Aug. 25, 2025



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

Aug. 25, 2025




*For more information:*

Contact the DNR Information Center

by email  <[email protected]>or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* Waterfowl hunting seasons on the horizon [ #link_1491411977526 ]

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DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

Walk-In Access lands open Sept. 1

Walk-In Access areas will be open for public use beginning Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026, with the purchase of a $3 Walk-In Access validation.

The Walk-In Access program pays landowners to allow public access to their property without additional landowner contact. This year, there are around 30,000 acres of private land at more than 280 Walk-In Access sites in west, central and southern Minnesota.

Of the 30,000 acres enrolled in the program, more than 20,000 acres will be open to public uses in addition to hunting, such as bird watching, nature photography and similar compatible uses. To search for Walk-In Access sites, identify sites open to all compatible uses, find digital maps for individual sites, and get more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/walkin). Additionally, all Walk-In Access sites are shown on the DNR Recreation Compass [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/maps/compass.html).

Current funding for the program includes a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Walk-In Access validations purchased by hunters, a surcharge on nonresident hunting licenses and donations from hunters.

Hunters asked not to shoot ear-tagged, radio-collared research bears

The Minnesota bear hunting season opens Sunday, Sept. 1, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is once again asking hunters to avoid shooting marked research bears. These bears are marked with distinctively large, colorful ear tags and wear radio collars.

Researchers with the Minnesota DNR are monitoring 50 radio-collared black bears across the state, especially in bear hunting zones 27, 45 and parts of the no-quota area. Most of the radio-collared bears live in or near the Chippewa National Forest, Camp Ripley, the Brainerd/Baxter area, and Duluth. However, the bears can also range widely from these sites. All but three of these bears are female.

More information for hunters is available in a previous DNR news release [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/news/2025/08/19/hunters-urged-not-shoot-ear-tagged-radio-collared-research-bears). Photos of collared research bears and some research findings gained from them are available on the Minnesota DNR bear hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/bear).

Reminder: Deer lottery application deadline is Sept. 4

Firearm and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area with an antlerless permit lottery designation must purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 4.

Hunters who purchase their license by Sept. 4 are automatically entered into the lottery for the DPA or special hunt area they declare. Successful applicants will receive a postcard in the mail authorizing them to take an antlerless deer using their regular license in that antlerless permit lottery area.

No application is needed to take antlerless deer in permit areas with either-sex, two-deer limit, three-deer limit, or five-deer limit designations. Hunters should note that DPA 183 has been split into two smaller DPAs (153 and 154), and these DPAs have last year’s designation of lottery with a one-deer limit.

Hunters who want to participate in special firearm or muzzleloader deer hunts also need to apply for permits issued through a lottery. That application deadline is also Sept. 4. More information about how to apply for special hunts is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer/special-deer-hunts.html).

Further information about designations and regulations for deer permit areas, as well as details about special hunt opportunities, are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/deer) and in the 2025 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook, which is available online and in print wherever Minnesota DNR licenses are sold.

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Waterfowl hunting seasons on the horizon

Minnesota DNR reminds hunters about upcoming season dates

Minnesota waterfowl seasons are around the corner, and hunters have a wide variety of opportunities to look forward to in 2025, with seasons starting Saturday, Sept. 6. Early teal season runs Saturday, Sept. 6 through Wednesday, Sept. 10, with shooting hours from sunrise to sunset.

“Hunters should review the regulations and hunting season dates this year. As usual, scouting and preparation will be key to success,” said Nate Huck, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources migratory gamebird specialist. “We have high water this year in many places, so hunters will have lots of ways to get duck boats through wetlands this year.”

The Waterfowl Hunting Regulations handbook is available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the Minnesota DNR waterfowl hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl).

*Early teal season reminders*

The Minnesota DNR reminds waterfowl hunters who plan to take part in the early teal hunting season or early goose season (Sept. 6-21) to be aware of and cautious around wild rice beds.

Wild rice is an important natural and cultural resource that typically ripens in early September. Wild rice harvesters may be active in beds if the rice is ready to be collected. In addition, wild rice plants are susceptible to damage during this time, even if active harvest is not underway.

All waterfowl hunters who plan to hunt within the boundaries of the Mille Lacs, Leech Lake or White Earth reservations are advised to contact the appropriate reservation for more information:


* Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s (Misi-zaaga'iganiing) reservation: Early-season teal hunters may not hunt teal on wild rice beds posted by Tribal authorities as open to rice harvest. Contact the Mille Lacs Department of Natural Resources at 320-532-7896.
* Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s (Gaa-zagaskwaabiganikaag) reservation: Early-season teal hunters may not hunt teal within one-half mile of wild rice beds posted as open to harvest by Tribal authorities within the boundaries of the reservation during the early-teal season. Contact the Leech Lake Division of Resource Management at 218-368-4767.
* White Earth (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) Reservation: The taking of teal during the early-teal season is prohibited on wild rice waters identified by Tribal authorities. Contact the White Earth Division of Natural Resources wild rice office at 218-935-3933.

Information to help hunters properly identify waterfowl is available in an illustrated guide that begins on page 21 of the 2025 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting). Access to complete information on Minnesota’s waterfowl hunting seasons is available from the Minnesota DNR’s waterfowl hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl).

*Reminders about federal duck stamp and goose permit*

As a reminder, electronically issued federal stamps are valid for the entire season. Each stamp purchase includes a validation available immediately for hunting and a pictorial stamp that is mailed to the purchaser after the close of waterfowl seasons.

Federal duck stamps are available through the Minnesota DNR electronic licensing system, in person or online [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/buyalicense), and cost $30 per stamp.

Federal duck stamps are required for all hunters age 16 and older. Waterfowl hunters must also possess a small game license, state waterfowl stamp and Harvest Information Program certification. The state waterfowl stamp requirement is for residents age 18 to 64 and nonresidents age 16 and older.

As a reminder, an early goose permit is no longer required for goose hunters. Hunters may still need a small game license, state waterfowl stamp, federal duck stamp and HIP certification, and hunters can find more information about these requirements on pages 6-7 of the waterfowl hunting regulations available on the Minnesota DNR’s waterfowl hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl).

*Waterfowl season dates and youth reminders *

Hunting season dates for ducks, mergansers, coots, and moorhens are:


* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Tuesday, Nov. 25, in the north zone;
* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 30, in the central zone.
* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Dec. 7, in the south zone.

Hunting season dates for geese are:


* Early goose season is Saturday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 21;
* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Friday, Dec. 26, in the north zone;
* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, in the central zone;
* Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 18, through Wednesday, Jan. 7, in the south zone.

Youth waterfowl weekend is Saturday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 14, when waterfowl hunters 17 and younger can hunt if accompanied by a nonhunting adult 18 years of age or older. Regulations for this hunt are available on page 12 of the waterfowl hunting regulations [ [link removed] ]_ _(mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).

Learn to hunt information is available on the Minnesota DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/gohunting).

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