Happy Deer Opener: How the DFL is Working to Preserve Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage

The following commentary was posed on the Hibbing Daily Tribune website November 2, 2017:

As we say farewell to the last of autumn’s color, the first hint of snowfall blanketed much of our state last week — marking the beginning of a cherished Minnesota pastime: deer season.

This two-week affair means something a little different for each hunter, but for many Minnesotans, November is a very special time of the year.

With over 500,000 deer hunters taking to the woods this fall, excitement brews as the rituals and traditions resurface before what promises to be a fruitful season. It could be the same giant wool socks you’ve had for 15 years, the big feast on opener’s “eve,” maybe cleaning up after the squirrels who spent last winter in your deer blind, or walking that same trail out to your favorite stand in the crisp, dark, early morning of the opener.

All these beloved traditions are made possible by values and hard work Minnesota families have put forth for generations.

What should not be lost in the season’s excitement is the effort it takes to make these gatherings possible. We need policies that preserve our open spaces, farmlands and hunting lands, while protecting vital wetlands so that we can maintain important habitats.

DFLers remain committed to improving and preserving the activities and spaces that make Minnesota such a wonderful hunting destination.

This starts with conservation. Gov. Mark Dayton and DFLers in the State Legislature fought to pass an $850 million Environment and Natural Resources bill this spring to help ensure our outdoor areas can be enjoyed for generations to come.

DFLers in our Congressional Delegation have sponsored legislation to protect native prairies in Minnesota and across the country through provisions that aim to reduce incentives for converting prairies into cropland.

Once we conserve our land, we must ensure sportsmen and women can enjoy it. That’s why our DFL representatives in Washington are fighting to open more land to Minnesota hunters and anglers.

Our Congressional Delegation is leading efforts to pass the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, which would increase access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. This widely supported, bipartisan bill will help keep hunting and fishing affordable, and grow Minnesota’s thriving outdoor recreation economy.

Outdoor recreation contributes billions of dollars to Minnesota’s economy. The DFL supports policies to ensure the licensing fees Minnesotans pay go back into the public land they enjoy. Earlier this year, Gov. Dayton successfully proposed policies that increased the transparency for use of hunting license fees — aiming to remove any doubt that hunters get the management they pay for. Thanks to this, Minnesotans can now see that their license dollars pay for managing fish and wildlife, maintaining public land and conserving native habitats.

It’s nice to think that as we venture out into the brisk darkness this deer season, questioning whether that tree was there before, or if we took a wrong turn on the trail, thousands of Minnesotans are doing the same exact thing.

We might not all agree on certain issues, we might come from different backgrounds and we might vote red or we might vote blue, but Minnesotans are still sharing in one of our state’s most treasured traditions — together.

View the post here.

Now, let’s take a moment below to look at the many ways the DFL is working to support Minnesota sportsmen and women.

Conserving Land

Sportsmen have a deep connection to the outdoors and benefit from the recreation, wildlife, and water that our public lands provide. The DFL is deeply committed to conserving these treasured places for our children and future generations to enjoy.

• • Governor Mark Dayton and DFLers in the State Legislature passed an $850 million Environment and Natural Resources bill this spring that includes:
    • • Clean Water Fund – $211.87 million
      • Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund – $123.36 million
      • Outdoor Heritage Fund – $104.56 million
      • Parks and Trails Fund – $89.76 million
  • Our DFLers in Washington sponsored the American Prairie Conservation Act.
    • • This bill protects native prairies in Minnesota and across the country through provisions that aim to reduce incentives for converting prairies into cropland.

Increasing Access to Public Lands

Our DFL representatives in Washington are fighting to open more land to Minnesota sportsmen and protect our state’s outdoor heritage.

• Our Congressional Delegation is leading the effort to pass the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act to increase access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. This widely supported, bipartisan bill will help keep hunting and fishing affordable for Minnesota sportsmen, and grow Minnesota’s thriving outdoor recreation economy. This bill would:
  • Provide a clear congressional declaration of policy for all federal departments and agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on federal lands in accordance with their missions;
  • Allow the transport of bows or crossbows across National Park Service (NPS) land;
  • Facilitate commercial filming on public lands;
  • Implement the “Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures” (HUNT) Act, which would direct all relevant agencies to improve access to high-priority federal lands where hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are permitted;
  • Allow use of qualified hunter volunteers to manage wildlife on NPS land;
  • Increase states’ authority to fund shooting ranges on public lands, while encouraging federal land management agencies to cooperate with state and local governments to maintain ranges; and
  • Permanently establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture on issues relating to wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting.

Boosting Outdoor Economy

Outdoor recreation contributes billions of dollars to Minnesota’s economy. The DFL supports policies that boost Minnesota’s outdoor industry, and ensure the fees sportsmen pay are used to protect the public land they enjoy.

• In 2017, Governor Dayton successfully proposed policies that:
  • Increased penalties for poaching
  • Increased transparency for use of hunting license fees
• Sportsmen’s license dollars pay for fish and wildlife management, public land infrastructure maintenance and habitat management that DNR fish and wildlife staff perform across Minnesota.
  • 32% of every $1 goes to fisheries management
  • 31% of every $1 goes to wildlife management
  • 29% of every $1 goes to conservation officers
  • 4% of every $1 goes to clean water
  • 2% of every $1 goes to boat ramps and water access
  • 1% of every $1 goes to forest sustainability