29-03-2025
Northwest Minnesota MDHA chapter getting back on track
Mar. 29—KITTSON COUNTY, Minn. — It's been a bit of a process, but the North Red River Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is working to regain the momentum it had before the COVID-19 pandemic, its chapter president says.
The chapter restarted in 2024 after a hiatus because of COVID restrictions and is looking for ways to reach out and educate people about the MDHA and what local chapters can do for outdoors opportunities in their communities.
"We just got all new officers so we're all on a learning curve, but we're doing all right," said Brent Krantz of Karlstad, the chapter's new president.
Initially formed some four decades ago, the Kittson County-based MDHA chapter was defunct for several years until late 2013, when then-MDHA executive director Mark Johnson, along with local outdoors enthusiasts such as Kelly Turgeon, organized a meeting to revive the chapter with a focus on elk management, youth hunting opportunities and low deer numbers, according to a story in the Dec. 22, 2013, edition of the Grand Forks Herald.
Johnson now is executive director of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
In June 2023,
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources honored Turgeon
for his efforts as a volunteer with the DNR's Adopt-a-WMA program. Turgeon, who lived in Hallock, Minnesota, has since retired and moved from the area, leaving big shoes for the chapter's new leadership to fill.
"He did a superb job," Krantz said. "I've got a lot to learn, but we're making progress."
The chapter has about 150 members, Krantz says, compared with "a little over 200" before COVID hit. Hopefully, Krantz says, the chapter can increase that number through events such as the annual chapter banquet, set for April 12 in the Hallock City Hall, 163 Third St. SE. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with social hour beginning at 5, followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
Trapshooting teams from the Kittson Central and Northern Freeze schools are helping at the banquet, Krantz says, and the chapter is giving away 20 guns, plus "a lot of nice door prizes and raffle prizes."
"We've been getting a lot of donations from area businesses and individuals, so that's a big help," he said.
Going forward, Krantz says, the chapter plans to continue working with the DNR on wildlife management area habitat projects and promoting youth programs such as the
MDHA's Forkhorn Camps,
which provide a variety of youth learning opportunities. The MDHA offers the camps, which range in price from about $500 to $600, in a half-dozen locations around the state.
"Depending on how many kids want to go, we will sponsor partially or the whole thing," Krantz said. "Last year, we only had one go, we paid his whole way and so we're encouraging kids to do the Forkhorn Camp."
For more information on the North Red River MDHA chapter, contact Krantz at (218) 469-3522, by email at
brentkr@
; or Stephanie Anderson, chapter secretary, at
mncowgirl94@
.
