WHITETALES Building our hunting and conservation legacy through habitat, education and advocacy.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
TURNING YOUR SHOTGUN INTO A SLUG GUN BY JOHN TERTULIANI
VENISON FOR EVERYDAY MEALS BY WES DAVIDÂ
FORKHORN FUN FACTS DECODING WHITETAIL MUMBO JUMBO BY TERRY T. CLAPP
FALL 2017
About this
Issue
Change We Must
In his first “From the President’s Stand” column, newly elected, but long time dedicated MDHA member, volunteer and friend, Doug Appelgren, not only says, “The future is now,” (his title), he goes on to explain how important the 3-Rs (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) are to our hunting’s future. Doug maintains, as Executive Director Craig Engwall has in light of hunter numbers declining what with anti-hunter propaganda and hunter apathy inclining, the future is now. Doug also highlights most “millennials” are not that interested in long-term volunteer commitment (maybe due to work and family constraints), but they might commit to short term projects if results are seen. Doug also says that for sure we all agree with past president Denis Quarberg when he said, “Our deer hunting future is now.” Nevertheless, he adds, we should rank and file follow the directive our Executive Director, Craig Engwall, has put forth: Please join MDHA in fighting for our deer and deer hunting tradition by not only staying informed on threatening diseases like CWD and doing everything possible to prevent CWD from gaining a foothold in Minnesota, but also making sure anti-hunters don’t take info and spread undocumented hysteria regarding eating deer meat. Yes, CWD is a threat, but for the antis it is a means to the end of hunting. This is why this fall issue focuses on not only the hunt, but the hunting pursuit of purely natural table fare like the whitetail deer. One of the antis’ main means to destroy hunting has been to anthropomorphize the fish and animals by giving them human characteristics (think Bambi). The next most attempted (and this is very current) has been to make the eating of venison fearful. Think about it, what was once a badge of honor to kill a deer for the family freezer, has now become a propagandized fear what with the lead and now CWD specter hovering over our once dependent and delectable deer meat fare. How many of us have grown up eating venison? How many of our modern families will be fearful? Read the fearmongering stuff regarding eating venison and judge for yourself. For many years, the antis have worked to make birds and animals human. For sure, that has somewhat worked. Lately, however, they have danced around the “making human” thing and gone to fearful health scare thing by introducing the frightening specter of tainted meat and as the old trappers would say, “That ain’t good.” After you read “Venison for Everyday Meals” you will get our “gist.” The rest of our issue not only deals with shotgun slugs and the ballistics for making the first shot count, it delves into the old flintlock in the hands of a young “smokepoler” and the future of elk being resorted in northeastern Minnesota. Sure, we do the “how-to” by “Decoding Whitetail Mumbo Jumbo” and reading our “tips” section, but perhaps the most important pieces are our “Hides Help Create Habitat” and our “Women Afield” segments. Since 1985, MDHA and its Hides for Habitat Program have not only created valuable deer habitat, it has spoken to the need of importance of “habitat” for all wildlife. In addition, and this is a huge addition, the inclusion of our feminine family and friends to our hunting world has greatly enhanced not only our hunting crews, but, for sure, the number of new hunters into our hunting realm. Like President Doug says, “If there is ever a time for unity, it is now. Put aside differences and work together for a healthy deer herd and the future of deer hunting in Minnesota.” Whitetails Forever, Co-Editors and Founders, Rod Dimich and Ed Schmidt Whitetales is the official magazine of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated to improving Minnesota’s whitetail deer population. The MDHA is exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Whitetales effectively communicates MDHA’s chief purpose “building our hunting and conservation legacy through habitat, education and advocacy.” Articles and photographs portray the beauty, value and importance of whitetail deer while relating to the thrill of hunting the species. If you have a service or a product that appeals to deer hunters and enthusiasts, Whitetales is the best advertising medium available. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is pleased to present a variety of views in Whitetales magazine. The intent is to inform readers and encourage healthy discussion of important wildlife and conservation issues. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the view of Whitetales or MDHA. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers or their identification as members of MDHA does not constitute an endorsement. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association welcomes suggestions and contributions from readers. All materials: manuscripts, artwork and photography must be electronically sent. Send all material to bri@mndeerhunters.com. Letters should be a maximum of 150 words, articles a maximum of 500 – 800 words. If a reprint from a newspaper is submitted, permission must be obtained and an electronic copy must be sent. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
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WHITETALES MNDEERHUNTERS.COM
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS PRESIDENT Doug Appelgren > dougappelgren@mndeerhunters.com VICE PRESIDENT Gary Thompson > garythompson@mndeerhunters.com SECRETARY Mark Strege > markstrege@mndeerhunters.com TREASURER Denece Dreger > denecedreger@mndeerhunters.com AT-LARGE DIRECTOR Dennis Quarberg > dennisquarberg@mndeerhunters.com REGIONAL DIRECTORS REGION ONE Stu Weston >
REGION EIGHT Dustin Shourds >
REGION TWO Scott Foley >
REGION NINE Mark Burley >
stuweston@mndeerhunters.com
scottfoley@mndeerhunters.com
REGION THREE OPEN REGION FOUR John Edinger >
dustinshourds@mndeerhunters.com
markburley@mndeerhunters.com
REGION TEN Mark Lueck >
marklueck@mndeerhunters.com
cedinger@q.com
REGION ELEVEN Brent Thompson >
lodrmr@gmail.com
REGION TWELVE Jim Vogen >
steveranallo@mndeerhunters.com
REGION THIRTEEN Michael Burley >
REGION FIVE Peter Lodermeier > REGION SIX Stephen Ranallo >
REGION SEVEN Mark Nohre >
brentthompson@mndeerhunters.com
robvog21@aol.com
michaelburley@mndeerhunters.com
marknohre@mndeerhunters.com
MDHA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Craig Engwall > craig.engwall@mndeerhunters.com EVENT & PUBLICATION COORDINATOR Bri Stacklie > bri@mndeerhunters.com �Independent Contractor
MERCHANDISE/ MARKETING COORDINATOR Josh Salisbury > josh@mndeerhunters.com PROGRAM COORDINATOR Gabe Gropp > gabe@mndeerhunters.com FINANCE COORDINATOR Renee Thompson > renee@mndeerhunters.com MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Kim Washburn > kim@mndeerhunters.com GRANT COORDINATOR Jenny Foley > jenny@mndeerhunters.com OFFICE MANAGER Kim Nelson > kimn@mndeerhunters.com CHAPTER COORDINATOR Angie Forconi > angie@mndeerhunters.com PUBLISHER > Minnesota Deer Hunters Association 460 Peterson Road | Grand Rapids, MN 55744 800.450.DEER (MN) / p: 218.327.1103 / f: 218.327.1349 CO-EDITORS > Ed Schmidt and Rod Dimich LAYOUT, DESIGN & PRINTING > Brainerd Dispatch, A Forum Communications company www.brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd, MN ADVERTISING > Josh Salisbury josh@mndeerhunters.com / 218.327.1103 x 17
Whitetales Building our hunting and conservation legacy through habitat, education and advocacy.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
Contents
FALL 2017
TURNING YOUR SHOTGUN INTO A SLUG GUN BY JOHN TERTULIANI
VENISON FOR EVERYDAY MEALS BY WES DAVID
FORKHORN FUN FACTS DECODING WHITETAIL MUMBO JUMBO BY TERRY T. CLAPP
FALL 2017
ABOUT THE COVER
"A Northern Minnesota whitetail buck poses on a rainy fall day." Photo by Matt Herberg Photography
34
Departments IN EVERY ISSUE
From the President’s Stand .... 4 The Outlook................................ 5 Minnesota Buck Sense ............ 6 Capitol Comments .................... 8 Around the State ..................... 20 Forkhorn Fun Facts................. 26 MDHA Marketplace ................ 28 Deer Hunting Memories ........ 42 What’s Cookin’? ....................... 52 Hidden Object Contest .......... 54 Daylight in the Swamp ........... 56 IN THIS ISSUE
Hides Help Create Habitat Helping Deer ............................ 18 Jenny Foley
Women Afield – A Timely Trend ......................... 38 Jenny Foley
This is Why I Hunt ................... 40
Tips & Treasures ...................... 48 Rod Dimich, Ed Schmidt
Member Story: An Old Flintlock in a Young Hand .............................. 50 John W. Hayes
10 14 30 34 44
FEATURES
Turning Your Shotgun into a Slug Gun By John Tertuliani
Venison for Everyday Meals By Wes David
Elk Restoration Project Continues in Northeastern Minnesota By Joe Albert
Decoding Whitetail Mumbo Jumbo By Terry T. Clapp
Make the First Shot Count: Ballistics for Deer Hunters By Roy Welch
MDHA affiliates:
Gizmos, Gadgets, Garments & Gear..................... 53
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 3
From the President’s Doug Appelgren / MDHA PRESIDENT
THE FUTURE IS NOW
I would like to thank the MDHA Corporate Board for electing me your next President. It is an honor and privilege to serve in this capacity. I am proud to be a life member of one of the finest conservation organizations in the United States, building our deer hunting and conservation legacy through habitat, education and advocacy. Think of what we have accomplished: millions of dollars in habitat projects and grants, supporting research grants and education through firearms safety classes, forkhorn camps, trap shooting and archery programs and the wildlife curriculum boxes for our schools, working with Cory Bennett, one of the finest legislative lobbyists on the hill, in order to ensure advocacy for conservation legislation, hunting and habitat projects and drafting good legislation for our goals and continued hunting legacy. It goes on and on with many chapter projects and mentored hunts. Any great achievement or accomplishment is always the result of a collective effort� Our members and the countless hours of volunteerism you put in for our mission and vision is that collective effort. YOU are MDHA and for all your efforts we owe you a huge debt of gratitude. Thank you� Having said that, we are facing many difficult challenges ahead. When we talk “legacy,” we are talking about our grandchildren and their kids, long after we’re gone. You have heard me talk about the 3Rs (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) and you will continue to hear me talk about this process because it takes a while to sink in. Unless we begin to take this seriously and begin to do things differently, there simply won’t be a legacy. License purchases are declining nationally. In Minnesota, license sales remain relatively stable, but our state population continues to grow, so we too are considered in decline. We haven’t been trying to make more “hunters,” we have been trying to make more people like us. Repeatedly, I have heard (from national speakers and others involved in the “R-3” Process) that “Us Old White Guys” if not
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already, will be soon be the minority. Therefore, we no longer represent America (kind of harsh) and therefore are no longer thinking like America (even more harsh). Today, only 6% of the population hunts and 94% are white and 89% are male. We can resist this FACT and keep trying to make people like us and hunter numbers will decline as we die off or we can begin to study the R-3 strategies to preserve this hunting privilege and allow new traditions to evolve. Change doesn’t come easy. Sometimes we need to get out of the way. BUT CHANGE WE MUST. If hunter numbers continue to decline, the Pittman/Robertson and Dingell Johnson monies will correspondingly decline. Without these federal monies being infused into local state agency budgets, wildlife management as we know it will cease to exist—there will be no wildlife management or habitat money. We are talking about the future of wildlife in this country. As we all know, hunters always step up for conservation and science based wildlife management—what will happen to our voice? Who will care about wildlife? So, this isn’t just about membership anymore—it’s about introducing everyone to the outdoors, recruiting hunters and new members, retaining them and re-activating those who used to hunt. It’s about changing how we get volunteers involved. Research shows most “millennials” aren’t interested in long-term volunteer commitment—that’s certainly what we all have been trying to replicate (it is who we are) but they will commit to short term projects (“w/ results”). We must continue to collaborate with other organizations, bring more women and youth into our ranks and embrace other cultures and races into this passion we call hunting. If we really care about tomorrow, we must change with the same dedication we have now but embrace the new technologies and R-3 strategies in the future. As Denis Quarberg often said, “The future is now�” Perhaps our greatest and immediate threat is Chronic Wasting Disease. We need more
research because of all we don’t know. BUT, one thing is certain, we must begin now or it will be too late. During the legislative session, MDHA asked the Legislative Auditor to audit the Board of Animal Health to make sure the cervidae farms are abiding by the rules to keep the wild herd safe. Do we need to formulate a position about recreational feeding if it is even just a possibility that nose-to-nose feeding is also a vector of transmission for CWD (this would be a tough one)? How we should address CWD is one of the arguments and it’s understandable. There is a lot of misinformation and many theories. We need to listen to the science and “where the evidence takes us.” He goes on to say, very succinctly, “Despite our arguments and disagreements, this (CWD) is not something we can afford to fight over.” You have heard this before, “We only get one shot at this.” Once CWD becomes firmly established, it’s not going away. “If ever there was a time for unity, it is now.” Our voice is listened to and we need to stand ready to assist the DNR (money and time) in sampling and other strategies in battling this threat to our heritage and legacy. As your president, I urge us to put aside our differences and work together for a healthy deer herd and the future of deer hunting in Minnesota. Whitetails forever.
Craig Engwall / MDHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE – AMIDST THE GLOOM AND DOOM, THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO
In June, I had the good fortune to participate in the National Deer Alliance (NDA) Summit in Austin, Texas on behalf of MDHA. While many important issues were discussed, there was agreement amongst the scores of representatives from conservation organizations and wildlife agencies that the single greatest threat to North America’s deer herds and deer hunting is chronic wasting disease (CWD). The threat is daunting and ominous, so it is critically important for MDHA and its members to be engaged and active in doing everything possible to protect Minnesota’s deer herd.
