Sept. 19, 2022



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*For Immediate Release:
*

Sept. 19, 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_1491411839600 ]
* DNR extends deadline to apply for advisory committees [ #link_1491411977526 ]
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Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

Minnesota?s regular waterfowl season begins this weekend

Minnesota?s regular waterfowl season opens a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 24, with the same regulations as last year. Minnesota has three waterfowl hunting zones ? north, central and south ? that share the Sept. 24 season opener but have varying end dates. The central and south zones also have a mid-season closure Oct. 3-7.

Hunters should check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource?s waterfowl hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Waterfowl) for complete information including season dates, regulations, a waterfowl identification guide and weekly waterfowl migration reports. Waterfowl hunting regulations are also available in Hmong, Karen, Somali and Spanish on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Regulations/Hunting).

The DNR is advising waterfowl hunters to take precautions for avian influenza when handling harvested birds to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. The virus poses a low risk to humans but can be spread by contact with sick birds and by hunting equipment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service makes these recommendations for hunters [ [link removed] ] (fws.gov/avian-influenza) to protect themselves from avian influenza:


* Do not handle or eat sick game.
* Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
* Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game.
* When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant, and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that came in contact with game.
* Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals.
* All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before being consumed.

In a change, USDA allows hunter-harvested birds into U.S. from Canada

Hunter-harvested, unprocessed wild game bird meat or carcasses that originate in or go through Canada will be permitted to enter the United States, per a Sept. 12 update by the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service. The update lifts some restrictions that the USDA made effective Sept. 2.?

The USDA worked with stakeholders and other federal agencies to provide options for importing hunter-harvested wild bird meat or carcasses that address the avian influenza transmission risk to domestic poultry. Hunters now are allowed to import hunter-harvested wild bird meat or carcasses from or going through Canada, under several conditions, and hunters should carefully review those conditions on the USDA website [ [link removed] ] (aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/canada-wild-bird-game-carcasses).

Teach a kid to hunt small game during Take a Kid Hunting Weekend

Getting youth outdoors in pursuit of squirrels, rabbits and other small game is the focus of Take a Kid Hunting Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25. During the weekend, adult Minnesota residents accompanied by a youth younger than age 16 may hunt small game without a license, although they must comply with open seasons, limits and other regulations.

Hunting small game is a great way to introduce kids to hunting. Kids learn how to search for game sign, properly handle firearms and access hunting land ? all without too much time sitting still and being quiet. Anyone who wants to learn how to hunt can find helpful how-to guides on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/GoHunting) including a recorded webinar about how to get started small game hunting [ [link removed] ] (youtube.com/watch?v=Y-GP0ASgC0w). Small game hunting regulations are available at the DNR small game hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/SmallGame).

DNR webinars cover preparing for archery deer season, North Shore birding

The DNR invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss preparing for archery deer season and birding on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

The first 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 second webinar is at noon, Wednesday, Sept. 28. Lake Superior and the North Shore create a natural funnel that birds follow during their annual fall migration. Margie Menzies, education program director with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, will discuss fall bird migration near Lake Superior and the observatory?s fall bird count.

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).

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DNR extends deadline to apply for advisory committees

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is recruiting new members to serve on key advisory groups related to the Game and Fish Fund, and wildlife and fisheries management, and has extended the application deadline to Friday, Sept. 30. Interested people can learn how to apply on the Engage with DNR website [ [link removed] ] (engage.dnr.state.mn.us/advisory-group-appointment-opportunities).

In addition to the specific knowledge and experience required for each committee, the DNR seeks inclusive and well-rounded advisory committees, encompassing differences including but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, life experience, ideas, knowledge and learning styles.

*Game and Fish Fund*

Each year, the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight Committee review how the DNR spent funds from the Game and Fish Fund during the previous fiscal year. The Budgetary Oversight Committee, an umbrella committee composed of select members from the FOC and WOC, combines those reviews to produce an annual report and spending recommendations.

Appointees to these oversight committees have a range of experience, knowledge, and interests related to hunting, fishing and trapping. Applicants must have a strong interest in reviewing the proper expenditure of funds received from licenses, permits, stamps and related revenue sources, and participating in writing an annual report.

New member appointments with two-year terms will begin January 2023 and extend through December 2024. Any Minnesota resident with interest or expertise in citizen oversight of the Game and Fish Fund may apply online until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 30. Interested applicants can learn more by visiting the committee page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/GameFishOversight).

Minnesota?s Game and Fish Fund is the DNR?s source of funding for delivering fisheries and wildlife management as well as natural resource law enforcement [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/LicenseDollarsAtWork). Nearly $100 million flows in and out of this fund each year. The revenue is primarily the product of hunting and fishing license sales, federal reimbursements and a sales tax on state lottery tickets. The DNR?s use of money from the Game and Fish Fund is subject to legislative approval.

*Wildlife and fisheries committees*

Seats are currently available on several committees that advise the DNR about important fisheries and wildlife topics.

The application period continues until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30*, *for the Deer Advisory Committee, the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee, the Minnesota R3 Council (R3 stands for recruiting, retaining and reactivating hunters and anglers), and the state?s five fisheries work groups (bass, catfish, northern pike and muskellunge, panfish, and walleye).

Members will serve two- to three-year terms and must commit to attending at least three of the four videoconference meetings their committee has annually. Detailed committee and application information for each group is available on the DNR website:


* Deer Advisory Committee [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Deer-Advisory-Committee.html)
* MLFAC [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/Millelacslake/MLFAC.html)
* R3 Council [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/R3/Council)
* Fisheries work groups [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/FishGroups).

*Natural Heritage Advisory Committee*

The DNR is also recruiting new members to serve on the Natural Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises the DNR on issues related to sustaining the state?s natural heritage, biological diversity, and ecosystem services. Those interested can apply online until 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.

NHAC members make recommendations to help protect high quality prairies, forests, wetlands and other native habitats and the diversity of plants and animals they support.

NHAC applicants should have knowledge, demonstrated dedication or experience related to natural resource management, conservation, biological or ecological education/outreach, or other aspects of Minnesota?s natural heritage.

New member appointments with three-year terms will begin in January 2023 and extend through December 2025. Interested applicants can learn more by visiting the committee page of the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/NHAC).

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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

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