In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management
Apply for turkey permits in ‘A’ season for Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs by Feb. 13
Turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 13, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A spring hunting season in Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will have 30 permits available for Carlos Avery WMA and 150 permits for Whitewater WMA.
In addition to a turkey license, hunters must have a permit to hunt for a tom turkey with a firearm in one of these WMAs during the A season. Turkey firearm permits for these WMAs are distributed via a lottery system for the A season. Although hunters need their license for all seasons, they don’t need a permit to hunt Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs during the B, C, D, E or F seasons.
Turkey licenses will go on sale in early March for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off on Wednesday, April 15. Crossbows are allowed by all hunters with an archery turkey license. Turkey hunting season dates and details for 2026 are available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/hunting/turkey).
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Minnesotans encouraged to try winter outdoor recreation
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Monday, Jan. 19. This Free Park Day is one of four days each year on which visitors don’t need a vehicle permit at state parks and recreation areas. The DNR offers one fee-free day in each season, giving Minnesotans an opportunity to experience the parks at different times of year.
Free days for Minnesota state parks and recreation areas in 2026 are:
- Monday, Jan. 19
- Saturday, April 25
- Saturday, June 13
- Friday, Nov. 27
“Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are open year-round, and winter offers a quiet, peaceful time to experience them,” said Ann Pierce, director of the DNR Parks and Trails Division. “Having a free day in each season encourages people to explore parks at times of year they may not normally visit. From snow-covered trails to crisp winter landscapes, state parks shine in winter.”
Winter visitors can try popular activities like sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing if snow conditions are good. Many parks offer snowshoe rentals, and select parks offer ski rentals. Visitors looking for rental equipment or specific recreational opportunities can use the DNR’s ParkFinder tool (mndnr.gov/parkfinder) to find the best destination.
There are also many outdoor winter activities that don’t require snow, such as birding, watching wildlife, hiking, taking nature photos, and having a campfire with hot chocolate and s’mores. If ice conditions are suitable, ice fishing is also a popular activity in state parks and recreation areas.
The DNR reminds visitors to wear clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather and to bring water and snacks. Those who are new to winter outdoor recreation in Minnesota can check out the DNR’s guide to dressing for Minnesota winters (mndnr.gov/dressforwinter). Ice safety information can be found on the DNR’s ice safety webpage (mndnr.gov/icesafety).
Visitors should check for updates in the visitor alert section on park websites (mndnr.gov/parks) before leaving home. Visitors can also download free maps from park websites and use them in the free Avenza maps app that helps visitors navigate even when there’s no cell service. Those who prefer a paper map can get one at the ranger station.
The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover fees for activities like camping, lodging or equipment rentals.
For more information, visit the DNR’s Free Park Days webpage (mndnr.gov/freeparkdays).
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Summary includes findings on insect outbreaks, diseases and other impacts to Minnesota forests
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released its 2025 Forest Health Annual Report (mndnr.gov/treecare/forest_health/annualreports.html) which uses data from aerial surveys and on-the-ground site visits. The report compiles information about insect outbreaks, disease epidemics, and other impacts to the state’s forests.
The DNR aerially surveyed 13.5 million acres of Minnesota for damage to forests in 2025. Since the early 1950s, aerial surveys have been a valuable tool for discovering, tracking, and managing forest health threats like spruce budworm, oak wilt, storm damage, eastern larch beetle and more.
“By tracking the changes and trends of what’s impacting trees, the DNR provides information that landowners and forest managers can ultimately use to help make our forests healthier and more resilient,” DNR Forestry Division Forest Health Consultant Brian Schwingle said.
Key findings in the 2025 report include:
- Forests received enough precipitation in the 2025 growing season to limit decline in species like oak, aspen and birch. Appropriate precipitation levels increase trees’ resiliency to other stressors like pests and disease.
- No new counties have confirmed cases of oak wilt. The number of Minnesota counties with known oak wilt remains at 33.
- Surveys discovered emerald ash borer in six additional counties, increasing the number with known EAB infestation to 59 of the state’s 87 counties.
- Prior spruce budworm damage in northeast Minnesota fueled two large wildfires in May, which burned around 28,000 acres in total.
- The June derecho damaged at least 11,600 acres of forest in the Bemidji area.
Managing forests so they can thrive is a cooperative effort. Minnesotans can help keep trees and forests healthy through proper yard tree care (mndnr.gov/treecare/caring-pruning.html) and forest management (mndnr.gov/foreststewardship).
To help reduce the spread of harmful pests and diseases, buy and burn local firewood (mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/firewood-information) and report oak wilt (mndnr.gov/treecare/forest_health/oakwilt) beyond areas where it is common. Report pests and diseases regulated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on the MDA website (mda.state.mn.us/reportapest).
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Webinars on Indigenous crafts, ice fishing for walleye, bat boxes and Hmong hunting heritage make up the winter lineup of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“Winter is here and this season we have some great webinars to encourage people in their outdoor adventures by sharing helpful perspectives and tips,” said Benji Kohn, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division volunteer mentor program coordinator.
The live webinars are at noon and last an hour or less. Upcoming topics include:
- Jan. 14 – Indigenous crafts, including the process and meaning behind traditional porcupine quillwork and deer hide tanning, along with other crafts.
- Jan. 28 – Ice fishing for walleye, including necessary gear, where to go and walleye ice angling techniques.
- Feb. 11 – Bat boxes, including what they are, why they are important, what species of bats rely on them and new guidelines from the Minnesota DNR on bat boxes.
- Feb. 25 – Learn about what hunting means to Hmong people, what hunting was like as a means of survival in Southeast Asia and how Hmong people are continuing their hunting heritage in the U.S.
All webinars are live-captioned and free. Participants need to pre-register. The DNR posts recorded webinars online for those who can’t attend the live event. Episode descriptions, registration information and archives are available on the Minnesota DNR Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webpage (mndnr.gov/discover). Registration is not required to view archived events.
For other education and learning opportunities from the Minnesota DNR – including boat and water safety, hunter education, firearms safety, natural resources education, and recreational vehicle safety – visit the DNR’s education and safety training webpage (mndnr.gov/education-safety).
For information about the Minnesota DNR I Can! program, which includes offerings to help people of all ages learn about camping, paddling, mountain biking, fishing and archery, visit the Minnesota DNR I Can! webpage (mndnr.gov/ican).
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