MBI

Minnesota Bowhunting History

By Tony Kuehn

28,000 BC to present day- Native Americans and their human ancestors, people such as haplogroupX (Eurasian) found in the Ojibwa and ancient Jomon (prehistoric Japanese?) found in the Blackfoot, Iroquois and others inhabit the region to later be known as Minnesota. While it’s well known that African arrowheads have been found to date back 25,000BC, similar artifacts have also been found in North America. The Kennewick Man found in Washington, had an imbedded stone point in his hip. The Spirit Cave Mummy (Nevada) has been measured to have a mean date of 9,415 + 25 years ago. Recently, a frozen corpse was found in British Columbia. Resembling Otzi the Tyrolean Iceman, who is 5,3000 years old, the Canadian corpse was found with an atlatl (spear thrower) and is estimated to be no more than 10,000 years old. Thus so far it’s unknown how long archery equipment may have been used in North America.

Late 1800’to early 1900’s- firearms replace archery equipment for war and hunting activities. However, the Federal Government makes available steel arrowheads for trading with the Native Americans (presumably for hunting). Many tribes have reservations established in Minnesota. Major Native American Treaties covering parts of Minnesota are signed in 1837 and 1854.

1930- Bow and Arrow First Recognized as Legal Hunting Equipment in Minnesota

1938- Minnesota State Archery Association Is Founded

1940-First Archery Season for Big Game in Minnesota

1942- Second Archery Season Occurs

1943- Special Season Set for Last Two Weeks in October. Laws Set Restrictions on Legal Archery Equipment. Illegal to Possess Firearms While Bowhunting.

1946- Minnesota Bowhunters, Inc. is Founded.

1951- Special Archery License Issued; Finally Able to Keep Accurate Records on Number of Bowhunters

1955-Season Lenghtened to Entire Month of October. Legalized Harvest of Rough Fish.

1961- Pope and Young Club is Founded; Moved to Chatfield, Minnesota in 2002

1963- Additional Bow Season in December

1971- Open Season Set for Black Bear

1975- Fireams Safety Training Becomes Required to Purchase a Big Game License of any Kind. The Standard Course Included a Small Section on Archery and Bowhunting Which Still Continues to This Day.

1978- Tresspass Laws Strengthened (again in 1996)

1985- Minnestoa Deer Hunters Association is Founded, Membership Includes Archers and Firearms Hunters.

1986- Curt VanLith Shoots One of the Biggest Typical Whitetail Deer on Record. It Green Scores 198 and 6/8ths Which Easily Surpassed the Previous Record.

1988- Minnesota Bowhunter Education Program (MBEP) Started by MN DNR.

1988- Mechanical Releases are Allowed for Hunting in Minnesota After a Successful Bowhunter’s Lobbying Effort.

1989- Minnesota Bowhunter Education Program (MBEP) Sanctioned by the MNDNR and is Accepted by all Other States That Require Bowhunter Education to Buy Archery Licenses. First MBEP Instructor Class Held. Bill Wadsworth (Founder of Bowhunter Education) was the Trainer for the First Session.

1996- Tresspass Law Appended to Include More Specific Language. MBI celebrates 50 years of Existence by Hosting a State Bowhunter Rendezvous at the Earle Brown Center in St. Paul.

1999- Regulations Altered Regarding Sunrise and Sunset Hunting Times and the Casing/un-stringing of the Bow.

2000-2005- MN DNR Extends Permit Zone Areas Where Additional Deer Can be Taken with Bow and Arrow, Including Some WMA’s and Special Refuges Open to Hunting.

2002- MNDNR Establishes Several Youth Archery Deer Hunts.

2002- Pope and Young Headquarters is moved to Chatfield, Minnesota

2003- All Season Deer Hunting License is Created. Firearms Hunters Can Now Take Deer with a Bow Without Purchasing an Additional License.

2004- Reciprocal Fees Charged to Out of State Bowhunters (e.g. MN charges the same fee as a non-residents home state fee for MN residents). Archery only Licenses Become Available for Spring Turkey Hunters.

2005- Minnesota DNR Implements Special Firearms Season During Traditional Archery
Season to Control Deer Populations.

Notes:
- During the 1970s Bucks Only Regulations During Some Years in Specified Zones.
- Since 1950’s Hunter participation and Harvest Increased Over the Years.
- Regulations Have Moved Into a Definition Phase in Regards to What Constitutes Appropriate Archery Equipment.
- Firearm Safety Course is a Prerequisite for Anyone Who Wishes to Complete the MBEP Course.

