Sept. 26, 2022



header


*Minnesota DNR News
*




*For Immediate Release:
*

Sept. 26, 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 invites deer hunters to share wildlife observations [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* CWD sampling occurring in deer permit areas 213, 273 [ #link_2 ]
* As part of larger effort, CWD sampling occurring in deer permit areas 661, 256, 257, 262, 265 [ #link_1 ]
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Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

Hunter walking trails provide access to public hunting in northern Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources maintains hunter walking trails as easy ways to travel by foot through wildlife management areas, state and federal forests, and other public hunting lands. Hunter walking trails wind through prime habitat for ruffed grouse, woodcock, wild turkey and deer. There are more than 600 miles of hunter walking trails meandering throughout the northern half of the state. Many of the trails are gated, allowing foot traffic only.

The DNR offers a hunter walking trail tool [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/HWT) that provides information on trail locations by name and county. Hunters can also call area wildlife offices [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Areas/Wildlife) for information about the trails or hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities and tips.

*Ways people with disabilities can search for hunting opportunities *

Hunters with disabilities can learn more about hunting opportunities by visiting the DNR website ? information about accessible hunting, fishing, camping and more is available on the Accessible Outdoors page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Accessible_Outdoors).

Public land open to public hunting includes wildlife management areas [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/WMAs). A subset of WMAs have an online accessibility sheet that provides greater detail on the services and facilities for people with disabilities, including photos and maps. Interested hunters can also call the area wildlife manager [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Areas/Wildlife) for an update on current conditions at WMAs.? ??

*Fall turkey hunting opens soon*

The Minnesota fall turkey hunting season offers hunters a challenge and another way to experience the outdoors in October. Fall turkey season is open from Saturday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 30.

Hunters are allowed to take one turkey of either sex during the fall season. Fall turkey hunters may use a crossbow, firearm or archery equipment afield; however, hunters who also are hunting deer with legal bows and arrows may only use a legal bow and arrows, not a crossbow.

Fall turkey licenses are available for purchase online, by telephone by calling 888-665-4236 or in person anywhere DNR licenses are sold. More information about fall turkey hunting is available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Turkey).

*Statewide youth deer season returns Oct. 20-23*

Minnesota?s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don?t have school during the youth season.

To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license. Participant numbers are not limited and?there is no special permit,?so parents should purchase or obtain a regular deer hunting license for the youth who will be hunting.

An adult parent, guardian, or mentor must accompany youth ages 10-13. All hunters and mentors, regardless of whether they are participating in youth deer season, must follow blaze orange/pink clothing requirements. Adults may not hunt, unless they are in an area open during the early antlerless season and have the corresponding license. Complete youth season details are available on the DNR youth deer hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer/Youth.html).

*Early antlerless-only deer season is Oct. 20-23*

Hunters can participate in an early antlerless-only deer season from Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The season increases opportunities for hunters in areas where deer populations are above population goals or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease. Permit areas open during the hunt are 209, 213, 214, 215, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 229, 236, 240, 277, 341, 342, 343, 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 661 and 701.

The DNR offers this opportunity to hunters in an effort to manage local deer herds. In changes this year, the bag limit has been reduced from five to three antlerless deer and hunters are no longer required to obtain an early antlerless permit to participate in the early antlerless season.

To participate, hunters must hunt in one of the 28 open deer permit areas and use a deer license that matches the weapon used during the season (for example, using a firearm for a firearms season license or archery equipment for an archery license). Hunters have the option of using their regular season parent license or can use early antlerless permits, bonus permits, or disease management permits (only in 600 series permit areas) to fill the limit. Deer hunting regulations are available in the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Regulations/Hunting).

DNR webinars cover North Shore birding, the secretive fisher

The DNR invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that will discuss birding on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and fishers.

The first 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 second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 5. Learn about fishers, secretive members of the weasel family found in Minnesota forests. John Erb, wildlife research biologist, and Blane Klemek, wildlife manager, will cover fisher life history, management and harvest opportunities.

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 invites deer hunters to share wildlife observations

"Participation helps broaden understanding of deer and
other Minnesota animals? "

With archery deer season underway and scouting for the upcoming firearms deer season starting in earnest, now is an ideal time for hunters to start using the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources online log for deer and other wildlife sightings.

?We?re asking deer hunters to share their observations of wildlife to help broaden our knowledge about deer and other wildlife species,? said Eric Michel, DNR ungulate research scientist. ?This is the questionnaire?s third year using a community science approach, and we?re hoping to build on the helpful results from the last two years.?

The DNR uses the results to compare what hunters report to the population estimates that are an important tool for managing wildlife.

Using a mobile device or desktop computer, hunters can enter information on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Deer-Hunter-Field-Log.html) about wildlife they see while hunting including deer, turkey, bear, fisher and other species. Hunters also will be able to report specific information about any deer they harvest, including antler size.

