In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.
Minnesota DNR reminds archery hunters about CWD testing options
Minnesota’s archery deer season opens Saturday, Sept. 14, and hunters should check the chronic wasting disease requirements and available sampling options for the deer permit areas where they hunt. Hunters can find DPA-specific information by visiting the make a plan tool (mndnr.gov/deerhunt).
In CWD management and surveillance zones, all hunters, including archery hunters, are required to have deer one year old or older sampled for CWD if they harvest it during the opening weekend of the firearms A season (Nov. 9-10). During the rest of season, CWD sampling is optional. In areas outside of CWD management and surveillance zones, CWD sampling is optional all season. Multiple sampling options are available, with details on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-testing.html).
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on WMA and AMA management,, and cone and seed collection
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, Sept. 11, Jamie Gangaware, Minnesota DNR wildlife operations manager, and Jamison Wendel, Minnesota DNR fisheries habitat manager, will discuss wildlife management areas and aquatic management areas, the history of the WMA and AMA program, the purposes of these lands, and the variety of recreational opportunities they offer. Participants will also learn about the system-wide planning process currently underway to ensure consistent and holistic management of WMA and AMA lands into the future.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Sarah Ebert, State Forest Nursery manager, will share information about Minnesota DNR’s cone and seed collection program. The webinar will cover collection techniques, tree identification tips, and the importance of this program in supporting reforestation efforts on both public and private lands.
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 is announcing $1 million in competitive grants to improve urban and community trees statewide, thanks to U.S. Forest Service’s Inflation Reduction Act funding. The Centering Communities in Canopy Solutions grants aim to involve communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of urban and community forestry projects. The funding supports communities that are underrepresented in decision-making and face environmental challenges such as higher pollution exposure and access to trees and green spaces.
“Minnesota’s urban and community forests are crucial to the health and well-being of our neighborhoods,” said Molly Codding, the DNR’s community environmental justice coordinator. “This grant program is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our tree canopies and reflect community priorities through meaningful engagement of people who experience environmental challenges where they live and work. By placing community at the center of our canopy solutions, we know awarded projects will have lasting impacts on the health of our urban and community forests, while changing the ways folks experience the trees around them.”
These grants aim to support place-based nonprofits or grassroots efforts in eligible communities across the state. This includes neighborhood associations, community groups, and volunteer organizations. Governments, educational institutions, and other nonprofits can also apply but must partner with a place-based organization in an eligible community (arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/portal/apps/webappviewer/
index.html?id=53a99f2c3440435c80ebb5cd003f6dc8). Funds can be used for staff time, event materials, community outreach, environmental education, tree planting and care, and stewardship management plans.
Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $100,000, with no matching funds required. Applications are due Oct. 28. Six in-person grant application sessions are scheduled throughout the state during September and October. The first will be on Sept. 23. Visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/community-forestry-grants) for the schedule and more information.
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Hunting diaries will give a more complete picture of bird populations
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is inviting upland bird hunters to voluntarily log details about their hunts.
“We’re excited about working with bird hunters to improve our understanding of what they’re seeing in the field,” said Nate Huck, resident game bird specialist. “Their information will complement our existing monitoring efforts. Thank you to hunters for being willing to share your observations. We’re looking forward to seeing success with this project like we have for others like it. For example, we’ve had helpful results from the community science approach we’ve taken in asking deer hunters to share their wildlife observations.”
Right now, the Minnesota DNR monitors upland game bird harvest — grouse, woodcock, pheasants, prairie chickens and partridge — using a once-a-year small game harvest survey. While the information collected this way is useful in estimating the total hunter effort and harvest of upland game birds, it does not provide specific, localized or season-long insights.
Starting this fall, hunters can use what’s called an upland bird hunting diary. The diary is available in electronic form using web browser or app versions that are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/sightings/upland-field-log.html). Hunters can also print off a paper version of the diary and enter their hunts online.
Participating hunters will be asked to report information specific to each hunt including: date, location, whether the hunt was on public land or private, if the hunt was on a wildlife management area, if the hunt was on a hunter walking trail, if the hunter was using a Walk-In Access program area, the species pursued, if the hunter was using a dog, the total hours hunted, the number of birds flushed, the number of birds harvested, the age of their harvest for pheasants and ruffed grouse, and the sex of their harvest for ruffed grouse.
More information for hunters and instructions on how to participate are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/wildlife/sightings/upland-field-log.html).
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CWD sampling area changes, harvest reduced in some DPAs
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters of a variety of deer hunting related changes in effect for the upcoming seasons in northeast Minnesota.
City of Grand Rapids special hunt
The annual city of Grand Rapids special deer hunt begins with the start of archery season on Saturday, Sept. 14, continues through rifle and muzzleloader seasons, and ends on Tuesday, Dec. 31. All deer one year or older harvested during the city deer hunt are required to be sampled for chronic wasting disease.
Hunters have several options to fulfill the sampling requirements, including the partner sampling program through participating taxidermists, self-service sampling stations, mail-in sampling kit, or by appointment at the Minnesota DNR Grand Rapids area wildlife office (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/grand_rapids.html)
To date, four cases of CWD have been found in adult deer within and adjacent to the city limits of Grand Rapids.
