Here is a copy of an email that Michael Sieve sent to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Mark Holsten. Mike gave me permission to post it here, it is a good read, enjoy.
, December 04, 2007 9:49 AM
Subject: Recent articles on deer hunting in Iowa, Minnesota
Dear Commissioner Holsten,
I am sending you a recent article by Curt Wells titled “AN UNIMAGINABLE WEEK OF HUNTING, AND WHY” from Outdoor News, November 23, 2007.In this article Wells describes the intensity and the quality of his recent hunt in Iowa. He describes the many encounters that he had with older bucks that week, including “the biggest buck I’d ever seen”. He describes this week as “The finest whitetail hunt I’d ever experienced.” The last paragraph of Wells article reads as follows; “Every state has to decide how to manage it’s deer, but if someone, anyone, tells you the timing of the gun season has no effect on the quality of the bucks in an area, well, they’re just flat out wrong.”
As it happens I was bowhunting in Iowa that week as well. My experience was as intense as the one Wells described. I also had the finest week of deer hunting that I’ve ever had. I also saw the biggest buck I’ve ever seen on that hunt. And I also believe that the timing of their gun season is the reason why deer hunting there is so good. My question to you is this; Why can’t Minnesota manage it’s deer with the high degree of quality that is found in Iowa. Please ask your deer biologists what can be done to give us a hunt like this right here at home. Why do we have to hit the road, spend our money on outstate gas, motels, restaurants, sports shops and more, when we could have the same right here at home? The genetics of our deer herd is just as strong as are Iowa’s. The deer population here in Minnesota is several times larger than is Iowa. And we have far more habitat and far better habitat here than they do there. And it’s not just Iowa. The same could be said of many if not all of our neighboring states. Minnesota’s problem is with it’s management and with the deer managers who refuse to consider what is so obvious to so many.
Even if the situation that I am describing to you is not obvious to the Minnesota DNR, it is becoming increasingly clear to other hunters and outdoor writers throughout the country. Allow me to cite a few recent articles and to quote what others have to say;
Steve Carney; “SEEING SERIOUS TROPHY-CLASS DEER IN ILLINOIS”. Outdoor News, November 9, 2007
“How Ironic to see more deer in two days of hunting Illinois than I see in an entire Minnesota season.”
Gary Clancy; “DECEMBER DEER DRIVES” Outdoor News, November 30, 2007
“My friends Barry and Gene Wensel (who lived and guided other bowhunters in Montana for many years before moving to Iowa for no other reason than the exceptional hunting that state affords…”
Daniel Schmidt; “STUNNING STATISTICS.” Deer and Deer Hunting, December 2007,
In his article Schmidt talks about the low bowhunter success rates in Minnesota and says; “Amazingly, only 25,350 deer were taken by bow-hunters in the entire state last year.” This is in sharp contrast to other areas and other states. According to Schmidt, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin bowhunters killed 5,499 deer last year. Over 20% if the total Minnesota bowkill from one county alone!
And finally in his article “MUZZLELOADING’S ROLE IN HERD MANAGEMENT” Deer and Deer Hunting, January 2008. Toby Bridges describes Minnesota and Wisconsin as “Slow Learners”.
That’s five articles in the last month.
In the past, and even now, Minnesota considers itself to be a leadership state. Can you say that about your deer managers and about the Minnesota system of deer management? If not, what will you be willing to do about it? I look foreward to hearing your ideas on this subject.
Hope you had a good deer hunt this year.
Sincerely,
Michael Sieve
Houston, Minnesota