2014 Highlights

By: Paul Telander, Wildlife Section Chief

To: 2015 Roundtable Participants

16 January 2015

2014 a conservative year Purposeful: severe winter; hunter concerns;

revisiting goals Total season harvest 139,500 (preliminary) Down 19% from 2013 (-8% buck, -31% antlerless)

2014 Deer Season

Harvest by Series (preliminary)

23% from 100 series 60% from 200 series 13% from 300 series 4% metro, special

Compared to 2013:

2014 Deer Season

Series

Buck Harvest

A-less Harvest

Overall

100 -22% -64% -40%

200 -1% -26% -13%

300 +8% -2% +2%

State -8% -31% -19%

1918 - 1919

1920 - 1929

1930 - 1939

1940 - 1949

1950 - 1959

1960 - 1969

1970 - 1979

1980 - 1989

1990 - 1999

2000 - 2009

2010-2014

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

13,65011,43026,360

60,99064,305

105,962

50,467

126,304

190,068

240,537

179,247*

MN Average Annual Deer Harvest

Historical Context

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

Harvest Trends 2000-2014

Buck Harvest Antlerless Harvest

Trend in Management Strategies

2005 2014

a Harvest success calculated after adjusting for % participation obtained from wolf hunter/trapper survey.b Late season target harvest is the total target harvest reduced by the actual early season harvest.

Wolf Season Summary

Year SeasonLicenses issued

Season length (days)

Target Harvest

Harvest Success

rate

early hunting 3,670 16 200 147 4.6a

late hunting 1,656 67 5.1a

late trapping 797 199 29.4a

2012 totals 6,123 57 400 413 6.7early hunting 2,084 16 110 88 4.2late hunting 744 31 4.2late trapping 606 119 19.62013 totals 3,434 45 220 238 6.9

early hunting 2,394 15 125 124 5.2late hunting 790 24 3late trapping 736 124 16.82013 totals 3,920 28 250 272 6.9

2014 13 126b

253b

132b

2012

2013

41

29

December 19, 2014 - Federal court ruling returned wolves in Minnesota to “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act Core issue – USFWS can’t delist distinct population

segment from species listing Next steps – FWS appeal? Congressional action?

Management reverts back to what it was prior to January 2012 Taking wolves in defense of human life Depredation control allowed where verified

depredation

2014 Federal Court Ruling

Moose Mortality Research Update• Project is an effort to identify the cause(s) of the

moose population decline in NE MN• Radio collared 111 adult moose in January 2013 and

an additional 31 moose in February 2014• Will radio-collar another 30 moose in February• Collared moose have been closely monitored since

that time• In total, 33 moose have died in study to date; 55%

from predator-related causes and 45% from health-related causes• Of the predator kills, 5 of 18 had underlying health

conditions• Health-related deaths are mostly brain worm, winter

ticks, and multiple chronic conditions• Still no ‘smoking gun’

Photo by Josh Kavanagh

50th Wildlife Lake Designated 6 Wildlife lakes were designated in

2014, the most in any single year Eagle Lake in McLeod County was

designated on 9/5/14 and was number 50

In addition to committed staff, we’re fortunate to have great partners like Ducks Unlimited and the MN Waterfowl Association to assist with shallow lakes management

Outdoor Heritage Fund Accomplishments

Section of Wildlife, 2009-2014

Protection: $3,845.24/acreEnhancement: $160.31/acre

3,338 acres14,268 acres

11,809acres56,455 acres

OHF Accomplishments

ProtectionForest EnhancementWetland EnhancementGrassland Enhancement

85,870 acres total

$12.8 million

$1.3 million

$4.9 million

$7.1 million

OHF Expenditures

ProtectionForest EnhancementWetland EnhancementGrassland Enhancement

$26.1 million total

Working Lands Initiative approach to Prairie Plan Implementation - 2014

Local Technical Team Allocation100 Projects 8,650 acres $1.2 million

Work with citizens to conserve/manage state’s natural resources

Provide outdoor recreation opportunities

Provide for commercial uses of natural resources to create sustainable quality of life

DNR Mission