What is CWD? This year marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of CWD by wildlife biologists at Colorado State University, who observed captive mule deer developing a new disease which caused weight loss, loss of awareness of their surroundings and ultimately, death. Years later, researchers discovered CWD is caused by prions. Prions are not like bacteria or viruses – they are actually deformed proteins. When ingested, prions force normal proteins in the animal’s body to become deformed as well. Over the course of months, prions gradually destroy the animal’s central nervous system, ultimately killing it. It is always fatal. CWD affects cervids, which are deer, elk, moose and reindeer. As a prion-based disease, it is similar to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as “mad cow disease” in cattle, “scrapie” in sheep, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in humans. How is CWD spread? Prions causing CWD can be spread through saliva, urine, feces, spinal and brain fluid and anything from the animal’s central nervous system. Direct contact is not the only way CWD can be spread. Sick and dead animals spread prions on the landscape. Some studies suggest these prions end up in the soil and on grass and other plants. It’s possible animals may pick up these prions when they eat the contaminated plants or soil. There are many theories about how CWD originated, but it is clear once it exists in an area, movement of infected animals spreads the disease. This can be most clearly seen by what happened in Saskatchewan. In 1996, the first known instance of CWD in Canada was discovered in a captive herd of elk in the province. Between 1996 and 2002, 39 captive herds of elk in Saskatchewan were found to have CWD. The Saskatchewan source herd is believed to have become infected via importation of animals from a game farm in South Dakota where
CWD was subsequently diagnosed. CWD has now spread to wild populations of animals in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. CWD has been found in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. It was surprisingly discovered in a reindeer herd in Norway last year. Many of Minnesota’s neighbors are facing circumstances where CWD has become endemic in their states. In Wisconsin, 43 counties are now in a deer feeding ban due to concerns over the spread of CWD. Missouri recently expanded its deer feeding ban to 41 counties in response to CWD. In Wyoming, where CWD has been endemic for decades, up to 40% of some herds are infected and whitetail deer populations are declining by 10% per year. Is CWD a Threat to Human Health? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, “To date, no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans has been reported.” It’s fair to say most deer hunters have generally assumed CWD cannot be transferred to humans. Yet a recently released study by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the University of Calgary may cause hunters to look at the issue more closely. The study, started in 2009, found five of 18 macaque monkeys exposed to CWD contracted the disease. Three became sick from eating CWD-infected materials – two from meat and one from brain matter. The other two became sick after their brains were injected with CWD-infected materials. Results are not yet in on the other 13 macaques. As a result of this study, Health Canada recently updated its CWD risk advisories, noting although extensive disease surveillance in Canada and elsewhere has not found direct evidence CWD has infected humans, its potential for transmission to humans can’t be ruled out. Health Canada said Canadians should consider CWD has the potential to infect humans. What can MDHA and its members do in the face of all of this negative information? MDHA should continue its support of aggressive measures to address the recent discovery of CWD near Preston, Minn. When CWD was discovered near Preston during the 2016 deer season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implemented a response plan to develop CWD zone 603, establish a five-county feeding ban and to remove approximately 1,000 adult deer through a special season, landowner shooting permits and sharpshooting. A total of 11 CWD-positive deer were identified in this effort, 10 of which were taken in a very small geographic area. This effort is critical as
DNR attempts to fully understand and best-contain this localized outbreak. These efforts do not come cheap and MDHA will continue to push for funding beyond those provided by deer license dollars. In fact, due in part to the advocacy of DNR, MDHA and others, the Legislature appropriated an additional $500,000 to DNR specifically for planning and response to disease outbreaks like CWD. MDHA should continue to push for a thorough review by the Legislative Auditor of the Board of Animal Health�s (BAH) oversight of captive cervid farms. Earlier this year, MDHA wrote to the Legislative Auditor requesting a review of BAH’s oversight and enforcement of Minnesota’s captive cervid law. The letter stated in part: “Minnesota’s deer hunters and DNR are doing their part to protect the state’s wild deer...Minnesota cannot afford to have these efforts undermined by ineffective administration or enforcement of Minnesota’s farmed cervidae statute.” The Legislative Auditor has now agreed to conduct such a review. This is great news, but we must make sure the audit is thorough and addresses all of the areas where MDHA has concerns, such as escaped animals. Additionally, MDHA will be working to ensure the Legislature considers tighter restrictions on captive cervid operations such as double-fencing, better recording keeping and other measures to protect the wild deer population. MDHA should be at the forefront of an effort to make readily available, inexpensive CWDtesting for deer harvested by Minnesota�s deer hunters. To the extent any hunter might be less likely to hunt deer due to human health concerns over CWD, a readily available CWD test may remove those concerns. Currently, testing is already available through a Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the University of Minnesota for somewhere in the vicinity of $25, but that is not widely known to most hunters. MDHA will work with DNR, the University of Minnesota and others to explore the feasibility of widely expanding the availability of quick, inexpensive CWD testing for harvested deer. It’s hard not to get discouraged regarding the negative depressing news about CWD and its devastating effect on deer. But, getting discouraged won’t help us protect the deer herd and the hunting heritage that are so very dear to each one of us. Please join MDHA in fighting for our deer and hunting tradition by staying informed on CWD and doing everything possible to prevent CWD from gaining a foothold in Minnesota.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 5
MINNESOTA
DEER CAMP – WOES & CURES… SNORING
There is nothing more aggravating at deer camp when purrs, snorts and snores begin when you are trying to get a few ZZZs after a long day in the woods. This condition can be serious as well as annoying to those other than the active participant. If you are the snoring culprit the noise doesn’t matter but… There are devices to reduce snoring by holding your lower jaw slightly forward of its normal position while you sleep. It opens your airway and eliminates the vibrations we all know as snoring. No vibrations, no snoring� Like Dick Anderson, former DNR Hunter Education Director suggested – “Just quietly sneak up on the snorer and give him a big kiss. He won’t snore all night because he will lay awake with one eye open wondering.” Unlike other snoring solutions, we recognize snoring is not a problem unto itself. TAP Sleep Care from Airway Management is a comprehensive approach backed by patient-centric science and 20 years of innovation to treat sleep-disordered breathing. The results speak for themselves, with more than half a million devices sold and countless nights of better sleep.
The Thornton Adjustable Positioner, or TAP, is a patented mandibular (lower jaw) advancement device specifically engineered for keeping your airway open during sleep. What makes the TAP so innovative is its single, midline tension mechanism. This technology not only allows you to advance your lower jaw with greater range than any other device, it also makes it incredibly comfortable and easy to adjust your device while it’s in your mouth. TAP Sleep Care lets you take ownership of your therapy by
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achieving optimal results on a gradual, nightby-night basis. TAP has shown in numerous independent peer-reviewed studies to be superior and more effective than any other appliance on the market. In fact, it’s the only device proven to be equivalent to CPAP. Anyone can find a dentist in their area or get more information at tapintosleep.com The soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxing causes snoring during sleep, partially blocking the airway. Air passing through causes vibration and the unmistakable sound of snoring. By using a special device, your lower jaw is gently pushed slightly forward, which alters the normal position while you sleep. The airway is therefore gently opened and it allows for the vibrations to be eliminated, thus reducing the snoring sound and allowing a more restful, quiet sleep.
LEG CRAMPS
What causes muscle cramps� The cause of muscle cramps isn't always known but after a day of trekking through slough grass, climbing hills or ladder stands, muscle cramps may be brought on by many conditions or activities, such as: • Exercising, injury, or overuse of muscles. • Cramps may occur because of decreased amounts of minerals, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium in the blood. • Exposure to cold temperatures, especially to cold water during late fall hunts. • Other medical conditions, such as blood flow problems (peripheral arterial disease), kidney disease, thyroid disease, and multiple sclerosis. • Standing on a hard surface for a long time, sitting for a long time, or putting your legs in awkward positions while you sleep. • Being dehydrated, which means your body has lost too much fluid. • Taking certain medicines, such as antipsychotics, diuretics, statins, and steroids.
How can you stop a muscle cramp when it happens� You may need to try several different ways to stop a muscle cramp before you find what works best for you. Here are some things you can try: • Stretch and massage the muscle. • Take a warm shower or bath to relax the muscle. A heating pad placed on the muscle can also help. • Try using an ice or cold pack. Always keep a cloth between your skin and the ice pack. • Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen(Aleve). Be safe with medicines. Know your body chemistry and follow all instructions on the label. • If your doctor prescribes medicines for muscle cramps, take them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have any problems with your medicine. • Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will often help leg cramps. I also have heard and tried tonic water with quinine.
BUG BITES AND STINGS
(Including ticks, black flies, deer flies, horse flies and mosquitoes) When you are in woods or afield you are naturally subject to bug bites. The only surefire way to avoid bug bites is to stay home and watch the tube. Wrong� To avoid bug bites simply cover-up using breathable clothing such as netting or the new fabrics which also protect from UV rays. I wear a pair of gators or tuck my pant legs in my socks or boots to prevent crawling insects from attacking my lower extremities. There are a multitude of repellents on the market. Those including DEET are very efficient but can be harmful to sensitive skin. I prefer those that are in a cream or jell. For ticks, use permethrine or picardin products as a repellent on your clothing. With the potential onset of Lyme or
Buck Sense
BY ED SCHMIDT
other derivatives, hunters must use caution to avoid bites from deer and wood ticks. Check your body and your hunting buddies for ticks whenever you or they get the crawling feeling. Deer ticks are very tiny and look like a speck of black pepper on your skin, but if bitten they tend to bury their heads to get to your blood supply.
many cases a family member first observes it. Sleep apnea is often diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. For a diagnosis of sleep apnea, more than five episodes an hour must occur. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices and surgery. Lifestyle changes may include avoiding alcohol, losing weight, stopping smoking and sleeping on their side. Breathing devices include the use of a CPAP machine.
Lightweight supplies for the war on injuries and bugs to carry in your pack. Trying to sleep at night can be bothersome if you have bug bites because they really can itch. To alleviate the itching, try to rub some cortisone cream or use an after-bite itch cure that contains a small amount of ammonia. This anti-itch remedy comes in an easy to carry swab or pen. Remember – an itch in time will save a good night’s sleep.
SLEEP APNEA
More of my hunting partners are afflicted with a respiratory condition called sleep apnea. Onset of this situation is snoring and erratic breathing patterns. Trying to get some shut-eye while hearing snorts, wheezes and an occasional cough makes for one long night. In our remote deer camp there is no electricity for a five-mile radius, consequently we have to run a generator for eight to ten hours to accommodate several CPAP apparatus. There are several degrees of sleep apnea. But, first to define the problem: there are three forms of sleep apnea: obstructive (OSA), central (CSA), and a combination of the two called mixed. OSA is the most common form. Risk factors for OSA include being overweight, a family history of the condition, allergies, and enlarged tonsils. In OSA, breathing is interrupted by a blockage of airflow, while in CSA breathing stops due to a lack of effort to breathe. People with sleep apnea may not be aware they have it. In
Beautiful dreamer on a sleep apnea apparatus.
CUTS, PUNCTURES, BREAKS & BRUISES
Deer hunting can be a risky activity if you do not follow simple safety-first rules. First is prevention along with common sense. As an example, putting up a deer stand a hunter usually trims branches, cuts brush or clears shooting lanes. The tools used can cause bodily damage or the sticks left over can be sharp causing cuts or puncture wounds. A puncture wound is the worst because it has a tendency to close up, sealing in infectious material. In this case, watch for excessive redness or a whitish pus around the opening. Knife cuts seem to heal faster than jagged pokes or skin tears. If the cut bleeds, all the better because the blood is flushing out infectious foreign materials. Tears, on the other hand, infect more due to the jagged edges which hold the bad stuff more. Potential dangers may arise from climbing tree ladders or tree stands. Falling, getting poked or slipping could cause injury or breaks. Slipping on the rungs of the ladder is another hazard. As one of our local doctors says: “If you are older than 65 ladders should be banned.” In the case of bruising, ice is the best pain and swelling eliminator. With sprains and strains you may need to alternate
heat and cold. After prevention comes cure and care. It would be great if all hunters were first responders who, in case of an emergency, could assess, secure proper first aid supplies and safely apply them. A well-stocked and well-placed first aid kit should be carried in your car, on an ATV or in a backpack. At the deer shack, there must be a very comprehensive first aid supply. (See side bar) Finally, hunting can be a risky sport as most sports are. Your best defense against deer camp woes, itches and pain is common sense. If possible, take a first aid class to understand the basics of responding to all camp emergencies, including illnesses and accidents. Plan ahead for potential situations by having a well-stocked first aid kit and knowing where it is, map where the nearest clinic or hospital is located and how long it takes to get there. But most important, be safe.
FIRST-AID CHECKLIST
This list is intentionally extensive so you don’t forget anything. It also includes emergency essentials you might carry separately from a kit.
FIRST-AID BASIC CARE
Antiseptic wipes (BZK-based wipes preferred, alcohol-based OK) Antibacterial ointment (e.g., bacitracin) Compound tincture of benzoin (bandage adhesive) Assorted adhesive bandages (fabric preferred) Butterfly bandages / adhesive wound-closure strips Gauze pads (various sizes) Nonstick sterile pads Medical adhesive tape (10 yd. roll, min. 1" width) Blister treatment Ibuprofen / other pain-relief medication Insect sting relief treatment Antihistamine to treat allergic reactions Splinter (fine-point) tweezers Safety pins First-aid manual or information cards Wraps, splints and wound coverings Elastic wrap Triangular cravat bandage Finger splint(s) SAM splint(s) Rolled gauze Rolled, stretch-to-conform bandages Hydrogel-based pads First-aid cleansing pads with topical anesthetic Hemostatic (blood-stopping) gauze Liquid bandage Oval eye pads
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 7
CAPITOL COMMENTS
After a brief 2017 Special Legislative Session, DFL Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law all ten budget bills that make up the state’s $46 billion, two-year budget, including a $650 million tax bill. But Dayton also line-item vetoed funding for the Minnesota House and Senate, an attempt, he said, to bring leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature back to the table to remove a handful of provisions in the tax bill and education and public safety budget bills that he does not want to become law. A judge has decided that Gov. Dayton’s line-item vetoes of funding for the Minnesota House and Senate violated the separation of powers clause of the Minnesota constitution and are “null and void.” The governor has appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The 2018 Legislative Session is scheduled to convene on February 20,2018. MDHA had a very successful 2017 Legislative Session. Below are some of those accomplishments.
Deer License Fee Increase
As part of Gov. Mark Dayton's budget proposal, in 2018 the DNR will be raising the annual resident deer hunting license from $30 to $34. The last time Minnesota raised these user fees was in 2013. MDHA’s support for the DNR’s proposed license increase was contingent on DNR’s commitment that $17.50 of the new $34.00 license fee be spent directly on deer management activities. MDHA members believe a more rigid expense structure for deer license money would remove any doubts that hunters — and deer — get the management they pay for. Legislation will be put forward during
8 Whitetales | FALL 2017
the 2018 Legislative Session to reflect this agreement.
Scopes on Muzzleloader
Finally, this year legislation was signed into law that allows the use of a muzzleloader with a scope regardless of age during the 2017 muzzleloader deer hunting season. Currently, only a person 60 years of age or older or a person with a visual impairment with a special permit issued by the DNR may do so.
Poaching Laws – Gross Over Limits
The Governor’s push for tougher poaching penalties comes in the wake of high-profile instances of illegal poaching activity in Minnesota. By enacting stiffer criminal penalties and longer license revocations for these crimes, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hope to deter gross over limits poaching and ensure these criminal acts are properly and thoroughly punished.
Deer Fees in Wolf Management Account
Removes a requirement that 50 cents from each deer license be deposited in the wolf management and monitoring account beginning July 1, 2017 of the year following the year the wolf is delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Portable Stands on WMA�s NW Pilot Program From November 1 through December 31, a portable stand may be left overnight by a person possessing a license to take deer in a wildlife management area located in northwestern Minnesota. Before placing your stand in a NW Minnesota WMA,
BY CORY BENNETT, MDHA LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT
contact the DNR to verify if the stand can be left overnight and for further stand regulations.
Blaze Pink
Allows blaze pink to be worn when hunting deer and certain small game (current law requires blaze orange).
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council totaled over $100 million in recommendations to the 2017 legislature for habitat projects throughout the state. Included in the package is an MDHA initiative that proposes $2.4 million for the Laurentian Forest - St. Louis County Habitat Project. This proposal acquires habitat for game and non-game species.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Because of concerns surrounding chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the wild herd expressed by MDHA and other organizations, the Office of the Legislative (OLA) will be conducting a program evaluation of the Board of Animal Health (BAH). The BAH is responsible for protecting the health of Minnesota’s domestic animals. This responsibility extends to livestock, such as cattle, sheep, elk, and deer. Recent discoveries of CWD in deer, combined with reports of animals escaping deer farms, have caused concern among some stakeholders that the disease could spread from farmed deer and elk to Minnesota’s wild deer and elk populations. Additionally, the legislature did appropriate $500,000 for planning and emergency response to disease outbreaks in wildlife such as CWD.
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Turning Your
Shotgun into a
Slug Gun BY JOHN TERTULIANI
If you were limited to owning one gun, you would do well to choose a shotgun. For the matters of hunting, target shooting and selfdefense, a shotgun can do it all, with shot or slugs. With the option of switching to either a smoothbore or rifled barrel, no other gun comes close to being as versatile. When it comes to deer gun season, a shotgun is a powerful choice for brush and medium-range hunting. Some areas of Minnesota are shotgun only and hunters have plenty of options when it comes to shooting slugs. A gun that can do it all sounds too good to be true, and in some ways, it is, transforming the standard shotgun into an accurate slug gun is easier said than done. Turning your shotgun into a slug gun accurate enough to hunt deer takes some practice. Here are a few things to consider in addition to practice.
10 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Cleaning
A good place to start is with a clean gun, you cannot expect accuracy from a dirty gun. A complete strip is ideal, but clean the barrel and trigger assembly at a minimum. The barrel has to be clean to be accurate. A barrel fouled with debris from powder, lead, and plastic residue cannot shoot slugs
accurately. This pertains to smoothbore and rifled barrels. A truly clean barrel takes considerable effort if it has had average use and average cleaning. Brush work is an important first step. A bronze brush loosens the heavy residue. The brush should be made of bronze and fairly new so the bristles are stiff to scrub the bore; the proper gauge is equally important. The first passes of the brush should be with solvent on the brush. Solvents are general purpose or residue specific. More important than using the proper solvent is to get a reputable solvent in the bore. A popular method of putting the solvent in the bore is using a patched jag before the brush work. Like cleaning and waxing a car, a gun can be cleaned and protected many different ways. When you do it often enough you will discover what works for you by trying different methods. Try something, any
If a dual purpose tactical gun is not in your favor, you can trick out your present gun to shoot slugs. method of cleaning is better than putting a gun away dirty. After the brush work comes a series of patches. Here again is an opportunity to experiment. Some like to run dry patches until the patches come out fairly white. This is all well and good, but it is a good time for follow-up solvent on a patch as well. After the second run of solvent run the dry patches. You may find a second run of brush work is necessary in some cases. A bore-sized jag is more effective than the slotted jag included in a kit. Cleaning rods can make a difference but not as much as the brush and jag. The best cleaning rods are one-piece and not made of aluminum. Patches are readily available or can be easily cut from 100% cotton material. Cleaning the trigger assembly is easy and should be done once a year or after exposure to wet weather. The trigger on the average
shotgun is less than ideal when it comes to a crisp break, a dirty trigger assembly only makes matters worse. Over oiling may be the most common problem concerning the trigger. Removing the trigger assembly is more difficult than cleaning it. A thorough spraying with gun cleaner will clean the trigger. After drying, a single drop of oil on the moving parts is all that is needed to lubricate the mechanism.
