Presidents report
By Clyde Stephens
Presidents Report –
Another
fall is finally here, I thought summer would never end! Well maybe not quite
that drastic. There is so much to talk about – let’s get started!
Several changes
are being implemented by the Minnesota DNR this fall regarding deer
management, namely re-zoning in Northern Minnesota, an early antler less hunt in
parts of NW Minnesota, and earn a buck and antler point restrictions (QDM style
changes) in several State Parks up and down the State, plus a new metro-hunt. We
feel these are positive changes taking steps in the right direction. Lets take a
look at each one.
Re-zoning
– Zone 1 is pushed farther west
giving hunters in several permit areas a 16 day rifle season where they only had
9 days before. Plus zone 4 has been eliminated North of Hwy 10, adding these
permit area’s to zone 2. Everyone affected will get more days to hunt with
firearms. A major part of MN QDMI’S philosophy is to practice selective
harvest and getting more time in the field is a great way to do this. I will be
the first to admit it’s hard to be selective with just 2 or 4 days or what I
call a “rush hour” hunt. The possible down-side is that the hunters who just
want to shoot bucks and generally try to fill their ego by shooting as many as
they can will have even more days to do this, causing an even bigger problem in
trying to balance the deer herd. I have heard concerns from many people who
practice QDM who are worried about this happening. And I have heard enough
complaints about QDM from people to
know it’s a valid concern. I even tried to convince the DNR that implementing
antler point restrictions would be a perfect fit with re-zoning. I still believe
that but was told it would be too much change for one year. All I can do is
encourage using good judgment when hunting. The easiest way is to look at the
bonus tags the DNR is offering in your area and use that as a guide. If you can
get 4 bonus tags then you or your hunting group should be taking at least 4
times as many antler less deer than
bucks. There is nothing better about shooting a young buck than taking a mature
doe, or one hunter taking several young bucks in one year instead of filling
bonus tags. You are just making the problem that we all built over the last 25
years or so a little worse. In the old days (up to about 5 years ago) most of us
didn’t know any better and were actually trained by buck only tags to do this.
But this day and age continuing to shoot buck after buck (party tagging) or to
fill your freezer with young bucks while passing up does is just plain stupid.
And you can quote me on that. We should know better and some of us do. MN QDMI
has worked very hard to teach hunters and non-hunters the many benefits of
trying QDM.
I
have heard a lot of excuses as to why hunters can’t or shouldn’t change
their ways, and a couple of them have some merit – most of them don’t. I
have come to the conclusion that most of the excuses have been invented so a
hunter could lower his standards enough so they can be met with a poor quality
hunt, therefore becoming successful. For any validity there would be stories
about hunters passing up big bucks, but for some reason you never hear that.
Early
antler less hunt – Several permit
areas in NW Minnesota will have an early doe rifle hunt this October, including
209, 210, 225, 227, 236, 252, 256 and 257. The hunt is scheduled for Oct 15th
and 16th. Hunters can take 2 antler less deer and these tags cannot
be carried over and used in November. A great idea and I look at it as a better
choice than going to a buck lottery or earn a buck to increase the doe harvest
and take some pressure off bucks. We at MN QDMI don’t want hunters to have to
pass on a mature buck like these other choices would do. I hope this hunt
expands in the future. Also we are in the second year of the NW Minnesota Youth
doe season. Last year 644 kids took part; hopefully this number will go up this
fall.
STATE
PARKS – Starting this fall several
State parks will have either earn a buck or antler point restrictions in
Minnesota. Folks, to me this experiment means QDM is officially here in
Minnesota!! The seeds are planted – if given an honest chance the future will
tell us if QDM lives or dies in Minnesota. That’s all we ever wanted was a
chance!
METRO
DEER HUNTING ZONE – Another new
concept the DNR is trying that makes a lot of sense. A 23 day deer season, where
hunters with any unused tags from anywhere else in the State can continue
hunting in the metro area. A place that has a huge deer population problem and
where most of the hunters live! Now any city hunters that don’t fill their
tags while hunting up North can go back home and keep on hunting! They don’t
have to shoot anything (often dumb yearling bucks) before their hunt is over
just to fill tags. Plus if they take a deer close to home it will get to the
processor and freezer faster, therefore I would venture to say the quality of
this venison may be much better.
If
all this doesn’t convince you that changes are coming to deer management here
in Minnesota, nothing will. I can hardly believe it! This open minded approach
by the Minnesota DNR to try new things with deer management is a very new and
refreshing concept. I would like to thank whoever is responsible for this, and
give that person or persons a raise!
And please take the time to
go through the rule-book and become familiar with all the details regarding deer
hunting in your area. Chances are something has changed.
MDHA
has been saying that the “good ol’ days” of deer hunting are right now.
They have apparently been very happy with the same “status – quo”
mentality that has frustrated others like myself for years! I say that some
components of deer hunting are good, but there is much room for improvement, and
we have also created some very real problems because
of past management that need to
be addressed! And it looks like now that is starting to happen. To me the
“good ol days” regarding deer hunting are yet to come. I now think that I
may live long enough to see some of the changes other States have been enjoying
for many years.
I want to wish everyone a
safe and successful hunting season, and remember -
being an ethical hunter means doing the right thing when you
think nobody is watching you. Some of the most memorable times I’ve had deer
hunting were when I didn’t pull the trigger.
Sincerely;
Clyde
Stephens
President
and Founder of MN QDMI