This summer, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) resumed mowing the hunter-hiker trails in the U.S. Forest Service’s Grouse Management Areas. This mowing allows grouse hunters, cross-country skiers, hikers, snowshoers and mountain bikers to access trails once nearly completely grown over with brush.
In addition, the Forest Service has begun replacing older gates that protect the areas for these users.
Two local organizations had a lot to do with helping the DNR and Forest Service resume these projects. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, through the volunteer work of Carol and Carl Fritsch and Jim and Joan Hall, provided the money and time necessary to buy the materials for the Forest Service to use in rebuilding the gates.
The Ruffed Grouse Society, through the efforts of its local representative, Scott Puch, provided a large donation to the Forest Service to help fund the mowing efforts. A member of the Caribou Lake Homeowners’ Association, Stephen Hoaglund, also made a donation to fund the project
And DNR representative Dave Ingebrigtsen coordinated with John Wytanis and Dennis Neitzke of the U.S. Forest Service to provide the equipment and staff to clear the trails.
Since the grouse hunters will now be able to use these trails for this fall’s season, I thought it was appropriate to thank all these people and organizations that made it possible.
Paul Nelson
Lutsen
Leave a Reply