MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
ISANTI COUNTY CHAPTER
April 2015
Chapter Officers
President:
Vice-Pres:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Kevin Kriesel
Cory Carlson
Sheri Barnes
Jenny Carlson
Mickey Erlandson
President’s Report
It’s time to start thinking about your Food Plots. Check out our Habitat Project article. Turkey season is in full swing and people are
anxious to get their boats out.
At our June meeting, we will be holding election for Chapter President and Vice President and several Board Member positions. If
you are interested in running for any of these positions or have any questions about it, please contact me.
This year our chapter will sponsor two trap teams at Isanti County Sportsman’s Club. We still could use a couple more shooters. If
interested contact me, John E. SR or Corey B. Good luck guys and gals, break ‘em all.
If you’d like to get up to date information as to what the chapter has going, get me your email address and I’ll include you in our
Chapters email messages. Send your email address to [email protected] or [email protected].
It seems every year, I am impressed with our Banquet and every year I report that it has been “the best Banquet ever”. Well, the
Banquet Committee didn’t disappointment me this year. I can say without a doubt, this was OUR BEST Banquet ever. A special
Thanks to Cory (Banquet Chair) and Chris (Banquet Co-Chair) for all the effort they did to make it the best. All the other members
that helped out also deserve a big “Thank You”.
The last several years we have helped fund the NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) here in Cambridge and the
coordinator Chris Johnson could use some extra help. If you are interested in archery and would like help him, let me know and I’ll
have him contact you.
The Annual Corporate Board Meeting and the 28th Annual State Habitat Banquet was held on February 21, 2015 in Grand Rapids. Again this
year, our Chapter was well represented at both. Election for a couple of positions was done and the outcome was, President, Denis Quarberg and Vice
President was Doug Appelgren. We also voted on several resolutions and amendments also. Our Chapter sponsored a resolution requiring an audit of
the MN DNR Deer Management Model and herd monitoring techniques. Three other resolutions include: #1 reformation of current MN DNR Deer
Management Policies (very similar to ours), #2 restructuring of current MN DNR Deer Management procedures and #3 seeks to amend existing
statues governing portable deer stands and equipment regulations. Also there were a couple of others that were turned in. We had some great
discussions on them all before we voted to approve/support or disapprove/not support them. We also heard from Corey Bennett about some of the
topics for the 2015 Legislative Session.
Our Chapter donated an ATV weekend in Gilbert at Kevin and Joleen’s place and was auctioned off at the Banquet. The weekend trip was
purchased by a group of guys from the Rum River Chapter for $1,100.00. This group had also purchased the trip last year and came up and had an
incredible time. I can’t wait to get together with this group, we had a BLAST.
If you are interested in sending a youth to Forkhorn Camp, you must stop out at a meeting to apply for one of our scholarships to
send them. Contact John Erlandson Jr. for more information.
Remember, that our May meeting is our food plot seed meeting.
We are looking for someone to be our new Hides for Habitat Coordinator starting this Fall. If anyone is interested in this position please contact John
Hass or myself. This program is very critical to our existence as a Chapter. We have been involved in this program since our Chapter started. For
many years we collected the hides and cleaned/stored them at Jim Fridstrom’s. Now we process them at “The Deer Shack” located at the Isanti
County Fairgrounds in Cambridge. With the funding we make from this program, we support a lot of our other programs. Please see our Habitat
Projects column.
Remember, GET INVOLVED stop out for a monthly meeting or help out on a committee. If you have any questions about how you
can help our Chapter please give me a call. Check out our Facebook page, we try to keep it updated with all our current events (&
pictures).
Whitetails Forever,
Kevin
MN Deer Population
There has been alot happening in regards to our deer population. Seems to be a lot of concern about our low deer population/harvest. The
MN DNR Deer Management procedures will be reviewed / audited this year. There has been quite abit of discussion about the DNR Deer
Population Goal Setting Committee and Process lately. If you want to get the latest information, check out MDHA’s website
(www.mndeerhunters.com) or go to their Facebook. Also a Specail “Thanks” to Brooks Johnson for his never ending pursuant on this
topic.
Youth Day
Youth Day will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 with registration starting at 7:30 am. This event is open to youth of all ages up to
18, at no cost, a parent must accompany them. You must be a member of one of the hosting organizations to attend. Local chapters
will have booths there to sign up as a member. Youth Day is put on by the Isanti County Sportsmen’s Club and the local chapters of
MDHA, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever and the Ruffed Grouse Society. The kids get to spend
some time with each of the organizations, learning about the organization and what they do. Some guest speakers will also be in
attendance and maybe the T.I.P. trailer. Lunch will be served and then we will give away door prizes to every child. And then more
FUN begins. We have a variety of games and projects for all ages. They will also have a chance to shoot trap, a variety of handguns,
muzzleloaders and rifles and then test their skill at several shoots. We have added some new games this year for the younger kids. Our
Chapter will be giving away a MN Lifetime Hunting License to one lucky child in honor of Andy Englund. For more information
contact Kevin Kriesel at 444-9822 or Jeff Manke at “[email protected]”. Don’t be late, we will be closing the gate at 9:00.