Sling
A sling is indispensable after you shoot a deer. Without a sling, you have to either drag the deer with one hand or you can carry the gun forward to a distant tree and then go back and drag the deer to the gun. A sling swivel is not difficult to install in the buttstock. Most swivel studs are installed 2 to 2 ½ inches up from the toe of the stock. Tape the wood before drilling a pilot hole and drill a larger hole at the very surface to countersink the base of the swivel stud. The forearm stud is not so easy to drill; it is better for most to put a magazine cap with the stud attached. The exception being Mossberg shotguns, the barrel ring is drilled and tapped for a swivel stud. Removable sling swivels are handy so the sling can removed when not deer hunting.
Tactical Advantage Cleaning doesn�t stop with the bore, to get the most from a shotgun trigger, the trigger assembly should be cleaned once a year or after exposure to wet weather.
Tactical guns have swept the firearms industry. Tactical shotguns are made to shoot slugs and deer hunters are starting to take notice. The qualities that make a shotgun “tactical,” apply to deer hunting as well, if you don’t mind a smoothbore barrel. There
is nothing wrong with a smoothbore, which is how slugs were originally fired, you simply may not be as accurate at longer ranges as you may with a rifled barrel. The tradeoff is a rifled barrel is only good for shooting slugs. The tactical advantage doesn’t stop there, the cylinder bore barrel is short for maneuverability, and better still, many of the models are factory-equipped with rifle sights. The more expensive models come with milspec sights that can surely withstand the effects of deer hunting. Still others come with Picatinny-style rail that a scope or some sort of optics can be mounted to. The stock and forearm are synthetic, making the gun more weather resistant than if equipped with wood. Sling-swivel studs are standard as well. Stocks on some models can be adjustable, which is a benefit with heavy layers of clothing. Another common trait is a recoil-absorbing pad. Stocks with pistol-grip extensions make it easier to hold the shotgun in a way that offsets some of the recoil that can otherwise re-align your head with your shoulder. The problem is range, a tactical shotgun is a short-range gun, but with practice it can easily become a 75-yard gun, or longer, with the proper ammunition. Ghost ring sights are a benefit to shooting slugs. For the average shooter who will shoot once, maybe twice before season, a more realistic range is 60 yards, more than adequate for deer hunting. If you already own a standard shotgun and don’t care to invest in a tactical gun that
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 11
will double as a home defense gun, you can easily modify your existing shotgun with a slug barrel or better sights. The same goes for changing out the stock and forearm. Tricking out your shotgun for hunting is fun and effective. Keep in mind it is expensive too, may be cheaper to buy a tactical gun or a dedicated slug gun such as a bolt action.
Slugs
No matter if you’re shooting old reliable or the latest in tactical innovation, you still need to find compatible ammunition. Too often a hunter buys one brand of slugs before the season opens and at best shoots a few rounds the weekend before opening day. If you’re shooting a smoothbore, the Fosterstyle slug, the traditional slug, is designed for a smoothbore. More recently, two other designs have proved accurate in smoothbore barrels, slugs with permanent wads, a tailing structure that stabilizes the slug throughout the flight; the other design is an hourglassshape that is accurate in some barrels, depending on fit. If you have a rifled barrel, you can shoot anything you want, including the oldfashioned Foster slugs; however, the exposed lead of a Foster slug will foul the rifling in your barrel with every shot. Not every slug
12 Whitetales | FALL 2017
you shoot in a rifled barrel will be accurate, as with the smoothbore, it depends on how well the slug fits the bore.
Shooting
The biggest mistake hunters make with shotguns is not practicing enough. Practice is hard, a shotgun with slugs is unforgiving. It is more tolerable to shoot standing up. Offhand practice is excellent practice, you’re not shooting for 3-inch groups, you’re shooting for practice; skill is not inherited. Shooting sticks on the bench while standing behind it is another option. When shooting from sticks or a rest, do not set the barrel on the rest, support the gun at the forearm. Resting the gun on the barrel when shooting is a sure way to ruin accuracy. If your tactical gun has an extended magazine and a secondary support band to the barrel, it may affect accuracy in a similar fashion if screwed down super tight. Last but not least, take your time when aiming and squeezing the trigger. It is too easy to snap shoot with a quick jerk of the trigger, which is how one effectively shoots a shotgun and misses with a slug gun. Clean your gun, try different brands of ammunition, shoot standing up, put a sling on and you’ll be ready come November.
for Everyday Meals BY WES DAVID
In today's modern world, there has never been more emphasis put on eating fresh organic foods. If you want a steep spike in your grocery bill, purchase anything that says organic on the label and you are sure to pay more for your healthy choice. Yes, you will pay more of your hard- earned money to take care of your body by eating organic meats and vegetables. However, millions of Americans are more than willing to pay extra to eat organic. But hunters, anglers, farmers and ranchers have always known that growing and harvesting their own food is a no-brainer when it comes to making a healthy choice. The question is, are hunters truly taking advantage on a daily basis of the healthy lean meat they harvest each fall? Hunters work hard to harvest their deer and as we all know the work really starts once the deer is on the ground. In many cases, once you have a freezer full of venison meat, for some reason it’s not used for
14 Whitetales | FALL 2017
everyday meals. With the explosion of eating healthy and organic foods, wild game and bison meat have become much more popular, even from a non-hunter’s standpoint. After we have a freezer full of venison meat, why are so many hunters not utilizing the healthy meat in their everyday meals? Many elite athletes have made deer and other wild game a part of their daily diet so they can perform at the highest level, so why don’t many hunters? Athletes and individuals that really watch what they eat and even many people with health issues will utilize wild game meat in their everyday meals such as pizza, lunchmeat, tacos, hamburger goulashes, country fried steak, nachos and other finger foods and meals they eat every day and they pay good money to do so. Still, the majority of hunters that have a freezer full of wild game seem to cherish the meat and only cook it for special meals.
Hunters, anglers, farmers, and ranchers have always known that growing and harvesting their own food is a no-brainer when it comes to making a healthy choice.
Great Tasting Deer Meat
Great tasting deer meat starts the instant the trigger is pulled and the deer hits the ground. If you’ve ever heard someone say. “It tastes gamey,” it may have started in the field during the field dressing process. During the field dressing process, it’s important to keep feces, urine and the contents within the deer’s stomach away from the meat. These three internal contents can taint meat when it comes in contact with the meat. Several butchers have told me they see it and smell it on one in three deer that comes through their doors. The urine bladder can taint a great deal of meat fast. Located in the lower abdomen and usually full, extreme care must be used when removing the urine bladder. Pinch or tie a string about an inch above the bladder and cut it off above the sealed portion. Remove the bladder and take it as far away from your work area as reasonably possible. If you get urine on your hands wash your hands before continuing. Now you can remove the remaining inner contents from your deer. Once everything is out, wipe out the body cavity of any excess blood. For great tasting venison, extreme caution must be used when removing the deer’s insides during the field dressing process. All the caution in the world can be used, but in most cases it will not eliminate the “game taste” in a buck that was taken while he was in full rut. In most cases, a buck in rut is worked up and adrenaline and sex hormones are racing through his body for long periods of time and it has been scientifically proven it affects the taste of the meat and the smell of the animal. Nevertheless, the meat is still good and very much edible, but there are ways to utilize venison from a buck in rut that eliminates any “game taste.”
Cooking Deer Meat
Everyone has their favorite ways to cook deer meat and what cuts they use for certain meals and recipes, and over the years I’ve had some amazing venison meals from self-taught venison cooks and every one of them cooked me a gourmet meal using venison meat. Nonetheless, after eating wild game since I was old enough to chew food and learning how to cook venison from my mom, lodge chefs, guides, and chefs that have begun to use venison, bison, and other wild game in their everyday meals, I have learned some secrets to cooking venison and utilizing it in my everyday meals. The first thing to remember when cooking
deer or any wild game is it is extremely lean meat and because of the lack of fat it dries out extremely fast losing its taste, texture, and in extreme cases, it’s easier to eat a hockey puck. Many of the chefs I’ve met over the years cook their wild game in crock-pots and they always use water during the cooking process. Keeping the bottom of the crock-pot covered with water will keep the meat moist during the cooking process. When cooking venison roasts, some chefs will also use chunks of beef fat to keep the meat moist and this also helps eliminate any game taste.
I cut them into 1 ½” to 2” thick steaks, spice them to liking, then wrap one piece of bacon around the steak and secure with a toothpick and barbecue to medium-rare. I have cooked venison filet mignon for many people that said they didn’t like venison and they couldn’t get enough. After they asked for seconds, I tell them what meat they are eating and in most cases I have to convince them it was venison they just ate.
Venison backstraps turned into filet mignon.
When cooking venison roasts on the barbecue, some chefs will use bacon or chunks of beef fat to keep the meat moist and this also helps eliminate any game taste. When cooking venison on the barbecue, many chefs cook it with the aid of bacon to keep the meat moist. And most chefs believe when barbecued is when venison is overcooked the most. The example that was given to me many years ago and I’ve had great tasting steaks ever since is, “if you like your beef steak medium-rare, and that takes three minutes per side at a certain heat, then cook the same size venison steak for 1 ½ to 2-minutes per side” (this is just an example as everyone’s barbecue heat is different). Again, everyone has their favorite ways to cook venison, but the quickest way to turn people off venison is to overcook it and dry it out and that’s very easy to do. A buck taken during the heat of the rut can cause the meat to taste gamey and even smell, however, the meat is still good for table fare and the game taste and smell can easily be eliminated. If I take a buck in full rut, the first cuts of meat I remove and keep separate during the butchering process are the tenderloins and backstraps. Truthfully, I separate these cuts on all my big game animals. These are my filet mignon steaks.
The hindquarters can be cut into rumproasts, steaks, breakfast steaks or good stew meat. After I remove the tenderloins and backstraps, the remainder of the meat from a (buck in full rut) is removed and used for sausage and lunchmeat. Just my preference, but I don’t know anyone that doesn't like a good pepperoni stick, cheese filled smokies, kielbasa, jerky, or many other sausage and lunchmeats. The smoking and curing processes mixed with pork and spices eliminates the game taste that is often found in a buck in full rut due to the hormones and adrenaline running through his body. If you do your own smoking, you have probably already found your own recipes that you use on venison from a buck in rut. If you take your meat to a butcher, let him or her know the buck was in full rut when you took him and your butcher will be more than willing to guide you in what smoking recipes will be best for the meat. It’s rare that you have to worry about the meat taken from a buck that was taken during the early season, however, in my opinion, and many other people’s opinion with years of experience cooking venison, bison, and other wild game, the best meat for table fare is from cows or does, the female gender. All my main cuts of meat come from the female game animals such as my roasts, steaks, breakfast steaks, lean burger and stew meat. Only the lower leg meat and scraps are used to make sausage or burger.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 15
Everyday meals with venison
Now that you have a freezer full of healthy organic venison, it’s time to utilize it. I won't get into recipes as everyone has their favorites and basically any beef recipe in a cookbook or that you Google can be substituted with venison. But, I will give you a few hints on day-to-day meals that many hunters didn’t think about or overlook when it comes to using their venison.
That pepperoni, garlic sausage, or kielbasa you had made is amazing thinly sliced and put on homemade pizza. It’s even better if the vegetables used on the pizza are garden fresh. Some of the best chilies I’ve ever eaten were made using venison burger taken from a buck in full rut. The slow cooking process of a crockpot mixed with your favorite ingredients and spices eliminated any game taste and hot venison chili is one of my favorite meals to enjoy while I’m sitting in my ice fishing shack waiting for the fish to bite. I have many of my deer hunting buddies
using venison burger from an early season buck or a doe making their own meatballs for their pasta dishes or using venison burger in their spaghetti source and it seems my friends are eating more pasta dishes these days. Using venison steak with your favorite country fried steak recipe smothered in white gravy is an amazing meal and substituting venison for beef on your kabobs, stew, or in a goulash thrown together after work is a great way to mix venison with fresh vegetables for a healthy meal. Venison meat also makes great appetizers. Jalapeno or sweet peppers filled with cream cheese, with a thin slice of venison wrapped in bacon and cooked on the barbecue makes great venison poppers for appetizers before the main course. Venison burger smothered in cheese on top of nachos chips with the rest of your favorite nacho toppings is a simple meal that can be enjoyed for lunch or supper. Venison or game bird ginger-beef is ideal when making Chinese food. A pepperoni, sausage, or kielbasa, cut up and served with small blocks of cheese is a great venison snack while entertaining friends and family while watching the big game on a Sunday afternoon.
Pasta with deer kielbasa cooked on the barbecue and served in a cast iron skillet is like dining at a 5-star restaurant.
Pulled venison sandwich.
16 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Everyday lunch meat made from your venison is a healthier choice than processed lunchmeat. There are thousands of different everyday meals where venison or other wild game can be used to make healthy organic meals, but for some reason many deer hunters and their families don’t use the healthy lean organic meat in their day-to-day lives. As I write this article I have a venison roast in the smoker being smoked with True North Cherry Wood that when it’s done, I will thinly slice up for lunchmeat and make sandwiches for my fishing trip tomorrow. Venison doesn’t always have to be saved for that special meal. Try substituting venison meat for beef in your everyday meals. Your body and mind will appreciate your healthy choice. Try adding venison meatballs from an early season buck or a doe to your pasta dishes or using venison burger in your spaghetti sauce.
Hides Help Create Habitat Helping Deer BY JENNY FOLEY
Since 1985, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association volunteers have collected deer hides to raise money as part of our Hides for Habitat program. To date, 865,000 hides have been collected for $5.23 million. MDHA Chapters collect hides and process them to be sold to fur buying companies for up to $8/hide. Each MDHA Chapter retains 85% of the funds from their hide collection. The remaining 15% goes to the State Habitat Committee. Along with those funds, the State Habitat Committee also receives funds from the Annual Habitat Banquet fundraiser held in Grand Rapids, Minn. each year on the third Saturday of February. State Habitat Committee dollars are used as a direct 1:1 match for habitat and educational projects throughout Minnesota. The money collected for hides can be leveraged as many as ten times through habitat grants and other programs. In order to do their part, hunters need only to fold up the hides and place them in the collection box and walk away, knowing they helped ensure the future of deer hunting. A complete list of drop box locations can be found at mndeerhunters.com or by calling the MDHA State Office. Chapters are always looking for volunteers to help with their local hides program. If you are interested, please
18 Whitetales | FALL 2017
contact your local chapter officers. MDHA’s unique Hides for Habitat program gives chapters the ability to donate their own funds, matched with State Habitat Committee dollars directly to beneficial habitat work in their area, as well as participate in our statewide habitat grant program. Habitat was one of the primary tenets for the formation of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and MDHA continues its commitment to building habitat through programs such as the Conservation Partners Legacy Grants (CPL) and Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Grants (LSOHC). MDHA Chapters around the state, along with other contributing conservation organizations such as Ruffed Grouse Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and many local conservation groups, have partnered on 65 CPL grants accomplishing $4.2M in habitat protection and enhancement projects since 2010. MDHA also secured $2.96M in LSOHC funding to enhance moose habitat in northeast Minnesota, with another requested $6M submitted for funding for FY2018. In 2015, MDHA was approved for LSOHC funding for nearly $3.6 million to protect
over 2,280 acres of forest lands in Cass and Hubbard Counties from being converted to non-forest uses and open them to public hunting, making this the single largest habitat project in MDHA history. A similar project in 2017 has been approved for $2.4 million in LSOHC funding to protect forest lands in St. Louis County. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is dedicated to developing and sustaining Minnesota’s deer and wildlife habitat for the benefit of current and future generations. Join us today to help further our mission of “Building our hunting and conservation legacy through habitat, education, and advocacy.”
