In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management.
Minnesota DNR hosts webinars on bluebird recovery, canoe fishing in the BWCAW
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the spring program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webinar series.
On Wednesday, March 19, Wally Swanson with the Bluebird Recovery Program will discuss how bluebird populations are doing and what people can do to help them. Bluebird numbers declined dramatically during the past century, with the main reasons being loss of habitat, loss of suitable nesting sites, and competition with non-native house sparrows and starlings.
Then, on Wednesday, March 26, join Scott Mackenthun, DNR area fisheries supervisor, as he talks about canoe angling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Mackenthun will cover angling opportunities, fishing tips and tricks, and wilderness angling idiosyncrasies that can help people catch more fish.
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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Enrollment is open for Minnesota’s 2025 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public access on private lands.
Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. These parcels are usually enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest in Minnesota. Although it is not a requirement, it is preferred to ensure quality habitat for outdoor recreation. For enrolling in the program, landowners can receive $18 per acre.
The DNR partners with select soil and water conservation districts across the state to assist landowners in enrolling parcels into the Walk-In Access program. The participating counties along with their contact information are listed on the Minnesota DNR’s website (mndnr.gov/walkin/enroll.html).
A $3 Walk-In Access validation is needed to gain access to enrolled parcels, which are marked with highly visible signs. The one validation allows access for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a variety of activities, whether it be hunting, bird watching, nature photography and more.
“Walk-In Access is often seen as a win-win for outdoor enthusiasts and landowners,” said Amber Knutson, Walk-In Access program coordinator. “With almost 30,000 acres of privately-owned Walk-In Access land available to use, outdoor enthusiasts can have confidence that they’re welcome on these parcels. And landowners receive a monetary incentive while also gaining liability protection through the recreational use laws written in Minnesota state statute.”
Participating outdoor enthusiasts can access Walk-In Access parcels from Sept. 1 through May 31, one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset with a current Walk-In Access validation. All hunting laws apply and are enforced by Minnesota DNR conservation officers. For nonhunting users, it is advised to wear blaze orange or pink during firearms seasons to make yourself visible to hunters.
This program is primarily funded through the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program grant offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. Additional funding sources include a $5 surcharge on all nonresident hunting licenses, Walk-In Access validations, and donations made by individuals.
Landowners can sign up for the program at their local soil and water conservation district office or by contacting Amber Knutson at 507-706-6172. More information is available at the Minnesota DNR’s Walk-In Access webpage (mndnr.gov/walkin).
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in the Roseau River Wildlife Management Area to share their thoughts on a draft update of the WMA’s master plan, which will guide management of the popular hunting and wildlife-watching destination in northwestern Minnesota.
The updated master plan will be used to guide management of Roseau River WMA’s diverse wetlands, grasslands, shrublands and forests. It will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the WMA for the next 10 years. The previous management plan for the area was developed in 1980.
Public input opportunities
Minnesota DNR staff will host two events to provide an overview of the plan and its purpose, answer questions, and collect public input: an in-person meeting and an online meeting. Registration is not required for either event.
The online meeting is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8. A link to join the webinar is available on the Roseau River WMA page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html).
The in-person public meeting is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the Trapper Room at Roseau City Center, 121 Center St. E., Roseau, MN 56751.
Review and comment on the plan
The public can review the updated master plan and submit online comments by visiting the DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html).
Comments can also be submitted by:
- Emailing roseauriver.wildlife@state.mn.us
- Using the online form on the Engage with DNR website (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/wma-ama-planning/surveys/roseauriverwma)
- Providing verbal and written comments at the April 8 online meeting or April 9 in-person meeting
- Calling Roseau River WMA staff at 218-452-7610
- Mailing Roseau River WMA Master Plan, Fish and Wildlife Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155
Comments will be accepted through Friday, April 25.
About the WMA
Roseau River WMA’s 75,163 acres consist of a mosaic of wetlands, woodlands, forest, shrublands, grasslands and peatlands that provide extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. The WMA contains 10,600 acres of managed shallow water wetlands, 17.5 miles of river, 12 oxbows, and nine moist soils cells that provide important breeding, nesting and migration habitat for waterfowl. Roseau River WMA is a popular destination for hunters, trappers, wildlife watchers and anglers. More information about the WMA is available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/roseau_river_wma.html) and the WMA finder (mndnr.gov/wmas).
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