In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Hunters: Register your deer
Hunters are required to register every deer they harvest before processing, before antlers are removed and within 48 hours after taking the animal. Hunters can register deer online, via phone or in person. Information from deer registration is essential for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to track and manage deer populations. Detailed registration instructions for all methods are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/harvestreg.html).
Deer carcass movement restrictions in place in
13 deer permit areas
Deer carcass movement restrictions are in place for 13 deer permit areas located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area.
DPAs 604, 605, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661, 679 and 684 together form the chronic wasting disease management zone. Hunters are not allowed to bring whole deer carcasses outside the management zone until a ?not detected? test result is received. The restrictions apply to all deer taken within the CWD management zone, including fawns. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses in between contiguous disease management zone DPAs.
If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling or want to transport it outside the CWD management zone before getting a test result, they must debone or quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zone. Meat and quarters with the main leg bone can leave the zone immediately. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides dumpsters for hunters to use to facilitate carcass disposal.
These restrictions are part of a comprehensive strategy to keep Minnesota?s deer, elk and moose healthy by limiting the spread of disease. Hunters can find details for the DPA in which they hunt by visiting the Minnesota DNR?s CWD webpage (mndnr.gov/cwd) and using the ?find the requirements for your DPA? tool.
Deer harvest numbers available online
Hunters, media and anyone interested in deer harvest data can find current deer harvest figures and harvest reports for past years on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources? deer reports and statistics webpage (mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/statistics.html). The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualizes the data.
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on elk in Minnesota, No Child Left Inside grants
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, Nov. 1, Connie Cox, DNR naturalist, and Blane Klemek, DNR northwest regional wildlife manager, will discuss Minnesota elk. They will share the history of Minnesota elk herds and how they are managed, including some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to hunt them.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 8, DNR staff will discuss the No Child Left Inside Grant program, which makes funds available to nonprofit organizations, schools, other government entities, and Native American tribes, schools or governments, to connect youth with nature and get them engaged in outdoor recreation. The webinar will cover the program in general, success stories from past grant projects and how to apply for upcoming funding.
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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Apply through Dec. 12 for funding aimed at increasing outdoor experiences, education and stewardship
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce another phase of the No Child Left Inside grants. These grants help more children cast a line, study animal tracks, hike or bike, or simply learn more about nature.
?This successful outreach grant program continues to send resources to schools and organizations to help get children outdoors,? said Jeff Ledermann, DNR education and skills team supervisor. ?These grants boost outdoor programs and initiatives all around the state, especially in communities with limited opportunities to connect with nature.?
Public entities and nonprofit organizations serving youth younger than 18, including Native American tribes, schools or governments, can apply for No Child Left Inside grants.
This grant program contributes to realizing the vision of the Minnesota Children?s Outdoor Bill of Rights (mn.gov/children-outdoors) for each and every Minnesota child to experience outdoor recreational activities and discover the natural environment regardless of where they live, learn, or play
As of Monday, Oct. 30, the Minnesota DNR is accepting applications for both mini grants (less than $5,000) and larger grants ($5,000 to $25,000). The request for proposals is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/no-child-grants). Applications will be accepted until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12.
Mini grant awards will be chosen by lottery after review to ensure they qualify. Larger grant awards will be selected using a competitive review process. Funding can be used for outdoor recreation equipment, transportation, and related natural resource education expenses. Past mini grant awardees are encouraged to apply for a larger grant during this phase. Organizations that previously received a larger grant are ineligible for funds this round.
The 2023 Minnesota Legislature appropriated $1 million from the state?s General Fund and the Heritage Enhancement Account of the Game and Fish Fund to continue the work of the No Child Left Inside grants program in fiscal year 2024.
For more information about the grant program, instructions for how to apply, and a link to the application or informational webinar registration, visit the?No Child Left Inside grants webpage of the Minnesota DNR website?(mndnr.gov/no-child-grants).?Questions about these grants or the application process should be emailed to?[email protected]?with ?Grant Questions? in the subject line. People can also call 888-646-6367.
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The walleye limit for Upper Red Lake will decrease from the five allowed during open water season to four this winter while the Mille Lacs Lake walleye limit will remain at one.
?Fall netting assessments on both lakes suggest these harvest levels will keep walleye populations sustainable and healthy,? said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. ?We?re pleased to offer anglers harvest opportunities on both lakes.?
Effective Wednesday, Nov. 1, anglers fishing on the state waters of Upper Red Lake can keep up to four walleye with one longer than 17 inches.
Beginning Friday, Dec. 1, Mille Lacs Lake anglers can keep one walleye 21-23 inches long or one longer than 28 inches.
The DNR sets winter regulations for these lakes after completion of annual fall population assessments.
Results from Upper Red showed an optimal level of walleye spawning stock and a high overall net catch rate, especially of nearly mature walleye.
Mille Lacs? results found slightly lower walleye numbers than in 2022.
But the continued strong presence of walleye born in 2013 and 2017 and acceptable numbers of walleye born in 2021 and 2022 suggest there are adequate numbers of younger fish to keep the population sustainable as they mature and reproduce to replace fish caught by anglers.
Complete winter fishing regulations are available on the Upper Red Lake regulations webpage (mndnr.gov/fishing/upper-red-lake-regulations.html) and the Mille Lacs Lake regulations webpage (mndnr.gov/fishing/millelacs.html).
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