AROUND THE State Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
REGIONAL BOUNDARY AND CHAPTER LOCATION MAP
What? No chapter in your area? MDHA is always interested in forming new chapters. If you live in an area without a chapter and would like more information on forming one, please call 800.450.DEER.
Region 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6
Chapter Min-Dak Border Roseau River North Red River Thief River Falls Riceland Whitetails Bemidji Area Itasca County Hibbing/Chisholm Woodland Trails End Carlton County Sturgeon River Arrowhead Wilderness Lake Superior Chapter Lake Vermilion Chapter Smokey Hills Fergus Falls Clay Wilkin Park Rapids East Ottertail Wadena Brainerd Cuyuna Range Whitetails Morrison County Lakes and Pines Bluewater Wahoo Valley Isanti County Wild River Rum River North Suburban
Chapter Code MDB RRC NRR TRF RCL BMJ ITS HCC WLC TEC CCC STR AHC WLDN LSC LVC SMH FFL CWC PKR EOC WDN BRD CRW MCC LPC BLW WAH ICC WLD RMR NSC
9 9 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 13
Chapter Alexandria Chippewa Valley Sauk River Phantom Buck Pomme De Terre Crow River Two Rivers Tri-County River Bottom Bucks Central Minnesota Sherburne County Swampbucks Wright County/ West Metro Whitetails East Central Minnesota Minnesota River Valley Blue Earth River Valley Sunrisers Bend of the River Sioux Trails Deer Hunters Des Moines Valley Jim Jordan McGregor Area Quad Rivers Snake River Southern Gateway Southeast Minnesota Bluff Country South Central Minnesota South Metro Capitol Sportsmen’s St. Croix Valley
Chapter Code ALX CVC SRP PDT CRC TRC TCR CMC SCS WCWMW ECM MRV BEC SNR BOR STD DMV JJC MCG QRC SRC SGC SEM BLF SCC SMC CSC SCV
Calendar of EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 7 East Central MN Chapter Banquet at Jack & Jill’s in Foley. Contact Felix Ramola at 763.262.7395. 8 Wright County Chapter Banquet at River City Extreme in Monticello. Contact Al Weller at 763.270.1206. 12 Central MN Chapter Banquet at Henry’s in Foley. Contact Dennis Sowada at 320.393.4214. 16 Sturgeon River Chapter Banquet at the Buhl Curling Club. Contact Brett Haavisto at 218.780.6401. 18 Sioux Trails Chapter Banquet at the Best Western Plus Hotel in New Ulm. Contact Gary Sprenger at 507.240.0089. 20 Carlton County Chapter Banquet at the Four Seasons Complex in Carlton. Contact Mike Fasteland at 218.451.0932.
20 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Region 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9
SEPTEMBER 22 Morrison County Chapter Banquet at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. Contact Art Rueck at 320.764.7400. 30 Park Rapids Chapter Banquet at the Park Rapids American Legion. Contact Russ Johnsrud at 218.732.9723. OCTOBER 7 Wahoo Valley Chapter Banquet at Ted & Gen’s Bar-B-Q. Contact Walter Wiese at 218.924.2886. 15 Chippewa Valley Chapter Fundraiser at McKinney’s Bar in Benson. Contact Darin Staton at 320.760.3949. NOVEMBER 2-5 MN Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener in Grand Rapids. Contact Bri Stacklie at 218.259.1368 or bri@mndeerhunters.com. 4 MN Firearms Deer Hunting Season Opener 25 Wahoo Valley Chapter Banquet at the Sebeka Event Center. Contact Walter Wiese at 218.924.2886.
Did you know... an adult whitetail has 32 teeth�
ISANTI COUNTY CHAPTER
ST. CROIX RECEIVES ANDY FORKHORN FOOD CHAPTER BANQUET ENGLUND DONATION DRIVE RAFFLE
At the 20th Annual Banquet Isanti County Banquet in February, the chapter was honored with a donation from the Andy Englund Family and Long Lake Vintage Snowmobile Racing Association. The donation was in the amount of $2500.76. Why 76¢? That was his number on his sled. The Isanti County Chapter has received donations from them for several years. Some of the projects funded from these donations include building new walking bridges on the archery course at the Isanti County Sportsmans Club, tree planting at Spencerbrook WMA and Youth Day. They have also given away several MN Lifetime Hunting Licenses to area youth at their Banquets and Youth Days. Chapter members also volunteered to help at Andy’s Fast Fifty Snowmobile Race held on Long Lake in honor of Andy.
Again this year at their 20th Annual Banquet in February, the Isanti County Chapter did a Forkhorn Food Drive Raffle. For every item donated you received a ticket towards a chance to win a firearm. This is a project the chapter Forkhorns volunteer to run. They collected 412 pounds of food and donated it to Lil’ Farm Children’s Home and the Isanti County Food Shelf.
Alex Rodeberg guessed the closest number of deer droppings and won the framed small print of the year, pictured with Forkhorn Mgr. Rachel Weaver.
Spencer Slothouber, Owen Roddy, Ethan Roddy and Lydia Godfrey collect food items for food shelves.
Emily Donner won the Rubber Binder Shoot forkhorn game and took home a Mossberg Blaze .22 Rifle.
NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO KAXE 91.7 GRAND RAPIDS 89.9 BRAINERD 103.9 ELY KBXE 90.5 BAGLEY/BEMIDJI
Jim and Wendy Englund and Chapter President Kevin Kriesel. In the background is our emcee Cory Carlson and board member Andrew Mix.
ST. CROIX CHAPTER BANQUET
A mix of NPR news, regional arts, culture & public affairs programs, and a great variety of music
Authent i c Lo c a l R a d io comments@kaxe.org (800)662-5799 | kaxe.org
Grace Donner takes aim with the rubber binder rifle. Did you know... the average whitetail has 3,196,800 hairs in its winter coat�
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 21
AROUND THE State
JIM JORDAN CHAPTER
Pictured are Rhonda Kirchmeier, grandmother of Landon Kirchmeier of the Jim Jordan Chapter. Rhonda purchased a raffle ticket in hopes for a winning ticket. Landon was very excited for his Grandmother, and Rhonda was very excited to be able to someday see Landon shoot the gun she won at an MDHA banquet� Jim Jordan was Rhonda's Great Uncle. We are very proud to have both Rhonda and Landon and their families as part of MDHA�
WRIGHT COUNTY WEST METRO CHAPTER
On May 25th MDHA’s Wright County West Metro Chapter hosted an event at Tatanka Elementary for the first and second graders (7 classes, 170 students). Through Pheasants Forever’s Youth Pollinator Habitat Program, (Funded by Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, DuPont Pioneer, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, and Bayer Bee Care) MDHA Wright County Chapter and the West Metro MDHA Chapter partnered with Wright Soil and Water Conservation District and the Wright County Chapter of Pheasants Forever to stabilize soil and provide an outdoor classroom area at Tatanka Elementary in Buffalo. An outdoor classroom was created for the program that will allow students to learn about pollinators, their habitat and other wildlife at Tatanka Elementary. Half an acre was seeded to native grasses and flowers around the new storm water pond at Tatanka Elementary. At the event students learned about the importance of pollinators, food security, raising honeybees and wildlife habitat through predator/prey interaction. They also helped plant 360 native flowering plants in the designated area.
360 native plugs planted.
Bees Station.
Predator-prey game.
Jim Jordan Chapter, State Director John Papenfus accepts a check for $2,000 from Safari Club International (SCI) Lake Superior Chapter president Cyndy Boyce to help with the cost of sending 78 kids to Forkhorn Camp this year. The Jim Jordan Chapter would like to thank SCI for its generous donation to help with the education of our youth.
22 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Did you know... when a whitetail buck�s ears are laid back, he is signaling extreme aggressive behavior�
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 23
AROUND THE State KANABEC COUNTY 4-H AND SNAKE RIVER CHAPTER TEAM-UP IN SHOOTING SPORTS
ENDOWMENTS & DONATIONS: May 12, 2017 - June 30, 2017
ENDOWMENT FUND CONTRIBUTOR’S NAME Horny Bull Elk Hunting Club Bluff Country Chapter Denece Dreger Mark Strege Steve Ranallo Peter Lodermeier
The Snake River Chapter recently donated $1000 to the Kanabec County 4-H Shooting Sports program. Both chapters believe youth are our future and providing them opportunities to learn and enjoy the shooting sports program, which can evolve into a lifelong activity, is something they very much value. Pictured are Jason Thomson Chapter President and Dan Porter – 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor/ Coordinator, with several youths that participated in the Beginner Air Rifle Program. The Snake River Chapter also cleans two-mile stretches of ditches in the Mora area. Below are two of their Forkhorns helping out. Saul Thomson and Tucker Hass agreed giving back to their chapter feels good, after all they do for us with the Forkhorn program. Each youth will be attending Forkhorn II camp this year at Long Lake. The Snake River Chapter sponsors an average of 15 youth each year to go to Forkhorn Camps.
MEMORIAL FUND CONTRIBUTOR’S NAME Cynthia Letnes Susan Swanstrom GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTOR’S NAME Joe Peters Jean Pleitgen Adrian Erhard Dennis Lyngen Spencer Peka Patrick Kelly Stanley Kuehn Cargill
HONOREE’S NAME Art Beckman Daryl Fort & Randy Skappel
HONOREE’S NAME Arnold Zack Delbert Griesert HONOREE’S NAME Rodney Revsbach
If we inadvertently left you off the list or any corrections to the above list are needed, please contact us and we will make the appropriate corrections. Thank you.
SNAKE RIVER
ROADSIDE CLEANUP
The Snake River Chapter recently donated $1000 to the Kanabec County 4-H Shooting Sports program. The youth are our future and providing them opportunities to learn and enjoy the shooting sports program, which can evolve into a lifelong activity, is something our chapter values very much. Pictured are Jason Thomson Chapter President and Dan Porter - 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor/Coordinator, along with several youth participating in the Beginner Air Rifle program. Two Snake River forkhorns clean two 2 mile stretches of ditches in the Mora area. "Giving back to our chapter feels good after all they do for us with the Forkhorn program" Saul Thomson and Tucker Hass both said. Both youth will be attending Forkhorn II camp this year at Long Lake. The Snake River Chapter sponsors an average of 15 youth each year to go to Forkhorn Camp.
24 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Did you know... MDHA began its Hides for Habitat Program in 1985�
A�L A�O�T B�W� A compound bow uses a system of pulleys or cams, and the string that passes through the pulleys or cams on each end multiple times. This system allows the bow to build up considerable force as it is drawn. It also produces a sudden reduction in the resistance, or draw weight, of the bow after the bow is drawn back to a certain point. The reduced resistance makes it easier for the archer to control the force generated by the pulleys or cams. The extra force allows arrows to fly farther than from a recurve or longbow. The recurve bow is so named because the limbs, or ends, of the bow curve back inward, resulting in the string laying flat against the limbs at their ends. A recurve bow has only one string. The inward curve of the limbs helps generate greater force when the bow is drawn.
R�L�S & R�G�L�T�O�S • If you were born after December 31, 1979, you must have a firearms safety certificate to purchase a license to hunt with a firearm. • Wireless devices cannot be used to take game. Using walkie talkies, cell phones, remote controls or other radio equipment, including drones, to take big game or small game is unlawful.
B�C� S�R�P�S & R�B� Deer researchers do not fully understand the communicative value of buck rubs. That said, we do know that bucks rub to remove velvet. It’s also common belief that bucks rub secretions from their forehead glands onto tree trunks as a form of communication within the herd. When a whitetail buck makes a scrape he does so where there is an attractive branch hanging along a roadway, at the edge of a field, on a well-worn trail, or in a random area he’s walking through. In most cases, a buck begins the scraping process by rubbing his forehead, preorbital, and nasal glands on the branch and in some cases will actually lick and chew on the overhanging branch. Once done, most bucks will paw the leaves and other debris from the ground under the branch, then urinate into the pawed out earth. The process usually takes less than two minutes, but during this time a buck will leave liberal amounts of scent behind. Scraping, like rubbing, allows a buck to make his presence known by dispensing scent throughout his area.
Bucks will work prime licking branches 365 days a year with 80% of scraping behavior in the North occurring from mid-October to mid-November. 26 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Did you know... in June of 1984, MDHA membership was just over 9,000�
C�Y�T� H�W�S The coyote is native to North America. The average coyote weighs 15 to 45 lbs. Coyotes primarily eat meat, including deer, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, and fish, though it may also eat fruits and vegetables on occasion. Besides humans, cougars and gray wolves are the coyote’s only serious enemies.
T�E�S�A�D S�F�T� T�P� Using a treestand offers many advantages to hunters; however, there are certain risks that can cause serious injuries or even death when not used properly. Here are a few safety tips to think about when hunting from a treestand. • It is very important to use a fall restraint/arrest system (FAS) when hunting from a tree. • Scout the area before hunting season to locate a good hunting site. Pick a tree that is healthy and straight. • Never bounce on a treestand to seat it to the tree. • Inspect the treestand, safety devices and the FAS before each use. For more treestand safety information, check out the website www. huntercourse.com/treestand safety/ to take a free treestand safety course and watch a video created by the Treestand Manufacturer Association (TMA).
In Minnesota, coyotes are considered “unprotected,” meaning there is no closed season and they may be taken at any time by legal means (no use of artificial lights, or by using a motor vehicle to drive, chase, run over, or kill the animal). Coyote hunting does not require a license in Minnesota.
W�R� S�A�C�
FORKHORN WORD SEARCH FALL 2017
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Elise Hoard's, Britt, Minnesota first deer last fall after Forkhorn Camp last summer.
Ethan and Emmett Ward with their Grandpa Don Axtell of the Itasca County ARROW Chapter with Ethan’sBINOCULARS first deer.
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BROWSE EAGLE Did you know... low humidity (10-20 per cent) works against deer because the nasal passages dry out, which hampers their ability to smell� BUCK
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SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 54.
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WRC 4 OZ. DOE-IN-ESTRUS SCENT $11
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28 Whitetales | FALL 2017
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Elk Restoration Project Continues In Northeastern Minnesota BY JOE ALBERT
30 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Several years back, I stood in one of the food lines at the Minnesota State Fair. A sign in the hut in front of me indicated elk burgers were on the menu, and it was my intent to buy one. The two women ahead of me had seen the sign, too, and were wondering among themselves why a stand that advertised food from animals found in Minnesota would be selling elk burgers. With two kids tugging on my arms, I didn’t take the time to explain that there are elk in Minnesota – albeit in a very small portion of the northwestern part of the state – but their exchange made me think about the fact that many Minnesotans likely have no idea their state is home to elk. As recently as the middle of the 1800s, in fact, elk ranged across much of Minnesota. According to a draft of the MN DNR’s 2016 elk management plan, people saw “herds of a thousand or more” elk in southern Minnesota as late as 1841. The big animals lived in about three-quarters of the state at the time, while the northeastern corner of Minnesota was home to woodland caribou. As overharvest from hunting and settlement occurred, the elk range shifted consistently northward and by 1890 they were relegated to a portion of the northwest. Efforts to protect and restore elk were undertaken and today there are three small but wild herds in northwestern Minnesota.
