June 6, 2023



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

June 6, 2023




*For more information:*
Contact the DNR Information Center
by?email <[email protected]>?or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* DNR sees continued popularity of outdoor skills webinars [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Shovelnose sturgeon poaching case highlights cross-agency partnerships in effort to protect natural resources [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is this Friday-Sunday [ #link_1491412003165 ]
* DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491412051810 ]
* Zebra mussels confirmed in Tamarac Lake in Otter Tail County [ #link_1 ]

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DNR sees continued popularity of outdoor skills webinars

Registration open for new sessions of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series

A series of outdoor skills webinars has seen continued growth in participation as Minnesotans have looked to boost their fishing, hunting, habitat and outdoors know-how.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is continuing the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series that started in March 2021, with new webinars this summer on topics that will appeal to people interested in nature, including anglers and hunters.

?The webinars have reached several thousand individuals and have seen increased participation over the past couple of years,? said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator. ?We?re using these webinars to equip people with outdoor skills information and strengthen their passion for fish, wildlife and habitat conservation.?

During the last couple of months, the webinars have averaged 200 viewers live for each episode. The live webinars are at noon on Wednesdays and last an hour or less. All webinars are live-captioned, recorded and made available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/discover), and the recordings are popular with those who express interest in the webinars but don?t watch them live.

Summer webinar topics include boat launching, lake trout, off-road vehicles, reconnecting fish populations and habitat, catch and release fishing, fawn research, using falcons for hunting, frogs and toads, the Conservation Partners Legacy grant program, kayak fishing, cattails, 2023 deer season updates, and the DNR at the Minnesota State Fair.

The next upcoming webinar is at noon Wednesday, June 7. Boating is woven into Minnesota culture ? along with a culture of safety that needs to be modeled and reinforced both at the ramp and on the water. Lisa Dugan, DNR?s recreation safety outreach coordinator, will review important safety preparations and etiquette for those launching a boat.

The following webinar will be at noon Wednesday, June 14. Josh Blankenheim, DNR large lake specialist for the Lake Superior area fisheries office, will discuss how lake trout were nearly lost from Lake Superior and the efforts that led to the successful rehabilitation of the species in the lake. Blankenheim also will share tactics and tips on how to catch lake trout in Lake Superior.

The webinars are free, and participants must pre-register. More information, including summer session topics and how to register, is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/discover).

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Shovelnose sturgeon poaching case highlights cross-agency partnerships in effort to protect natural resources

Shovelnose sturgeon in many ways pale in comparison to lake sturgeon. They weigh less and aren?t nearly as long. They live much shorter lives, and they?re not as popular a target for anglers.

Nevertheless, shovelnose sturgeon are a native fish known for their flesh and roe, an important part of the ecosystem, and they are protected with conservative harvest limits to ensure their populations remain stable. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and conservation wardens with the Wisconsin DNR had this all in mind in the spring of 2019, when they received a tip and began looking into the potential illegal take of shovelnose sturgeon in Pool 9 of the Mississippi River.

Over the course of the next two years, officers conducted a large-scale investigation that included hundreds of hours of surveillance and documentation of a number of violations. As part of the investigation, officers discovered many fish with their abdomens cut open. Eggs were collected from the females; the carcasses of females and males alike were tossed back into the river.

Ultimately, six people were charged by the Houston County Attorney?s Office with 57 violations. All pleaded guilty last year to the charges, with the final case being resolved late last fall. Three of the individuals pled guilty to gross misdemeanors for taking gross overlimits and lost their hunting and fishing privileges for 10 years. Two of the individuals also were charged and found guilty in Wisconsin of improperly transporting game from another state; those cases were resolved this spring.

?This case is a great example of teamwork across states, agencies and the county prosecutor?s office, and sends a clear message that wildlife crimes will not be tolerated,? said CO Tyler Ramaker, who was the Minnesota DNR?s lead investigator on the case.

