Sept. 12, 2022



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*DNR News Release
*




*For Immediate Release: *

Sept. 12, 2022




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





In This Issue

* Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1 ]
* DNR seeks input on walleye, lake trout regulations in Itasca County [ #link_3 ]
* DNR seeks input on Big Sandy Lake walleye regulations [ #link_2 ]
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Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

DNR encourages deer hunters to make a plan for archery season?

Minnesota?s archery deer season opens on Saturday, Sept. 17, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to make a plan for their season by considering safety, hunting regulations, chronic wasting disease and steps they need to take to process their deer. Hunters can use the DNR?s make a plan for deer season webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/DeerHunt) to find comprehensive hunting and?chronic wasting disease information?they should review before going afield.

Anyone can register for an outdoor skills webinar on preparing for archery hunting at noon Wednesday, Sept. 21, on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Discover).

*Grouse season opens Saturday, Sept. 17*

Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse hunting season begins Saturday, Sept. 17, and lasts through Jan. 1, 2023. Woodcock season is from Saturday, Sept. 24, through Monday, Nov. 7. Hunters can find a variety of grouse and woodcock hunting information, including where and when to hunt, regulations, and safety and educational resources for those who want to learn to hunt these forest birds, at the Minnesota DNR?s grouse hunting webpage [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Grouse).

Additionally, hunters seeking sharp-tailed grouse need to know the hunting season in the east-central zone remains closed. The hunting season in the northwest sharp-tailed grouse zone will open Saturday, Sept. 17, and last through Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Anyone can register for an outdoor skills webinar on ruffed grouse hunting basics at noon Wednesday, Sept. 14, on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Discover).

DNR webinars cover the basics of grouse hunting and preparing for archery deer season

The DNR invites Minnesotans interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss the basics of hunting ruffed grouse and preparing for archery deer season.

The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Sept. 14. Charlie Tucker, DNR area wildlife manager, and Kraig Kiger, shooting sports program coordinator, will discuss the basics of hunting ruffed grouse, including equipment, where and when to hunt, and hunting methods.

The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Sept. 21. Dana Keller, an archery coach at A-1 Archery in Hudson and a Level 3 USA Archery coach and bowhunter, will discuss how to prepare for the upcoming archery deer season and ways to have a more successful hunting season this year.

The webinars are part of the DNR?s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. The webinars are free but registration is required. More information is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Discover).

Share your thoughts on special fishing regulations

Minnesotans can weigh in on proposed special fishing regulations that, if adopted, would become effective next year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2023 fishing season that address walleye in Big Sandy Lake (Aitkin County) and Island and Round lakes (Itasca County); panfish in Dyers Lake (Cook County) and Sand Lake (Lake County); brown trout in the Vermillion River (Dakota County); lake trout in Caribou Lake (Itasca County); and 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).

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?appropriate 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, c/o Jon Hansen,?Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.

The DNR also will be hosting in-person open houses on various dates between Sept. 1 and Oct. 5 in each county where the proposed changes would apply and one in the Twin Cities metro area to cover all proposals. For meeting information, visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Regulations/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations-Meetings.html). Notice of the new regulation proposals are posted at public accesses.

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DNR seeks input on walleye, lake trout regulations in Itasca County

Open house is Oct. 4 in Bigfork

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on special walleye fishing regulations for Island and Round lakes, and lake trout regulations for Caribou Lake in northern Itasca County.

A new lake trout regulation of a 20-inch minimum length and a one fish limit is being considered for Caribou Lake to protect spawning-aged fish and allow them to spawn at least once before being susceptible to harvest. Caribou Lake produces a self-sustaining population of lake trout. DNR has used fish stocking in an attempt to increase trout numbers on Caribou Lake, but stocked fish have not survived, and the population appears dependent on natural reproduction.?

The current 17- to 26-inch protected slot limit walleye regulations are being reviewed on Island Lake (near Northome) and Round Lake (near Squaw Lake) in the Grand Rapids area. Survey data suggest that the fisheries could support additional harvest, so fisheries managers are recommending relaxing the existing regulation to a 20- to 24-inch protected slot limit. As an alternative, the protective slot limit could be dropped in favor of the statewide limit (six fish with one over 20 inches).?

?The protected slot limits have helped maintain good walleye fisheries in these lakes, but we see some opportunity to offer more harvest and would like to hear from anglers about their experiences on these waters and which regulation option they prefer,? said Dave Weitzel, Grand Rapids area fisheries supervisor.??

For those who want to provide input in person, an open house will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Bigfork City Hall, 200 Main St., in Bigfork. Written comments can be sent by U.S. mail to DNR Grand Rapids Area Fisheries, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, or emailed to [email protected].

Anyone can provide input about this and other area proposals currently open for review via an?online survey [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/FishRegs) that is available through Monday, Oct. 17. General input may also be submitted to Jon Hansen [email protected]?or 651-259-5239, or via U.S. mail to Fishing Regulations, c/o Jon Hansen,?Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.

A Twin Cities metro area open house to receive input on all proposals will be held 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. If enacted, the proposed regulations would take effect for the 2023 fishing season.

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DNR seeks input on Big Sandy Lake walleye regulations

Open house is Oct. 5 in Aitkin area

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on special walleye fishing regulations for Big Sandy Lake and connected waters in Aitkin County.

The current regulation, in place since 2011, was implemented to improve catch rates of larger fish and to improve reproduction. The regulation is now due for review before a decision is made to extend, change or allow it to expire.

?The Big Sandy Lake walleye population is entirely sustained by natural reproduction, so regulations that focus on reproductive conditions are a critical component of fish management in this system,? said Rick Bruesewitz, Aitkin area fisheries supervisor. ?Since the current regulation was implemented, the abundance of 14- to 18-inch walleye has increased substantially and reproduction has improved and stabilized. As part of the review process, it?s important for us to hear from anglers about their experience on the water.?

For those who want to provide input in-person, an open house will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Aitkin Area DNR Office, 1200 Minnesota Ave. S., Aitkin, MN 56431. Comment can be sent by U.S. mail to the same address or emailed to [email protected].

Anyone can provide input about this and other area proposals currently open for review via an?online survey [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/FishRegs) that is available through Monday, Oct. 17. General input may also be submitted to Jon Hansen [email protected]?or 651-259-5239, or via U.S. mail to Fishing Regulations, c/o Jon Hansen,?Box 20, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.

A Twin Cities metro area open house to receive input on all proposals will be held 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. If enacted, the proposed regulations would take effect for the 2023 fishing season.

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