Large Mammal Curriculum Box
The Isanti County Chapter of Minnesota Deer Hunters Association recently donated a MDHA Large Mammal Curriculum Box to the
Braham High School. The MDHA Large Mammal Curriculum Box is a course for Environmental Agricultural Education, which is
designed as a teaching guide to assist teachers of agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness, agri-science, natural resources management
and environmental education in providing activity oriented instruction on wildlife management. This will help the school and teachers
teach our local youth about Minnesota’s various wildlife and the role that hunting plays in managing it. Accepting the donation is
Luke Becker, the Ag Science and Technology Teacher at Braham. This was made possible by funding from the Englund Family and
the Andy Englund Fast Fifty Vintage Snowmobile Race held in memory of Andy.
Pictured from left to right is MDHA Isanti County Chapter President Kevin Kriesel, Braham School Teacher Luke Becker, MDHA
Isanti County Chapter Board Member Greg Christiansen, Andy’s Parents, Jim and Wendy Englund.
Habitat Projects / Seed Program
Yep, it’s time to start thinking about your food plots. Most of you probably already have been. We want to help out members with
some special pricing on seed and trees. We will have available to our members, Round-Up seed corn (1 bag/ 2 acres), Round-Up
soybeans (1 bag/ 1/2 acre) and sunflowers. We are also have a variety of Frigid Forage seed, a variety of annuals and perennials, such
as alfalfa, brassicas, turnips and etc. Frigid Forage even has some minerals/supplements we will sell to our members. And new this
year we will have an assortment of apple, crab apple and plum trees. These will be larger trees, not bare root trees. We have a limited
quantity of each variety of seed and trees and it will be sold on a first come/first served basis with a limit to what you can get. We will
offer the seed and trees to our members at half price. This is all made possible with funding from our Hides for Habitat program.
If you are interested in any seed, please attend our May 14 (Thursday night) meeting @ 7:00 PM to pick it up.
Just a reminder that Greg Carlson is our Equipment Manager of the food plot equipment. He can be reached at 763 689-0985. Call
Greg to reserve any of the equipment and remember if something comes up and you can’t use it during your reserved time, please let
Greg know as he has a waiting list for the equipment. All the equipment we have will be at his place near Dalbo. Remember to bring
the equipment back in the same shape that you took it, clean off all the mud and grass and refuel it as needed. We don’t want to start
charging a deposit on the equipment.
Upcoming MDHA Raffles
After skipping a year with a Chapter raffle, we have decided to have one again this year. We will be raffling off a 2015 Honda
Pioneer 700 side x side UTV. Tickets are $20.00 each and we will only sell 750 tickets. They should sell pretty fast, so contact Cory
or Jenny Carlson to purchase your tickets. Call 612 961-0351 or stop out at Lucky 7 Bear Bait / Storage to pick them up.
A special Thank you to Larson’s Cycle for working with us on this. You guys rock!!!
The State Office recently held their Annual 40 GUN RAFFLE and drawed the winners on April 20, 2015. Good Luck to those that
bought tickets. Ticket sales for our Chapter was way down this year. Thank you John SR for handling the tickets for our Chapter.
Isanti County’s 18th Annual Banquet
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! That’s about all that can be said about our 18th Banquet. We sold out again this year and turned away people
at the door. The evening started at 5:00 with social hour and having two bars set up, nobody had to wait to get a beverage, which was
served by American Jane’s. By 5:30 we had already given away our first firearm of the night, followed by 49 more throughout the
evening. We all dined on a delicious Cornish Game Hen prepared by Sidelines. The Braham Community Event Center is such a
fantastic place to host a Banquet, beautiful building with lots of room.
Spencer Slothuber
Angie Londgren
Jeremy Hass
Each year we recognize three people who have went above and beyond for helping MDHA. This year the Forkhorn Award went to
Spencer Slothouber, Sportsman of the Year went to Angie Londgren and Presidential Award went to Jeremy Hass. There are so many
members of our Chapter that deserve recognition.
Ashley Krause’s son Austin won the Lifetime Deer Hunting License which was donated by the Andy Englund Family. It was a special
night for our Forkhorn members. Three of our Firearm winners, Cory Carlson, John Hass and Kevin Kriesel won firearms and donated
them back to the Chapter and then were given away to a Forkhorn member.
