Minnesota Wildlife

Turkey hunting on the horizon

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.

And a reminder: 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 hunting season dates and details for 2024 are available on the Minnesota DNR website.

First turkey photo courtesy of Cloey Griep

Light goose harvest opportunity begins Feb. 18

Hunters can help reduce the population of light geese through a federally authorized spring conservation harvest running from Feb. 18 through April 30. Light geese are snow geese, blue-phased snow geese and the smaller Ross’s goose. Licenses go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 13, and harvest regulations can be found on the Minnesota DNR website. The conservation action aims to reduce damage from these geese to fragile ecosystems in Arctic coastal areas and around Hudson Bay.

Updates on Carlos Avery, Mille Lacs WMA planning     

The Minnesota DNR’s updates of major unit wildlife management area master plans continues. These WMAs are large in acreage and are popular hunting, trapping and wildlife-watching destinations.

As part of updating the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area master plan, we’re asking for input from people interested in the 24,600-acre WMA. There are several opportunities to engage in the planning process: an online questionnaire, in-person and online public meetings, and you can send written comments. Find all the details are on the DNR’s Carlos Avery WMA page.

You can also check out the finalized update to the management plan for the Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area. The new plan, finalized after a public input process, reflects up-to-date science as well as public values and perspectives on how the land should be managed into the future. The final plan is available on the DNR’s Mille Lacs WMA page.

Deer end-of-season survey, and webinars on wolves and deer

Share your opinions on the deer population in our end-of-season survey. The Minnesota DNR gathers public input annually on the previous deer season to help shape regulations for the next season. The questionnaire is open to anyone with an interest in deer, especially deer hunters! Take the survey on the DNR deer management page.

There has been a lot of interest regarding the dynamics between wolves and deer as hunters have continued to have reduced harvest opportunities in northeastern Minnesota.

The relationship between wolves and deer populations varies on the interplay of several factors, including the abundance of deer, winter severity, other predators, prey on the landscape (e.g., moose, beaver) and habitat conditions. If you're interested in learning more about these two species, check out our recently recorded webinars on wolves in Minnesota and winter deer behavior.   

Photo courtesy of amnordby, iNaturalist

Valentine’s Day webinar: Make a date with nature

Here’s a lovely Valentine’s Day proposal — enjoy a Minnesota DNR webinar! On Wednesday, Feb. 14, environmental psychologists Dr. Christie Manning and Dr. Elise Amel will share how time spent in nature improves our mental health and provides many other benefits. The webinar will also highlight several opportunities and programs available to people to “make a date” with nature and significant others or family members this winter.

The webinar is part of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series schedule of webinars, all free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the DNR website for other webinars and to find recordings of past webinars.  

Mmm...venison steak bites

Introduce others to a taste of the wild with an appetizer they can’t resist. Check out these venison steak bites, submitted by Lucas Hendrickson through the Wild Minnesota Recipe Exchange. Here’s the story behind the dish.

“I first started hunting big game at 29 years old when I met my wife. Having harvested my first deer a year later, I wanted to bring something special to both our families’ Thanksgivings. That is what inspired me making this venison appetizer. All I know is I didn’t leave with any leftovers!”

Try the recipe for yourself at mndnr.gov/recipe.

Wildlife highlight: baby bears

Happy birthday baby bears! Did you know all bear cubs are born in January and February? Winter dens across the country just doubled (or tripled!) their bear count. Black bear cubs weigh less than a pound at birth. A newborn cub could easily fit in your hands.

Newborn cubs’ eyes and ear canals are closed at birth, but they have a strong survival instinct to cuddle up to their mother and drink her highly nutritious milk. Their mother’s milk will help them pack on four to eight pounds before she wakes up and leads them into the world in April or May. Black bears can have anywhere from one to six cubs, but two to three are most common. Read more about these hard-working moms and their newborns on the BearWise website.

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Thanks for subscribing to Minnesota Wildlife. If you’re looking for more details on a other topics like elk, white-tailed deer or fishing, you can sign up to get these additional email newsletters, too.

• Deer Notes: Updates and information on deer hunting, seasons and regulations, management, and other deer-related activities
• Elk Notes: Updates and information on elk in Minnesota, elk management, elk hunting, and elk-related projects
• Minnesota Fishing: Topics include fishing, fisheries management activities, regulation changes, public input opportunities and fisheries research.