OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK: Hunter educators honored ... Comments sought on hunting rules ... Moose numbers drop ... more

N.D. recognizes hunter ed volunteers

BISMARCK -- Volunteer instructors for North Dakota's hunter education program were recognized Feb. 12 at the annual hunter education workshop and awards banquet in Bismarck for their contributions to teaching students the importance of hunter safety and ethics.

Susan and Richard Harwood of Lemmon, S.D., and Keith Domke from Jamestown, N.D., were named instructors of the year. James Linnertz, West Fargo, N.D., was honored for 35 years of service.

Other instructors who were recognized:

- 30 years: Allan Aufforth, Bottineau; Dale Bakkum, Mayville; Ronald Brilz, Tioga; James Buchweitz, Bottineau; James Grubb, Tioga; Robert Herdt, St. John; Doyle Heupel, Elgin; Darrell Jamsa, Starkweather; Dale Kilwein, Dickinson; Allan Kville, Portland; Ellary Liebelt, Lidgerwood; Thomas Linnertz, Harwood; Charles Paulson, Bisbee; Ralph Peterson, Portland; Toby Placek, Crosby; Melvin Stark, Cavalier; Walter Turbiville, Dickinson; Daryl Vance, Watford City.

- 25 years: David Colby, Kenmare; Bruce Fairbrother, Towner; Allen Giese, Wahpeton; Dwight Leier, Esmond; Gary Leslie, Burlington; Gary Nilsson, Walhalla; Larrett Peterson, Bottineau; Larry Sinner, Hillsboro; Paul Stave, Grafton; Mark Walsh, Williston; Terry Week, Beach; Walter Zimbelman, Fullerton.

Awards also were presented to instructors with 20, 15, 10, five and two years of service. A full listing of instructors is available on the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.

-- N.D. Game and Fish Department

DNR accepts comments on hunting rules

ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments through March 31 on a proposal to make permanent a number of temporary hunting rules that have been in place for at least one hunting season.

The proposals cover a variety of areas pertaining to registration of game, hunter selection, and descriptions of various hunting area boundaries such as goose zones and deer area boundaries.

Rule proposals include:

- Providing for registration of multiple deer in intensive and managed deer areas and allowing deer registration by telephone.

- Restricting registration of antlerless deer in youth-only antlerless deer areas.

- Modifying licensing procedures for bear hunting.

- Modifying elk zone boundaries and establishing a separate license drawing for landowners.

- Amending registration block boundaries.

- Modifying otter zone boundaries and fur registration procedures.

- Modifying turkey permit procedures.

A copy of the proposed rules is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/input/rules/wildliferules/expedited.html. E-mail comments to Jason Abraham at jason.abraham@state.mn.us or by postal mail to Abraham at Box 20, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55115-4020.

-- Minnesota DNR

Moose numbers drop in northeast Minnesota

ST. PAUL -- The moose population in northeastern Minnesota continues to decline.

The DNR said based on an aerial survey conducted in January, wildlife researchers estimate there are 4,900 moose in northeastern Minnesota. That's down from last year's estimate of 5,500 moose.

The moose survey also finds the proportion of cows accompanied by calves continued a 14-year decline, dropping to a record low of 24 calves per 100 cows. The proportion of cows accompanied by twin calves was at the lowest level since 1999, and that contributed to the record low calf-to-cow ratio.

Reasons for the declining moose population are not well understood, but researchers suspect increasingly warmer weather is a factor.

-- Associated Press

Conservation, hunter

education funds gain

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar says Minnesota is getting over $25 million in federal money for conservation projects and hunter education.

A statement from her office says Minnesota will receive $13.7 million for fish habitat restoration, $9.6 million for wildlife restoration and $2 million for hunter education. The funds are coming from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Klobuchar says the money will help protect land, water, and wildlife habitats so the state can enjoy them for generations to come.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program works to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and their habitats.

The state is expected to use some of the funds for technical assistance, instructor training, curriculum development and other support for the Minnesota Hunter Recruitment and Retention Program.

-- Associated Press

Did you know?

- The fish population at Lake Bronson in northwestern Minnesota is in good shape, based on results from a survey conducted last summer by a crew from the Baudette area DNR fisheries office. Conducted every five years, the survey found walleyes from 7 inches to 26 inches in length, and the number of walleye sampled was "average" for lakes similar to Lake Bronson. The walleye population is maintained largely by natural reproduction, and some stocking. Largemouth bass ranged from 15 to 18 inches, with an average length of nearly 17 inches and an average weight of 2.5 pounds. Young-of-the-year black crappies were the most abundant fish caught in seine hauls. The young fish likely hatched early last June, the DNR said, and averaged between 1 and 2 inches long when captured in mid-July. Other fish species sampled included yellow perch and northern pike.

- The DNR is seeking watercraft inspector interns for the upcoming boating season to work at public accesses on lakes and rivers infested with invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Positions are available in Brainerd, Winona, Twin Cities, St. Cloud, International Falls, Duluth, Bemidji, Minnetonka and the surrounding areas. Applicants must be enrolled in a natural resources or related program and eligible to receive school credit for the position. The application deadline is March 11. Info: dnr.state.mn.us/staging/removed/jobs/watercraft/description.html.

-- compiled by Brad Dokken