In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Hunting regulations available online, printed copies delayed until end of August
Hunters and trappers can find the 2023 Minnesota hunting and trapping regulations on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting) starting Aug. 1, and this year the printed version of the regulations will be available later than expected, near the end August.
To ensure hunters have the information they need to plan their hunt while awaiting printed regulations, the Minnesota DNR sent materials to hunting license agents across the state to distribute to customers. These materials highlight upcoming deadlines that some hunters may need to meet before the printed regulations books will be delivered.
The deadline to apply for the special archery hunts, the Camp Ripley archery hunt, special youth hunts, and the prairie chicken season is Friday, Aug. 18. Hunters have through Thursday, Sept. 7, to apply for permits to harvest antlerless deer in antlerless lottery areas, and for special firearm or muzzleloader special hunts.
Gift, discount available for hunting and fishing license holders after attending Wings Over Water film at Science Museum
During the month of August, anyone with a Minnesota hunting or fishing license can get a special offer when they visit the Science Museum of Minnesota to view the Wings Over Water film (new.smm.org/omnitheater/wings-over-water). Current license holders can receive discounted museum admission and a special edition Minnesota DNR-branded waterproof pouch when they purchase tickets to see Wings Over Water.
?We?re partnering with the Science Museum for this offer as a way to say thank you to hunting and fishing license holders for their license purchases,? said Cara Hanson, Minnesota DNR marketing coordinator. ?The film includes some amazing footage of waterfowl and wildlife in wetland habitat, and that waterproof pouch can stay with folks when they?re in the outdoors.?
To use this offer, license holders can purchase tickets online in advance (smm.org), or in-person when they visit the museum and show their license. If purchasing online, add tickets to Wings Over Water and general museum admission to the cart, then enter promo code MNDNR23 at checkout. Visitors should have their licenses to show at the museum admission desk to use this offer.
For any questions while purchasing tickets, call the Science Museum of Minnesota at 651-221-9444.
Minnesota DNR webinars cover Conservation Partners Legacy grant program, kayak fishing
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the summer program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 2, David Stein, Conservation Partners Legacy grant program coordinator, will provide an overview of the CPL grant program, share some habitat success stories from recent grant recipients and discuss how to get involved. Through the program, millions of dollars go to nonprofit organizations and government entities to help restore, enhance, and protect Minnesota?s habitats and natural resources. Funding comes from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 9, Ron Strauss of the Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association will discuss kayak fishing and why so many anglers are drawn to the excitement, cost, storage, and transportation advantages of kayaks. Strauss will talk about equipment, bait, lures, fishing hot spots and species-specific tips to help anglers have success and more fun on the water this fall.
The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover) for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.
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Hunters need to be aware of significant regulation changes this year
Deer hunters will have more ways to hunt in Minnesota this fall, and deer hunting licenses can be purchased starting Aug. 1.
?We?re excited for deer season. Hunters have a lot to look forward to this year,? said Barb Keller, big game program leader. ?We encourage all hunters to review the new hunting regulations and make a plan for hunting success.?
New this year, crossbows are allowed for all deer hunters with an archery license, synthetic ground blinds on public lands are required to have blaze orange covering, some chronic wasting disease zones have changed, nontoxic ammunition will be required for special hunts in state parks or in scientific and natural areas where hunting is allowed, and some harvest limits are reduced in northeast and north-central Minnesota while most areas have similar bag limits as last year.
Deer hunting specifics can be found on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer). Electronic copies of all 2023 Minnesota hunting regulations are available now online (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting). Printed copies will be available by the end of August wherever licenses are sold.
After a tough winter, deer hunters in northern Minnesota might see fewer deer. In central and southern Minnesota, deer likely fared well.
?Hunters in most of Minnesota can expect a season similar to last year in terms of how many deer they can harvest,? Keller said. ?The lower bag limits in northeast and north-central Minnesota aim to allow deer populations to recover after back-to-back severe winters. Deer are resilient and we are hopeful deer populations there will gradually recover along with lower harvests, especially if we get some mild winters.?
