Aug. 1, 2022



header


*Minnesota DNR News
*




*For Immediate Release:
*

Aug. 1, 2022




*For more information:*
Contact the DNR Information Center
by?email <[email protected]>?or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* Hunting regulations, deer hunting licenses now available [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* DNR announces CWD sampling changes [ #link_1491412003165 ]
* Attend deer season webinar, contribute to deer conversations [ #link_1491412051810 ]
* DNR seeks input on proposed special fishing regulations [ #link_1491412104175 ]
* Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491412093342 ]
* Zebra mussels confirmed in Lake Koronis in Stearns County [ #link_1 ]
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Hunting regulations, deer hunting licenses now available

Plentiful opportunities will greet deer hunters this fall

Deer hunting licenses can be purchased starting today and the 2022 Minnesota hunting regulations are now available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting). Print copies of the regulations will be available in early August wherever licenses are sold.

When deer hunters venture out into fields and forests this fall, they will find healthy deer populations faring well in most of Minnesota, ample harvest opportunities, and a continued commitment to managing chronic wasting disease management adaptively statewide.

?We?re excited about deer hunting this year,? said Kelly Straka, wildlife section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. ?Hunters in 20% of our deer permit areas will have increased opportunities for harvest, and opportunities in 70% of DPAs remain unchanged from last year. In some areas of northern Minnesota, severe winter conditions have impacted low deer numbers, so hunter opportunity in these areas is designed to help stabilize or increase those populations.?

Minnesota has the following deer seasons:


* Archery: Saturday, Sept. 17, through Saturday, Dec. 31
* Youth and early antlerless: Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23
* Firearms: Saturday, Nov. 5, with various closing dates depending on a hunter?s DPA
* Muzzleloader: Saturday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Dec. 11

Changes for this year include:


* Eight more DPAs included in the hunt. Hunters will also have more license options for the early antlerless season.
* Increased bag limits or lottery permits in 28 DPAs, the same limits in 90 DPAs and decreased limits in 12 DPAs.

In addition to deer seasons, hunters can participate in special deer hunts. The DNR, municipalities and organizations across Minnesota offer opportunities to hunt at special times and in areas that might regularly be closed to hunting. Participation in these hunts is limited and often requires special registration. More information is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/index.html#SpecialHunts).

Hunters can get the information they need for each DPA by using the interactive deer map on the DNR?s deer hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer). By clicking within the borders of a DPA on the map, hunters can access a ?make a plan? link that takes them directly to the DNR?s Make a Plan tool, where they can view the steps deer hunters in that DPA must follow to legally harvest deer. The tool also provides information for determining where and how to submit a sample for CWD testing and whether sampling is mandatory in the DPA.

Firearm and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a DPA designated as lottery need to purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 8. Hunters who purchase their license by Sept. 8 are automatically entered into the lottery for the DPA or special hunt area they declare. 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.

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DNR announces CWD sampling changes

As part of an adaptive approach to chronic wasting disease management statewide, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is broadening the options this year for hunters to get their deer tested for CWD.

?Keeping Minnesota?s deer healthy remains a top DNR priority,? DNR Wildlife Section Manager Kelly Straka said. ?The DNR?s commitment to sound surveillance and aggressive management of CWD has not changed. What is different is how we?re accomplishing that from place to place and improving options for hunters to help us with disease surveillance.?

Hunters will be able to submit samples through taxidermists who are partnering with the DNR or by dropping off deer heads at self-service sampling stations. Other options available include using mail-in kits (hunters remove the lymph nodes from deer themselves), dropping by one of the DNR-staffed sampling stations during the opening weekend of firearms season, or making appointments at area wildlife offices within CWD zones at any time during the deer hunting season.

One notable difference this fall will be fewer self-service sampling stations than in previous seasons. Self-service stations will be available only in firearms season, with the exception of point-based surveillance zones, which will have stations available starting in archery season and will remain available until sampling goals are met.?Hunters should visit the DNR?s Make a Plan page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/Make-Your-Deer-Hunting-Plan.html) to learn more about self-service sampling station availability for the DPA they plan to hunt.

This year?s revised approach to sampling will allow the DNR and hunters to work cooperatively to ensure robust data collection, particularly in CWD zones, while also making efficient use of limited resources. The DNR listened carefully to hunters? expressed preferences and also evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of last year?s data collection in developing this year?s sampling plan. ?We?re encouraging archery and muzzleloader hunters in CWD zones to use one of the alternative methods available to get their deer tested for CWD,? Straka said. ?We?re still rigorously sampling in areas where CWD has been detected and samples from hunter-harvested deer provide critical information about the disease.?

CWD sample submission will be mandatory in all CWD zones during the opening weekend of the firearms A season (Nov. 5-6) for all hunter harvested deer one year or older. Locations of CWD sampling partners and DNR-staffed CWD sampling stations will continue to be updated on DNR?s website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD) throughout the fall.

Carcass movement restrictions are in effect for CWD management and control zones during all seasons. Whole carcasses cannot leave these zones until a ?not detected? test result is received. More about carcass movement restrictions can be found on page 73 of the Minnesota Hunting Regulations. The regulations and links to complete deer season information are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer).

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Attend deer season webinar, contribute to deer conversations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites all hunters to attend an informational webinar on new deer hunting regulations at noon Wednesday, Aug. 3. Barbara Keller, big game program leader, and Todd Froberg, big game program coordinator, will discuss new deer hunting regulations in 2022, population numbers and chronic wasting disease management. The webinars are part of the DNR?s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series, which aims to give participants quick, relevant information on upcoming seasons and events, as well as skills to enjoy these opportunities. The webinar is free, and registration is required. Registration is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Discover).

