In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Pheasants Forever, Minnesota DNR join forces to get new hunters into fields and forests
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever invite Minnesota hunters to join the Hunter Mentor Challenge and take someone hunting who has never hunted or hasn?t hunted for a few years.
Minnesota hunters who participate will qualify for a discount code for ALPS OutdoorZ brand gear; and after the hunt, they have the chance to win a custom, limited-edition Pheasants Forever hunting backpack from ALPS OutdoorZ.
The program is open to all types of hunting in Minnesota that are legal and in-season ? including, but not limited to, pheasants, grouse, waterfowl, deer, squirrels, and wild turkey (applies to fall and spring turkey seasons). Experienced hunters can invite a new hunter of any age, if they have the proper license/tag necessary and either the mentee hunter?s safety or apprentice hunter validation.
Participation is simple: hunters visit the Minnesota DNR page on the Pheasants Forever website and take the pledge (pheasantsforever.org/mndnr). After taking the pledge, hunters are asked to bring a novice or returning hunter on a hunt during the 2023-24 season and snap a picture or short video during the hunting trip. The last step is to submit contact information, a hunt recap and a photo or video on the submission page to be entered for prize giveaways. All online entries must be received by June 30, 2024.
The Minnesota DNR has helpful information for new hunters and experienced hunters who would like to share their skills with new hunters. To learn more, visit the Minnesota DNR take a friend hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/gohunting/take-friend-hunting.html).
Winners chosen for 2024 trout and salmon stamp, walleye stamp contests
Alborn artist Dean Kegler won the Minnesota trout and salmon stamp contest with an acrylic painting of a brook trout, and Bemidji artist Sam Larsen won the walleye stamp contest with an acrylic painting of a walleye. Judging for both contests happened virtually on Aug. 3.
In the trout and salmon stamp contest, which had 10 eligible submissions, the runner-up was Ronald Engebretson of Owatonna with a watercolor and color pencil painting of a brown trout. Third place went to Josh Evan of Mapleton with an acrylic painting of a brook trout.
In the walleye stamp contest, which had 11 eligible submissions, the runner-up was Stuart Nelson of Cloquet with an acrylic painting of a walleye. Third place went to Stephen Hamrick of Lakeville with an acrylic painting of a walleye.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources uses revenue from voluntary purchases of walleye stamps to purchase walleye for stocking in Minnesota?s lakes. Revenue from trout and salmon stamps, which are required for anglers ages 18-64 who fish in designated trout water or possess trout, is dedicated to trout and salmon management and habitat work. Visit the stamp webpage of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/stamps) for more information about habitat stamps and contest guidelines.
Minnesota DNR webinars cover kayak fishing, cattails
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. 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.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 16, Amy Schrank, Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Program Leader, will discuss why cattails are so abundant on Minnesota shorelines and how they impact our lakes. Schrank will also review recent research about whether small-scale removal of invasive cattails can increase water quality and plant diversity, and benefit lake fish communities.
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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All wildlife topics welcome in open invitation for conversations with local wildlife staff
Wildlife managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, whose work improves wildlife habitat and public land access, are inviting the public to talk about wildlife in local Minnesota DNR offices across the state from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. Local wildlife managers will also be available by phone during these same hours.
Conversation topics can include anything related to wildlife, from wild turkeys to deer population levels, new hunting regulations, wetland restoration that benefits waterfowl, accessibility improvements at wildlife management areas, animal damage issues, and more.
?We want to hear stories and questions from the public and foster some great connections,? said David Trauba, southern region wildlife manager. ?We find tremendous value in hearing from folks on a wide variety of wildlife topics. It helps us gain important perspectives that can make our work more effective.?
While the office hours on Aug. 17 are to specifically invite conversation about wildlife, Minnesota DNR staff are always available and happy to talk with members of the public throughout the year.
?The great thing about having these conversations at local offices is we can cover topics that are really on people?s minds where they live or recreate,? Trauba said. ?We also have some great success stories to share.?
People might want to know where new properties are to hunt, or how pheasants are faring in their area; bird watchers might want to hear about the wetland and prairie restoration projects taking place nearby; staff can share how partnerships with conservation groups can add a multiplier effect to work completed by the Minnesota DNR; and there are others who might benefit from simply discussing the basics about how to access public land or about what wildlife lives nearby.
The wildlife conversations began in 2018 with the release of the statewide?deer management plan (mndnr.gov/deerplan) and have continued and broadened to encourage discussions about all wildlife and habitat topics.
When it comes to deer, individuals can talk with Minnesota DNR staff about deer generally, upcoming hunting season changes, topics that the DNR?s deer advisory committee should be aware of, and other opportunities to provide thoughts and feedback regarding deer management throughout the year.