The Minnesota DNR increased the bag limit or lottery permits in 12 deer permit areas this year, 80 DPAs have the same designation as last year, and 38 DPAs have reduced bag limits or lottery permits. Information about specific DPA bag limits and other season information is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer).
The crossbow change allows all hunters who purchase an archery deer license to take deer with a crossbow throughout the archery deer season. Previously, only hunters 60 years or older, individuals with a disability who had a valid permit, or any hunter with a valid firearms license hunting during the firearms season could use crossbows. Hunters will be asked whether they harvested their deer with a crossbow or vertical bow when they register their deer.
The change on ground blinds requires that fabric or synthetic blinds on public land must have a blaze orange safety covering on top of the blind that is visible from all directions, or a patch made of blaze orange that is at least 144 square inches (12x12 inches) on each side of the blind.
CWD sampling continues
It?s important for hunters to get their deer tested in CWD zones. This year, some DPAs were added to CWD zones and some were removed. Hunters should check the requirements and available sampling options for the DPAs where they hunt. Hunters can find this DPA-specific information by visiting the make a plan tool (mndnr.gov/deerhunt).
Hunters are required to have their deer 1 year or older sampled for CWD in all CWD management and surveillance zones during the opening weekend of the firearms A season (Nov. 4-5). In all areas outside CWD management and surveillance zones, hunters will have other options to get their deer sampled for CWD.
Sampling options (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-testing.html) include requesting a mail-in kit (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-kits.html) before hunting or utilizing kits obtained but not used last year. Hunters also may participate in the partner sampling program (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-partners.html).
Visit the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/cwd) throughout the deer season for the most up-to-date information, find sampling locations or request a mail-in sampling kit.
Connect with the Minnesota DNR
Anyone looking to connect with Minnesota DNR local wildlife managers about deer, wildlife, hunting and habitat topics can reach out (mndnr.gov/wildlife/talk-about-wildlife.html) by email, phone or in person at area wildlife offices on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Area managers always welcome calls from the public, so people who can?t call during the dedicated time are encouraged to do so at their convenience.
People can learn more in a deer season webinar at noon Wednesday, Aug. 23. Todd Froberg, Minnesota DNR big game program coordinator, will discuss hunting opportunities, new regulations, important dates and deadlines, an overview of the deer population goal setting process, and a statewide look at deer populations. Registration is free and required, with more information on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover).
Deer season dates for 2023
- Archery: Saturday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 31
- Youth and early antlerless: Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22
- Firearms: Saturday, Nov. 4, with various closing dates depending on a hunter?s location
- Muzzleloader: Saturday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 10
- Late CWD hunt (DPAs 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648 and 649) Dec. 15-17.
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Anglers are invited to share their thoughts on proposed fishing regulations changes for the St. Croix River from the Taylors Falls dam to the confluence with the Mississippi River at Prescott, Wisconsin.
Below the dam, the proposed rules would simplify regulations for a variety of species by creating continuous seasons for walleye, northern pike and bass, and lower possession limits for those and several other species. Additionally, in the river from the Taylors Falls dam to the U.S. Highway 8 bridge, fishing would be closed March 2 through June 15 to protect spawning fish that are present in higher numbers below the dam.
?We want to maximize fishing opportunities and maintain sustainable fish populations,? said Joel Stiras, metro river specialist with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. ?We?d like to know how anglers respond to these proposals and there are a variety of ways to let us know.?
Anyone can share their thoughts on the Engage with DNR webpage (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries-public-input-wildlife-public-input). A public in-person meeting about the proposed regulations is scheduled for 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Stillwater Public Library, Margaret Rivers B Room. People can also comment by calling Stiras at 651-259-5806, emailing at [email protected], or sending mail to Joel Stiras, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN 55106.
The proposed regulation changes follow evaluations by the Minnesota DNR and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources looking at ways to simplify regulations in Minnesota-Wisconsin St. Croix River border waters. Most of the proposed changes would match the regulations of the Mississippi River border waters.
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