Dear Mr. Thiede, I am the President of the North Star Ski Touring Club from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. We have over 1500 members who cross country ski. I also am a strong advocate for cross country skiing in the Midwest, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. Many of our club members and also many Twin City cross country skiers travel to Wisconsin, which is a relatively short distance for them to cross country ski. This year with early snow, their traveling plans were hampered by the T-zone deer hunts open after Thanksgiving. Many did not feel safe being in the woods during the deer hunts. Popular northwest Wisconsin destinations such as the Hayward/Cable area, Minocqua, Spooner, Rice Lake, Menomonee and Hudson saw far less cross country skiers as a result of the deer hunts. These skiers not only ski on the trails, but spend money on lodging, food and support services for their sport. I would estimate that hundreds of skiers were affected. I suggest that any future special deer hunts be done before Thanksgiving. I believe that cross country skiers, deer hunters and the Wisconsin DNR can all benefit from a cooperative effort to make a win-win situation for everyone. Sincerely, Greg Fangel President North Star Ski Touring Club www.north-stars.org 1865 County Rd. E. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651 770-9381 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