Said Brad Parsons, DNR fisheries section manager: ?We put regulations in place in order to protect fish populations and ensure their sustainability into the future. Situations like this, especially when they involve slow-growing species like shovelnose sturgeon that may spawn just three or four times in their lifetime, really do have the potential to affect everyone?s ability to use and enjoy our natural resources.?

Convictions and penalties in this case included:

Vladimiras Parsikovas (Milwaukee, Wis.)


* Take gross overlimits of wild animals (gross misdemeanor)
* Angle with more than two lines/bait; unattended Line (two counts)
* Wildlife restitution of $2,200 and fine of $275
* Six months? probation
* 10-year revocation of all fishing and hunting privileges
* Also found guilty in Wisconsin of improperly transporting game from another state

Soma Miller (Mequon, Wis.)


* Take gross overlimits of wild animals (gross misdemeanor)

* Wanton waste of a game animal
* Wildlife restitution of $2,200 and fine of $175
* Two years? probation
* 10-year revocation of all fishing and hunting privileges

Artyom Miller (Mequon, Wis.)


* Take gross overlimits of wild animals (gross misdemeanor)
* Wildlife restitution of $2,000 and fine of $75
* One year probation
* 10-year revocation of all fishing and hunting privileges
* Also found guilty in Wisconsin of improperly transporting game from another state

Sergej Jestrebov (Milwaukee, Wis.)


* Take shovelnose sturgeon over limit
* Wanton waste of a game animal
* Wildlife restitution of $800 and fine of $525
* Three-year revocation of all fishing privileges

Pioter Miller (McKinney, Texas)


* Take shovelnose sturgeon over limit
* Wildlife restitution of $600 and fine of $275

Viktor Parsikovas (Milwaukee, Wis.)


* Angle with more than two lines/bait; unattended line
* Fine of $125
* Six months? probation

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Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is this Friday-Sunday

During Take a Kid Fishing weekend (Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11) Minnesota residents can fish without licenses if they take children 15 or younger along, and participate in one among many ways to enjoy June as the 2023 Great Outdoors Month.

?Connecting kids and families to the outdoors is a professional priority and a personal passion for me,? said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. ?With so many shore and pier fishing opportunities across our state, fishing is a fun and easy way to get outside and spend time together.?I hope Minnesotans across the state take the opportunity this weekend to get outdoors and introduce the next generation to fishing.?

Youth 15 and younger do not require fishing licenses at any time of the year, though they must observe all fishing seasons and other regulations. Take a Kid Fishing weekend allows adult Minnesotans to fish without a license as long as they take a child fishing with them. Minnesota residents also may generally fish in state parks without a fishing license if the body of water does not require a trout stamp.

?Fishing is fun and it?s a great way to spend time outdoors together with kids,? said Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. ?Going fishing can be as simple as finding some rods and reels, finding or buying worms for bait, and heading to a nearby lake to give fishing a try.?

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is one among many other outdoor opportunities available to Minnesotans during Great Outdoors Month. During the month, Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota DNR are encouraging Minnesotans to get out in nature and enjoy the state?s outstanding outdoor opportunities including fishing, riding all-terrain vehicles on state ATV trails, and visiting state parks and recreation areas to hike, bike, camp, swim, paddle or go birding. The proclamation of Great Outdoors Month cites the health and wellness benefits of spending time outdoors as one of the many reasons to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors.

*Learn to fish resources*

The DNR?s Learn to Fish page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/gofishing) covers fishing basics, where to fish, how to catch different types of fish, and the importance of fishing ethics and being stewards of Minnesota?s natural resources.

In the Twin Cities area, people can find accessible piers and shore fishing locations, and lakes stocked with fish, by going to the DNR?s Fishing in the Neighborhood webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fin). For anglers across Minnesota, the DNR has an online map of piers and shorefishing sites [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fishing_piers). Parking at these locations is generally located within 300 feet of the pier or shore fishing site, with a hard surface path from the parking area. Most are designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Adults who want to learn about fishing ahead of Take a Kid Fishing Weekend can view a recorded webinar [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/discover#tab-1-2) that details the DNR Fishing in the Neighborhood Program and other resources to help people take advantage of the weekend fishing opportunity. To find the webinar, simply type ?kids? in the search box after reaching the webinar webpage.

