MN DNR Offering Limited Moose Hunt This Fall
I have only been in the presence of a live moose in the wild once, between Remer and Floodwood, coming back from Walker. He was H U G E, standing next to the road. I was glad I was in the car and it warranted a stop to watch him. The DNR is offering a limited moose hunt this coming fall, so get your hunting party together! What does moose taste like, is it gamey?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that it will offer a limited bulls-only hunting season this fall.
Although hunting mortality of bulls is not a significant factor in the moose population decline, the state's moose plan, which addresses habitat, climate change, disease and other moose population factors, identifies specific thresholds when moose hunting should cease. The DNR is following that plan by closing two hunting zones in northeastern Minnesota, but continuing to allow limited hunting in other zones.
Minnesota's moose population is estimated at 4,230. This compares to last year's estimate of 4,900 and is down significantly from the 2006 estimate of 8,840. The DNR estimates about 50 bulls will be taken by state hunters this fall.
In 2008, the Minnesota Legislature directed the DNR to create a Moose Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the agency. The DNR convened a group of individuals from agencies, universities, tribes, and organizations representing a broad cross-section of moose expertise and interests. The Moose Advisory Committee filed a report that the DNR used to formulate its moose management and research plan. That plan states hunting should cease if:
The bull to cow ratio drops below 67 bulls per 100 cows for three consecutive years.
Overall hunter success drops below 30 percent for three consecutive years.
The harvest success rate for any individual hunting zone averages less than 20 percent for three consecutive years.
"The bull to cow ratio is well above the identified threshold and at the highest level since 2006," said Thorson. "Overall hunter success was 58 percent last year, well above the 30 percent threshold. And hunting success rates for individual zones have not dipped below 20 percent for three consecutive years except zones 23 and 34, which we have closed to hunting this year."
The moose season will open Saturday, Sept. 29, and conclude Sunday, Oct. 14. Hunters may apply at any DNR license agent or at the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Moose hunters must apply in parties from two to four individuals. An application fee of $3 per individual must be included with the application.
Permits are issued through a random drawing, except that applicants who have been unsuccessful at least 10 times since 1985 will be placed in a separate drawing for up to 20 percent of the available licenses. A person who is still unsuccessful in this separate selection also will be included in the regular drawing.
Because the moose hunt became a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in 1991, hunters who received permits for moose hunts for the 1991 hunt and later are not eligible to apply for the 2012 drawing. The license fee is $310 per party. There will be mandatory orientation sessions required for all hunters chosen for moose licenses.
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