That could change, though, as a result of a projected funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. The project, which includes the Fond du Lac
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and University of Minnesota, is exploring the potential for restoring elk to parts of eastern Minnesota in portions of Carlton, Pine and St. Louis counties. Already, researchers and wildlife
managers are making headway. “I’m very satisfied with how things are going. We are where I wanted to be at this point. We’ve got field work starting on both aspects of our feasibility study and we have enough funding to do what we want to do,” said Mike Schrage, wildlife biologist for the Fond du Lac Band. “This is a big, complex idea and we have to do our homework. That’s what we’re doing right now. We’re going to have to be patient and work through our checklist of things to do.” So far, researchers have identified three areas within the three counties to study in detail (see map). They’ve worked with area Department of Natural Resources wildlife staff as well as county land managers to get a sense of places where there’s limited agriculture and roads, but good amounts of public land and timber harvest. During the summer, researchers spent time at each of the three sites conducting vegetation surveys and working to determine whether they had sufficient habitat suitable for elk. Later this summer, a survey was to be sent to landowners and others in the three areas to get a better understanding of public opinion and the potential for acceptance of elk on the landscape. They’ve been controversial in the northwestern part of the state because of their propensity for causing problems related to depredation – and the State Legislature as
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 31
a result has limited the extent to which herds can increase in Beltrami, Kittson, Marshall and Roseau counties – but researchers note there’s far less agricultural land in the northeastern part of the state being studied. In the aforementioned four northwestern counties, the Legislature has said the DNR can’t manage for higher elk populations until the state Department of Agriculture has shown that elk depredation hasn’t increased for two years. The Minnesota DNR isn’t a partner in the project, but is supportive, according to Dave Schad, the agency’s deputy commissioner. “We’ve said that we would help out and would provide whatever support we can,” he said. “It’s in the original elk range, and we would like to see if there are places there where elk might do well, where conflicts (with farmers) wouldn’t exist, and where they might be welcomed by local folks.”
like Minnesota, elk largely were eliminated from the state by the later part of the 1800s. Reintroduction in Kentucky has focused on the southeastern part of the state, which is primarily forest but also includes grassland and little in the way of agriculture. The state brought in more than 1,500 elk from other states between 1997 and 2003 and today it’s home to more than 10,000 of them.
Elk on the ground
Officials believe elk may be socially acceptable in the northeastern part of the state because there is less agricultural land and more forested areas where elk wouldn’t frequently be in contact with people. Schrage, for his part, has discussed the potential for elk reintroduction with biologists in the dozen or so other states and provinces where reintroduction efforts have been successful. Such efforts have been particularly successful in Kentucky, where,
32 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Closer to Minnesota, both Michigan and Wisconsin have undertaken successful elk reintroductions. Keys in both states have been the availability of young aspen – 0- to 10-year-old cuts, Schrage said. While there seems to be little concern about the ability of elk to coexist with other animals, there are things to think
about. Brainworm is one example. “It does not appear they are near as susceptible to brainworm as moose are, but it will be a source of mortality in elk if we ever put them here,” Schrage said. “But based on what other Eastern states are experiencing, it’s not going to be anywhere near as significant as it is with our moose herd.” Predation is another factor. “We need to recognize we have an abundant predator population – wolves and bears – in eastern Minnesota and we are not going to get away with starting a herd with 25 elk,” Schrage said. “I think we’ll need to look at starting with 200 to 300 elk as a founding herd. We’ll need to put out a sizeable number of elk on the ground to produce enough calves and get ahead of the predation that’s going to happen.” While progress is being made, Schrage all along has said it likely would be a decade before elk are on the ground. The project is now two or three years in. Yet, he remains pleased with what’s been accomplished so far and optimistic about the future of elk in northeastern Minnesota and beyond. “I think if elk do well and we are willing to let the herd grow, there’s a potential someday to have elk all across the forested area of northern Minnesota,” Schrage said. “That’s where we have the space available in the state for large animals like elk. There’s no reason they couldn’t be from Grand Marais to past Bemidji someday.”
Decoding Whitetail
o b m u M o b m u J BY TERRY T. CLAPP 34 Whitetales | FALL 2017
The Sixth Scent What we have with the ever-elusive whitetail deer is not a failure to communicate. All whitetail deer enthusiasts understand the most iconic visual communication of the species. The alert warning of the white flag of the deer’s tail waving in the breeze as it runs away sends a very clear message. This is the most observed visual communication of the whitetail deer. It is not a sweet friendly goodbye wave. It’s a stranger danger visual alarm for all other whitetail deer in the area. It’s a harsh good-bye but visually rewarding ado for those of us who share the outdoor experience with the savvy ever social communicator, the whitetail deer. Seeing a deer’s white tail as it runs away means we just communicated with that deer by our presence, our odor, our movement or our sounds. Just as we were saying hello, the deer said good-bye. Deer communication is much more than a two-way street and takes on many forms. What human observation of whitetail behavior and communication lacks in our limited ability to hear, see, smell, taste and touch we are able to compensate for with our brains. Study and analysis of the science related to the whitetail deer including their biology, their body language, the chemistry of their scent use, their vocalizations and how they use habitat including the classic scrapes and rubs brings us closer to understanding the whitetail as a communicator. Deer, especially the whitetail, are great social communicators. Each deer has the five normal senses plus its own specific sixth scent. This sixth scent comes from the deer’s interdigital gland located between the toes. As the deer walks or stamps its foot, a scent specific to that deer is left on the ground. Every deer therefore can use its sense of smell along with its specific special scent for advanced communications which are most noticeable during the rut. In the November 2014 issue of “The Missouri Conservationist Magazine," Jake Hindman noted this by saying, “The interdigital gland located between the toes leaves a scent specific to that deer as it walks or when it stamps its foot.” This is chemical communication. Pheromones, hormones and urine stimulate particular responses between deer with the most visible of these responses observed during the rut. These communications are chemical too. All deer communications vocal, pheromone and otherwise, have very specific meanings and none are mumbo jumbo. The specific skill sets of whitetail deer as communicators include non-vocal body
language communications as well as other visual communications we can observe in the whitetail woods. Scent, pheromone or chemical communications among deer are facilitated by their excellent sense of smell. Vocal communications among whitetail are mostly beyond easy human hearing range, but are enhanced with the deer’s excellent hearing. Of course, whitetails can easily use two or more of these communication skills in combination as their needs dictate.
The Scrape and Rub Chemically Driven but Habitat Visible
Whitetail deer can smell us, but about the only time most of us smell them might be during the rut on a nice buck we have harvested. That pungent musky tarsal gland smell makes it very clear that deer communicate vis-à-vis the chemistry of their various scent glands and urine. To capitalize on this knowledge of scents is wise. Although we can’t smell most scents deer use to communicate, our knowledge of various scents used by deer will benefit us. We can use our visual skills while in deer habitat to identify evidence of the unseen critical chemical communications of deer. Look for areas where whitetail bucks have pounded and pawed the ground with their hooves to expose bare earth, creating a scentladen area called a "scrape." The science of whitetailed deer behavior and the associated chemistry tells us the interdigital gland located between the toes of the deer’s hooves deposit scent specific to that deer in that scrape location. The gland leaves the scent for that specific deer as it walks through the forest. It is the buck who creates the scrape and he may urinate on the scrape to further communicate his presence, his territory and dominate attitude. Deer urine from both the buck and doe are vital communicators, especially during the rut. Often associated with the scrape is the rub. Both the scrape and the rub are chemically driven, but they produce fun visual habitat related clues to look for in whitetail country. The forehead gland of the whitetail is used to deposit scent on both scrapes and rubs. The forehead gland may deposit scent on over hanging tree limbs as a buck walks in the woods but for sure it is deposited on trees that become rubs. Tree rubs are easy to identify as the bark of the rubbed tree will be worn off by a buck rubbing his antlers and forehead vigorously against the tree. Wise hunters will actively look for areas of scrapes and rubs as this is proof that bucks are there communicating by spreading the chemical
word that the rut is on. The savvy hunter may be able to partly determine the size of the buck making a rub by checking for eye guard marks on the rub.
Human Odor
The whitetail deer’s acute sense of smell coupled with their use of scents to communicate can be useful to hunters and others afield. We need to be cognizant of the best ways to mask or own human odors as well as the odors we carry with us. I don’t know if whitetail deer are attracted to Snickers Bars or not. I do think the Snickers’ smell I left on a trail camera was the most expensive candy bar I ever ate since a black bear bit into that camera. My mistake was setting out a trail camera without an attempt to mask my scent or that of a candy bar. The camera didn’t recover. Often times you get smudged photos from animals licking the camera. I’m sure they lick the camera because of the smell left on it. That was a costly lesson about masking scents. Rubber gloves come in handy as do scent block agents even on trail cameras or on us as we set up a camera. I’m sure more and better pictures will come from your trail camera if you block your own scent. Blocking your own scent includes not only normal body odor but also body waste around your set-up. Your set-up can be around your trail camera, your stand or blind. It is good hygiene and good science to plan on dealing with these issues on the hunt. Take a urine container with you to the tree stand, blind or camera set-up. You can buy a commercial one, but a used orange juice container either large or small works well. Take some plastic bags and gloves along with scent block to aid in the proper disposal of other body waste. Bury that waste and cover it well. You may wish to dig a few holes in advance and nearby depending on the amount of time you plan on spending on the stand or blind.
Attractants and Scent Blockers
Attractants, as well as scent blockers, come in a wide array from many commercial sources. Hunters are one group of folks that should not overlook these products. Even if hunting from a stand or blind, it is good science to consider their use. Check the regulations in your state on the use of these products. Various scent killing products for both your body and clothing come in a liquid, spray or powder form and don’t leave a fragrance or U.V. Brighteners. Many hunters use scent blocks on all their hunting apparel. Storing the scent-blocked apparel in a large air tight Ziploc bag or container makes
sense. Hunters may add cedar branches or other natural flora from the hunt area to the air tight bag. This can also be done to the storage container where the bag is kept. Energetic hunters do this even while out hunting each night of the season they are afield. This is where the scent wafers in different scents like earth or pine can come in handy. The little scent wafers, along with a good scent block, are a good mask. Cover scents like raccoon urine might be useful around a field set up. These all are easy to use. Spray on and wafer cover scents are useful in a container or a Ziploc bag for hunting clothing masking. These also are easily pinned or sprayed on hunters in the field. Scent science is useful. Both buck as well as doe urine can be used as attractants while deer hunting. Normal doe urine or special scent doe urine like estrous urine might be useful during the rut. The market place sells products that way. Also, buck urine and the so-called dominant buck urine might be effective as the rut heats up. A simple heads-up if you use any attractant scents, make every effort to keep them free of human odor or any odor that may offend a whitetail. A few hunters extract both the tarsal glands and urine from harvested deer and freeze them for future use. Once again, check your state guidelines for the use of penned-raised deer urine products. Chronic Wasting Disease is of great concern.
Body Language
Whitetails use their own form of body language. Most of us have observed this deer body language in the field. I was first exposed to it years ago as I sat on the porch of a small hunting cabin one summer. A relaxed mature doe emerged from the woods into a field in front of the cabin. Usually the deer exhibit normal walking behavior as they come into the field. So it was with this doe as she walked in a relaxed gait with frequent tail twitching showing the “all clear” signal to all other deer in the area. I was shocked to realize after a few minutes this doe was not crossing the field as usual. She turned and headed on a straight path to the cabin and me. Soon she was only about 60 feet away when she stopped. Her ears perked up and moved around picking up every sound. She walked more stiff legged and rigid as her head swayed and she curiously gave me the once over. She rose one foot in alert mode like a bird dog on point. I first thought she was going to jump the fence around the cabin to meet me face to face. But just that quick, with the raised foot, she stomped it
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into the ground about three times. Then she raised her head a little higher as her tail flared. Then she snorted two or three times. The loud snorts made by deer in alarm danger mode means this game is over now not later. Those loud snorts come from the ability of the deer to smell about 1000 times better than a human. With that, she did a 180 degree about face turn and displayed a beautiful white tail flagging me an expected farewell. That is the classic deer body language with a vocal snort added. This was an alarmed, confused and in the end a distressed whitetail deer. All that body language, plus the snorts were not for me, but rather for all the other whitetails in the area. Hair bristling, the stare-down and various head movements are all whitetail deer body language having to do with dominance and posturing behaviors. These visual whitetail communications are important in whitetail social relations, especially during the rut. Whitetail deer do not have the vision of a hawk. However, they have a field of view of 310 degrees without moving their heads. Sometimes you might have observed a doe use her head or feet to deal with her fawn or fawns. This is either maternal discipline or instruction of some type. You would be correct if you said whitetail bucks know how to use their heads. During the rut, bucks use their forehead gland, their antlers, their ears and eyes, nose and mouth. Bucks can also use their mouths along with their nose to decipher the smell of doe urine and associated pheromones. Occasionally, you may see a buck inhale air through his open mouth in a move called the “lip curl.” Using his acute sense of smell this way can lead him to that special ready doe he is looking for. If you are looking for diversity in communications, you have found it with the whitetail deer.
Vocalizations
Whitetail deer are great at vocal communications. Human hearing limits the whitetail vocal communications we can discern to about 100 yards or less. The exception to this is the alarm snort of the whitetail which can be heard at greater distances. Viewers of wildlife, photographers and especially hunters should all be able to master many calls of the whitetail deer. The special skill and expertise needed for calling species like elk, wild turkey, and various water fowl are usually not easily mastered. However, to stop whitetails in their tracks might be as quick and easy as turning a “can call” upside down to produce a “bleat.” The bleat is a vocal communication made by does and fawns in their various activities. A fawn
36 Whitetales | FALL 2017
in trouble may produce a bawl type sound which can attract doe. Bucks on the move during the peak of the rut may make a snortwheeze type vocalization letting other bucks know “don’t tread on me or my territory.” Why not try rattling up a buck using a rattle bag, antler shed or commercial plastic antlers? Rattling produces the sounds of buck antlers smashing together in combat. Rattling is most effective during the rut with some doe bleats and soft grunts for a big finish. “Can” type calls produce excellent bleats that are easy to use. Just invert the “can call” and produce a bleat. Tube style “grunt calls” may be used to produce several whitetail sounds. Grunts are a communication made by all deer to keep in contact. Whitetail bucks often use special grunts during the rut as they chase that
certain doe. By applying pressure to different points on grunt tubes that have variable pressure points, you may learn to imitate many whitetail vocal sounds. These types of calls may be used to stop a running deer or to locate a deer and perhaps call that deer to your location. You may call both bucks and does. Some hunters make good deer sounds with their own vocal cords. It is often the quickest way to stop a running deer for a shot. The more knowledge we have of deer communications, the more rewarding our experience in the field will be as we look for the whitetail deer. Grunting, doe bleats and rattling just might be what’s needed to bring in a nice buck or give you a second look at one. It may be the ticket to stop a rutting buck as he chases a doe. If you see a doe on the run during the rut, be ready with a call. Many times a hopeful buck will be only a few seconds behind the doe. Running does during the rut are a common sight so you should be ready with both a rifle and a call. A doe runs away most of the time because she is in estrous and will stand for a buck only a
few hours during her prime time. Running does and bucks are a common sight in the height of the rut.
The Research
Formal research data gathered on both male and female collared whitetail deer indicate both sexes go on excursions during the rut. These excursions are driven by breeding stages which are related to pheromones and hormones. Bucks go on long excursions and does go on fewer and shorter excursions. Sullivan, in a 2016 study from Auburn, concluded similar to a study by Kolodzinski et al. (2010), doe whitetail deer to maximize the quality of the pool of potential mates go on excursions and this serves as an expression of female mate choice. The research at this time does not support that the excursions by female deer are an attempt to locate a specific buck as a mate. But, it points to the idea the whitetail deer may be a far more sophisticated communicator than we have heretofor imagined. The research for hunters supports what conventional rut wisdom has taught, that there is a lot of movement of deer during the rut. As a hunter, be patient, a whitetail deer is sure to come along. At the end of the day, deer behavior and dialogue are worth study and use. Soft bleats and gentle grunts could call in a doe to add to the harvest. Or why not challenge a buck by offering a snort-wheeze call and maybe with a little rattling on top? I attended an effective communications seminar where the lecturer said, “It’s the nature of communications to break down.” That I’m sure applies to deer vocal communications too. Deer will respond differently to each communication technique because there are always variables in the field environment beyond our span of control. Examples of variables in the field are the wind, other deer in the area, the weather, and other people afield. Never give up on learning whitetail vocal communications. Sooner or later you will communicate with them vocally and you will feel so good about it� Thus, you become more effective at the vocal part. But, there is so much more to understanding the diversity in deer communications at all levels. The body language, the chemistry, the habitat, and the biology of the deer all add to our knowledge base of understanding deer communications. Mastery of the many forms of whitetail deer communications makes the outdoor experience all the more rewarding, whether measured in harvest rates, enjoyment or both. Einstein said it best, “Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.”
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BY JENNY FOLEY
Nikki Peterson Breuer is into all things outdoors, but chasing whitetails is her favorite. For the interaction with nature, the thrill of the hunt, and the delicious free range meat.
