And the bull elk some called Gus died at 20 years old



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minnesota department of natural resources


*Minnesota Wildlife*



"Aug. 4, 2023"

Stay informed! Here?s a summary of upcoming wildlife and habitat management activities and ways you can discover, explore and experience Minnesota?s outdoors.

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DNR hunting regulations cover with turkey hunters on front, DNR logo, and regulations available online
Hunting regulations, hunting licenses available

Deer hunters will have more ways to hunt in Minnesota this fall. And deer hunting licenses can be purchased now.

We encourage all hunters to review the new hunting regulations and make a plan for hunting success. Here are some highlights of what?s new with the regulations this year.


* Crossbows are allowed for all deer hunters with an archery license. Hunters will be asked whether they harvested their deer with a crossbow or vertical bow when they register their deer.
* Synthetic ground blinds on public lands are required to have blaze orange covering. 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.
* 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.
* 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 [ [link removed] ]. Electronic copies of all 2023 Minnesota hunting regulations are available now online [ [link removed] ].

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 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.



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archery hunting scene around sunrise with a wetland area
Deadlines and season dates

The deadline to apply for special archery hunts, the Camp Ripley archery hunt, the prairie chicken season and special youth hunts 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.

Here?s a snapshot of 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.

"Photo courtesy of?Ryan Dunlop"



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a deer in snow in a forest
Overview of 2023 bag limits

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. 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 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 DNR website [ [link removed] ].

"Photo courtesy of Sara L. Giles, iNaturalist"



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CWD testing area where staff are working with samples on a table
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 [ [link removed] ].

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 [ [link removed] ] include requesting a mail-in kit [ [link removed] ] before hunting or utilizing kits obtained but not used last year. Hunters also may participate in sampling using?partners, such as a taxidermist who is taking part in the?DNR partner sampling program [ [link removed] ].

Visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] throughout the deer season for the most up-to-date information, find sampling locations or request a mail-in sampling kit.



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Elk sighting online dashboard reading 225 and map of Minnesota
An exceptionally old elk

We got word from northwestern Minnesota that an elk that was well known in the Warroad area?? some even called the elk ?Gus??? was 20 years old when the bull died. The DNR retrieved the carcass in February 2023 right after being informed that the elk had died. The DNR sent a tooth sample to a diagnostic lab to get an age on the elk. Read more in the Grand Forks Herald story [ [link removed] ].

Have you seen an elk in your area? We have an online elk sighting tool [ [link removed] ] that allows you to report it!



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hand holding a sleeve with DNR logo that is a gift for the Wings Over Water film for hunting and fishing license holders
Check out Wings Over Water film for a special offer

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 [ [link removed] ]. 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.

To use this offer, license holders can purchase tickets online in advance [ [link removed] ], 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.







Get hunting information

Find hunting and trapping regulations, harvest registration, how to contact a conservation officer and information about pursuing a variety of species at the DNR hunting webpage [ [link removed] ]. New to hunting? Check out the DNR learn to hunt guides [ [link removed] ].

Have Minnesota wildlife [ [link removed] ] or deer hunting [ [link removed] ] photos to share? Upload your photos so we can share them in DNR email updates, social media and our website.







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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ?|? mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

Email us: [email protected] ?|? Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367

Follow us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on Instagram [ [link removed] ] ? Find us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] ? Follow us on YouTube [ [link removed] ]

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:

Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] ?|?Help [ [link removed] ] ?|? Sign-up for other Minnesota DNR notifications [ [link removed] ]


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