To find an area wildlife office location and contact information, visit the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/talk-about-wildlife.html).
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on several special fishing regulation proposals.
Each year, the Minnesota DNR proposes new special fishing regulations that apply to individual waters and asks the public for input about the proposals. The regulations, if enacted, are reviewed on a regular basis.
The Minnesota DNR is proposing either new or changes to existing experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2024 fishing season that address the following topics:
- Northern pike in Gull Lake chain (Cass and Crow Wing counties) ? A proposed experimental regulation is intended to provide better protection for large northern pike and reduce enforcement complexities by applying the same regulation to all connected waters.
- Northern pike in Pearl Lake (Stearns County) ? An experimental protected slot limit is expiring in 2024 and survey data indicate the regulation is not achieving management objectives. The proposal would allow the regulation to expire and revert to the North Central Zone northern pike regulation.?
- Crappie and sunfish in Clearwater and Maple lakes (Wright County) ? In an effort to maintain and hopefully increase size quality of both crappie and sunfish, the proposal would reduce the daily limits in both lakes, which have heavy fishing pressure.
- Sunfish in First, Second, Third and Fourth Crow Wing lakes (Hubbard County) ? To reduce angler confusion and facilitate easier enforcement, the proposal would combine all four Crow Wing lakes and the connected Crow Wing River into one regulated waterbody with a daily limit of five sunfish.
- Sunfish in Winnibigoshish Lake and connected waters (Beltrami, Cass, Itasca counties) ?To facilitate easier enforcement, the proposal would include Lake Winnibigoshish in the reduced daily limit for sunfish that is already in effect for connected Cut Foot Sioux and Little Cut Foot Sioux lakes.?
- Northern pike in Balsam, Haskell and Scrapper Lakes (Itasca County) ? This proposal would apply one of two slot limits for northern pike to all three connected lakes. Currently, Balsam Lake has a protected slot limit, but the two connected waters do not.
- Walleye in Big Sand Lake (Hubbard County) ? The walleye population in Big Sand Lake has not responded to various special regulations, including the current slot limit. This proposal would repeal the special regulation and apply the statewide regulation, which is not expected to impact the existing walleye fishery.
Anyone can provide input about these proposals via an online survey (mndnr.gov/fishregs) that is available through Friday, Oct. 20. For additional details or to comment directly by email, U.S. mail or phone about individual proposals, contact the?area fisheries office?(mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries) for the proposal(s) on which you wish to comment. General input may also be submitted to Jon Hansen at?[email protected]?or 651-259-5239, or via U.S. mail to Fishing Regulations/Jon Hansen,?Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.
The Minnesota DNR is also hosting in-person open houses in each county where the proposed changes would apply and one in the Twin Cities metro area to cover all proposals.
For those who want to attend one of the in-person meetings, information can be found on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing/fishing-regulations-meetings.html) or by calling an area fisheries office (mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries). The meetings will take place on various dates between Thursday, Sept. 7, and Thursday, Oct. 5. The metro area open house will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the DNR?s Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.
Notification of the proposed changes to special fishing regulations has been posted at the accesses to each lake included in the proposal.
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Common carp, degraded habitat and water quality to be addressed
Area wildlife managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have begun the drawdown process on Cottonwood County?s Long Lake, located south of Westbrook. The temporary lowering of water levels on this 211-acre lake is taking place to improve fish and wildlife habitat as well as water quality.
Habitat in Long Lake has been impacted by large populations of common carp that degrade water quality and impede healthy growth of aquatic plants. Historically, Long Lake was an important resting spot for migratory waterfowl.
?Long Lake once attracted migrating waterfowl each spring and fall,? said Maggie Gross, shallow lakes specialist. ?However, the turbid water doesn?t support the habitat and food needs of migratory waterfowl, so the birds are going elsewhere.?
Plans call for lowering water levels this fall to help induce a winterkill of undesirable fish such as common carp that uproot native plants and disturb bottom sediments through their feeding habits. The drawdown also aims to promote a greater density and diversity of aquatic vegetation. Lowered water levels mimic a drought, which can act as a natural ?reset? to an ecosystem.
Minnesota DNR wildlife managers, in coordination with technicians from Ducks Unlimited, also hope to use low water levels to remove excessive sediment near the lake outlet. Sediment removal will help the current water control structure function more effectively.
Long Lake is a designated wildlife lake. This designation allows Minnesota DNR managers to help mitigate factors that affect water and habitat quality and quantity with tools that include temporary drawdowns. Information on designating wildlife lakes is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/shallowlakes/designation.html).?
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