Jan. 22, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

Jan. 22, 2025




*For more information:* <[email protected]>

Contact the DNR Information Center
by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Top tips for fun winter outings to state parks and trails [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Preliminary 2024 season report shows higher deer harvest [ #link_1491412003165 ]

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DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac

"A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management."

Minnesota DNR webinars focus on oak wilt prevention, fishers

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 webinar series.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Brian Schwingle, DNR forest health program coordinator, will discuss oak wilt. Oak wilt is the biggest disease threat to oaks in Minnesota. Once it infects an oak, it is very expensive to control. Fortunately, there are some important steps property owners can take to reduce risk. Schwingle will share what oak wilt is, how to identify it and how to help prevent its spread.

Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Michael Joyce, wildlife ecologist with the Natural Resources Research Institute, will share general information on fisher history and status in Minnesota, highlight factors contributing to their recent population decline, and describe ongoing research on the recent expansion of fishers into southern Minnesota.

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 [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/discover) for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.

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Top tips for fun winter outings to state parks and trails

Winter recreation options are abundant in Minnesota state parks, recreation areas and trails
A family hiking in the snow

Many Minnesotans visit state parks and hit the trails in summer, but winter outdoor activities are just as fun. To help people plan winter visits to state parks, recreation areas and trails, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shares top ways to have fun this winter, with or without snow.

“Winter offers a whole new way to play outside, providing recreation options to refresh the spirit, boost your mood and connect with nature,” said Ann Pierce, the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division director. “To help all Minnesotans enjoy these benefits, no matter their previous experience or budget, we’re highlighting no-cost and low-cost activities and providing easy trip planning resources.”

Here are a few favorite outdoor activities to try this winter:

*Look for birds*

Winter birding in Minnesota offers a unique opportunity to see species adapted to cold climates. The quiet, leafless landscapes make it easier to spot and hear birds. Whether people are seasoned birders or beginners, birding is a rewarding way to connect with nature and experience Minnesota's wildlife in a new season. Several parks even have free birding programs to participate in this winter, including Afton, Fort Snelling, Itasca, Nerstrand Big Woods, Sibley, Wild River and William O’Brien. Find the events on the Parks and Trails event calendar [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/ptcalendar).

*Go for a winter hike*

Winter hiking is a rewarding way to experience winter landscapes while staying active in colder months. It offers physical benefits along with mental health boosts from exposure to natural light and serene surroundings. With proper gear and preparation, winter hiking allows for unique encounters with nature, less crowded trails than summer months, and stunning seasonal scenery. Winter hiking is a great option for state parks, recreation areas and trails. Some state parks have plowed or packed trails; these locations are listed on the DNR winter hiking webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/state_parks/winter_hiking.html).

*Hit the bike trails*

Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is one of Minnesota’s premiere mountain biking destinations, and in winter, its trails are great for fat bike riding. In the Twin Cities metro area, Fort Snelling State Park has 6 miles of multi-use trails open to fat biking. State trails are also open to winter biking. Learn more about fat biking and other locations to ride on the DNR’s fat biking webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/fatbike/index.html).

*Become a Junior Ranger*

State park visitors are invited to pick up a free Junior Ranger book from ranger stations or print one at home from the Junior Ranger webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/junior-ranger). Activities in this booklet are designed for ages six to 10, but anyone is welcome to participate. Complete the activities and earn a free Junior Ranger badge.

*Attend a candlelight event*

Candlelight events are free, family-friendly events. They offer short, easy trails lit with lanterns or luminaries. Visitors can stop by anytime during the event and enjoy the trail at their own pace. Visit the DNR candlelight event webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/candlelight) for dates and locations.

*Go ice fishing*

Minnesota residents can fish without a fishing license in many Minnesota state parks; this includes ice fishing. Those new to the sport can check out one of the state park ice fishing programs to get tips for a successful outing. Programs are listed on the state parks ice fishing webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/state_parks/ice_fishing.html).

*Snow activities*

While much of the state doesn’t currently have enough snow for activities such as snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, there are select locations in Minnesota with enough snow for these activities. Skiers and snowmobile riders can check out the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/snow) for winter trail reports. If snow arrives, information about sledding and snowshoeing in state parks is in the DNR winter guide [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/winterguide).