A TIMELY TREND
You’d have to be living under a rock to not have noticed the rise in participation by women in shooting sports in recent years. The uptick in the number of women hunters can be attributed to various reasons: more women-only workshops teaching outdoorrelated skills, better availability of clothing and gear designed specifically for women, a growing interest in providing free-range food for their families and the influence of female role models as well as movies and television shows featuring strong female hunters, archers and target shooters. Encouraging new participants in shooting sports, hunting and fishing is the main focus of the MN DNR’s Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation program, or R3. The R3 program is specifically designed to introduce more people to hunting and fishing for the first time as well as to reactivate those who have fallen away from the sports for one reason or another. This push is an important one as hunters and fishermen are the very source of the revenue needed to support conservation and management of our natural resources. Specifically focusing on recruiting women to hunting and fishing makes sense as the female population has historically been underrepresented in these fields and
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has the most potential for growth. According to the MN DNR’s Guide to Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation, females account for nearly 70,000 of Minnesota’s 550,000 hunters, or roughly 13%. And those numbers are growing every year. In recent years, the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League has grown by leaps and bounds, from starting out with 30 participants and 3 teams in 2007-2008 to becoming a national organization with over 20,000 participants and 615 teams across 15 states in 2016-2017. According to Josh Kroells, Fundraising and Event Manager for the (now) USA High School Clay Target League, 18% of participants in the spring clay target league season here in Minnesota were females. It naturally follows that such programs as the MN DNR’s “Becoming an Outdoor Woman” (BOW), and the Ruffed Grouse Society’s “Women’s Intro to Wingshooting” (WIW) have become increasingly popular as they are specifically designed to give women an opportunity to experience shooting sports in a supportive environment. “Women like shooting with other women,” states Meadow Kouffeld, Regional Biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock
Society. “They prefer a shooting environment that is comfortable, without the pressure of shooting in front of their relatives.” Women are actively searching for ways to become involved and learn about hunting and these programs are giving them that opportunity. Whether comfortable shooting in front of family members/hunting partners, or preferring to give shooting a try in another venue, it’s becoming more and more accepted for women to take up their own guns and join in. Retailers are cashing in on the rise in female participation by creating gear and clothing specifically designed for women. Choices in clothing were once very limited, with most women having to shop the men’s area for camouflage clothing options. Now companies are carrying larger selections that are designed to better fit a woman’s body. Comfortable clothing that does the job of keeping your body warm, dry and able to stay in the field longer is essential to every successful hunt whether you’re a man or a woman. Retailers are also moving past the “shrink it and pink it” phase of women’s camouflage clothing design where they basically down-sized men’s garments and added pink to appeal to women. Many
35,866
39,659
50,669
49,611
48,779
32,241
30,747
30,091
29,801
33,164
30,000 25,000 20,000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Resident Youth
2008
2009
Resident Firearm
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
9,100
11,367
9,536
11,506
9,791
11,297
10,990 7,951
6,481
8,211
10,895 6,183
10,434 5,926
9,739
9,851
2007
5,315
3,070
2006
3,955
9,501
9,243 2,997
3,045
3,216
5,834
3,231
554
4,299
8,856
2000
488
4,452
5,000 0
9,123
10,000
11,746
15,000
518
Number of Hunters
35,000
37,937
40,171
40,000
42,079
45,502
44,122
48,345
50,000
47,606
MN DNR Women Hunters Data
55,000
45,000
I was pleased to realize that over the years, tagging along on all of the different hunts, she was watching and learning, gathering little bits of advice and experiences from each hunt and to apply to her own hunting experience. All I had to do was bring her along and keep giving her the opportunity and sure enough it all coalesced into this moment for this hunt. The successful harvest of a beautiful young buck made it even better. I’m happy to know my husband’s and my love of hunting and the outdoors has been shared with both of our children. I’m sure they will someday share the excitement and love of the outdoors with their children and that is exactly what hunting needs. It is the responsibility of all outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen to continue to promote hunting and fishing and encourage new participants to give it a try. Hunting teaches many things: patience, discipline, ethics, sustainability, appreciation, confidence, perseverance and hard work among them. Not one of those things is gender specific.
with their families. As a woman who hunts, I can say this is probably my favorite part of hunting. I could lie and say the whole point was to be a good mentor in teaching the kids to hunt and fish, but the truth is, if I wanted to go, I had to take them along� As it turns out, the best way to mentor was to just get out in the field and bring them with us. All of our hunts have been learning experiences for them both and last fall’s deer hunt with our daughter Meghan was the culmination of many years of observations and gathering information on her part. Watching her track the young buck meandering into range, I thought I had to “talk her through” the shot, but she proved me wrong. After a couple of whispered reminders from me, she reached back and patted me on the leg and “shushed” me with one finger. I got the message. From that point on she took over and I became a fascinated observer who was able to sit back and enjoy watching the hunt unfold. She did everything right, from moving and adjusting her gun only when his head was down to being patient until the right shot presented itself and she did it all on her own.
professional women hunters find pink camo to be patronizing and slightly offensive. What women who hunt want most is to be thought of as “hunters” as opposed to “women hunters” with no distinction of gender specific clothing other than sizes that fit and clothing that does its job. The recent “Locavore” movement may also be contributing to the rise in numbers of women who hunt. “Locavore” is defined as “a person who makes an effort to eat food that is grown, raised or produced locally, usually within 100 miles of home.” Providing their families with free range wild game appeals to many consumers because it is hormone and antibiotic free. The low-fat, high-protein content of wild game provides some of the most nutritious meat out there, making many hunters feel good about feeding such high-quality food to their families. The tasks of killing, cleaning and then cooking and eating wild game takes the sustainability of the Locavore movement full circle, bringing new hunters into the fold in the process. Along with providing their families with a great food source, hunting also gives women more opportunities to spend quality time
2016
Resident Archery
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 39
THIS IS WHY I HUNT! Jessie Fahey
Meadow Kouffeld
Meadow Kouffeld, Wildlife Biologist, Ruffed Grouse Society Hunting is something I have always been passionate about even as a small child. My parents always took my sister and me along, much like I do now with my daughter Heidi. Hunting and being in the field is when I am most happy and content in life. If I could do it every day, I would. Now that I have my daughter, I enjoy sharing my experiences and the animals I bring home even more. I can only hope she loves hunting half as much as her auntie and I do and I look forward to the day when she is old enough to keep up on more adventurous hunts.
Meghan Foley I am a wife, a mother of three daughters, and was born and raised in the country of a small town in East Central Minnesota. I grew up tracking deer with my dad at a young age and witnessed him shooting his recurve bow every day for practice. I started shooting bow about three years ago. I also rifle hunt but bow hunting gives me a total different feeling. I love the challenge of practicing shooting at our targets, hunting land that my dad and grandpa hunt(ed), the excitement of hearing a snap of a branch in the quietness of the woods and waiting for that deer to move closer to me all while trying to keep myself calm, growing closer with my husband and family over the excitement of going out for a hunt and the celebration of shooting a deer, and I love the conversations with God that I have while sitting high up in my tree stand. One of the most rewarding outcomes of being a woman bow hunter is being a role model to my daughters. Showing them that women can hunt and hang with “the boys”. All three daughters have their own bows and get excited about shooting with their dad and I. We are partial to shooting Hoyt bows, even our black lab we named Hoyt.
40 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Bonita Ysen
Hunting is a way of life in this family. As an avid outdoors woman, it's also how I feed my family. All the meat we consume is farm raised on our own farm, hunted and fished. Being able to be self-sufficient is just one of many satisfactions that I get from hunting. With that being said, I look forward to deer season each and every year. I enjoy being out in the deer stand on a cold, crisp winter morning listening to all the nature sounds around me. Waiting. I take in the peacefulness and the get-away from life itself. It's a way to reflect and enjoy some down time to gather my thoughts. However, I enjoy the excitement and the gratefulness of the kill. The adrenaline rush I get when I see a deer in the distance. The calmness I get when I watch a doe and her fawns as I wait for my buck. The heart pounding excitement when I have my finger on the trigger ready to pull. I'm very thankful for each and every kill as it means we eat for the next year. We rely on it. Hunting is not a sport for my family. It's a way of life. It means eating healthy, learning patience, self-reflection, and the satisfaction you get from the harvest.
Katelyn Rowan
I choose to hunt because I like to spend time outdoors with my family and friends and I like to eat all kinds of wild game. I hunt because I can and I LOVE it!
Katelyn Rowan and Lily Rowan Katelyn said she hunts primarily to do her part to feed her family. Then she quickly adds the sport is in her blood. Her third reason might be deemed inappropriate by some, but she considers it friendly competition as she always strives (and succeeds) to outhunt the guys and loves the thrill of victory. Lily likes to hunt “‘cause her daddy likes to.” LOL.
42 Whitetales | FALL 2017
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 43
MAKE THE FIRST SHOT COUNT: BALLISTICS FOR DEER HUNTERS Killing a deer humanely and near instantaneously requires hunters to place the first shot in a vital area. For deer, the optimal vital area encompasses a front shoulder and the chest cavity containing the heart and lungs—an area about the size of this page. A basic knowledge of projectile velocity, trajectory, kinetic energy and wind deflection permits the determination of optimum sight-in distances and approximate distances in the field at which a shot can be reliably placed in a deer’s vital area. In the following paragraphs, these exterior ballistics parameters are considered for centerfire rifles, shotgun slug guns, muzzleloading rifles, big-bore handguns, and bows and arrows favored by deer hunters. For additional details pertaining to specific
44 Whitetales | FALL 2017
BY ROY WELCH
cartridges/loads/arrows, hunters can access excellent ballistics software programs available for personal computers and smart phones, or featured as part of product websites. Some examples include JBM Ballistics, Nikon Spot On, Strelok Pro, and Arrow Ballistics Calculator.
Centerfire Rifles Centerfire rifles used by the majority of deer hunters in the forested regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are chambered for .24- to .35-caliber cartridges that generate muzzle velocities of 2,200 to 3,100 feet per second (fps). Muzzle energies range from about 1,800 to over 3,000 ft. lbs., with more than 1,000 ft. lbs. (the generally accepted energy requirement for deer)
remaining beyond 300 yards for the higher velocity cartridges. With accurate shot placement, there is sufficient kinetic energy to humanely kill a deer at extended range. Compensation for bullet trajectory may be required. Leaving popular cartridges such as the 30-30 Winchester and 35 Remington with muzzle velocities of 2,200 to 2,400 fps aside for the moment, hunting bullets in cartridges such as the 243 Winchester, 260 Remington, 270 Winchester, 308 Winchester, and 30-06 Springfield with muzzle velocities of 2,800 to 3,100 fps have virtually identical trajectories out to 300 yards. This is more than three times the distance at which most deer are shot. Therefore, zeroing the rifle so the bullets strike 2 inches high at 100 yards, makes it possible with a steady center
chest hold to produce killing shots on deer at distances out to approximately 250 yards. A hold of 7 to 9 inches high at 300 yards (approximately the top of the deer's back) will place the shot in the center of the chest. For cartridges such as the 30-30 Winchester and 35 Remington, sighting-in 3 inches high at 100 yards will allow a center chest hold at distances out to 150 to 200 yards. In most instances, considering the distances at which deer are shot, only minor corrections for bullet trajectory are required when using a centerfire rifle. Corrections for wind deflection in crosswinds of less than 10 mph range from about 1 inch at 100 yards to 3 to 6 inches at 200 yards, depending on the muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient of the bullet. A hunter with adequate marksmanship skills, a stable position, and a rifle that has been correctly zeroed should be reasonably certain of placing a shot in the heart-lung-shoulder of a deer at distances out to 150 to 300 yards.
Shotgun Slug Guns Hunters in areas requiring the use of shotguns and slugs for deer hunting can opt for smoothbore shotguns and Foster-type rifled slugs, or shotguns with rifled barrels that are best suited for use with slugs encased in a sabot. The 12-gauge Foster rifled-slug ammunition features a slug weighing from 1 to 1Ÿ ounces in both 2ž- and 3-inch cartridge lengths. Muzzle velocities range from approximately 1,400 to 1,800 fps, with a retained energy of roughly 1,000 ft. lbs. at 100 yards. Zeroed for 50 yards, there is 4 to 5 inches of drop at 100 yards. Beyond 100 yards, the rapid loss of velocity and rate of drop result in reduced energy with wind deflections greater than 10 inches in a 10-mph crosswind, making it difficult to place a shot in a deer's vital area using a smoothbore shotgun.
Figure 1. Examples of 12-gauge sabot slugs designed for use in rifled shotgun barrels: Remington 2ž inch, 1-ounce Premier Copper Solid slugs with a muzzle velocity of 1,450 fps, and Winchester 3-inch, 385-grain Partition Gold sabot slugs with a muzzle velocity of 1,850 fps.
In recent years, firearms and ammunition manufacturers have addressed the limited range of Foster rifled slugs. Shotgun models are now available with rifled barrels solidly anchored to the receiver and intended for use with sabot ammunition that produces groups of 2 to 4 inches at 100 yards. A slug consisting of a sub-caliber "bullet" of 300 to 438 grains is housed in a plastic sabot that both protects the slug and imparts the spin necessary to stabilize it, dropping away from the slug after it has exited the barrel (Figure 1). These sabot loads provide muzzle velocities of 1,400 to 2,100 fps and muzzle energies of 2,000 to over 3,000 ft. lbs. The higher-velocity sabot slugs, when zeroed for 100 yards, will strike approximately 4 inches low at 150 yards and 12 inches low at 200 yards, with over 1,000 ft. lbs. of energy retained. If shots longer than 150 to 175 yards are anticipated the slugs can be zeroed 3 inches high at 100 yards (effectively a 150yard zero), yielding a drop of approximately 8 inches below the line of sight at 200 yards. Wind deflection in a 10-mph crosswind is only about 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards, but reaches 12 to 13 inches at 200 yards. Given a shotgun with a rifled barrel and optics with a ballistics reticle designed to compensate for drop, killing shots can be made with reasonable certainty at distances out to approximately 200 yards (Figure 2).
Figure 2. A Nikon 200 BDC reticle displayed with the Strelok Pro software illustrates hold points at 150 and 200 yards for Winchester Partition Gold sabot slugs zeroed for 100 yards. The ballistic reticle minimizes guess work for trajectory compensation.
Muzzleloading Rifles Black powder muzzleloaders used by deer hunters are commonly traditional reproductions of caplock or flintlock rifles, or modern in-line muzzleloading rifles (Figure 3). Calibers vary from .40 to greater than .54. Fifty caliber is a common favorite and is the caliber referred to in this discussion.
Figure 3. A Thompson/Center Hawken and a scoped Savage Model 10ML-II are examples of traditional and in-line muzzleloading rifles. The .50-caliber Hornady Lock-N-Load Speed Sabots are used with .45-caliber, 250-grain MonoFlex ML bullets. Pellets are slipped on the tail of the sabot. Traditional rifles normally have open sights and are loaded with lead round balls weighing about 180 grains, lead conical bullets of 350 to 400 grains, or jacketed .45-caliber sabot bullets of about 250 grains, with the rate of twist influencing the choice of projectile. With a charge of 70 to over 100 grains of black powder or a black-powder substitute, muzzle velocities of approximately 1,300 to 2,000 fps are achieved and provide muzzle energies of about 1,200 to 2,000 ft. lbs., depending on the choice of bullet and powder charge. Because of the low ballistic coefficients of these projectiles, velocity and energy degrade rapidly. Wind deflection at 100 yards in a 10-mph crosswind is about 3 to 8 inches. Loads zeroed for 50 yards show a drop of 2 to 5 inches at 100 yards. Although traditional muzzleloaders are accurate, they are best suited for shots at deer at distances of less than 100 yards. Modern in-line muzzleloaders that employ a shotgun primer to provide in-line ignition resemble modern centerfire rifles and have strong actions that can withstand the elevated pressures of stout loads. They can be fitted with a hunting scope to facilitate accurate shot placement at distances beyond 100 yards. Propellants include black powder and black-powder substitutes, such as Hodgdon Pyrodex and Triple Seven, Alliant Black MZ, and Blackhorn 209 powders or Pyrodex, Triple Seven, and Alliant Blue-MZ pellets.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 45
Projectiles are loaded in front of a charge of 100 to 150 grains of propellant and typically include lead bullets of 300 to 385 grains, PowerBelts such as the copper plated AeroTips of 223 to 348 grains with “snap-on” base gas seals, or sub-caliber (e.g. .45 caliber) jacketed bullets of 240 to 300 grains partially enclosed in a plastic sabot that seals the bore. A few examples of sabot bullets include the Hornady SST-ML, Barnes Spit-fire T-EZ, and Remington AccuTip. Federal recently introduced B.O.R. Lock 270-grain copper and 350-grain lead bullets that instead of employing a sabot feature a fiber reinforced polymer ring that seals the bore when the powder ignites. The sabot, PowerBelt AeroTip, and Federal B.O.R. Lock MZ bullets have ballistic coefficients of about 0.200. When pushed at a muzzle velocity of 1,800 to 2,200 fps and zeroed 2 to 3 inches high at 100 yards (effectively a 150-yard zero), the bullets will have dropped only 5 to 8 inches below the line of sight at 200 yards. Muzzle energies of 2,000 to 3,000 ft. lbs. are achieved, depending on the bullet weight and velocity. Wind deflection in a 10-mph crosswind is approximately 12 inches at 200 yards. Beyond 200 yards, kinetic energy falls off and increased bullet drop and wind deflection make 200 to 225 yards the approximate maximum distance at which there is a high degree of certainty of placing a killing shot when using a scope-sighted, in-line muzzleloader.
