In This Issue
Events fall during Take a Kid Hunting Weekend
Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 24 as Hunting and Fishing Day in Minnesota. Saturday also is National Public Lands Day, and the first day of Take a Kid Hunting weekend, offering the state a triple opportunity to highlight the hunting, fishing, and other recreational, environmental, and economic benefits of Minnesota?s public lands and waters.
?Minnesota has a rich tradition of hunting and angling, and a bright future promoting these traditions to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts,? reads the proclamation issued by Governor Walz. ?Hunters have played a critical role in preserving our state?s public lands ? from wildlife restoration and wetland preservation, to forest management and environmental protection.?
Last year, Minnesota?s 2,075,692 licensed hunters and anglers generated almost $104 million to support the conservation efforts of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which manages the state?s 5.6 million acres of public land.
?Hunting and fishing are about more than harvesting fish and game ? they?re about having a deep and meaningful connection with the land,? DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said. ?Hunters and anglers are critical to the DNR?s conservation efforts and to ensuring our public lands remain beautiful, bountiful spaces for future generations. For this reason, we?re proud Minnesota can celebrate hunting, fishing, and public lands on the same day.?
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established in 1972 by President Richard Nixon to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Take a Kid Hunting Weekend was established in 1990 by the Minnesota Legislature to encourage adults to share Minnesota?s hunting heritage with youth. National Public Lands Day was created in 1994 to promote stewardship of public lands and is the largest single-day volunteer effort to restore and enhance public lands. Together, these three special days highlight the connection between Minnesotans, the state?s vibrant outdoor recreation industry, and the preservation of public lands.
In addition to being excellent places to hunt and fish, Minnesota?s public lands provide clean water and air;?carbon storage; habitat for pollinators?and wildlife; protection of rare plants, animals, cultural and geologic features; and affordable access to many forms of outdoor recreation. These lands also play a key role in the state?s economy, generating millions of dollars each year for Minnesota?s Public School and University Trust Funds as well as for the tourism, outdoor recreation and forest products industries.
Minnesotans care deeply about their public lands and waterways: 94% of adults recognize the economic importance of their local government investing in parks, trails, roads and schools; and more than 75% say these are extremely or very important investments.
Those who want to spend Hunting and Fishing Day on some of Minnesota?s public lands can choose from 75 state parks and recreation areas (mndnr.gov/StateParks), 60 state forests (mndnr.gov/StateForests), 1,500 wildlife management areas (mndnr.gov/WMAs), and 700 aquatic management areas (mndnr.gov/AMAs).
The DNR also has 168 scientific and natural areas (mndnr.gov/SNAs) and will host a National Public Lands Day seed collection event at the Lost Prairie Scientific and Natural Area on Saturday, Sept. 24. For more information, email [email protected]. To search for other National Public Lands Day volunteer events in Minnesota, go to the National Environmental Education Foundation website (neefusa.org/npld-event-search).
Take a Kid Hunting Weekend runs Sept. 24-25. On these two days, adult Minnesota residents accompanied by a youth younger than 16 can hunt small game without a license but must comply with open seasons, limits and other regulations found in the Minnesota hunting regulations (mndnr.gov/Regulations).
For more information about hunting in Minnesota, go to the hunting and trapping page of the DNR?s website (mndnr.gov/Hunting). For information about fishing, see the DNR?s fishing page (mndnr.gov/Fishing), and for information about how the DNR manages Minnesota?s public lands, go to the DNR?s state-managed public lands page (mndnr.gov/PublicLands).
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in the Canisteo Mine Pit, one of a series of legacy mine pits adjacent to the cities of Bovey and Taconite in Itasca County. The DNR and other cooperating entities are working together to address the zebra mussel infestation and contingency pumping to manage the water levels at the Canisteo.
An angler reported finding numerous zebra mussels on a submerged tree branch while fishing in the mine pit. On September 12, DNR invasive species specialists confirmed the presence of adult zebra mussels in a search of the 1,458-acre pit.
In addition to ecological impacts that zebra mussels have on a waterbody, zebra mussels can also adversely affect recreation and cause expensive damage to equipment such as boat motors and water pumping systems. Of particular relevance to the Canisteo Mine Pit, when pumping and discharging water from a zebra mussel-infested waterbody, the water must first be filtered to eliminate zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, to prevent the spread of invasive species downstream.
Since 2018, the DNR has been working with state agencies, local governments and private entities to address high water levels in the Canisteo Mine Pit complex. In August, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved $710,000 for contingency pumping to manage water levels until a permanent outlet solution is in place. The DNR is working to implement a filtration system to prevent the release of zebra mussels during this contingency pumping. The DNR will continue to work closely with state and local partners to ensure water levels do not adversely affect surrounding communities while also complying with invasive species prevention requirements.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
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Clean?watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
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Drain?all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
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Dispose?of unwanted bait in the trash.
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Never release?bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
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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 on watercraft and equipment:
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Decontaminate?at free decontamination stations across the state. Go to the?courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website?(mndnr.gov/Decon) for more information.
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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).
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Dry for at least five days before using in another water body.
In addition to damaging water intake pipes, zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers and reduce the performance of boat motors.
People should?contact a DNR aquatic invasive species specialist?(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 (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AIS).?
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