References:
MBEP HandBook, Revised 1997.
Nevada State Department of Cultural Affairs-Division of Museums and History www.dmla.clan.lib.nv.us
National Park Service Archeology and Enthography Program www.cr.nps.gov
MN DNR Hunting Regulations Handbook 1997-2004




		Minnesota Bowhunting History By Tony Kuehn 28,000 BC to present day- Native Americans and their human ancestors, people such as haplogroupX (Eurasian) found in the Ojibwa and ancient Jomon (prehistoric Japanese?) found in the Blackfoot, Iroquois and others inhabit the region to later be known as Minnesota. While it’s well known that African arrowheads have been found to date back 25,000BC, similar artifacts have also been found in North America. The Kennewick Man found in Washington, had an imbedded stone point in his hip. The Spirit Cave Mummy (Nevada) has been measured to have a mean date of 9,415 + 25 years ago. Recently, a frozen corpse was found in British Columbia. Resembling Otzi the Tyrolean Iceman, who is 5,3000 years old, the Canadian corpse was found with an atlatl (spear thrower) and is estimated to be no more than 10,000 years old. Thus so far it’s unknown how long archery equipment may have been used in North America. Late 1800’to early 1900’s- firearms replace archery equipment for war and hunting activities. However, the Federal Government makes available steel arrowheads for trading with the Native Americans (presumably for hunting). Many tribes have reservations established in Minnesota. Major Native American Treaties covering parts of Minnesota are signed in 1837 and 1854. 1930- Bow and Arrow First Recognized as Legal Hunting Equipment in Minnesota 1938- Minnesota State Archery Association Is Founded 1940-First Archery Season for Big Game in Minnesota 1942- Second Archery Season Occurs 1943- Special Season Set for Last Two Weeks in October. Laws Set Restrictions on Legal Archery Equipment. Illegal to Possess Firearms While Bowhunting. 1946- Minnesota Bowhunters, Inc. is Founded. 1951- Special Archery License Issued; Finally Able to Keep Accurate Records on Number of Bowhunters 1955-Season Lenghtened to Entire Month of October. Legalized Harvest of Rough Fish. 1961- Pope and Young Club is Founded; Moved to Chatfield, Minnesota in 2002 1963- Additional Bow Season in December 1971- Open Season Set for Black Bear 1975- Fireams Safety Training Becomes Required to Purchase a Big Game License of any Kind. The Standard Course Included a Small Section on Archery and Bowhunting Which Still Continues to This Day. 1978- Tresspass Laws Strengthened (again in 1996) 1985- Minnestoa Deer Hunters Association is Founded, Membership Includes Archers and Firearms Hunters. 1986- Curt VanLith Shoots One of the Biggest Typical Whitetail Deer on Record. It Green Scores 198 and 6/8ths Which Easily Surpassed the Previous Record. 1988- Minnesota Bowhunter Education Program (MBEP) Started by MN DNR. 1988- Mechanical Releases are Allowed for Hunting in Minnesota After a Successful Bowhunter’s Lobbying Effort. 1989- Minnesota Bowhunter Education Program (MBEP) Sanctioned by the MNDNR and is Accepted by all Other States That Require Bowhunter Education to Buy Archery Licenses. First MBEP Instructor Class Held. Bill Wadsworth (Founder of Bowhunter Education) was the Trainer for the First Session. 1996- Tresspass Law Appended to Include More Specific Language. MBI celebrates 50 years of Existence by Hosting a State Bowhunter Rendezvous at the Earle Brown Center in St. Paul. 1999- Regulations Altered Regarding Sunrise and Sunset Hunting Times and the Casing/un-stringing of the Bow. 2000-2005- MN DNR Extends Permit Zone Areas Where Additional Deer Can be Taken with Bow and Arrow, Including Some WMA’s and Special Refuges Open to Hunting. 2002- MNDNR Establishes Several Youth Archery Deer Hunts. 2002- Pope and Young Headquarters is moved to Chatfield, Minnesota 2003- All Season Deer Hunting License is Created. Firearms Hunters Can Now Take Deer with a Bow Without Purchasing an Additional License. 2004- Reciprocal Fees Charged to Out of State Bowhunters (e.g. MN charges the same fee as a non-residents home state fee for MN residents). Archery only Licenses Become Available for Spring Turkey Hunters. 2005- Minnesota DNR Implements Special Firearms Season During Traditional Archery Season to Control Deer Populations. Notes: - During the 1970s Bucks Only Regulations During Some Years in Specified Zones. - Since 1950’s Hunter participation and Harvest Increased Over the Years. - Regulations Have Moved Into a Definition Phase in Regards to What Constitutes Appropriate Archery Equipment. - Firearm Safety Course is a Prerequisite for Anyone Who Wishes to Complete the MBEP Course. References: MBEP HandBook, Revised 1997. Nevada State Department of Cultural Affairs-Division of Museums and History www.dmla.clan.lib.nv.us National Park Service Archeology and Enthography Program www.cr.nps.gov MN DNR Hunting Regulations Handbook 1997-2004