outdoors

Minnesota must balance the need to improve its existing state parks with the opportunity it now faces to buy and develop a new state park on Lake Vermilion, several legislators said last week.

But despite pressing maintenance needs in state parks, the state shouldn't reject the opportunity to buy and develop a new state park on Lake Vermilion -- a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten.

"We have to make this investment in the future,'' Holsten said. "It's a no-brainer.''

The DNR is negotiating with U.S. Steel Corp. on the purchase price for the 2,500 acres near Tower. The DNR gave legislators an update on future park needs, including about $140 million in improvements and repairs.

"Can we afford to acquire and develop Vermilion at the same time as we redevelop our park system?'' asked Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm.

NW deer hunt ends

The special 16-day deer hunt held in northwestern Minnesota to reduce deer densities because of bovine tuberculosis ends today. About 94 deer had been killed as of Friday, and officials said they expected the final tally to be about 100. Federal sharpshooters will be brought in, probably in early February, to further reduce deer density.

Fishing report: mixed

Anglers continue to contend with slush and less-than-ideal ice conditions on many Minnesota lakes. And the recent warm weather didn't help.

Many ice fishing houses were being pulled off Lake Vermilion as ice conditions worsened, reported conservation officer Dan Starr of Tower. He said fishing was poor, too.

And a truck went through ice on Rainy Lake, though the driver wasn't injured. Near Silver Bay, officer Troy Ter Meer reported the first vehicle observed on area lakes this year was an SUV, which got stuck in the slush on Lax Lake. A vehicle trying to assist then went through the ice.

Meanwhile, ice fishing and snowmobile activity seems to be down from past years in the Walker area, probably because of poor ice conditions, reported officer Gary Sommers. The reason for the lack of snowmobile activity is unclear.

Anglers in the Cass Lake area were having mixed success for perch and walleye, reported officer Mark Mathy.

"Trucks were seen on some lakes for the first time; unfortunately it became an expensive fishing trip for some as at least three trucks went partially through the ice,'' he reported. Ice conditions continue to be variable, and slush remains a problem in some areas.

Anglers were having some success catching walleyes in the Bemidji area. Ice is 14 to 16 inches thick, with water and slush on top, making travel challenging.

Near Grand Marais, slush conditions have improved, though there still are pockets of the stuff. Fishing success of anglers in the BWCA was mixed, reported officer Darin Fagerman.

Fishing has been tough on Lake Mille Lacs, reported officer Greg Verkuilen of Garrison. "Anglers are seeing clouds of small perch, which are keeping the larger fish well fed,'' he reported.

2008 hunting openers

The DNR announced dates for 2008 hunting seasons. Among them:

• Sept. 1 -- bear, mourning dove.

• Sept. 6 (tentative) -- early Canada goose.

• Sept. 13 -- small game, including ruffed grouse, and archery deer.

• Sept. 20 (tentative) -- woodcock.

• Oct. 4 (tentative) -- waterfowl.

• Oct. 11 -- pheasant.

• Nov. 8 -- firearms deer.

• Nov. 29 -- muzzleloader deer.

More snow needed

The warm snap that hit Minnesota recently played wrecked havoc with some snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, especially those in southern Minnesota.

“Snowmobile trail conditions went from some of the best we’ve seen in years to very poor in a matter of three days,’’ reported DNR conservation officer Bob Wallace of Kellogg. “Temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s pretty much shut down trail use until we get more snow,’’ he wrote in his weekly report.

The warm weather even hurt trails in the north, though. Snowmobile trails in the wooded areas remain good near Bemidji, reported officer Stacey Sharp. But those in open areas have deteriorated. And snowmobile trails near Moorhead also deteriorated.
Ski trails also were hurt by the warm spell, ruining what had been some of the best early-season conditions in years. Still, just a few inches of snow could revitalize them.

To check out the latest in snowmobile and x-c ski trail reports, see the DNR’s weekly trail report at www.dnr.state.mn.us. It’s updated on Thursdays.

Did you know?

• A Wisconsin-based tree stand manufacturer has agreed to pay a $420,000 penalty for allegedly failing to immediately report serious injuries to hunters using its Big Foot and Lite Foot stands to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Ardisam Inc. of Cumberland, Wis., agreed to pay the penalty but denied the allegations. The company recalled 78,000 tree stands in 2004.

• The National Wild Turkey Federation's 2008 North Star Open turkey-calling contest is Saturday at Thumper Pond Resort in Ottertail, Minn. For information, contact Eugene Crandall at efcrandall@msn.com.

Doug Smith • dsmith@startribune.com.