Hunters are encouraged to fill out a report after each hunt even if they don?t see any deer that day. Filling out a report even if no deer are observed is important as it allows for an accurate estimate of the number of deer observed per hour of field observations, which provides a useful comparison to deer density modeling results.

The questionnaire will remain open through the end of the year.

The DNR first developed a version of this survey following a 2016 report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor requesting more checks of the model used to estimate deer populations for each deer permit area. The observation surveys are a way to compare hunter-provided data with DNR population estimates.

?We?re confident in the model we use to estimate trends in deer populations,? Michel said. ?By participating in this questionnaire, hunters provide another way to check our estimates of deer populations, in addition to observations from DNR wildlife managers.?

The DNR works with the public to establish deer population goals [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Population.html) for areas throughout the state. Each year, wildlife managers use deer population estimates generated by the statistical models to figure out what level of deer harvest will move a local deer population closer to goal. The DNR then sets hunting regulations using past hunter participation and success rates, with the aim of harvest moving the population toward goal.

The DNR will report results from hunters? observations in an annual research summary online. Results from 2021 and previous hunter observation survey results are available on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Mammals/Deer/Management/Statistics.html#Observe).

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CWD sampling occurring in deer permit areas 213, 273

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting voluntary chronic wasting disease sampling on deer one year of age or older harvested in the CWD surveillance zone that includes deer permit areas 213 and 273.?Sampling will occur throughout the deer hunting seasons or until the sampling goal is reached.

CWD sampling is occurring in eight distinct areas throughout the state where CWD has been found in captive or wild deer in Minnesota or an adjacent state.?

Deer hunters are encouraged to get their deer tested using one of the hunter self-service sampling stations at select locations within the surveillance zone or by visiting one of the local partnering taxidermists or meat processors. Early detection is key to preventing further spread of this disease.

Hunters should check the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/DeerHunt) for the most current list of sampling locations. If local self-service sampling stations are unavailable, hunters can make an appointment to have their deer tested by calling the DNR Glenwood Area Wildlife Office (320-634-7342) or the DNR Fergus Falls Area Wildlife Office (218-671-7931).

A limited number of free, mail-in kits are available for hunters to collect and mail in a lymph node sample on their own. Learn more on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD/CWD-Testing.html).

*Feeding ban restrictions*

Deer feeding and/or attractant bans are in place for Douglas, Pope and Todd counties. For a full list of counties affected, visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD/Feedban.html).

*More information*

In addition to checking ?DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/DeerHunt) for the regulations specific to their DPA and the most current list of sampling locations, hunters should also refer to the 2022 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, available on the DNR hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting) and wherever licenses are sold.

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As part of larger effort, CWD sampling occurring in deer permit areas 661, 256, 257, 262, 265

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting CWD sampling on deer one year of age or older harvested in the CWD management zone (deer permit area 661) where sampling is mandatory the opening weekend of firearms season A, Nov. 5-6, and in DPAs in the CWD surveillance zone (DPAs 256, 257, 262 and 265) where sampling is voluntary.

CWD sampling is occurring in eight distinct areas throughout the state where CWD has been found in captive or wild deer in Minnesota or an adjacent state.

Hunters should check the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/DeerHunt) for the regulations specific to their DPA and the most current list of sampling locations.

Hunters are strongly encouraged to have their harvested deer tested using one of the hunter self-service sampling stations or visit one of the local partnering taxidermists or meat processors. Early detection is key to preventing further spread of this disease.

If local self-service sampling stations are unavailable, hunters can make an appointment to have their deer tested by calling the Thief River Falls area wildlife office (218-219-8587).

A limited number of free, mail-in kits are available for hunters to collect and mail in a lymph node sample on their own. Learn more on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD/CWD-Testing.html).

*Feeding and attractant ban restrictions*

Deer feeding and attractant bans are in place for Clearwater, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties. Deer feeding is prohibited in Beltrami, Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties. For a full list of counties affected, visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD/Feedban.html).

*Carcass movement restrictions apply in DPA 661 *

In areas where CWD has been detected in wild deer, regulations require whole carcasses of deer, including fawns, to stay within specified zones until they receive a ?not detected? CWD test result. However, quartered deer containing the main leg bone or de-boned meat can leave the zone immediately.

Dumpsters and/or tripods will be available at sampling sites in Climax, Crookston and Oslo (Sept. 17-Jan. 6), and at Cabela?s in East Grand Forks (Oct. 20-Jan. 6) for hunters who need to quarter their deer to comply with the carcass movement restriction. For more on carcass movement restrictions, visit the DNR?s deer import and movement page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/DeerImports).

High-risk carcass parts cannot be transported into North Dakota from outside the state. More information is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish website [ [link removed] ] (gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd).

*More information*

More information on CWD, sampling sites, other opportunities for CWD testing and interactive DPA maps is available at chronic wasting disease page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/CWD). Hunters should also refer to the 2022 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, available at the DNR hunting page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/Hunting) and wherever licenses are sold.

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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

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