Big-Bore Handguns Handgun cartridges that are generally considered suitable for hunting deer and other big- game species are those that produce approximately 1,000 ft. lbs. or greater muzzle energy. These cartridges, which are employed in single- and doubleaction revolvers and single-shot handguns, include the 41 Remington Magnum, 44 Remington Magnum, 45 Colt+P, 454 Casull, 460 Smith &Wesson, 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, and 500 Smith & Wesson. Based on bullet weight and energy, the cartridges can be divided into three groups: 1) 41 Remington Magnum, 44 Remington Magnum, and 45 Colt+P with bullet weights of 200 to 300 grains and muzzle energies of approximately 1,000 ft. lbs. 2) 454 Casull, 460 Smith & Wesson, 475 Linebaugh, and 480 Ruger with bullet weights of 250 to 400 grains and muzzle energies of 1,000 to plus 2,000 ft. lbs. and 3) 500 Smith & Wesson with bullet weights of 275 to 500 grains and muzzle energies of plus 2,000 ft. lbs. The 44
46 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Remington Magnum is a popular favorite cartridge, whereas, due to excessive recoil, the 500 Smith & Wesson is an outlier. With average muzzle velocities of 1,300 to 1,600 fps typical of group 1 and 2 cartridges and handguns zeroed 1.5 to 3 inches high at 50 yards (effectively a 100-yard zero), the bullets will strike 6 to 10 inches low at 150 yards and 15 to 28 inches low at 200 yards. Wind deflection in a 10-mph crosswind is 3 to 4 inches at 100 yards, 7 to 8 inches at 150 yards, and approximately 14 inches at 200 yards. Given the limitations on accuracy imposed by energy, trajectory, and wind deflection, the maximum distance for reliably placing shots in the chest cavity of a deer with powerful handguns ranges from about 40 to 125 yards, depending on bullet weight and velocity, iron vs. scope sights, and a hunter's skill with a heavy recoiling handgun.
conditions with arrows having velocities of approximately 200 fps appear to be limited to about 20 to 30 yards. Arrows launched at 300 fps and sighted for 30 yards will strike about 3 to 4 inches high at 20 yards and 7 to 10 inches low at 40 yards, thus potentially extending the range by several yards. The maximum distance for consistent kill shots on deer with crossbows is estimated to be about 40 to 50 yards, depending on whether optical sights with ballistic reticles are employed (Figure 4).
Bow and Arrow Arrows launched from recurve, compound, and crossbows are severely affected by gravity and drag. They kill by hemorrhaging instead of by shock. Acceptable target distances are short and wind deflection is usually not a problem. Compared to bullets, the kinetic energy of arrows is greatly reduced, yet must be sufficient to ensure complete penetration of a deer's vitals. A value of about 40 ft. lbs., determined by arrow weight and velocity, is generally considered adequate. Archery hunters typically employ arrows weighing between 300 and 500 grains. Arrow velocities of about 200 fps are achieved with recurve bows, 250 to 300 fps with compound bows, and 300 to 400 fps with crossbows. A 400-grain arrow with a velocity of 220 fps generates a kinetic energy of about 40 ft. lbs. Increasing the velocity to 300 fps provides approximately 80 ft. lbs. of energy. Increasing arrow velocity also flattens trajectory. For example, 400-grain arrows with velocities of 200 to 350 fps zeroed for 20 yards drop 4 to 14 inches below the line of sight at 30 yards, 10 to 40 inches at 40 yards, and 21 to 71 inches at 50 yards. Although multiple sight pins can be employed to compensate for drop, accurate distance measurement— preferably with a laser rangefinder— is critical. Assessment of arrow trajectory is particularly critical for hunters in tree stands who must compute hold points for horizontal distances, rather than the measured slant-range distances. Accurate shots at deer under field
Figure 4. The Redfield Accu-Ranger Crossbow reticle designed to compensate for the trajectory of a bolt or arrow zeroed for 20 yards, illustrates the magnitude of drop for shots out to 60 yards. In conclusion, hunting provides no absolutes in terms of conditions under which deer will be encountered and shot opportunities provided. It should be evident, however, that a basic knowledge of projectile velocity, trajectory, kinetic energy, and wind deflection, coupled with a personal skill assessment, will allow the ethical hunter to optimize zero distances and judge the circumstances under which a first shot can be placed with certainty, or must be declined because of uncertainties.
MDHA TIPS BY ROD DIMICH AND ED SCHMIDT
TIP
#1
“Be careful out there” When in an elevated deer stand, whether hunting or prepping, the wise old saying, “Safety first” cannot be overstated. Safety harnesses, railings and secure steps will insure a safe hunt or prep. If you are using portable ladder stands, check the strapping materials for deterioration. Always use a proper harness so if you do fall you will not be suspended in a precarious manner – like an upside-down trapeze performer. Remember, a safe hunt is a successful hunt and consider this fact: the number one reason for visits to the emergency room during deer hunting season is “falling from deer stands.” Number two is knife cuts.
TIP
#2
“Become a deer country gardener” Using pruning shears or foldable camp saws to trim brush from around your stand will definitely enhance visibility and allow quiet egress. After your stand is in place, an extendable pole saw works wonders to clear unwanted branches that block your visibility. Left over balsam and pine branches may be used to camouflage the stand somewhat using zip ties. Just remember not to cut too early or too late. Early trimming will cause browning of leaves/needles and late trims might alert that wary buck. As always, when on public land, check the regs.
TIP
#3
“Cushion with a can”
Many of us are addicted to buckets. Because their uses are ubiquitous, such as toting, storing or for just chucking things into, it seems they are everywhere, like our trucks, garages, sheds, pole buildings, camps, etc. If you have ever experienced the dreaded “several stacked together bucket lock” and have pulled, grunted, broken finger nails or suffered an arm strain when lofting said locked buckets in a frustrated fury, do we have a tip for you. Simply crush an aluminum can(s) (obviously, bottles will not abide) and put one in the bottom of the bucket. This cushioning stops the “solid settling” effect. Works every time.
48 Whitetales | FALL 2017
& TREASURES
1987 Deer Hunting Harvest Statistics
Thirty years ago, in 1987, MDHA was officially seven years old, but since we launched in late 1980 and got our walking legs in 1981, we were pretty much only five years old. The following is a smattering of statistics to show how MDHA has positively affected Minnesota deer and deer hunting. To begin, let’s look back 40 years to 1977. In ’77, six years after the entire state was closed to deer hunting (1971), which meant zero deer harvested, the statewide firearms deer harvest was 45,918, of which 36,683 were bucks and 8,815 were antlerless. Now, let’s move ahead to 1982, when MDHA was only two years old. In 1982, firearms license sales totaled 369,018 and archery 54,062. The total firearms harvest was 93,045; archery was 5,566 and the muzzleloaders took 441 for a total kill of 99,052. In 1987, firearms license sales increased to 412,249 and archery went to 68,809. The total firearms harvest jumped to 135,003, an increase of 89,085 from 1977; archers took 7,535 and the smoke-polers garnered 535. Remember, these muzzleloaders were the old style as the “in-line” had not yet been invented. Contrast this to our highest firearms harvests in 2003 and 2006 of over 250,000 deer and even last year (2016), despite its restricted DNR antlerless quotas, with a firearms harvest of over 150,000 and you will clearly see MDHA has truly been a success
for deer and deer hunting. As a side note, in 1987 Al Sproessig was MDHA’s state president, Rosemary Millet won our art print contest, habitat projects were beginning and MDHA took a giant step in the right direction by investing in
Minnesota’s deer hunting future by pledging a matching grant of $40,000 with the Blandin Foundation to the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve for a “Whitetail Deer Room” in their new building project.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 49
MEMBER AN OLD FLINTLOCK IN A YOUNG HAND
A Teenage Woodsman Takes His First Muzzleloader Deer When I was 23 years of age, I assembled a slender, .45 caliber Tennessee longrifle. I used it to harvest vast quantities of grey squirrels and other furry critters as well as countless grouse. It was the same gun I used to take my first muzzleloader deer. It had accompanied me on many hunts around home and was my constant companion at any number of historical camps from North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin to Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as numerous states in between. It was my go-to gun for almost a decade. It started out as a cap lock, but I converted it to a flintlock a mere two years after I had built it and it has remained so ever since. It is my first flintlock. Though the gun is aged, it would prove to play a significant role in my son’s hunting achievements. In an effort to pass down the tradition woven around it, I had been helping my son John (aka John Spencer) handle, shoot and hunt with the lengthy longrifle. For three years we had been developing the connection between rifle, shooting pouch and powder horn so that loading and shooting out of a pouch became second nature. Our efforts included attendance at buckskinning rendezvous to shoot competitively at paper and novelty targets. In an average weekend he stood at the shooting line for at least thirty shots and usually more. Besides these events, he shot it at other times, just to plink. In that third summer, John Spencer was now strong enough to hold the rifle steady and the more he shot it, the more confident he became. Later he and his sister Johannah came out with me on several forays in the muzzleloading season that year. “Deer-Foot” (so named from the German silver inlay in the cheek rest) became his “go-to” rifle for muzzleloader season and as he grew in strength he wielded it like a good rifleman. The following year the lad turned fourteen. During the summer he competed in a number of shooting contests and as he continued to gain experience, his confidence also grew. When the regular firearms deer season rolled around we spent a lot of time in the deer blind and deer
50 Whitetales | FALL 2017
stand but he wasn’t able to connect with his modern firearms. Soon thereafter muzzleloading season was in full swing. He had numerous encounters in both seasons but the opportunities were interrupted in one way or another. Suddenly the last weekend of the muzzleloader season was upon us. The young hunter was struck with the prospect that he might not connect with a deer in this season either. It was time to get serious.
A ten-year old John Spencer, with a little help from Dad, takes his first shots with Deer Foot, at a rendezvous in Kindred, ND. We arrived at the deer woods early that Saturday. I put John Spencer in the stand and I went to a nearby ridge within eye sight. The morning was cold, moist and uncomfortable. By 10:30 we both needed to warm up, but before we headed out of the woods, I told him we should change the placement of the deer stand. Quietly, the ladder stand was unhooked, lowered and reset twenty-five yards farther to the west amongst some basswoods. The clump of several trees provided a good surround for security and broke up his human outline. I strapped to several of the trees a type of hook on which John could hang his pack and rifle. With everything ready to go we headed home for lunch. We returned at 2:00 pm with a plan for moving deer and, while at the stand, he and I quickly reviewed a number of shooting scenarios based on the deer paths. As for reloading I assured him, if necessary, he could climb down
the ladder and reload the long rifle on the ground. He had taken his first deer the year before, a three by three whitetail buck, with a modern gun. This year, however, if he were going to take deer number two, it would have to be with a flintlock. He knew full well the history of the rifle which allowed me to take my first ML deer and he was determined to do the same. I checked the flint for sharpness and made sure it was secure in the jaws of the cock. I put him up into the stand with Deer-Foot, and had him raise it to aim at several marks out around him. He felt stable, balanced and confident. He then assured me that the lock was primed. Finally, it was time for this dad to leave his son in the woods and trust that he would be fine and acquit himself like a good hunter. He would be alone here for several hours while I walked out to the main road to make a large semi-circle and come in up-wind of him to make a drive. The afternoon continued a cool, moist 28 degrees, but after nearly two miles of walking I had to stop and shed a layer. After another half mile, I checked my own prime and entered the woods again. I eased along slowly and within ten minutes jumped several deer. I could hear a number of them but could only see two. I deliberately kept my pace slow and steady. It did not want to push hard because I felt the deer would rocket past him. I followed a military crest of a prominent ridge for quite a ways, just enough to see over the top and then eventually dipped back down into the saddle between a grassy pond and another trail. There in the patches of snow stubbornly clinging to the shadows, I spied a number of fresh tracks, a good sign. I paused to listen… all was quiet. I emerged from the low spot, headed up towards another ridge and as I crested it, I heard the sharp crack of a rifle. I prayed at that moment that all was well and that the shot hit its mark, hopefully a deer. At that point I quickly bore through the woods and tangles of brush until I came to familiar trail. The day was getting long and I knew if he had hit a deer we would need all the light possible, so I wasted no time in following that trail to another.
Story After padding up that last narrow ribbon threading its way through the pine, maple and raspberry I stepped up and over a blow-down and could see John’s head craning back and forth. As soon as he spotted me he excitedly waived me on. I approached the stand and inquired how the encounter had played out. He informed me that four deer had funneled through. He considered taking the small nubbin buck that stopped to his left, but as he watched the other deer, a large doe was approaching an opening right in front of him so he pointed in that direction. He glanced back at the nubbin and could tell it was antsy, so he continued to focus on the doe. Finally, she presented a fairly clear shot. He came to full cock, pulled the set trigger, aimed at the heart and touched it off. She jumped several times and he lost sight of her in the brush as the other deer ran off. He pointed to some hair on the ground but I had him stay in the stand to direct me with hand signals to other places he thought might hold sign. Finally, I had him climb down so we both could make half-circles in the thick brush, looking for sign. Finally, I found the doe, “He got it,” I softly exclaimed to myself. She had gone only 35 yards and before falling dead. The patched .440 home molded, lead round ball had found its mark at the top of the heart, broke one rib entering, and one rib exiting. Off in the distance I could see at least one if not two other deer. I considered another shot at a deer and called out with a deer bleat to entice at least one of them. Time however, was not on our side and in my discretion I decided this day belonged to John Spencer and Deer-Foot. I whistled a loon-call to him and gestured for him to walk to me. He excitedly asked, “Did you find her?” I simply pointed to her and when he saw her he gave me a big hug. I maintained a vigil next to a large pine to keep an eye on the other deer milling far-off in the brush. Several feet away John Spencer gutted and cleaned the big doe. I suggested that if they came close he should grab Deer Foot, bloody hands and all, and try to fill his second tag. Though the deer were curious, they kept their distance. With the gutting done, we bagged the heart and liver. He opened my hunting pack, secured a hempen drag rope and handed it to me. The light was fading fast as I began dragging the deer. John followed me clutching my .58 caliber Virginia in his left hand and Deer Foot in his right hand. We changed direction back and forth and back again in the thick brush as we headed out to the road. I knew the trail in daylight, but in full-dark I had to get within six inches of several blazes to double check our position. We plodded
on until we finally reached our destination, an open glade next to the road. Relieved and slightly invigorated, I pulled the deer through the glade to the grassy right of way. I shucked the drag rope, grabbed my rifle and headed down the road to retrieve the car. In the mean time Spencer, looking to do more, had pulled the drag rope to his waist, grabbed up his rifle and succeeded in dragging the deer a full fifty yards farther down the right-of-way before I returned. I thought to myself, “That’s the spirit�” Photos were then taken as best we could in the dark, after which
BY JOHN W. HAYES the doe was loaded and brought home to hang in the garage. That evening he told and retold his part of the story as I did my own part. At last his efforts bore fruit at the end of the muzzleloading season using a flintlock rifle, the same one I had used over 22 years earlier to take my first muzzleloader deer. It was a notable accomplishment, a rite of passage within the tradition. With that old flintlock in his young hands, my fourteen-year old son had taken his first muzzleloader deer. What a blessed hunt.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 51
What�s Cookin��
BY DAVE MARTERDAM
Beer-Braised Venison Neck Roast Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1 neck roast ¼ cup olive oil (I used a bit less) 5 strips bacon (I used 7 or 8) 8 oz. mushrooms (I used 2, 4 oz. cans) 8 oz. pearl onions (I used ¾ of a medium onion) 2 – 3 stalks celery, roughly chopped 2 large carrots, cut into large pieces 4 – 5 cloves garlic, chopped 3 cups dark beer (I used a 16 oz. can of Guinness and most of a bottle of port) 2 cups mushroom or vegetable stock (I used beef broth) 1 sprig rosemary (I used dried) 2 bay leaves 5 large sage leaves (I used 2 tsp. of powdered) 1 cinnamon stick (I used a tsp powdered) 2 sprigs thyme (I used a tsp of powdered)
Instructions:
1. Rub the roast with salt, pepper and powdered sage and set aside. 2. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat and render the bacon. Remove the crisp bacon and chop it into small pieces. Set aside. 3. Liberally brown the roast in the oil & bacon grease. Remove the roast and cook the mushrooms, celery, carrots, and garlic for several minutes. 4. Put the roast back in, pour in the beer and stock. Bring to a boil. Add the herbs, cinnamon, and bacon pieces. Cover and cook in a 325-degree oven for 3 hours. The meat will almost fall off the neck bone. The vegetables and stock make great gravy over mashed potatoes. A non-sweet BBQ sauce or horse radish are good condiments for the meat.
