The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and two other northeastern Chippewa bands are each conducting restricted bulls only moose hunts this fall, with band members from Grand Portage taking three bull moose in 1854 Treaty’s ceded territory and three bull moose from the reservation so far.
Grand Portage and Boise Forte each issued nine permits to band members for the subsistence hunt in northeastern Minnesota.
The hunt began September 30 and will end on October 29, or sooner if limits are reached.
In 1988 Grand Portage and Boise Forte set their season under regulations established by the 1854 Treaty Authority, which manages hunting and fishing held off-reservation under an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Initially, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was part of that arrangement, but the band withdrew the next year and is not part of the agreement that covers Grand Portage and Boise Forte. Fond du Lac set its 2017 bulls-only moose hunt to start September 23 and end December 31. The season will close sooner when 24 bulls have been harvested.
This is the second consecutive year the three bands have conducted a bulls-only hunt after suspending hunts in 2013 because of pressure from the state.
Moose population numbers peaked in northeastern Minnesota in 2006 when the DNR estimated 8,840 moose were here. Since then, the population has declined 55 percent, and since 2012 wildlife researchers have collared and tracked moose to see why they are dying in such large numbers. However, over the last three years, the population has seemed to stabilize around 3,700.
Dr. Seth Moore, director of biology, has been working with Grand Portage Trust Land Administrator Tony Swader to create diverse habitats for moose on Grand Portage tribal lands to see how different growths of plants and trees affect the animals’ success in foraging for food. Some of this land clearing is accomplished through expanded logging or prescribed burns. Moore believes moose have suffered dramatically from a loss of habitat suitable to their needs.
Moose browse on young trees and plants. Old forests aren’t places where moose can survive and thrive.
In another effort to expand moose numbers on the reservation, Grand Portage began to reduce both bear and deer populations on tribal land through an added archery deer hunt and spring bear hunt. Bear and wolf are significant predators of moose calves, with 75 percent of calves dying in the first year. Deer spread brain worm to moose, which is often deadly and causes the moose to fall ill and then succumb to predation or other illness.
Moore said he doesn’t believe the few bulls taken by tribal members affect the overall population and stability of the northeastern Minnesota moose herd. Only efforts to expand the moose habitat and lessen predation of calves—and the spread of brain worm—will allow moose to fully recover in northeastern Minnesota, said Moore.
Leave a Reply