DNR news releases, Oct. 31, 2013

MINNESOTA DNR NEWS #82                                                                              Oct. 31, 2013.
All news releases are available in the DNR’s website newsroom at www.mndnr.gov/news.
Follow the DNR on Twitter @mndnr.

IN THIS ISSUE
Cloquet artist wins 2014 walleye stamp contest
Cold and wind greet hunters during first Camp Ripley hunt
Conservation Corps Minnesota accepting applications for 2014

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cloquet artist wins 2014 walleye stamp contest

A painting of a walleye chasing a spinner rig tipped with a minnow by Stuart Nelson of Cloquet will be featured on Minnesota’s 2014 walleye stamp.

Nelson’s design was selected from three finalists. This is the second win this year for Nelson and fourth overall in a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sponsored stamp contest. Stuart won the 2014 and 1999 trout stamp contest and the 2011 walleye stamp contest. 

Three entries made it to the final stage of judging during the contest, which was conducted
Oct. 24 at DNR headquarters in St. Paul.

Contest judges were Cindy Rosin, Outdoor News; Lynn Maderich, a local artist; Konrad Schmidt, aquatic biologist; Jenny Kruckenberg, fisheries volunteer; and Al Stevens, a DNR fisheries program consultant.

An artist whose work is selected for a Minnesota fish or wildlife stamp receives no compensation from the DNR but does retain reproduction and marketing rights.

The Legislature created the walleye stamp in 2009. It adds $5 to the cost of an angling license for those who choose to purchase it, although it is not required to legally catch walleye.  Revenue from stamp sales is used to purchase walleyes stocked in Minnesota lakes. The 2013 walleye stamp still is available for purchase at all license agents.  

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     Oct. 31, 2013

Cold and wind greet hunters during first Camp Ripley hunt

Archers took a two-day total of 181 deer during the first two-day bow hunt Oct. 26-27 at Camp Ripley Military Reservation near Little Falls.

 “Breezy and colder than normal conditions greeted hunters and made it challenging for hunters to maximize their time in the field, with most of the hunters leaving by early-afternoon on Sunday.  Nevertheless, hunters still did pretty well,” said Beau Liddell, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Little Falls area wildlife manager.

 “For the tenth year in a row hunters were allowed to take up to two deer and to use bonus permits to increase harvest on antlerless deer,” he said. “Harvest is down about 13% from last year, but was similar to the harvest of 2009 when archers took 172 deer during the first hunt, and we are pleased that does and fawns comprised 68 percent of this year’s harvest.”

The total harvest thus far is similar to the long-term average harvest of 182 deer for the first hunt.  “Unless we get poor weather, we’re on pace to register another above average harvest for both hunts combined,” Liddell said.

There were 2,500 permits issued for the first hunt, with 2,193 hunters participating, for a participation rate of 88 percent (up from 82 percent last year).  Hunter success was 8 percent (slightly below the long-term average of 10 percent for the first hunt), and four hunters took their bag limit of two deer.

“With fifteen consecutive mild winters in this part of the state and strong harvests since 2000, Camp Ripley’s deer herd is in good condition.  The weights of most fawns and yearling deer that were registered this weekend were heavier than they have been in recent years,” Liddell said.

The largest buck registered weighed 223 pounds, taken by Nicholas Witte of St. Peter, MN.  Of adult does registered, the largest weighed in at 138 pounds, taken by Michael Haubenschild of Austin, Minn.

The second two-day hunt is scheduled for this coming weekend, Nov. 2-3.  The DNR coordinates the hunts with the Department of Military Affairs, which manages the 53,000-acre military reservation.

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NOTE: Images attached.

 

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              Oct. 31, 2013

Conservation Corps Minnesota accepting applications for 2014
 
Young adults, ages 18 to 25, are encouraged to apply for one of 160 positions available with Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa. Conservation Corps is currently accepting applications for AmeriCorps field crew leader and member positions for the 2014 program year. Positions are available statewide, including northern, central and southern Minnesota, as well as central Iowa. Priority application deadline is Dec. 4.

All projects are completed on public land in cooperation with nonprofit organizations and government agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These opportunities provide technical field experience and professional certifications for future natural resource careers. Many DNR employees got their start in natural resources with the Conservation Corps (formerly MCC), where they learned a strong work ethic and a first-hand appreciation of the environment.

Corps members receive on-the-job training in natural resource management and put those skills into practice working on habitat restoration projects throughout the Midwest. Typical project work includes exotic species management, prairie and oak-savanna restoration, stream bank stabilization, trail building and maintenance, prescribed burning and wildland fire suppression.
 
Crew members receive a living stipend of $1,210 a month (crew leaders: $1,565 a month), health insurance, student loan forbearance during the service term and a post-service AmeriCorps Education Award that may be used for college expenses or to repay qualified student loans.

A crew member or leader position with the Conservation Corps involves physically challenging, team-oriented work to accomplish habitat restoration and emergency response projects. Projects are usually completed outdoors and about 70 percent involve camping near the project location. Applicants should have an interest in working outdoors in a team setting, giving back to their community and exploring professional development opportunities. 
 
To apply for the field crew program, and to view other AmeriCorps positions with Conservation Corps, visit www.conservationcorps.org/apply or contact Mark van der Linden, recruitment coordinator for more information at mark@conservationcorps.org or 651-209-9900, ext. 31.

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