In This Issue
Minnesotans are encouraged to explore outdoors with friends and family over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle fees to all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Friday, Nov. 28. The DNR offers four “Free Park Days” each year to encourage Minnesotans to explore a new park or visit an old favorite, and reap the benefits of spending time outdoors.
“After Thanksgiving celebrations, we encourage friends and family to get outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR Parks and Trails Division. “State parks and recreation areas offer opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors together, and spending time in nature also positively affects our mental and physical wellbeing.”
Late November offers a variety of outdoor recreation options, including hiking, biking, photography, fishing and more. This time of year is particularly great for bird- and animal-watching as bare trees make it easier to spot wildlife.
State park visitors can also enjoy several free events on Nov. 28 (mndnr.gov/ptcalendar) including a naturalist-led hike at Wild River State Park, a Free Park Day scavenger hunt at Gooseberry Falls State Park, and a chance to learn about reptiles up close at Lake Maria State Park.
Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead for their visit:
- Check visitor alerts and find directions on state park and recreation area webpages (mndnr.gov/park-list) and follow any safety signs posted at the site.
- Before a trip, download the free Avenza app and the park or recreation area’s GeoPDF map. Avenza will display a user’s current location even when not connected to the internet or cell service, a feature that is particularly useful in areas where cell service is spotty or nonexistent. Find additional information on the DNR’s GeoPDF webpage (mndnr.gov/geopdf). Visitors can also pick up paper maps outside each park’s ranger station.
- Check the weather forecast before leaving home and dress appropriately for the conditions.
- Visit the information signs near the park entrance for suggestions on what to see and do.
- Consider wearing blaze orange or pink. While there are no special park hunts taking place on Free Park Day, hunting may be occurring on land adjacent to state parks and recreation areas.
For more information, visit the free park day webpage (mndnr.gov/freeparkdays).
Minnesotans can also save the date for 2026’s Free Park Days:
- Monday, Jan. 19
- Saturday, April 25
- Saturday, June 13
- Friday, Nov. 27
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New plan will guide state park’s future recreation opportunities, resource management and interpretation
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments on a draft management plan for Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon. The comment period is open through Dec. 17.
The new management plan will set the direction for the state park for the next 15 to 20 years. The plan includes recommendations for managing natural and cultural resources as well as recreational and interpretative opportunities for park visitors.
Recommendations in the draft plan include:
- Continuing efforts to restore and maintain tallgrass prairie within the park
- Replacing a swimming pond, which has not been operational since 2019, with a nature play area
- Improving water access for fishing and boating
- Adding more camping opportunities
- Exploring a possible connection to the Heartland State Trail extension
- Enhancing accessibility of camping and trail facilities
- Adding an outdoor amphitheater to the picnic area
- Protecting rare resources
- Updating the park’s interpretive plan
Public input informed the development of the draft plan in several ways. An open house was held in December 2024 to gather initial input, and a citizen advisory committee met five times in 2025 to identify issues and review proposals for the draft plan. Additional input was gathered using an online survey.
As part of the planning process, the DNR will host an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6:30-8 p.m., at Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Regional Science Center, 663 164th St. S., Glyndon. In addition to the open house, people can provide comments by:
- Email or phone: [email protected] or 651-259-5328
- Mail: Gratia Joice, Minnesota DNR, Parks and Trails Division, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN, 551155
The draft plan is available for review online (mndnr.gov/input/mgmtplans/parks_trails/buffalo-river-state-park-planning.html). Paper copies are also available at the Buffalo River State Park ranger station and the Minnesota DNR regional headquarters in Bemidji.
About Buffalo River State Park
Buffalo River State Park is located in Glyndon, 14 miles east of Moorhead, just south of state Highway 10. The park was established in 1937 and sits along the winding Buffalo River. It is home to one of Minnesota’s finest and largest remnant prairies. Many of its buildings and other facilities were built by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s and early 1940s and are on the National Register of Historic Places. To learn more, visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/buffaloriver).
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Hook configuration and length rule also clarified
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has changed the rule surrounding ice anglers’ use of automatic hook-setting devices and has clarified rules about multiple hook configurations and length. These fishing rule changes will be in effect for the upcoming ice fishing season.
“We want to make sure anglers are aware of these recent rule changes as they enjoy the last days of open water and prepare for ice fishing season,” said John Dunn, DNR’s fisheries rules and regulations coordinator. “Robust public input helped guide our development of these rules, and we are excited to implement them beginning this winter season.”
Automatic hook-setting devices
Non-motorized devices that set the hook using the force of a spring device or the force of a bent fishing pole are now legal for use in Minnesota while ice fishing. The hook-setting component of any device must be non-motorized. Motorized jigging devices that are not designed to set the hook are considered legal. The device must not be capable of automatically reeling the fishing line or retrieving fish.
These devices are triggered automatically when a set bait is hit by a fish. They are typically used with a “tip-up” type angling device and may reduce the number of swallowed hooks, reducing hooking mortality.
All other fishing regulations still apply while using automatic hook setting devices and automatic jigging devices. Importantly, as is required with all tip-up use, the angler must be within 200 feet of the tip-up and not leave them unattended.
Multiple hook configuration and length
The new rule clarifies a single configuration for a line cannot have more than three hooks and the total distance between hooks cannot exceed 18 inches measured along the line. Previously, the length could not exceed 9 inches. The increase to an 18-inch maximum length is better suited for larger gamefish and is anticipated to reduce the number of swallowed hooks and hooks that are otherwise deeply set into the fish, thereby decreasing hooking mortality. This configuration is not specific to ice fishing and could be used either by ice or open water anglers.
Once rule changes are made, the DNR enacts them through regulations. Since these rule changes were made following the release of the current fishing regulations booklet, they will be listed in the 2026 Minnesota fishing regulations, which come out in March. Other fishing regulations are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing) and in print and wherever DNR licenses are sold.
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