Minnesota Wildlife

Reminder about deer carcass movement restrictions?

Deer hunters, as you enjoy deer seasons and make plans for hunting, here?s a reminder about deer carcass movement restrictions.

Carcass movement restrictions are in place for 14 deer permit areas located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area. DPAs 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 655, 661 and 679 together form the chronic wasting disease management zone. Hunters are not allowed to bring whole deer carcasses outside the management zone until a ?not detected? test result is received. DPAs 255, 343 and 344 form a control zone and whole deer carcasses cannot be moved out of a control zone or the adjacent management zone until a ?not-detected? test result is received. Hunters are allowed to move whole deer carcasses in between contiguous management zone DPAs or from a control zone DPA into the management zone.

If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling or want to transport it outside these zones before getting a test result, they must debone or quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zones. The DNR provides dumpsters for hunters to use to help facilitate carcass disposal.

These restrictions are part of a comprehensive strategy to keep Minnesota?s deer, elk and moose healthy by limiting the spread of disease. Find details for the DPA you hunt in by visiting the DNR chronic wasting disease webpage and using the ?find your requirements for your DPA? tool.

The map shows boundaries of carcass movement restrictions in red, around DPAs that are in a CWD management or control zone.

Find CWD sampling information

Chronic wasting disease 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. And even outside these distinct areas, Minnesota hunters can get their deer sampled for CWD.

As you make your deer hunting plans, check the CWD requirements and sampling options for your deer permit area by visiting the DPA lookup tool, available on the DNR chronic wasting disease webpage along with other information and resources.?

Deer hunters: Please share your wildlife observations online

With archery deer season underway and hunters scouting for the upcoming firearms deer season, now is a great time for hunters to use the DNR?s online log for deer and wildlife sightings. The DNR uses the results to compare what hunters report to population estimates that are a baseline for managing wildlife.

Hunters can enter information on the DNR website 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.

Photo courtesy of?Tom Dougherty ? ??

DNR webinars cover pheasant research, CWD impacts?

We?ve got webinars coming up on pheasant research and chronic wasting disease and its impact on deer hunting. Registration is free for these webinars.

The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 12. Tim Lyons, DNR upland game research scientist, will share results from recent research on pheasant biology, management practices and bird behavior. Learn what the findings mean for pheasant populations and pheasant hunting in Minnesota.

The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 19. Logan Neu, with the DNR wildlife health program, will highlight changes to Minnesota deer hunting permit areas and new hunting opportunities, CWD testing requirements and options, and other important information related to deer hunting in areas with confirmed or suspected cases of CWD.

Winners chosen for pheasant and turkey stamp contests

The DNR has chosen winners for the Minnesota turkey and pheasant stamp contests.

Rushford artist Michael Sieve won the Minnesota pheasant stamp contest with an oil painting of pheasants in flight. The winner was selected on Sept. 29 from 13 eligible submissions. Second place was Mark Thone of Shakopee; third place was Scott Storm of Freeport.

St. Charles artist Micah Hanson won the Minnesota turkey stamp contest with an acrylic painting of wild turkeys in the woods. The winner was selected on Sept. 29 from five eligible submissions. Second place was Sam Larsen of Bemidji; third place was Stephen Hamrick of Lakeville.

The pheasant stamp and turkey stamp can be purchased in combination with hunting licenses or as collectables. Visit the DNR stamp webpage for more information about habitat stamps and contest guidelines.