Minnesota Deer Hunting

Everyone remembers their first time shooting a Buck. Please share your stories and pictures of your first Deer.

I shot my first Deer in November of 2004. We were hunting private land in Pine County, MN and it was freezing outside. Swede and I were stand hunting and after sitting for about 2 hours in 12 degree weather, I was frozen. I hadn't seen nor heard a thing except for the farmers donkey, when i heard that " Snap". I looked behind me and there was a nice 9pt just walking along, smelling the rut, without a care in the world.



I slowly turned, raised my 30.06 and fired.....CLICK! My rifle misfired, so i quickly rechambered my bolt action, raised my rifle and ClICK!...Another misfire. This happened 2 more times, before I had to completely reload my rifle. Surprising, the Deer didn't even noticed me. It continued to slowly walk, it's nose to the earth, completely oblivious to my frantic attempts to get my damn gun to fire.

So, now i have reloaded my rifle and sure enough, I cant see the deer anywhere. Looking through my scope, I final catch a glimspe of its tail through the woods. My first shot misses and yet the deer doesnt run. I reload and fire again....BANG and the Deer disappears.

At this point, I am crushed as I figured there was no way that I had hit the deer. I climb down from my stand and walk in the general direction of where I think the deer was standing. As I approach, I see it laying on the ground...No blood nothing...I had hit it in the spine and dropped it where it stood. The Deer never knew what hit it

MINNESOTA BRIDGE DISASTER RELIEF FUND PLEASE HELP

FUND CREATED FOR MINNESOTA BRIDGE COLLAPSE DISASTER RELIEF

The collapse of the I-35W bridge spanning the Mississippi River brought a shocking reminder of the fragility of life and how an ordinary, daily event can turn into tragedy and heartbreak. This disaster, however, also illuminates the generous human impulse to want to help those who have suffered loss. The Minnesota Helps -Bridge Disaster Fund has been created in response to that outpouring of community concern.

ABOUT THE FUND

The Minnesota Helps Fund: Bridge Disaster Fund is a collaboration of local funders to facilitate local contributions to disaster relief efforts. The purpose of the fund is to collect contributions and distribute them effectively to help the victims, rescuers, and families affected by the bridge collapse.

Contributions to the fund will be pooled and distributed to where they are most needed -- immediately and in the coming months. Grants will be distributed to organizations assisting those affected by the bridge collapse. Needs addressed by the fund might include costs of medical treatment, mental health counseling, recovery, and cleanup activities.

The Minnesota Helps Fund - Bridge Disaster Fund is a collaboration of a metro area philanthropic institutions, including The Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation, the Greater Twin Cities United Way, to facilitate contributions to disaster relief efforts. The Northwest Area Foundation, the Grotto Foundation and McKnight Foundation have also pledged support.

To Contribute

No administrative fees will be collected by the foundations for this service -- 100% of all donations will be redistributed to provide financial support where it is most urgently needed. Donations to this fund are 100% tax deductible. We cannot accept in-kind donations

Contribute securely on-line with a credit card.

OR Contribute by mail by sending a check to:
Minnesota Helps - Bridge Disaster FundThe Minneapolis Foundation800 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth StreetMinneapolis, MN 55402

Additional Resources
To register yourself as safe or to search for information on a loved one, visit www.safeandwell.org or call (612) 871-7676.

Family Assistance CenterHoliday Inn Metrodome, 1500 Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55454
To get help or offer help, contact the United Way 2-1-1™ information and response helpline at 2-1-1 or (651) 291-0211.

Blood DonationsThe Twin Cities Area Red Cross has asked blood donors to make appointments by visiting their website or calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (Note: This is an 8-digit phone number.)

For More Information
For additional information about the fund, please contact info@minnesotahelps.org or:
The Minneapolis Foundation(612) 672-3878

The Saint Paul Foundation & Minnesota Community Foundation(651) 224-0571
Thank you for your support.

3 Sex Offenders Live Near the U of MN

By Kathryn Nelson

Level 3 sex offenders are required to register with police upon moving.

The mug shot shows a man who looks no older than 20. Closely trimmed hair, slender physique and a defiant expression make him look like a typical college student.

But he isn't. He is a level 3 sex offender who lives blocks away from the University.

There are three level 3 sexual predators living near campus. While no level 3 sex offenders live on University property, several live in adjacent neighborhoods.

Their convictions include possession of child pornography and penetration of minors aged 3 to 15.

City Officials

City officials balance the safety of residents and ensure the offender's re-entry into a community is successful. While some students said they felt uncomfortable with offenders in the area, they said accepting them into the community is important for the person's recovery.

There are approximately 1,300 registered sexual predators in Minneapolis, 51 of whom are assigned the third risk level.

According to the Minneapolis city Web site, of the four degrees, those labeled level 3 sex offenders are the most likely to reoffend.

Community notification within a three-block radius and police registration is required when a level 3 offender relocates to a neighborhood.

Jon Hinchliff, community notification coordinator for Minneapolis, said he frequently extends those boundaries of notification so "we can accommodate as many people as possible."

Leonard John Gillespie, 31, is one of the level 3 sex offenders living near campus in the Seward neighborhood, but he said he is not a threat to students.

Gillespie was released February 2005 after serving time on a conviction of engaging in sexual contact with two adult women and attempting penetration.
Gillespie said he had "taken responsibility" for his crimes, but that "my words won't prove that, my actions will."

His chaotic childhood and long-term substance addiction contributed to his criminal record, "but I'm not going to blame alcohol or drugs," he said.
Gillespie has been sober for four years, and has a girlfriend. They plan to marry.
Gillespie said he is most concerned with living a peaceful life despite his previous mistakes.

Life after re-entry can be difficult, Hinchliff said. Employers often require any previous felony charges to be disclosed before hiring someone.
Housing frequently is denied to applicants who are declared level 3 sex offenders, he said.

Hinchliff said additional mandates have been added this year, requiring level 3 sex offenders to meet face-to-face with officers three times a year to update photos and contact information.

Those offenders who claim to be homeless are required to verify their residential status weekly, Hinchliff said.
For the first three months after prison release, offenders are under an "intense supervised release," which includes a mandatory GPS location monitor to be worn.

Offenders must register their current address with law enforcement. They also are subject to frequent visits from a parole supervisor.

Hinchliff said people should keep in mind "it's much more preferable to have (offenders) working than not and wandering the streets."

"A known location is a much easier location to check," Hinchliff said.
Imen Jendoubi, a postsecondary student, said sex offenders near campus make her "uneasy."
But she said the police are handling the situation well.

"If nothing has happened so far, it looks like the police are doing their jobs," Jendoubi said.
Sgt. Erik Stenemann of the University Police Department said he is aware of sex offenders living near campus.

Since there are no level 3 sex offenders living on University property, it technically is not the responsibility of the University of Minnesota Police Department to enforce any violations, Stenemann said.

Still, University police work closely with the Minneapolis Police Sex Offenders Community Notification Unit to ensure offenders are in compliance with state mandates, he said.

Sophomore Jane Riley said she is "aware that those people are around."
Riley said that predators are most likely to reoffend unless they are welcomed back into the community.

© Copyright 2006 The Minnesota Daily