Anyone 16 or older can buy fishing licenses online [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/buyalicense). The investment in a license supports management of the state?s fishing resources and habitat that benefits fish and aquatic systems.

Share photos and stories by uploading Minnesota fishing photos using the DNR photo uploader [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fishing/photos.html), for possible use in DNR social media, in email notifications and on the DNR website.

Those fishing from shore or fishing piers are also reminded to dispose of unwanted bait, worms and fish parts in the trash. When keeping live bait, drain any bait containers and replace with bottled or tap water. Other information on preventing aquatic invasive species is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/ais).

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DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac

"A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management."

*Crossbows allowed for deer and turkey hunters*

Crossbows will be newly allowed for Minnesota deer and spring turkey hunters starting this year, following a law change passed in the 2023 legislative session. Hunters who purchase an archery deer license may possess and take deer with a crossbow throughout the archery deer season. Deer licenses go on sale Tuesday,
Aug. 1. Legal requirements for crossbows used for hunting can be found on pages 58 and 59 of the 2022 hunting regulations [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting). ?

People who purchase a spring archery wild turkey license may take and possess wild turkeys with a crossbow throughout the spring archery wild turkey season. Wild turkey regulations will be available on the DNR turkey hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/turkey) in early 2024. The 2023 spring turkey season ended May 31.

The new law expands the use of crossbows, which previously were allowed for some hunters with a permit, who were 60 or older during archery deer or turkey seasons, or during previous firearms seasons for deer or turkeys. Crossbows were already allowed for all hunters during the fall wild turkey and bear seasons. Rough fish may be taken with a crossbow during the bowfishing season.

*Two lines allowed in sections of the Minnesota, Mississippi rivers starting July 1*

Anglers fishing in the Minnesota River downstream of the Granite Falls dam and in the intrastate portion of the Mississippi River downstream of St. Anthony Falls may use two lines starting Saturday, July 1.

The change results from new legislation passed in the 2023 session. Anglers must continue to use one line when fishing other inland waters (including rivers) or Canada-Minnesota border waters.

Two lines are already permitted for anglers on Minnesota border waters with Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Two lines are also allowed statewide when fishing through the ice. These and other fishing regulations and more information about fishing in Minnesota are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fishing).

*Minnesota Twins offer free hats*

Anyone with a 2023 Minnesota fishing or hunting license can receive a free special edition orange Minnesota Twins logo cap and a ticket discount from the Twins, through a partnership between the Twins and the Minnesota DNR.

Upcoming DNR Days at Twins games this season are:


* Tuesday, June 13 vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 6:40 p.m.
* Sunday, July 23 vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m.
* Saturday, Aug. 19 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:10 p.m.
* Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. New York Mets, 1:10 p.m.

Promotion details, instructions for purchasing tickets, and information on buying a fishing or hunting license, are available on the Minnesota DNR Days page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/twins). Tickets must be purchased ahead of time using our special DNR link [ [link removed] ] (twins.com/dnr) to receive this offer.

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Zebra mussels confirmed in Tamarac Lake in Otter Tail County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has discovered zebra mussels in Tamarac Lake, near Pelican Rapids in Otter Tail County.

DNR staff doing maintenance work on the Tamarac Lake public access found six zebra mussels attached to a concrete plank.

Lake property owners and people who maintain accesses should carefully look for invasive species on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and boat lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons or rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period.

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:


* *Clean* watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
* *Drain* all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
* *Dispose* of unwanted bait in the trash.
* *Never release* bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
* *Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days *before moving them from one water body to another.

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:


* *Decontaminate *watercraft and equipment ? find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Decon).
* *Spray* with high-pressure water or *rinse* with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
* *Dry* watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AIS/Contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/AIS).

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