Copper pot of venison goulash stew seasoned with fresh herbs surrounded by evergreen sprigs and deer antlers.
52 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Gizmos, GADGETS, GEO-PAK Garments & GEAR Hunt Hunting can be both a personal experience and a social experience you will want to share with friends, family and other hunters in your group as you move through the great outdoors. But frustration sets in when you get turned around and can’t find your vehicle, your tree stand, lose contact with your hunting group or come across a storm you weren’t expecting. GEO-PAK Hunt is an app that addresses these common annoyances and many more. GEO-PAK Hunt enhances your entire hunting adventure no matter what surprises your hunt has in store for you� GEO-PAK Hunt helps you plan, track and recap your hunt through high-tech GPS collaboration and real-time adventure. The app can be used through your desktop or mobile device and provides you with everything you need as a hunter. In addition to the standard features included in most hunting apps – maps, weather, compass, sunrise/sunset tables and wind direction – there are over 20 features to use through the GEO-PAK Hunt app. We have highlighted some of the most popular features below. Areas – with this feature, you can view
public preloaded areas and also build your own areas. This provides the ability to view property lines and borders of private and public land. You can set boundaries and share them with others in your group through the app. Fences and Alarms – Manually mark fences around boundaries you would like to set on your hunt. These can then be linked to the Alarm feature, which will alert you when you are close to the border or encroaching on another member of your group. The alarm can also be set based on sunrise and sunset times. Don’t forget to set your phone on vibrate� Augmented Reality – Using your phone’s camera within the app adds a layer of information on top of the image in your camera lens. In real time, you can see the direction and distance you are from group members, objects, and pins. Tracking – Use this feature for personal recap or for group tracking with your hunting group. Record tracks and review tracks and trails you have previously traveled. In addition, use trackers in private or shared mode during your hunt. You can track dogs, hunters, or equipment and view their paths
in real time and after the hunt during your analysis or future planning. The Group Tracking feature, in particular, allows you to share your hunt and experience with your hunting group. Your pins, tracks, areas, and other data can be shared with your invite-only group to encourage collaboration and safety. Cams – Use trail cameras to import pictures. You simply select the animal you would like to capture and the app will add background weather and moon information for you. GEO-PAK Hunt encourages collaboration within a hunting group, but also understands the importance of privacy when it comes to your hunting adventure. You can select exactly how much (or how little) you want to share with others and it runs exactly the same if you are only tracking and storing data for your own personal use and view. This app was created by hunters, for hunters and it speaks to casual hunters and dedicated, serious hunters alike. Get your hunt app card today at: http:// hunt.geo-pak.com or by calling MDHA at 1-800-450-3337 Ext. 17.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 53
HUNT
Minnesota Deer Hunting Quiz >> True or False� << By Mike Roste
it down!
1. Many deer hunters have a good knowledge of nature. 2. A constant movement of air currents in deer territory represents one of the greatest protective elements deer have.
Look for an icon shaped like the one above in this issue of Whitetales and, when you find it, send us the page number, along with your name and address. If you are correct, your name will be entered in a prize drawing from MDHA. Email bri@mndeerhunters.com Submission deadline: October 1, 2017
3. Carpeting on the floor of one’s deer stand can be an aid to getting that big buck you have wanted for years.
Winner of the Spring “Hunt It Down”
5. A four-inch blade is just not enough knife to eviscerate a huge Minnesota whitetail.
SOLUTIONS:
• Call the office to inquire at 800.450.DEER. • Check with your chapter officers or regional director. • Check your magazine’s mailing label to see if it is accurate.
Questions, concerns, thoughts� Address letters to: Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Attention: Letter to the Editor • 460 Peterson Rd. • Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or email: bri@mndeerhunters.com
WHITETALES Word Blitz
8. Hunters usually exaggerate the weight of the deer they have harvested. 9. If you have a clean shot with a rifle at 150 feet, you should not shoot as that buck might just pass closer to your stand. 10. Deer have horns like antelope.
Answers
7. True: Advantages are magnification, lightgathering power and the elimination of sighting difficulty for older eyes.
• Renewal forms or banquet tickets are illegible and get entered incorrectly. • J.J. Jones is Jerry Jones, same person with multiple memberships. • A life member passes away and the state office is not notified.
8. True: Deer hunters seem to guess the weight in relation to the difficulty in dragging the deer to their vehicle.
The magazine label indicates your membership status. Please check it to see if your address is correct and when your membership expires. To renew your membership or make corrections, call the MDHA State Office at 800.450.DEER. Address changes are a major concern and we need your help to correct them. On occasion, the office gets calls because a household is getting duplicate magazines or shouldn’t be getting a magazine at all. What may be the reason for this?
POTENTIAL REASONS:
7. Telescopic sights provide the hunter a tremendous advantage over iron sights.
9. False: Wily whitetails have a habit of disappearing in the brush while you are anticipating their arrival.
PLEASE REVIEW Your Membership Information Today.
6. An exiting deer is easier to stop with a bullet than one that is not alarmed.
10. False: Antelope have horns and deer have antlers.
Jesse Dulek of the Bluff Country Chapter found the hidden songbird on page 51 of the spring issue and was the lucky winner of a Barlow Bone Handled 2 Blade Pocket Knife. Congrats Jesse!
4. When hunting without a scope, one is more apt to miss by shooting under a deer rather than over shooting.
6. False: Deer react differently after being shot but the excited deer might run some distance because of adrenaline pumping through its system. 5. False: A You don’t need any knife longer than four inches, but do buy the best knife that you can afford. 4. False: Most misses, when not using a scope, are due to a hunter not getting his/her head down on the stock which causes one to shoot high. 3. True: A piece of carpeting will prevent any untimely foot shuffling from spooking that deer. 2. True: Their sensitive noses are constantly testing wind drift for some signs of danger from predators, which includes deer hunters. 1. True: A person’s full enjoyment of hunting depends a great deal on a genuine understanding not only of the game one hunts, but of nature itself.
54 Whitetales | FALL 2017
Daylight IN THE Swamp books as that was a badge of honor. Mr. Tunis is still known as the “inventor” of the modern sports story. His memorable books include the “Kid” stories from 1940-1958, which inspired many boys to better themselves. As a pre-teen, I read the classics, from Moby Dick to Huck Finn to the likes of Brave New World and 1984. Though enlightening and obviously over-the-top well written, none of them touched me like my dad’s stories of the Big Swamp, the Great Depression, WWII, coming home after five years of service and three years away from home and deer hunting with Lawrence Lake’s Lorenz and Mandich clans. When my dad told me about the “dirtythirty” (hammered 30.30 caliber rifles) and the “Nashwauk Road” and “Trowbridge’s Field” on Bass Lake deer drives and emergency fires to warm frigid drivers when the temps dipped to around zero and how thin wool jackets and pants and boots and gloves and hats and gloves bracketed the hunt, I was decoyed in like a single bluebill to a hundred blocks. By reading the classics and listening to my dad’s stories, I found the best way to tell a story was to highlight the imagery. Imagery focuses on four areas: visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smelling) and tactile (either feeling or perceiving). My dad’s stories created the visual. When he told a story, I could see the low land “Sprinkle Crick” sneak its way through the alders and picture “Moose Lake’s” sharply contoured hills rise up from the swamp like upside down Dixie Cups. I could hear swans at sunset, clucking, strutting partridges and red squirrels rustling and chattering. When my dad described the deep cedar or balsam swamps, I smelled the heady cedar and the odiferous balsams whose smell sparked an avalanche of car fresheners back in the day, mostly to cover up the cigarettes young smokers hacked in their father’s cars. As far as the tactile, the physical or perceptive feelings, my dad really never talked about how deer hunting affected him, spiritually or mentally. Deer hunting for him was purely about the harvest and family. For him, “If it was brown, it was down.” He was a meat hunter, not that there’s anything wrong with that. He always told me, “Tracks make poor soup.” Throughout the years I mistakenly
moved from that mandate to the siren song of the lofty, “Let a buck walk.” I am now back to earth from that “pie in the sky” pipe dream and currently believe in cross-harvesting when fishing or hunting. To me “high grading,” taking the big stuff, is detrimental to healthy fish and deer populations. I now realize the “buck purist” movement has not at all benefited our deer herd. Currently, we have kids maligning little bucks and hunters pushing the DNR to mandate what we can shoot so they can get the big’un for facebrag. In his later years, my dad always maintained CWD was a result of deer farms and hunters who wanted too many deer and too many big bucks. Among his favorite sayings were, “Too many chefs spoil the soup,” and that the MN DNR stood for “Department of No Return” or “Darn Near Russia” (former MDHA Executive and longtime friend Johnny Kvasniska always loved that saying). Before that, Dad called the then “Department of Conservation” the “Department of Conversation.” My favorite image, however, is one I kind of invented. Since back in the day, I have called it the “implied” image. When explaining, I always use a quote from Mark Twain’s 1885 great American novel (some, including Earnest Hemingway, consider it the greatest) Adventures of Huck Finn when Huck says, “Everything was dead quiet, and it looked late, and smelt late. You know what I mean—I don’t know the words to put it in.” Oh, well, as my favorite author, Gordon MacQuarrie (Old Duck Hunter’s, Inc.) once wrote in his classic story, “Nothing to do for Three Weeks,” “I left long before daylight, alone, but not lonely.” Translated, this means as Simon & Garfunkel sang in their 1966 rock anthem, “The Sounds of Silence,” “Hello darkness, my old friend/I've come to talk with you again.” Those of us who remember that early morning dark walk to our first deer stands, know full well what those lyrics mean, even if we don’t want to admit it. Although Gordon MacQuarrie thrilled me and still does with his great writing like in “Johnny’s Pot-Hole” when he wrote, “Until you have courted bluebills in the snow, you have not tasted the purer delights of waterfowling… the Old Duck Hunters are extremely partial to the bitter last days, those stormy days when the wild, free things of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56 duck shooting are abroad in the very wind with the storm,” I will remember my dad’s stories best. And even though MacQuarrie remains as my Shakespeare of the outdoors, my all-time favorite line will always be my late dad’s, our camp’s chief, morning harking (often annoyingly too early), “It’s daylight in the swamp�” If you have experienced it, you know, but having your young daughter or son sleeping in a cot between you and your dad on deer hunting opener eve is a gift. I have been blessed to have had both. And, yes, that is where this column got its title. It first appeared in the summer 1983 issue of Whitetales in a poem I wrote by the same title. Remember poems? In the fall 1983 issue we also had our first full color cover with our first (1984) Print (Artist) of the Year, “Cautious Approach,” by Michael Sieve on it. In 1983 our Promotion Managers were Harold Burley and John Finnegan, Jim Lang was the State Office Manager, Tom Wheeler the Field Representative, Lorrayne Johnson our Office Secretary, yours truly was the State President for the second year and the venerable Mike Roste provided us with his first Minnesota Deer Hunting Quiz, which has been in every issue to today; in fact, “Daylight” and Mike are our longest running regular features. Also in that fall 1983 issue, then District 3-B Director, Ed Schmidt, authored an article titled, “What Price a Deer” that prompted legislation for mandatory blaze orange. After contributing for several years to Whitetales, fellow original MDHA founder Ed joined me in 1984 as co-editor, replacing the legendary Jim Lang. Ed and I have co-edited the magazine since. Like for many of you dedicated MDHA volunteers and members, it has been a labor of love that has resulted in the betterment and perpetuation of deer and deer hunting in Minnesota. Ah, the memories. Be proud of what you have done MDHA Nation. From the bottom of my deer hunting heart, I thank you for your dedication. What we have done is astonishing, but our commitment to help deer and deer hunting must continue. Be vigilant, dedicated and volunteer whatever, whenever you can. Minnesota’s deer hunting future depends on us. Whitetails forever my friends.
MNDEERHUNTERS.COM 55
Daylight IN THE Swamp
BY ROD DIMICH
When I was just a “pup in the eyes of time,” “back in the day” (I just had to get two of my favorite sayings in there), as kids we really did not have many outdoor television heroes. Sure, some of us tuned into Duluth television’s Rocky Teller and other local television guys, but that was about it. When Rocky and the others, however, talked about the “little fry,” we youngsters perked up; they were talking to us. There just wasn’t a lot to view or read. Sure, we had the big three magazines, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream and Sports Afield, but there was too much of the Earnest Hemingway type of Africa hunt for we who lived in rural America. Yes, we dreamed we would be able to safari; deep down, however, most of us knew it would never happen. To be truthful, we really never cared if we killed a lion, tiger or bear. Well, maybe a bear as in the ‘60s black bear could be taken with our whitetail license tag. Sure, we were thrilled as “Papa” Hemingway (his fourth and final wife Mary was from Blackduck, Minn., as was Howard Hughes’ film star, Jane Russell) killed “guide-found” animals, but a stringer of gills or crappies or a couple rabbits or partridge were plenty for us. Even though Hemingway presented himself as a rough and tumble “he-man” hunting, boxing and reporter covering wars like a man possessed, regarding war, even though his work sometimes seems to glorify it, Hemingway said, “Never think war, no matter how necessary, no matter how justified, is not a crime.” Before I could read, I was, like many of you, introduced to the hunting and fishing world by my dad, who instead of reading me bedtime books, would take me via his stories into the wonderful world of hunting and fishing. Oh, he would try to tell me of the “farm” days when picking rocks or haying or “scalding” and butchering a pig and getting it to the
56 Whitetales | FALL 2017
PHOTO BY RONI ADAMS
FROM BACK IN THE DAY TO TODAY
“smokehouse” were badges of honor, but I was more interested in the “deer/fish stories.” Using simple words, my dad took me step by step into the magical world of deer hunting. Like Hemingway, he used ordinary words, not the looked-up, especially now with computer-aided vocabulary, Thesaurus/ Dictionary words. Responding to criticism by contemporary writer William Faulkner for not knowing big words, Hemingway responded, “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don’t know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words and those are the ones I use.” Later, when I would venture into the English major world, propelled by my
dad’s stories and fueled by my mother’s motivational pushing to be well educated (she was an immigrant from Serbia who had to teach herself to read and write English when she came to America at 17 and pass the citizen test many Americans would fail) I fell in love with the power of words, both written and spoken. Because I was a self-proclaimed “jock,” I hid my passion for reading. It just wasn’t that cool to be well-read. I did, however, let it be known I read all the “sports books” like Backboard Magic by Howard M. Brier (its soft purple hard cover with almond colored text and basketball players are very special to some people) and all of John Roberts Tunis’ CONTINUED ON PAGE 55
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association 460 Peterson Rd. Grand Rapids, MN 55744-8413