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DNR fills statewide deer management position

Posted Online: 11/5/02

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced the hiring of Lou Cornicelli from Ogden, Utah, as the Division of Wildlife's big game and season management specialist.

Cornicelli, a New York native, holds a bachelor's degree in wildlife from Cornell University and a master's degree in wildlife from Southern Illinois University, where he studied white-tailed deer in urban environments.

Cornicelli was Indiana's statewide deer biologist for three and a half years. For the past seven years he has been the regional wildlife program manager for northern Utah, overseeing big game and other wildlife programs throughout the region. Cornicelli also has had a lead role in Utah's Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance efforts for the past four years.

"We are extremely pleased that we were able to fill this position with someone of Lou's level of expertise and experience," said Ed Boggess, DNR Wildlife Division assistant director. "He has excellent academic training in big game ecology as well as extensive on-the-ground management, research and hunting experience. Those will be valuable assets as he helps lead Minnesota's big game management programs."

Big game hunters spend more than $200 million each year in Minnesota. By adding this position, the DNR is increasing its emphasis on managing healthy big game populations and addressing issues important to big game hunters and the public, Boggess said. The new position was created and funded as part of the wildlife fee initiative that went into effect in 2001.

"We are excited about Lou coming on board with the DNR," said Mark Johnson, executive director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. "We had the chance to get to know Lou at the CWD conference in Denver last August. Our organization looks forward to working with him."

Cornicelli's duties will include overseeing programs and activities that affect deer, black bear, moose and elk populations and habitats, managing season and regulatory issues, overseeing dedicated big game accounts, and supporting programs to ensure healthy big game populations. He began his new duties Oct. 31.

-- The Minnesota Firearms Deer Season opens this Saturday, Nov. 9, at sunrise.