of the disease to other deer and other areas.

Other areas where hunters can fill two firearm antlerless deer permits include urban zones around the state where deer numbers are typically higher than desired, and in Barton, Howell, and Oregon counties where local deer numbers are higher than deer management goals.

The regulation changes are scheduled to become effective for the 2014 fall deer hunting season.

Details on these changes and other information on deer hunting will be available in the Department's “2014 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet available beginning in July at locations where permits are sold, MDC offices and nature centers, and online at mdc.mo.gov.

According to MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners, the regulation changes are in response to lower overall deer numbers around much of the state as a result of long-term efforts to reduce the deer population through increased doe harvest. Previous regulations allowing the harvest of any number of antlerless deer have helped to decrease and stabilize deer numbers in many areas where deer numbers were too high.

Sumners added that the planned effort to reduce deer numbers in some areas was intensified by an unanticipated, extensive outbreak of hemorrhagic disease (HD) throughout most of the state related to the record-setting drought during summer and fall of 2012. With the resulting recent decrease in deer numbers in many areas of the state, some hunters and landowners have voiced their concerns about the level of doe harvest and the continuing need to offer hunters “any number” of antlerless permits.

“Our Regulations Committee considers the changing status of the deer herd across the state -- along with feedback from hunters, landowners, and others -- each year as it reviews recommendations for deer-hunting regulations,” Sumners said.

“Deer populations in Missouri vary regionally and county-by-county as habitat, hunting regulations, hunter numbers, and frequency and severity of disease outbreaks affect deer numbers,” he explained. “As these factors change over time, our deer management strategy is to be responsive to those changes.”

He added that MDC’s deer management strategy focuses on using science-based wildlife management practices, providing opportunities for all citizens to enjoy deer-related recreational activities such as deer hunting and watching, maintaining a healthy deer population, and providing related information to the public.   

The Department is planning public meetings throughout the state for this summer to share information and get public input on how and why it manages Missouri’s deer.

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More than 90,000 pounds of donated venison sent to food pantries statewide in 2013

 Hunters, meat processors and food pantries helped the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and its partners donate more than 90,000 pounds of venison to those in need in 2013.

"We are very proud to be part of this community-based program," said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Anytime we can have a safe, successful deer hunt and donate valuable food to our pantries it's a win-win for Wisconsin."

More than 2,000 deer were donated through the DNR deer donation program and processed packages of ground venison were distributed to food pantries statewide. The number of deer donated decreased by 27 percent compared to 2012, likely a result of fewer deer harvested.

"Regardless of the number of deer donated, the program is always considered a success," said DNR wildlife damage biologist Dan Hirchert.

"The deer donation program was designed to provide an outlet for surplus deer - whether hunters consume their own deer or donate to those in need, the meat is being put to great use," Hirchert said.

Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated more than 85,000 deer and more than 3.8 million pounds of venison. The collected meat is distributed to Wisconsin families in need of food assistance. The program relies on cooperation with counties across the state, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services and community programs like Hunt for the Hungry and Target Hunger. These organizations help organize donations, coordinate processing, and distribute venison.

For more information about the DNR's deer donation program and more on how people can help, search the DNR website dnr.wi.govfor keywords "deer donation."

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KANSAS NONRESIDENT DEER APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN

Nonresidents must apply online for limited deer permits

PRATT – Nonresidents who want to hunt deer in Kansas this fall must apply online for the limited number of nonresident deer permits by April 25, 2014. Season information, application instructions, permit quotas, as well as last year’s drawing statistics can all be viewed on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) website,www.ksoutdoors.com.

Just more than 22,000 nonresident white-tailed deer combo permits were authorized for 2014, the same as last year. In addition, 266 mule deer stamps are allocated in Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 16, 17 and 18. Nonresidents who wish to hunt mule deer must apply for a mule deer stamp. If they draw a muzzleloader or archery whitetail permit in one of these units, they will then be entered into the drawing for a mule deer stamp. Those who draw a mule deer stamp will receive a combo permit valid for one white-tailed or mule deer, buck or doe, and one white-tailed antlerless deer.

