sharp shooters in nw mn

[otis32]

THEIR BLASTING THE REST OF THE DEER IN THE TB ZONE AGAIN!! I HOPE THEY CAN GET THIS FIRGURED OUT SOON. I AM GLAD I DON'T OWN LAND IN THIS AREA!! THERE WON'T BE GOOD DEER HUNTING THERE FOR AWHILE. ARE THEY DOING ANYTHING WITH THE COWS THAT HAVE IT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

[lungdeflator]

It would be better practice then shooting a paper bullseye! Is it paid sharp shooters or can public help out?

[motley man]

Why don't they open the season longer and let sportsman hunt these deer to thin the herd. We all see how it has worked state wide with all the bonus tags.

[UMDSportsman]

they did, it wasn't advertised real well, but i think in january if you had any unused tags for anywhere in the state, you could go up there and use them in the TB zone. only stipulation was that you had to use the correct weapon for the tag you had.

[fishinchicks]

They are doing what is required by the USDA to eliminate TB from the area. If they do not fulfill all the requirements, Minnesota will not get reinstated to a TB free status. It is a lot more expensive for the beef and dairy farmers up there right now with all the extra testing they have to do.

[Powerstroke]

This has been happening for at least the last 2 years if not 3. They have allowed unlimited tags to hunters in this zone. Its in the hunting regs. They did allow a late season in january on these deer. It was published online and in all of the newspapers, news channels and in things like outdoor news.

It even has its own zone number right now because the DNR is doing everything it can to eliminate the threat of bovine TB in this area.

[picksbigwagon]

So if I was to go hunting in Iowa next fall (which I am planning to do) and I buy a MN rifle zone license instead of my usual 3B shotgun season, I could head up to NW minnesota with my 243 and take a deer even though I didn't even plan to hunt MN at all?

Not sure how the wife would like that, but it is definately something to consider.......

[ScoutII]

A firearms tag is a firearms tag. Archery tag is for archery. Muzzle-loader tag is for muzzle-loaders. Rifle or shotgun are still firearms of the breech loading style. Muzzle-loaders are front-end loadable only and not a repeater(single-shot).

[Powerstroke]

Even you lowly 3B stepchildren can use your license to hunt in the TB zone the same way it counts the same in the metro zone for antlerless deer.

The problem with this TB zone is its mostly private land and with sharpshooters and liberalized permitting, the deer deensity in this area is under 5 deer per sq. mi. For comparison, the DNR manages ideal habitat for 20-25 deer a sq. mi.

In other words, the population in the TB zone has nearly been eliminated and the average guy who knows nothing of the area may not have a very good chance. It's discouraging and that's why few hunters travel there for the opportunity. I would do it if I knew a land owner up there.

[Powerstroke]

Also, a muzzleloader can be used in the firearms season because it is still a firearm and can have scopes.

Scopes are not allowed however if you are using a ML tag, because that is considered a primitive weapon.

[ScoutII]

2008 Minnesota Statutes

Resources

Topics

* Ammunition

* Big Game

* Blind Persons

* Crimes

* Deer

* Firearms

* Hunting

* Natural Resources Department

* Pistols

* Rifles

* Shotguns

* Small Game

97B.031 USE AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.

Subdivision 1.Firearms and ammunition that may be used to take big game.

A person may take big game with a firearm only if:

(1) the rifle, shotgun, and handgun used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and with centerfire ignition;

(2) the firearm is loaded only with single projectile ammunition;

(3) a projectile used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has a soft point or is an expanding bullet type;

(4) the muzzleloader used is incapable of being loaded at the breech;

(5) the smooth-bore muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .45 inches; and

(6) the rifled muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .40 inches.

Muzzle-loaders as defined by the state must be loaded though the front. But good point about the use of scopes on muzzle-loaders.

Now if you have a muzzle-loader tag I would not suggest using a rifle or shotgun to hunt with in the TB zone. Using a muzzle-loader with a firearms tag I would believe to be just fine.

[Powerstroke]

You are correct, I mis-spoke when I talked about breech-loading muzzleloaders. That would be a contradiction in terms and I misread your post.

