In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Apply for turkey permits in Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs by Feb. 16
Turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 16, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A-C spring hunting seasons in Mille Lacs and Carlos Avery wildlife management areas and the A-B seasons in Whitewater Wildlife Management Area.
In addition to a turkey license, a permit is required for those hoping to bag a tom turkey with a firearm in one of these WMAs during early seasons. Turkey firearm permits for these WMAs are distributed via a lottery system. There is no permit required to hunt Whitewater WMA during the C season.
Turkey licenses will go on sale March 1 for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off on Wednesday, April 17. New this season, crossbows will be allowed by all hunters with an archery turkey license. Turkey hunting season dates and details for 2024 are available on the?Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/turkey).
Provide input on 2023 deer populations, observations
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input via an online survey on 2023 deer populations and observations. The survey includes questions about experiences hunters had during the deer hunting season, issues related to damage deer might do to crops, landscaping or gardens, and other deer-related issues. The DNR will use the feedback to shape regulations for the 2024 hunting season. The survey is open through Monday, Feb. 26, and available on the DNR deer management webpage (mndnr.gov/deer).
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on wolves, and deer in winter
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the winter program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 31, Dan Stark, Minnesota DNR large carnivore specialist, will share information on Minnesota?s wolf population, ecology and management. Stark will also provide an overview of the Minnesota DNR?s updated plan to guide wolf conservation and management.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 7, DNR big game specialists will discuss the winter severity index and the effects of recent winters on deer. They will also cover how deer survive winter, what people can do to improve deer habitat and the negative effects of feeding deer in winter.
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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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites anglers and others to comment through Friday, March 1, on fisheries management plans.
In the Duluth area, plans for the following streams will be reviewed this winter:
- Barrs Creek, St. Louis County
- Brophy Creek, St. Louis County
- Prairie River/Hasty Brook, St. Louis and Carlton counties
- Slaughterhouse Creek, Carlton County
- Unnamed tributary to Clear Creek (Military Creek), Carlton County
- Unnamed tributary to East Branch of Amity Creek (Cooper Creek), St. Louis County
- Unnamed tributary to Hellwig Creek (Shippley Creek), St. Louis County
- Unnamed tributary to Midway River (Adolph Creek), St. Louis County
- Unnamed tributary to Midway River (Korby Creek), Carlton County
- Unnamed tributary to West Rocky Run (Jeffrey Creek), St. Louis County
- Unnamed tributary to West Rocky Run (Solway Creek), St. Louis County
The DNR will use comments and suggestions from the public as it updates or creates new fisheries management plans that identify specific management activities planned for these streams over the next five to 20 years. The plans include a variety of fisheries information such as summaries and evaluation of past management activities and regulations; background information such as water chemistry and water temperature; and species presence, stocking, and historic catch rates from previous fisheries surveys.
As applicable, the plans also identify biological and social factors that might limit a fishery?s potential and seek to address limiting factors by prescribing science-based management tools when biologically, fiscally and socially appropriate.
Comments and suggestions from the public are important in identifying angler values and social considerations to address in plans. Public input is most useful before plans are finalized. Anyone can request information, including draft management plans and share thoughts about fisheries management by contacting the Duluth area fisheries office by email at [email protected] or phone at 218-302-3264.?
Comments and suggestions for managing other lakes and streams in the Duluth work area are welcome at any time and will be considered when those plans are due for review. More information about the Duluth area fisheries office is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries/duluth).
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