Only online applications will be accepted, and applicants will be taken through the process step-by-step on KDWPT’s website. General nonresident white-tailed deer combo permits are $346.96, including application and convenience fees. The Mule Deer Stamp is $102.50. Nonresident youth white-tailed deer combo permits (hunters 15 and younger) are $116.34. All nonresident permits are combo permits and include one either-sex whitetail tag and one antlerless whitetail only tag.

For more information go to www.ksoutdoors.com or phone 620-672-0728.

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New deer habitat grant program available in Michigan; application period opens April 1

The Department of Natural Resources today announced that, starting April 1, the application period will open for the new Deer Private Land Assistance Network (Deer PLAN) grant program. The Deer PLAN, funded by the Fish and Game Fund, is designed to support private-land deer habitat improvement projects in the northern Lower Peninsula.

"There are two primary goals applicants should strive to meet," said DNR wildlife biologist Brian Piccolo. "The projects should produce tangible deer habitat improvements and build long-term partnerships between the DNR and sportsmen's clubs."
For 2014, $50,000 will be available, focused on the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle. Funds will be allocated across these six counties based on a competitive grant application scoring process.
“A focus area will concentrate habitat projects in a particular region, and in doing so will provide greater benefits to deer populations in areas where we have identified habitat issues,” said DNR Deer Program biologist Ashley Autenrieth.
Application amounts must be between $2,000 and $10,000 and the grant recipient is required to provide 25 percent of the total grant amount. Projects can take place on private land, Commercial Forest Act land or other non-state-owned land.
Project applications are due by May 14. Successful applicants will be notified by May 30.
The complete grant application package is available online at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants by following the Deer PLAN link under Wildlife Habitat Management near the bottom of the page.
The Deer PLAN grant program is made possible by Michigan's new hunting and fishing license structure.

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North Dakota Deer Meetings Generate High Interest

State seal of North Dakota

North Dakota’s 2014 deer seasons will look pretty much the same as in previous years.

Through a series of public meetings and an open comment period that ran through March 17, however, deer hunters have provided a lot of input for the State Game and Fish Department to consider for 2015 and beyond.

“We told people at the meetings that it was very unlikely any major changes would take place this year,” said Game and Fish wildlife chief Randy Kreil. “Aside from some possible adjustments to the total number of deer gun season licenses, we won’t be recommending any changes in season structure or the number of licenses any one deer hunter can have.”

Game and Fish wildlife managers will analyze the hundreds of written and verbal comments received, before deciding whether to pursue changes for 2015.

More than 800 people attended the eight deer meetings held around the state the last two weeks in February. Several hundred additional hunters either watched the final meeting broadcast online, or viewed a recorded version. Game and Fish received about 400 written online comments and many other direct emails and phone calls.

“We expected high interest in this process and the response we got was even above that,” Kreil said. “North Dakota hunters are passionate about our deer hunting tradition. Our long-term hope is that habitat trends will allow us to rebuild the deer population from where it is now to a level that is satisfactory to the deer hunting public. Most people seem willing to make some type of short-term licensing-related changes to help us do that. Because of the great response we’ve had, we have a lot of ideas to evaluate, some of which are new or variations of the current system.”

Game and Fish set up the meetings and public comment process to explore some ideas for changes in deer license allocation the agency has received in recent years, in response to a declining deer population and fewer available licenses. In 2008 Game and Fish allocated nearly 150,000 licenses and in 2013 the total fell to 59,500.

While even at 150,000 licenses not every hunter could get a preferred license in a preferred unit, Kreil said the number of hunters who applied for a gun season license and didn’t get one has increased significantly over the past years.

As with all issues, Game and Fish is open to continuing public input. The general department email address is ndgf@nd.gov; and phone is 701-328-6300. 

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