Disease management and bonus permits are available for use in conjunction with the city hunt and will allow hunters to harvest up to five deer within city limits.
The city of Grand Rapids’ special hunt is administered by the Grand Rapids Police Department in partnership with the Minnesota DNR to reduce urban deer populations, the number of vehicle accidents, and damage to vegetation caused by high numbers of deer, as well as helping to slow the spread of CWD. More information about the city deer hunt and allowed hunting zones can be found on the Grand Rapids Police Department’s webpage (cityofgrandrapidsmn.com/police).
Remainder of DPA 679 around the city of Grand Rapids
The allowable harvest per hunter for DPA 679 was reduced last year to one deer, either sex (commonly referred to as “hunter’s choice”). Disease management or bonus tags may not be used in DPA 679 outside of special hunts.
Mandatory sampling for all deer one year or older will continue this year during the opening weekend of firearms A season (Nov. 9-10), and carcass movement restrictions remain in place.
Other special hunts
The cities of Baxter, Two Harbors, and Duluth will hold special city hunts, as will Schoolcraft and St. Croix State Parks and several state parks along the North Shore. Interested hunters can find information about dates, hunt types, bag limits and additional information beginning on page 92 of the printed or online version of the 2024-25 hunting and trapping regulations.
New CWD sampling requirements near Carlton, continued near Brainerd
To help inform consideration of a proposed elk restoration project, new mandatory CWD surveillance sampling will be implemented on opening weekend of firearms A season (Nov. 9-10) in DPAs 156, 173, 181 and 199 in the Carlton area. Elk in the northwest have been extensively tested during hunting seasons and deer in the area were tested during the last hunting season, with no animals testing positive for CWD.
In DPA 604 around the Brainerd area, mandatory CWD sampling continues this year during the opening weekend of firearms A season (Nov. 9-10), and carcass movement restrictions remain in place. While CWD infection numbers remain low in DPA 604, the infection was most recently detected in 2023, prompting an additional three-year cycle of sampling.
Deer feeding and attractant ban expanded to Aitkin County
The outward movement of CWD from the Grand Rapids city limits has prompted the expansion of the deer feeding and attractant ban to include Aitkin County. Deer attractants are natural or manufactured products that can attract or entice deer, including salt, minerals, liquid food scents, or any product that contains or claims to contain cervid urine, blood, gland oil, feces or other bodily fluid.
Feeding deer for the purpose of baiting during the hunting season is not legal anywhere in Minnesota. Recreational feeding of deer is banned in 24 counties including Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca and Hubbard counties in north-central Minnesota.
Deer hunting regulations, seasons and harvest limit changes are available on the Minnesota DNR’s deer hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer) and in the hunting and trapping regulations booklet, which is available in print wherever Minnesota DNR licenses are sold. The Minnesota DNR provides translations of the regulations in Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish. The translated versions are estimated to be available online in September and are expected in print by the end of October.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Toad Lake, near Osage in Becker County.
A Becker County aquatic invasive species specialist contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels attached to pontoons that had been moored on the south end of Toad Lake. A DNR invasive species specialist found juvenile zebra mussels at the public water access on the south end of the lake, indicating that zebra mussel reproduction has been occurring in the lake.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
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Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
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Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
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Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
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Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
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Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.
These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:
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Decontaminate watercraft and equipment – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/decon).
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Spray watercraft and equipment with high-pressure water or rinse with water if high-pressure water is not available.
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Dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.
More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ais).
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Lake is part of the Lower Whitefish Chain of Lakes
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Rush Lake, near the town of Crosslake in Crow Wing County. Rush Lake is part of the Lower Whitefish Chain of Lakes. Starry stonewort had not previously been confirmed in the Whitefish Chain of Lakes.
A contractor working on Rush Lake contacted the DNR after finding suspected starry stonewort. The contractor was hired by the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association to conduct plant surveys at boat accesses within the Whitefish Chain of Lakes. A DNR invasive species specialist confirmed the presence of starry stonewort at the Rush Lake public water access, which is located on a channel between Rush Lake and Whitefish Lake.
Follow-up surveys are being conducted to determine starry stonewort distribution in Rush Lake and to determine whether starry stonewort is present in other lakes in the Lower Whitefish Chain of Lakes. The DNR is working with the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association and Crow Wing County to determine immediate response steps.
Starry stonewort is usually identified by the star-shaped white bulbils for which it is named. These bulbils typically become visible in late summer.
Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 31 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.
Starry stonewort is an algae that looks like some native aquatic plants. Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/invasives/aquaticplants/starrystonewort).
Starry stonewort can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants. It is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.
Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and relieve associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities. Early detection is key to effective management.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
-
Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
-
Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
-
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
-
Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
-
Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.
These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:
-
Decontaminate watercraft and equipment – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/decon).
-
Spray watercraft and equipment with high-pressure water or rinse with water if high-pressure water is not available.
-
Dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html) if they think they have found starry stonewort or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.
More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ais).
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