Spencer Slothouber and Ethan Roddy sat at the Food Drive table and collected 416 pounds of food that was donated to the Braham
Food Shelf. With all the prizes we gave away, the program ran until 10:30. We also had a super die hard member attend, she had been
in the hospital all week with back surgery and was released Saturday morning and attended our Banquet. Thank you Jodie S. (and
even won a rifle on the Ladies raffle). Thanks to Nate Bostrom for handling our Auctioneering, for both live auction and our dessert
auction. And thank you to our members that donated desserts for the auction, they ALL looked delicious and made us some money
that we will use for “Youth Day”. Thank you to Kevin’s Gun Service, Joleen Kriesel, Nicole and Kyle Roddy for handling all the
firearms and doing the NIC checks. As always, Cory Carlson did a fantastic job as our MC. Isanti County Chapter of MDHA would
like to thank all of the Sponsors, Attendees and especially the Committee members. Without these volunteers, our Banquet would not
be what it is. Thank you.
Remember the funding that MDHA raises STAYS in Minnesota. (Especially Isanti County)
Banquet Chairs, Cory Carlson and Chris Barnes
A special “Thank you” to Kyle Roddy for being our Banquet Chair for the last 9 years.
Predator Hunt
Again this year we teamed up with Isanti County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and helped host Cabin Fever Predator Hunt this
winter. It started December 6 and ran to February 22 with an awards program and dinner at Sidelines on February 22. Over 200
predators (raccoon, fox and coyotes) were harvested. A great way to save some pheasants and fawns. All proceeds go towards youth
activities of Isanti County. The team harvesting the most predators included Jason Wendberg, Bob Brown and Brad Wendberg. Just
some of the fur they harvested during the hunt.
Archery Donation
The Isanti County Chapter of Minnesota Deer Hunters Association recently donated eight Genesis bows to the Isanti County
Sportsman’s Club. They will be used by local youth during summer archery leagues at the club and to learn to shoot archery at the
annual Youth Day, hosted by several local outdoor organizations every spring.
Pictured from left to right: Isanti County Sportsmans Club President Larry Larsen, MDHA Isanti County Chapter President Kevin
Kriesel and Isanti County Sportsmans Club Archery League Manager Amy Thompson.
Ramblings from the Deerstand
Our Chapter spends almost $400.00 per newsletter. Printing and postage are our major expenses. To help save some money,
we’ll be sending out our newsletter via email in the very near future. With an electronic version, we’ll be able to do it in colored
and have lots of pictures with it. So make sure the State Office has your email address or send it to me [email protected]
and I’ll get you added to the list. That kind of savings will allow us to send another youth to Forkhorn Camp.
If you know of any kids that would like to attend MDHA Forkhorn Camp we have scholarships available. Just stop in at a monthly
meeting to apply for one. Parents pay the first $100.00 and the Chapter covers the rest. (again this funding comes from our Hides for
Habitat program)
We will be giving out a couple of $500.00 scholarships this year thru the Dollars for Scholars Program.
Some of the members have been working on a couple of new walking bridges on the Archery Range at the Isanti County Sportsmans
Club in memory of Andy Englund. We have them just about complete. Sometime this summer we will hold a Dedication Ceremony.
New WMA Addition
On April 25, 2015 the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
dedicated a 57 acre addition to the Bethel WMA in Isanti County.
The Bethel WMA is 699 acres of open hunting land just 30 miles north of the Twin Cities. There is great habitat within the Bethel
WMA for many game species, including deer, pheasant, turkey, and waterfowl. This recent acquisition will put Bethel WMA over the
700 acre mark and will add 35 acres of restored upland prairie and 22 acres that will remain in grasses as a seasonal wetland.
The previous owners, Mike and Kathy Wyatt and Robert Hokanson, were extremely willing sellers and are very excited for the public
to have the same hunting opportunities and experiences they had growing up.
Funds used to purchase this land came in the form of a Conservation Partners Legacy grant. Total CPL funding was $171,000 to
purchase this land with a $15,000 match of non-state funds provided by MDHA’s Isanti County Chapter, Rum River Chapter and
North Suburban Chapter through the chapters’ local fundraising efforts. Other contributing partners were National Wild Turkey
Federation, Isanti County Pheasants Forever, Anoka County Pheasants Forever, and Minnesota Waterfowl Association’s Cedar Creek
Chapter. Jeff Olson, Project Manager for the CPL Grant has been working in conjunction with the Area Wildlife Management office
of the MN DNR to complete this acquisition. Jeff applauds the local hunters and conservation organizations for making the choice to
support MDHA through sponsorship and donations to MDHA and attending local fundraisers.
Since being conveyed to the MN DNR, the new parcel to the Bethel WMA is open for public hunting. This is another great example
of MDHA’s commitment to their mission of working for tomorrow’s wildlife and hunters today through education, habitat and
legislation.
MINNESOTA DEER HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
ISANTI COUNTY CHAPTER
PO BOX 446
Cambridge, MN 55008