Boundary Waters Blog

     I don't think I'll be applying for a wolf hunting permit next year.  I don't think there's anyway I could bring myself to pull a trigger on such a beautiful animal.  Will you be applying?

DNR releases proposal for wolf harvest season this fall

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing an inaugural gray wolf hunting and trapping season this fall that calls for a conservative harvest quota of 400 animals.

Wolf research indicates Minnesota's wolf population could sustain a higher quota, but DNR officials say they are taking a measured approach to the state's first season.

The proposal sets a quota of 6,000 licenses that will be allocated through a lottery system. Only one license will be allowed per hunter or trapper. Hunting would be allowed with firearms, archery equipment and muzzleloaders. Calls and bait would be allowed with restrictions.

The season is proposed for the end of November and would be closed once the quota is met. Hunters would be required to register animals on the same day they are harvested and data would be collected from carcasses. Other states with harvest seasons for wolves and other big game animals similarly monitor seasons and close them when quotas are met.

DNR will outline its proposals to the Legislature on Thursday, Jan. 26 before the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.

While the legislatively approved wolf management plan authorizes hunting and trapping seasons, the agency is seeking additional authorization from the state Legislature this session to offer a wolf license and implement other management strategies.
Legislators will have to pass a bill by the end of the session and the governor will have to sign it in order for a season to be held.

The DNR will also take public comments prior to finalizing and implementing a wolf season.

The initial season will allow wolf biologists to collect information on hunter and trapper interest and harvest success and will provide biological information on harvested wolves to help inform future wolf population management and monitoring. The state has an estimated population of 3,000 gray wolves and past surveys indicate the population is stable.

Wolves are prolific, survival of young is generally high and populations can offset effects of mortality caused by hunting and trapping seasons, DNR officials say.

The DNR intends to manage wolves as a prized and high-value fur species by setting the season when pelts are most prime, limiting the take through a lottery and requiring animals be registered.

DNR plans to adjust the framework of future wolf seasons based on information collected during the inaugural season. This adaptive management approach will result in progressive changes as the DNR learns how to best manage a wolf season in Minnesota. The wolf harvest quota does consider other causes of mortality such as removal due to livestock and domestic animal depredation and threats and vehicle collisions.

The agency will also be undertaking a new wolf population survey starting next winter.

Minnesota's population of Great Lakes gray wolves transitions from federal protection to state management on Friday, Jan. 27. That is when the DNR implements its state management plan, which is designed to ensure their long-term survival of wolves in the state.

The agency has three lead conservation officers designated to ensure enforcement of the state's wolf laws by conservation officers throughout the wolf range. The agency also has a wolf research biologist and management specialist.

Information on changes to regulations on taking wolves to protect domestic animals can be found online at www.mndnr.gov/wolves.

     Mike has been itching to get out snowmobiling and today he found the perfect opportunity.  We both have to go to town but I have a long list of things I want to get done before I go to town.  Mike has to drive for hockey practice tonight so he has to be in town by 5:30.  My Subaru is in town and we just have the Suburban up here so I was going to have to go into town with him.

     He came up with a solution for me to stay home longer and for him to get to town.  He decided he would take the snowmobile in.  He just called from Trail Center where he had to gas up.  He said the Canadian trails were groomed and in great shape.  He also said the lakes are in fantastic condition.  Now he'll take the snowmobile trail the rest of the way to town, we'll see how he says that is.

     One glitch was Josh's hockey bag needed to get to town so Mike strapped it and his hockey stick onto the snowmobile.  That has to be a funny sight! I'm hoping I'll get to bring the snowmobile back up to Voyageur.

    Do you have plans for the weekend yet?  If not then how about taking a trip up north to stay at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and make some winter tracks? There's plenty of snow on the ground to enjoy everything winter on the Gunflint Trail has to offer.

     The cross-country ski trails are in awesome shape and you're sure to find one you'll love.  There are over 200 kilometers of groomed trails on the Gunflint Trail and there isn't a bad one in the bunch.  You could try some downhill skiing at Lutsen on your way up here or on your way home.  There's some fresh fallen snow making for some great skiing with an even greater view of Lake Superior.

     We've got plenty of snow for snowshoeing and even for snowmobiling.  The snowmobile trail is groomed and the lakes are frozen for riding too.  The ice anglers are experiencing luck fishing for lake trout on many of the Gunflint Trail lakes.

     Stick around for the Gunflint Trail Mail Run on Monday and Tuesday.  It's a sled dog race that's taking place on the Gunflint Trail since the Beargrease was cancelled.  It's a great time to come up and stay at Voyageur and make some tracks before Winter Tracks begins on February 3.

     Call and make your reservations today for this weekend! 1-888-CANOEIT

     This has nothing to do with the fact I've recently attended a 3-day Emergency Medical Services Conference, the fact I've been preparing to take the EMT test or the fact I have to re-certifiy for CPR tonight.  It has to do with mushing on the Gunflint Trail.

     We've been planning for the 2012 Mush for a Cure since before last year's Mush for a Cure was over.  We've been begging for prizes, donations and sponsors for the mushers and for raffle and/or auction gifts.  We've also been lining up some folks to compete in the Bald, Brave and Beautiful Head Shaving Contest for Friday night of the event. 

     Speaking of Friday night, this year's Friday Night, Pink Pajama Party will be held at Windigo Lodge just down the road from Trail Center.  Sarah and the Crew at Trail Center will no doubt be busy feeding hungry guests and we outgrew her establishment for the Friday night festivities.  Don't worry the Mush for a Cure Saturday events will all still take place at our favorite Gunflint Trail bar and restaurant on Poplar Lake and Sarah is happy for the success of the event.

     As stated in the paragraph above Friday night at Windigo is the Pink Pajama Party.  Bring a blanket or stuffed animal and show up in your best pink PJ's to win the prize of best dressed.  We'll be dancing to the music of Trail's End Band after the Pink Pasta meal. 

     We're excited as ever for this event and for the Gunflint Trail Mail Run happening on the 30th and 31st of this month.  It's happening in place of the John Beargrease Sled Marathon that was cancelled due to lack of snow in Duluth.

     Come on up to the Gunflint Trail and watch your brain turn to Mush too!

     You may have missed something in a recent blog post.  I posted what I thought would be a simple quiz on local birds from my feeder.  I then challenged folks to name them in a facebook post.  Suprisingly no one has answered the order of the birds correctly yet.  I'm drawing a name from the correct answers and giving that person a gift from our Voyageur Trading Post.  So far that's a prize drawing with no one included.  I know some of you know these birds, how about giving it a try?

    Here's wishing you a snowy good week!