June 18, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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June 18, 2025




*For more information:*

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





In This Issue

* DNR adds eight counties to deer feeding and attractant ban [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* New Ulm volunteer named 2024 ATV safety instructor of the year [ #link_1491411977526 ]

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DNR adds eight counties to deer feeding and attractant ban

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has added eight counties to a deer feeding and attractant ban to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease spread, after CWD was detected in wild deer in new areas of the state last year.

“The feeding and attractant ban is one tool to reduce unnatural congregating of deer and lower the risk of CWD spread,” said Paul Burr, acting big game program coordinator. “We use this tool where it provides the greatest benefit to the health of Minnesota’s white-tailed deer.”

Added to the feeding and attractant ban are Anoka, Clay, Ramsey, Sherburne, Steele, Traverse, Wilkin and Wright counties.

The ban now includes 32 Minnesota counties and remains in effect for Aitkin, Beltrami, Carver, Cass, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Le Sueur, Mower, Norman, Olmsted, Polk, Rice, Scott, Sibley, Wabasha, Washington and Winona counties. A map of the feeding and attractant ban area is available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ].

The wording of the ban was clarified to prevent it from covering natural or manufactured products that do not have attractants added. This change allows hunters to use items such as non-scented ropes, mock scrapes with no scents added, and other items that were never intended to be covered under the deer feeding and attractant ban.

In areas outside the ban, the Minnesota DNR recommends that the public not feed deer. People interested in helping deer should focus efforts on improving habitat to provide long-term food resources and shelter. For more information on how to improve private land for the benefit of deer and other wildlife, visit the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ].

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New Ulm volunteer named 2024 ATV safety instructor of the year
CO Thor Nelson and Steve Rykhus

"CO Thor Nelson (left) recently presented Steve Rykhus, of New Ulm, with the 2024 DNR volunteer ATV safety instructor of the year award."

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has named Steve Rykhus, of New Ulm, as the 2024 ATV instructor of the year.

During the past 20 years, Rykhus has helped certify nearly 1,200 students at ATV safety classes in Brown and Lyon counties. In total, he’s taught almost 70 classes between the two counties. Rykhus works hard to recruit new instructors to assist with his classes. He helps those new instructors feel confident teaching the students.

In addition to being an ATV safety instructor, Rykhus is also a certified firearms safety and snowmobile safety instructor. This is the second time the DNR has recognized his selfless efforts: Rykhus also was the volunteer firearms safety instructor of the year in 2014.

“Steve is devoted to introducing the next generation to the outdoors and providing the foundation the students need to enjoy a lifetime in the outdoors,” said CO Thor Nelson, who is stationed in New Ulm. “He’s passionate about volunteering as an instructor and is a great example of the very best of the thousands of people across the state who serve as volunteer safety instructors.”

Rykhus is among the nearly 1,000 volunteer ATV safety instructors who work with DNR conservation officers to deliver ATV safety training certification. Details about safety courses and training are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ], as are ATV regulations [ [link removed] ].

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