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Published in the Duluth News Tribune
September 1, 2009
A new “shining” law has gone into effect in Minnesota, aimed at reducing poaching opportunities and minimizing the disturbance of rural residents.
Deer shining is “freezing” deer in bright lights to temporarily immobilize them. Recreational shining is legal at times for viewing wildlife. However, previous statutes made it too easy for people to poach wildlife while posing as recreational shiners, according to Department of Natural Resources officials.
The DNR met with stakeholder groups to determine how to curb abuse.
“Their collective opinion is that deer shining is a statewide problem,” Capt. Rod Smith, a DNR regional enforcement manager, said. “It’s also one of the most common complaints to law enforcement officers.”
by Moultrie Feeders
-By Brandon Wikman
Summer is a time when hunters hone their archery skills and try to outdo their shooting performance from last year. It is an ideal time to tweak, tick, and twiddle with new gear or accessories. The summer drags most archers into their front yard or local shooting range to plunk away on bag, block, or 3D targets. I’ve learned that it is crucial to your practice regimen that you invest efforts into piercing arrows in the correct target at the correct time.
 I guess this should have been written ealier in the year seeing how many States deer hunting season’s are already under way.
But better late than never!
I receive quite a bit of email about Deer hunting on public land. Having just came back from a Controlled Hunt on Public Land myself, here are some tips for you that are heading out to hunt Public Land Deer.
- Get a map. Preferably a topo map and an aireal photo of the area where you’ll be hunting. You can find good topo maps on the Internet at several areas or contact the USGS for an index. A good map will show you many things. Some of the things you’ll be wanting to look for are: where are other hunters parking, areas that will funnel deer into a tight area such as saddles in ridges, potential feeding and beddeing areas, waterways, old roads, etc.
With the deer hunting season fast approaching in many areas of the country, many deer hunters are looking for buck sign in their favorite patch of woods. Rubs happen to be one sure sign that a buck has been in the area. Doe deer don’t make rubs.
Over the years it seems that rubs are one piece of buck sign that most deer hunters mis diagnose when scouting. I’m not sure why, perhaps they haven’t taken the time to really educate their self on the different types of rubs. I’ve even heard old Grizzled deer hunters call deer scraps “rubs” and deer rubs “scrapes”.
I hope to shed some light on the different types of buck rubs and the timeline you’ll likely see these rubs.
-By Brandon Wikman
 The state of Wisconsin is only a mere three days away from turning completely blaze orange. Thousands of diehard deer hunters from across the nation make their way north to participate in the annual nine-day deer firearm season. A time when families gather, jokes are passed and the sweet smell of chili lingers in the kitchen.
From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 11, 2008
Ted Kline and Ron Smith did what deer hunters are supposed to do — wait a few minutes before tracking a doe that Smith shot Monday morning near Culver.“]![A deer shot by hunters near Culver on Monday morning apparently was attacked by two cougars before hunters could retrieve the animal. This photo appears to show a cougar paw print on the deer’s neck. [Photo courtesy of Robert Parrott]](http://northlandhunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pxcoug1111_500px1-300x215.jpg "pxcoug1111_500px1")
But in the 30 minutes from the time Smith, of Lakeville, Minn., took his shot to when they found the downed deer, two hungry cougars had moved in on the kill.
“When we got there they had both been eating on it. We scared them off, but they kept circling us. They didn’t want to leave,” said Kline, who owns the land where the two were hunting along the Artichoke River, about 25 miles northwest of Duluth.
From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 6, 2008
 BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakotans who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game, according to a study released Wednesday by the North Dakota Department of Health.
The study examined the lead levels in the blood of more than 700 state residents. The elevated lead levels were not considered dangerous, but North Dakota officials say pregnant women and children younger than 6 should avoid eating venison killed using lead bullets. Those groups are considered most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death.
From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 2, 2008
Hunters in Minnesota’s upcoming firearms deer season will have the opportunity to use smaller-caliber rifles than in past years, although the number of hunters expected to do so is expected to be small.
Among several changes in the state’s deer-hunting framework, new regulations allow the use of firearms at least .22 caliber with center-fire ignition. Formerly, the law required hunters to use at least .23-caliber weapons, but several other cartridges were allowed as exceptions.
Popular loads now permitted in.22-caliber center-fire include the .22-250, the .220 Swift and the .223.
Scott VanValkenburg at Fisherman’s Corner in Pike Lake says a minority of hunters will use the smaller-caliber weapons.
From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 2, 2008
Alex Spencer may get the chance to shoot at a whitetail buck sometime during Minnesota’s firearms deer season, which opens Saturday. Alex is 10 years old.
Under a change made by the Minnesota Legislature this past spring, hunters ages 10 and 11 are permitted to hunt big game this fall before taking firearms safety classes, although they must be under direct supervision and within immediate reach of a parent or guardian.
Alex, who lives in Rice Lake Township, already has hunted deer once. During this fall’s early antlerless firearms season Oct. 11 and 12 in areas north of Duluth, he sat beside his dad, Darrell Spencer, in a double tree-stand or in a ground blind. Alex had a chance to shoot at a doe but passed it up because he didn’t have a clear enough shot, Darrell said.
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
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![A deer shot by hunters near Culver on Monday morning apparently was attacked by two cougars before hunters could retrieve the animal. This photo appears to show a cougar paw print on the deer’s neck. [Photo courtesy of Robert Parrott]](http://northlandhunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pxcoug1111_500px1.jpg "pxcoug1111_500px1")
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