From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 2, 2008
About half of Minnesota moose hunters successful
Minnesota’s moose hunters took 111 bull moose in this fall’s Northeastern Minnesota moose season, which ran Oct. 4 to 19.
Tags were issued to 237 parties hunting in 30 zones. Hunting success was 47 percent. Last year, moose hunters took 115 moose for a 50 percent success rate. For the second year, the hunt was for bulls only.
Several thousand parties apply for Minnesota moose licenses each year. Since 1991, the hunt has been a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. This year, 2,706 parties applied for moose hunting permits. Minnesota’s moose population is estimated at 7,600.
Corn coming out slowly
Wet weather slowed Minnesota’s corn harvest from Oct. 21 to 27, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota crop report. That’s important to the state’s pheasant hunters, for whom hunting improves as more corn is harvested and pheasants move into grasslands.
As of Monday, 30 percent of the state’s corn had been harvested, about half as much as last year and half as much as the recent five-year average. Weather has been good this past week, and farmers have been able to make more progress in the fields.
Another USDA crop report will be released on Monday.
Bowhunters do well at Ripley
Archers took a record 325 deer during the first of two two-day bow hunts held Oct. 19-20 at Camp Ripley Military Reservation near Little Falls, Minn.
That was a 41 percent increase from last year and is 160 percent above the long-term average harvest, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources news release. Hunter success was about 15 percent (7 percent higher than the long-term average of 8 percent).
Be careful in tree stands
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges hunters to follow safety procedures when using tree stands. Five tree-stand accidents occurred during the early antlerless season Oct. 11-12.
Here are some safety tips:
* Follow the three-point rule: Always have three points of contact to the steps or ladder before moving (two arms and one leg or one arm and two legs).
* Be cautious when rain, frost, ice or snow cause steps to become slippery.
* Never carry equipment with you while you are climbing. Use haul lines to raise or lower gear. Make sure guns are unloaded and broadheads covered before moving them.
* Always wear a safety harness when you are in a tree stand, as well as when climbing into or out of a tree stand.
* A safety strap should be attached to the tree to prevent you from falling more than a foot.
* Always inspect the safety harness for signs of wear or damage before each use.
* Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting from them, and replace any worn or weak lumber.
* Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts before each use.
Recent Comments