Hugo Farms WMA

[Tinkhamtown]

The city of Hugo is putting a 68-acre soccer area right next to the south end of Hugo Farms WMA. City paid over $26,000 to cut down all the trees in a beautiful wild area that was heavily used by wildlife. Last weekend they burned down two buildings creating a toxic waste area and now they are going to put in soccer fields for kid to play on.

The mayor and his neighbor plus 100 closest friends have a petition going around to stop all shooting in the Hugo WMA.

The only thing we (conservationist, hunters, fisherman, outdoor persons) have to do is do nothing and it will happen.

Tink

PS: I walked the whole area last week and seen where they even cut down trees into the edge of the WMA. Past the stakes stuck in the ground with “end of cut area” written on them, which were driven over by the large tree cutter machine as they went into the WMA and cut trees. Guess they won’t be happy until Hugo looks like the every other suburb and all the wild areas are gone.

[Sandmannd]

That's just sad, way to go Hugo. We need less wild life land and more soccer fields, baseball diamonds and golf courses.

[Grant Pearson]

Who in their right mind would want to put a soccer field right next to a WMA? What if someone is hunting, forgets/doesn't know the soccer field is there and inadvertantly shoots in that direction and hits someone? Way to go City of Hugo!!!! Lets put our kids in danger.

[hanso612]

The writting was on the wall when they accidently drained this WMA a few years ago.

It was also a woman who sabotaged a great intentioned bill in Chaudray's committee because of this same WMA. This is exactly why the bill was proposed in the first place.

If we don't cluster the people and preserve openland around every small town we will see urban sprawl from coast to coast.

Don't give up on this WMA.Lets try and keep the fight there in Hugo. We as hunters should stand our ground rather than cave to development. At the very least force the state to add an equal WMA in more suitable habitat(not by acreage, but by dollar value) It's a very slippery slope and the longer we can stave off the growth the longer our kids will be able to hunt. Hans

[tedl]

 Originally Posted By: kingfisher1

Who in their right mind would want to put a soccer field right next to a WMA? What if someone is hunting, forgets/doesn't know the soccer field is there and inadvertantly shoots in that direction and hits someone? Way to go City of Hugo!!!! Lets put our kids in danger.

Say goodbye to the WMA, because I don't believe they would allow hunting next to the soccer field. I'm sure "THEY" led people to believe they could both exist when looking for public input. But "THEY' knew all along after they got the field the WMA would be done.

[Grant Pearson]

too much risk if you ask me. It's just an accident waiting to happen

[tedl]

I agree!! Its a shame the soccer field was approved to be put in. I thought the whole reason for WMAs was to set aside a place that was for hunting, that developers could not touch, and secure our hunting heritage.

Doesn't a % of the money from hunting and fishing licences pay for these WMAs?

And if so, why are they not being protected from encroachment?

[hanso612]

These spots close to the city are priceless. With the price of gas, shortage of time with todays hectic life, and total lack of access to hunt -these things are to valuable to let go.

I also think these same people who insist on putting houses all the way around lakes are the ones who complain loadest about the Canada goose explosion. We need spots to hunt metro geese near water. Geese get educated quikly and fill these unhuntable ponds in the fall exasperating the problem.

Once again if it is sold it should be replaced not only with an equal dollar amount but that sale price plus a convienience price which is way higher than we care to admit. Hans

[Grant Pearson]

I want to know who it was that came up with the idea to have a soccer field back up to a WMA. not much fore though there. I think Homer Simpson could have made a better decision.

[2 pounder]

Hello.My nane is Jess, and I live in Hugo.You can blame all this on our mayor,and the two clones he has on the city council.Mayor Miron and council members Haas,and Puleo are large land owners.Guess who is behind all the mess here in swamp city.I am part of a group of citizens fighting this corruption, but can only do so much.

[tedl]

Hello Jess, thanks for keeping up the good fight!!! I moved away from Hugo only ten years ago when it looked like a small town in anywhere U.S.A, Now it looks like the middle of sub divide and concur U.S.A

[Grant Pearson]

 Originally Posted By: 2 pounder

Hello.My nane is Jess, and I live in Hugo.You can blame all this on our mayor,and the two clones he has on the city council.Mayor Miron and council members Haas,and Puleo are large land owners.Guess who is behind all the mess here in swamp city.I am part of a group of citizens fighting this corruption, but can only do so much.

have you tried a petition yet?

