Bear and moose hunting seasons ended Sunday, October 17, 2010 and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife specialist Dave Ingebrigtsen said the counts are comparable to other years.
The bulls-only moose season saw 41 moose registered in Cook County, the most in the state. Ingebrigtsen said that compares with 28 moose registered last year. However, Ingebrigtsen said the fluctuation is normal. Other years have been higher or lower and in 2006 the total registered was also 41.
He added that the DNR reduced the number of permits for 2010, issuing 5–10 percent fewer permits than last year. In 2009 the success rate was 50%. The success rate for 2010 has not been tallied yet.
But overall, Ingebrigtsen said it was a good year for moose hunters. “There were no excuses because of the weather. It was great hunting weather.”
Ingebrigtsen said 143 bears were registered in Cook County this year—86 male and 57 female. That is slightly down from 2009 when 174 bear were registered.
Successful bear hunters were asked to submit a bear’s tooth to the DNR for analysis. Moose hunters are required to do more. They must submit the entire moose liver and a tube of blood. “We are doing a smorgasbord of studies,” said Ingebrigtsen.
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