*Planning and safety tips*

Being prepared is key to making a trip to a state park or trail successful and fun.


* Be aware of special conditions or other alerts that might impact a state park or recreation area visit by checking park websites [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/parklist) before leaving home.
* The DNR recommends buying a state park vehicle permit before arriving at the park using the state parks permit webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/permit). Permits can be purchased in person when ranger stations are open; hours can be found on park websites. Permits can also be checked out at select public libraries in Minnesota. State trails do not require vehicle permits.
* Check the weather forecast before heading out, and dress appropriately for the conditions. If new to winter outdoor recreation in Minnesota, check out the DNR’s guide to dressing for Minnesota winters [ [link removed] ] (images.dnr.state.mn.us/destinations/state_parks/winter_guide/winter-dressing-infographic.pdf).

Always check ice depth before going on frozen water and remember that ice is never 100% safe. Read the ice safety page on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/icesafety) for information.

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Preliminary 2024 season report shows higher deer harvest

2023-2024 mild winter conditions helped deer populations begin to recover

Hunters harvested more than 170,000 deer during the 2024 hunting season, up 7% statewide from the 2023 hunting season. The statewide harvest was 3% lower than the five-year average.

“We still have a way to go in parts of northern Minnesota,” said Todd Froberg, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources big game program coordinator. “But it seems like we’re moving in the right direction.”

Weather during peak hunting times such as weekends played a significant factor in hunter success and provided optimal conditions for hunting during firearms season in much of the state. Anecdotal reports to wildlife managers also suggested that opening weekend of 2024 firearms opener lined up well with deer activity during the peak of their mating season.

*Breakdown by region*

One of the areas that saw the most increase in deer harvest was the northeast, where harvest was up 9% compared to 2023.

Due to the ecology of the region, deer populations are significantly impacted by winter conditions, particularly deep snow. The mild winter in 2023-24 helped bolster local populations. However, wildlife managers are maintaining conservative bag limits and caution it will take more than one mild winter to help deer recover.

Northwest Minnesota also saw a jump in harvest with an 8% increase from 2023. The past mild winter was exactly what deer needed in this region. Many wildlife managers received reports of twins and triplets in spring and summer 2024.

The central and southeast regions of the state also saw great success, with a 9% increase from 2023 and a 2% increase compared to the five-year average. Hunting opportunities remain robust in these regions of the state, with bag limits as high as three- to five-deer limits.

The southwest saw a 4% increase in harvest compared to 2023 and a 1% increase from the five-year average. This area of the state has had very consistent harvest the last few years.

*High archery season success*

This year was an incredibly successful year for archery hunters, with archery harvest up 16%. Preliminary harvest results suggest this might be the second highest archery harvest ever in Minnesota, only surpassed by the 2020 season.

In 2023, Minnesota legalized crossbows for all archery hunters regardless of age. Crossbow harvest saw a 28% increase compared to 2023 and 48% of total archery harvest was by crossbow. Vertical bow harvest was also up 7% compared to 2023.

Both crossbow and vertical bowhunters took similar proportions of deer in terms of sex and age at harvest. A little less than half of the deer harvested with archery equipment were adult bucks (48% crossbow, 47% vertical bow). Adult does harvested during archery season made up about 40% of the deer harvested during archery season (40% crossbow, 42% vertical bow).

If drier winter conditions persist into spring 2025, hunters might look forward to increasing deer numbers in the upcoming hunting season.

*Input opportunity and more information*

Hunters and anyone interested in deer can provide their input via an online survey on 2024 deer populations and observations. The survey includes questions about experiences hunters had during the deer hunting season; issues related to damage deer might have done to crops, landscaping or gardens; and other deer-related issues. People can also share their input on proposed boundary changes for deer permit areas 101, 111, 183, 208 and 268. The survey is open through Monday, Feb. 10 and available on the DNR deer management webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/deer).

People who are interested in deer harvest data can find current harvest data and past harvest reports on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ deer reports and statistics webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/mammals/deer/management/statistics.html). The page also features an interactive map and graph that visualize the data.

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