Read that the moose are going away, due to heat or parasites. If parasites, the deer herd might face reduction. They state the herd on Isle Royal is declining too. But theres no deer there. Does the DNR understand we might have too many wolves? I don't think we can reduce the deer herd there unless we are willing to supplement the wolf diet with household pets and toddlers. Sometime I wonder alittle about policy, sometimes I wonder alot!

I'm willing to volunteer the wife's little dog if that helps!

I don't know how long you've lived in Northern Minnesota, but the moose first started "dying out" in the mid-1960's due to a brain parasite that was transmitted from deer. They probably started "dying out" before that, but I was too young to know about it. They've been "dying out" several times since then. The latest reason is a mite that causes irritation/rubbing/loss of hair and resultant lack of protection against the cold. I'm sure wolves contribute to losses, but that's a balancing act that nature figured out a long time ago.

Mesabi,
Very true. Been here all my life, and the moose were never going to make a comeback. But have seen the deer herd suffer much as the wolf numbers increase, and cannot help but believe they are impacting the moose numbers too.

I'm sure I'm gonna pizz some Jack Pine Savages off here, but why are we still hunting them if we know the herd's in trouble? 'Just doesn't seem like management through hunting, even on a limited basis is in the best interest of the herd at this time.

Quite frankly, I don't think the DNR has a very good handle on whether the herd is decreasing, increasing, or staying the same. I am somewhat confident, however, that they'll make the numbers match their agenda.

I agree with both of you. They are very good at not handling it well.

I don't think the amount that is taking durring hunting is that signifigant. I may be worng. A number of years ago hunters were no longer able to take cows/calves. I have not seen a bull moose in MN for quite some time now.

I usually see 3 or more moose a year durring grouse hunting expeditions and have only seen cows/calves lately.

Hard to believe global warming is the issue after this winter.........

I sure use to run into Bull Moose enough in the 80s hunting north of Chisholm by about 40 to 50 miles...

Exactly.

Sumptin has to pork 'em!

I have noticed a heavy reduction in moose numbers since the '80's.

Just east of Northern Dave's home town there were lots of moose. I mean lots. And now I haven't seen one around there in 20 years.

In the late 1980's we used to see several individual or groups of moose during deer season SW of Middle River, MN. Some years over 15 different moose were seen at our camp. Now it is rare to see one or even come across tracks in the same area. One year while sitting in a portable deer stand, I had four young antlered bulls rubbing on the tree I was in. Another year a cow bedded down a few feet from a permanent stand while I was in it. Another year, while grouse hunting, a large bull came charging through the brush and nearly stepped on me. Another year 8 moose came across a field as a group while we were in camp. Starting in the mid 90's we noticed a drop in numbers in our area and now they are virtually non existent there.

I happen to be your southern neighbor but love MN. Haven't the wolves always been there; it seems so as long as I've been alive anyway. What then would explain their decline since the late 80's, early 90's?

In our area, the decline has been primarily blamed on the tick that causes the moose to rub themselves to scratch the itch and removes their hair which causes them to die from exposure. We have certainly seen a significant increase in wolf sign in our area over the last twenty years also. There have even been increased sightings and sign from cougars in our area over that period. Wolves were always in NE MN but not a prevelant in the NW area or in central MN as they are now. Just last month an 80 pound wolf was shot by a coyote hunter in the Red River Valley east of Hillsboro, ND. That is a rare sighting for that flat farm country area but additional evidence that their range is expanding.

That is very interesting. I bet most non-residents don't know how wild and woolly northern Minny is. That is some wild and wooly country west to east.

Oops.

The shooter self reported the incident and have not heard if he is being charged. They did DNA testing to verify it was a wolf.

Great state and Im glad I moved here. I just wish what ever is befalling the moose population would cross over and infect all the damn liberals down in Manyappleless.

Just for the sake of discussion, where do you suppose those cows are finding those calves?