The DNR also invites the public to talk with DNR staff about deer-related topics over the phone or at local area offices during a statewide deer open house on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. People are welcome to discuss general concerns about deer or upcoming hunting season changes; raise topics for consideration by the DNR?s deer advisory committee; and learn about other engagement opportunities. People interested in participating can find more information on the deer open house page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Deer-Open-Houses.html).

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DNR seeks input on proposed special fishing regulations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on several special fishing regulation proposals.

Each year, the DNR proposes new special fishing regulations that apply to individual waters and asks the public for input about the proposals. The regulations, if enacted, are reviewed on a regular basis.

The DNR is considering experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2023 fishing season that address the following topics:


* Walleye in Big Sandy Lake (Aitkin County) ? An experimental walleye harvest slot limit (14-18?, 1 over 26? allowed) is expiring in 2023 and the DNR is interested in whether anglers support continuing this regulation.
* Panfish in Dyers Lake (Cook County) and Sand Lake (Lake County) ? Reduced sunfish and crappie limits have been working effectively on these lakes for a while. A proposed change would slightly modify the regulation from a reduced possession limit to a reduced daily limit. The changes would make these lakes consistent with other special sunfish and crappie regulations across the state.
* Brown trout in the Vermillion River (Dakota County) ? A proposed change would expand an existing catch-and-release-only regulation to the entire Vermillion River.
* Lake trout in Caribou Lake (Itasca County) ? A proposed experimental regulation is intended to maintain a naturally reproducing population by only allowing one fish to be kept and requiring that the fish be at least 20 inches.
* Walleye in Island and Round lakes (Itasca County) ? Highly protective slot limits have successfully built up enough large walleye in these lakes to afford some additional harvest. A proposed change would relax the protected slot to a narrower range (20-24?).
* Northern pike in West Battle, Otter Tail, and Turtle River Chain of Lakes (Fergus Falls and Bemidji area lakes in Otter Tail and Beltrami counties) ? Multiple lakes have recently undergone a review of special northern pike regulations. Proposed changes include reverting to the statewide regulations for some of these lakes, while others would switch to a different special regulation and still others would retain the current slot limit.

Anyone can provide input about these proposals via an online survey [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/FishRegs) that is available through Monday, Oct. 17. For additional details or to comment directly by email, U.S. mail or phone about individual proposals, contact the?area fisheries office [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/Areas/Fisheries). General input may also be submitted to Jon Hansen [email protected]?or 651-259-5239, or via U.S. mail to Fishing regulations/Jon Hansen,?Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

The DNR also will be hosting in-person open houses in each county where the proposed changes would apply and one in the Twin Cities metro area to cover all proposals.

For those who want to attend an in-person meeting, information can be found on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Regulations/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations-Meetings.html) or by calling an area fisheries office [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Areas/Fisheries). The meetings will take place on various dates between Sept. 1 and Oct. 5. The metro area open house will be from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the DNR?s Central Office at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.

Notification of the proposed changes to special fishing regulations have been posted at the accesses to each lake included in the proposal.

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Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

DNR webinars cover deer hunting regulations, hunters as citizen scientists?

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites Minnesotans interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss this year?s deer hunting regulations, deer population numbers and chronic wasting disease management, and how hunters can contribute data to help monitor wildlife populations.

The first webinar on deer hunting regulations is at noon Wednesday, Aug. 3. Barbara Keller, big game program leader, and Todd Froberg, big game program coordinator, will provide updates on new deer hunting regulations in 2022, deer population numbers and CWD management.

The second webinar on hunters as citizen scientists is at noon Wednesday, Aug. 10. DNR researchers are tasked with assessing the populations of many game species to inform wildlife management efforts, including efforts to set hunting seasons and regulations?but they don?t collect all of the necessary the data themselves. In this webinar, participants will learn about two science-based surveys in which hunters are integral to contributing the data needed to help monitor deer and turkey populations.

The webinars are part of the DNR?s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series, which aims to give participants quick, relevant information on upcoming seasons and events, as well as skills to enjoy these opportunities. The webinars are free, but registration is required. More information, including registration information for webinars and recordings of past webinars, is available on the?outdoor skills and stewardship page of the?DNR website [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/Discover).

*Comment on Minnesota?s draft wolf management plan through Aug. 8*

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources welcomes comments on the DNR?s draft wolf management plan through 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8. People can review the plan on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/WolfPlan). Comments can be submitted a number of ways: by completing an online survey [ [link removed] ] (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/Wolf-Plan), emailing written comments to [email protected], or sending written comments to Wolf Plan, Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

The updated wolf management plan includes summary information about Minnesota?s wolf population and a history of wolves in the state. It details the diverse and changing public attitudes about wolves, the legal status of wolves, tribal perspectives on wolves, and ways to support a healthy and resilient wolf population while minimizing conflicts between humans and wolves. The draft plan also sets out a framework for future decisions about whether to hold a wolf hunting or trapping season, should the wolf be removed from the federal threatened species list in Minnesota.

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Zebra mussels confirmed in Lake Koronis in Stearns County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in Lake Koronis, near Paynesville in Stearns County.

On July 8, a ?fishing guide snagged an adult zebra mussel on a hook and reported it to the DNR. DNR invasive species specialists searched the area and found no other zebra mussels. During a follow-up search, the DNRfound one juvenile zebra mussel near the Lake Koronis Regional Park public water access..

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:


* *Clean* watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
* *Drain* all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
* *Dispose* of unwanted bait in the trash.
* *Never release* bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
* *Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days *before moving them from one water body to another.

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:


* *Decontaminate *watercraft and equipment ? find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Decon).
* *Spray* with high-pressure water or *rinse* with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
* *Dry* watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.

Zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors, and cause expensive damage to water intake pipes.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AIS/Contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/AIS).

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