[Tinkhamtown]

There is a partition being past around by Tom Drewry a contributing writer for the Hugo Citizen Community paper and I was the first Hugo residents to sign it. Partition is to keeping hunting and shooting in the Hugo WMA.

Come election time we Hugo sportsman need to remember the names of Miron, Hass, and Puleo and vote accordingly.

[hanso612]

The only problem with letting democracy rule is that many things are better served by government intervention. Our forfathers built many safe guards into the rules to keep mob rule at bay.

I'm afraid in Hugo and many cities we are not part of the mob.

The state needs to step in because many WMA's are used by people outside the voting area?

By all means cast your vote and what ever you do make a huge stink and get them all riled up. Hans

[tealitup]

Contact the DNR and make a complaint about the City cutting trees in the WMA. Tell the CO you would like to make a citizens arrest if he can find out who operated the machine.

[Tinkhamtown]

Preserve your right to hunt!

There are people in the city of Hugo trying to stop the discharge of firearms on all public lands and waters within the city (about 70 areas).

Sportsman and women need to respond by reviewing and signing an apposing petition to preserve your right to hunt.

The petition to preserve your right to hunt on all Wildlife Management Areas, lakes, ponds and wetlands in Hugo area (about 70 areas) can be reviewed and signed at the Wolf’s Den Gun Shop in Hugo and the Bald Eagle Quick Stop north of White Bear on highway 61. Thanks for your support.

Tink

[BoxMN]

I am in WBL, but go to that WMA for duckin' and to run the dogs now and then. I also have shot pheasant there, it is a great place and nice and nearby. Thatis horrible the coty put a soccer field there.

I can't vote in hugo, but my borther and his wife can. I am sending him this link now, and he goes to that WMA a lot.

That is horrible planning on the cities part, and I hope the DNR slaps the city yet again for another dumb arse move...

[tedl]

It truly is a shame what is happening down there. If I were down there I would gladly sign!! My dad bought my first gun at the wolf's den. Its a shame to hear about the area I grew up to love the outdoors, is losing it wild places by the day

[hanso612]

Tinkhampton, Thanks for posting. Looks like grass roots activism at its finest. Hans

[tedl]

Is this ban on hunting in hugo not being publicized? I have contacted people that live in the FL,Centerville, and WBL area that hunt these WMAs but are not Hugo residents, to see what they had to say. They had no clue this was happening.

Is this something that only Hugo residents have control over?

[croixflats]

Its happening all around the state most WMA' are donated with intention wild life and hunting. Now we see developments popping up right next to them and the cities or towns are annexing them for there own use. The Dnr should have more oversight on these and regulate on how close one can build to an WMA.I think there is discussion on this but nothing is being done about it yet.

These WMA arn tdonated or created in order to sell developpements at an increased profit. They agreement for the outdoor enthusiast and hunter, They should be left alone and kept for what they were created for

If you remember just awhile ago a hunter was shot in the back by a land owner at the lakeland WMA. He says it was an accident. I hope it was.

[BoxMN]

FYI - my brother says that the Bait Store on 61, the white one next to the beer store, has a petition going to keep allowing legal hunting and shooting in Hugo. For anybody who lives or uses the area, please stop in sign it before they won't let us do anything anymore.

BTW - that bait shop is a good one too, so if you are picking up bait, please sign the petition.

THANKS for making this known to us - heck I live right down the road and this is the first I have heard of it.

[Grant Pearson]

I'll definitely have to stop in and sign it. The inlaws live really close to that store, and I visit it a lot when fishing.

[BoxMN]

I signed the petition against the firearm discharge ban yesterday at the bait store...

[Fishin Dood]

My mom moved to Hugo about 2 years ago. I have since finished college and moved back home (to save money after spending it all for 4 years). I just discovered the Hugo Farms WMA last fall and hunted it a few times. It enrages me to no end that the city is trying to take away one of the few spots in the area that the average sportsmen has the opportunity to hunt.

What sort of business does a soccer field bring to a small town like Hugo? I know the Hugo WMA is probably not a huge source of income, but it draws people from outside Hugo. There has to be more money coming in from hunters visiting the area (eating at the few restaurants, buying gas, etc.)then a soccer field would bring in.

This makes no sense at all...I'll be heading to the bait store tomorrow to sign my name. I realize Hugo has bigger things to worry about right now, but lets not forget about the other issues.