In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Statewide youth deer season returns Oct. 19-22
Minnesota?s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students will be out of school during the youth season.
To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a regular deer license. Youth ages 10 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent, guardian or mentor 18 or older; accompanying adults do not need to be licensed. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. Crossbows are allowed for use by youth during this season.
All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange/pink clothing requirements. Fabric or synthetic ground 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.
Adults may not hunt, unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license. Complete youth season details are available on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource youth deer season webpage (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/youth.html).
Early antlerless-only deer season is Oct. 19-22
Hunters can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22. The season increases opportunities for hunters in deer permit areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease. Permit areas open during the hunt are 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 277, 341, 342, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers this opportunity to hunters to enjoy the outdoors and manage local deer herds. The bag limit is three antlerless deer and deer taken during the early antlerless-only season do not count against the statewide bag limit. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. Fabric or synthetic ground 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.
Before participating, hunters should review the specific license and permit requirements available on page 88 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on fall fishing tips and ciscos in Minnesota lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the fall program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Minnesota DNR area fisheries supervisors and avid anglers Scott Mackenthun and Eric Altena will share several fishing secrets on where and how to catch a variety of fish in autumn including walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and lake sturgeon.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 18, DNR fisheries experts Cory Goldsworthy and EJ Isaac will talk about cisco, also called tullibee or herring. Cisco are members of the whitefish family and are commonly found in cold and deep Minnesota lakes. Goldsworthy and Isaac will cover why cisco are so important to Minnesota lake ecosystems, how cisco are being affected by climate change and how anglers can catch them.
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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As archery deer hunters enjoy the current hunting season and 400,000 hunters prepare for firearms deer hunting seasons, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable hunt.
?Enjoying the hunt is a lot easier after doing some simple planning. To that end, we?ve added a wealth of information for hunters on our website to assist in preparing for deer hunting,? said Barb Keller, Minnesota DNR big game program leader. ?Using these planning tools is easy and can open up some breathing room for hunters once the season arrives so they can focus on having a safe and successful hunt.?
The Minnesota DNR?s online make a plan tool (mndnr.gov/deerhunt) provides a comprehensive step-by-step list of information hunters need to consider before heading to deer camp. Hunters can walk through the steps to consider, including knowing the hunting regulations, planning for deer processing, getting their deer sampled for CWD, being safe and making the most out of their hunt. To use the online tool, all hunters need to know is the deer permit area number or DPA numbers where they intend to hunt, which they can find on an interactive deer map.
In Minnesota, archery deer season began Sept. 16 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 31. Youth and early antlerless seasons are Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22, and firearms deer season is Saturday, Nov. 4, with various closing dates depending on a hunter?s DPA. Muzzleloader is Saturday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 10.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking people interested in the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area to share their perspectives about future management at the WMA.
The Lac qui Parle WMA master plan was last updated in 1997, and it is important for this update to reflect current public values and attitudes about how the land should be managed.
The updated master plan will be used to guide management of the Lac qui Parle WMA?s prairies and grasslands, wetlands, lakes, brushlands, shrubs and forests. It will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the WMA throughout the next 10 years.
Public input opportunities
An online questionnaire is available on the Engage with DNR website (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/embeds/projects/7944/survey-tools/18558) through Wednesday,, Nov. 8. The purpose of the online questionnaire is to help generate ideas and identify potential planning issues and opportunities specific to Lac qui Parle WMA as the DNR begins the planning process. In addition to the English version, the questionnaire is available in Hmong (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/embeds/projects/7944/survey-tools/18644) and in Spanish (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/embeds/projects/7944/survey-tools/18639).?
The DNR will also host an online open house about the update from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, that will include a brief informational overview on Lac qui Parle WMA and the planning process, time for questions and answers, and an opportunity for participants to offer input. Registration will not be required and more information is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/lac_qui_parle_wma.html).
Written comments may also be submitted by emailing [email protected] or sending mail to Lac qui Parle WMA, 14047 20th St. NW, Watson, MN 56295.
Additional public input opportunities will be available in the spring of 2024 as a draft plan is developed including draft goals, objectives and strategies.
About the WMA
Lac qui Parle WMA?s 33,500 acres comprise the largest contiguous block of public land in west-central Minnesota and include a state game refuge, a wildlife sanctuary, a waterfowl feeding and resting area, a duck sanctuary and a controlled hunting zone. The WMA is popular destination for anglers, hunters, trappers, and bird and wildlife watchers alike.
The WMA was instrumental in the restoration of Canada geese back to Minnesota. In 2012, the National Audubon Society named the Lac qui Parle WMA and surrounding landscape as one of Minnesota?s Globally Significant Important Birds Areas. More information about the WMA is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/lac_qui_parle_wma.html).
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People interested in Thief Lake in Marshall County are invited to share their thoughts with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on proposed updates to the lake?s management plan. The updated plan will be used as a guide to maintain the high-quality wetland habitat at Thief Lake.
?Public input is important as we update this plan,? said Kyle Arola, Thief Lake area wildlife supervisor. ?The previous management plan was developed in 2011. Updates to the plan will address current management challenges and social considerations.?
The draft management plan describes past management of the lake and identifies new thresholds that will guide specific actions such as periodic water level management. The draft plan is available for review on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/shallowlakes/program-work.html).
Comments on the draft plan will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Phone, email or U.S. mail comments can be submitted to:
- Kyle Arola, Thief Lake area wildlife supervisor, [email protected], 218-633-7671, 42280 240th Avenue Northeast, Middle River, MN 56737.
- Tammy Baden, shallow lakes specialist, [email protected], 218-846-8474, 14583 County Highway 19, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501.
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