[jerkbait]

Well, I will give you my 2 cents worth. I think it sucks, we hunt and own 160 acres right smack dab in the center of the TB zone. I think that since no deer have tested positive and showed no signs this fall that they could have put a hold on it for this year and seen what showed up next hunting season. Last year they estimated 800 deer and shot over 1600. This year they estimated just over 600 and last i heard have shot 205 and 1 bull elk. Don't get the elk? I think all the deer that were in the area last fall filtered in from outside of the TB zone. My 2 cents.

[onlydrakes4me]

Wow that sucks, sorry to hear that, hopefully they "harvested " all of the potentially diseased animals. I am fortunate to hunt in an area that has a healthy deer population and numbers are good. Hopefully they are done harvesting high numbers of deer in you area

[Musky Buck]

If they are doing what the usda says I hope this can come to an end, what if it pops up in a new area and another etc. Scary to think they could quarantine off your area and just start pounding em.

[onlydrakes4me]

Ya that is scary. I would hate to see an area pretty muched depleted of all its deer just because an area may have potentially infected animals.

[Musky Buck]

In the TB zone lets call it, I know they sample the deer, have any turned up with TB in their system ? I would assume so or I would hope they'd stop slaughtering that area. Is this the practice in other states that have found TB in cattle or the deer herd ? How northwest is this area ? Does it border canada and north dakota ? If so, was there any talk about doing the same in Manitoba or Northeastern North Dakota or is it the assumption that so few cross the rivers anyway by swimming or walking when frozen over, just curious how they go about roping off an area.

[jerkbait]

There were no deer that had shown up last fall during the regular hunting season and the late season in Jan. The season before there were 2 and the sharp shooters had 3 I think last winter out of 1600+ shot. I have heard rumors at work that last winter when they were shooting them out of the helicoptor that the deer were not being retreived, just left to lay. Rumors? I don't know, the source was fairly reliable, just not sure if I believe that. I know the desease needs to be taken care of. My main point is, the sharp shooters shot all the deer in the area last winter, all the deer that are in the area have filtered in from outside the area. On another note, I do beleive that deer in northern Mich. have had TB for many, many years. It doesn't really affect them. The TB hear in NW MN. is a Mexican strain of TB that the deer got from some cattle that were brought up from Texas. The core area that is the TB zone is about 25-30 miles south east of Roseau MN. and is very isolated. The cattle industry is the driving force behind the sharp shooters, certainly not the health of the deer.

[Gissert]

......And I see that they are now shooting elk too from an artilcle in Outdoor News last week.

HF1238 is being discussed in the House now. Looks like they really want to clamp down on the elk numbers.

20.22 Sec. 49. ELK MANAGEMENT PLAN.

20.23(a) Within 90 days of the effective date of this section, the commissioner of natural

20.24resources shall:

20.25(1) develop an elk management plan consistent with the requirements under

20.26Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.516;

20.27(2) present the elk management plan to the Kittson, Marshall, and Roseau County

20.28Boards; and

20.29(3) begin implementing the plan.

20.30( If the commissioner fails to meet all the requirements in paragraph (a), the

20.31commissioner shall establish an open season for elk in Kittson, Marsha1l, and Roseau

20.32Counties to begin in 2009 and continue until the elk population reaches 30 or less in

20.33Marshall County and 30 or less in Kittson County.

21.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

[jerkbait]

Yep, that has been an ongoing argument with the farmers due to the crop damage. Me personally I would like to see the herd expand. If they can force the timber wolf down our throat, why can't they force the elk down the farmers throat. The elk's historic range of elk covered a large chunk of MN.

[Musky Buck]

Right on jerkbait, thanks for the info., what will be the duration of time of them slaughtering off this area ? When will enough be enough and how do they determine it's over ? If they left some lay, what is the purpose ? Could diseased deer being eaten by other animals carry a risk ? I'm really not sure this was handled in the best way possible, but I hope in the future some things were learned from this situation.

[jerkbait]

Well I am hoping this is the last of the slaughter this winter. If they do find another deer with TB though I am sure they will be at it again next winter. Now if they don't find any with TB I think this will stop and I also think that the TB zone will become a lottery section for antlerless permits. From one extreme to the other.