In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Reminder: 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 go on sale March 1 for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off 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).
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 (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl/lightgoose). The conservation action aims to reduce damage from these geese to fragile ecosystems in Arctic coastal areas and around Hudson Bay.?
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on dates in nature, edible mushrooms
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, 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.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 21, a member of the Minnesota Mycological Society will discuss edible mushrooms that grow in Minnesota and how foraging for mushrooms, after learning how to do so safely, can be a fun and healthy way to find delicious wild food and connect with the outdoors.
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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Unusually mild weather in February is impacting road and trail conditions in several parts of the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Several roads and motorized trails in state forests, state parks, recreation areas, and wildlife management areas are likely to close earlier than usual because they?re too soft and muddy to support vehicle traffic without causing damage, and some have closed already. The duration of the temporary closures depends on local weather and surface conditions, which are difficult to predict in this unusual winter.
?These springlike thaws create wet, unstable road and trail conditions. Closures protect our roads and trails from damage and costly repair, and also keep people and equipment safe, too,? said Matt Huseby, roads coordinator for the DNR?s Forestry Division. ?Be sure to know before you go. Check the DNR website for updates, obey the closures, and use good judgement wherever you ride.?
Many recreationists are heading to the woods with this warmer weather and are unaware that their usual routes might be restricted or closed. To prevent an unwelcome surprise, check the DNR website (mndnr.gov/closures) before heading out. Pay particular attention to state forest roads and trails closures, which are listed individually on the website, rather than listing a general closure for the whole forest. Roads that can handle vehicle traffic will remain open but might be restricted by vehicle weight.
Road and trail information is updated on Thursdays by 2 p.m. and includes closure information on every OHV trail in Minnesota. Signs will also be posted at entry points and parking lots and may be in place before the website is updated.
Road and trail closure information is also available by contacting the DNR Information Center at [email protected], 888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157, (8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday).
For information on roads and trails on county land, contact the county directly.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking people interested in Lake of the Woods fisheries management to share their perspectives about future management of the lake.
The Lake of the Woods fisheries management plan was last updated in 2018. It is important for this update to reflect public values and perspectives on how the lake should be managed.
The updated master plan will be used to guide management of Lake of the Woods fish populations. It will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the lake for the next five years.
Public input opportunities
An online scoping questionnaire is available on the Minnesota DNR Lake of the Woods webpage (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods) through Friday, March 15. The purpose of the online questionnaire is to help generate ideas and identify potential planning issues and opportunities specific to Lake of the Woods as the DNR begins the planning process.
?This questionnaire offers people the chance to help advance management of the high quality, multi-species fishery that is Lake of the Woods,? said Matt Skoog, Baudette area fisheries supervisor. ?We especially want to hear peoples? thoughts about walleye and sauger angling, observations about winter angling, the importance of keeping fish to eat, as well as ideas about large fish like lake sturgeon and northern pike.?
Written comments can also be submitted by emailing [email protected]?or mailing comments to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 204 Main Street E., Baudette, MN 56623.
Additional public input opportunities will be announced and made available as the plan is being developed. In addition, the draft plan will be available for public review and comment in mid to late summer.
About Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a large lake located on the United States-Canada border. Approximately 300,000 acres of the lake are located within the U.S. The Minnesota portion of the lake consists of several distinct basins, including Muskeg Bay, Big Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay. Lake of the Woods is a popular recreational fishing destination for both summer and winter anglers. Some of the more popular species anglers target when visiting the lake include walleye, sauger, yellow perch, lake sturgeon and northern pike. Intensive monitoring of the fish populations occurs on an annual basis due to the popularity of this resource.
More information about Lake of the Woods is available on the?Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods).
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Project in Lyon County is the product of partnership
with Pheasants Forever and the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
Work will begin next month on a habitat restoration project at Clifton and Rolling Hills wildlife management areas, two WMAs east of Marshall in Lyon County.
Contractors will remove trees and brush scattered across the two WMAs. Those trees and brush will be cut, stump treated, piled and burned. The trees include cottonwoods and non-native Russian olive, Siberian elm and buckthorn that have degraded and spread across critical prairie habitat. Tree removal work will take place over a two-year period.
The strategic tree removal is designed to benefit the prairie and grassland ecosystem and provide improved nesting and brood rearing habitat for pheasants, grassland nesting waterfowl, and other grassland-dependent species. It will also benefit pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
?Removing the trees will improve grassland habitat for pheasants, waterfowl, native songbirds and other wildlife that require open landscapes,? said Troy Dale, Marshall area assistant wildlife manager. ?We?re targeting non-native trees and scattered trees that degrade habitat for grassland species. However, the key phrase here is ?strategic tree and brush removal? since there is value in keeping trees and shrubs on the landscape where they fit.?
In fact, wildlife staff planted a 5.5-acre area with native shrubs and trees back in 2017 to benefit birds, pollinators and deer.
The habitat improvements will provide a better experience for hunters, hikers and bird watchers. People with questions about the project can reach out to the Marshall area DNR wildlife office at 507-706-6170 or email Assistant Area Wildlife Manager Troy Dale at [email protected].
The project is a partnership with Pheasants Forever and its Enhanced Public Lands Program and the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
The Outdoor Heritage Fund (legacy.mn.gov/outdoor-heritage-fund) was created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008, which increased sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent. The fund receives one-third of the sales tax dollars and may only be spent to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest, and habitat for fish and wildlife.
WMAs are open to the public year-round and provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife watching activities. For more information, visit the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/wmas).
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