Minnesota Wildlife

Feb. 15, 2023

Stay informed! Here?s a summary of upcoming wildlife and habitat management activities and ways you can discover, explore and experience Minnesota?s outdoors.

2023 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, outlines of pheasants and quails in grass

Join us at Pheasant Fest Feb. 17-19

The DNR will be at Pheasant Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center this weekend, Friday, Feb. 17, to Sunday, Feb. 19. If you?re attending, we encourage you to stop by our booth, #1235 at the center of Rooster Row. Chat with DNR leadership, DNR staff, ask questions and learn about DNR initiatives surrounding grassland conservation and upland hunting. You?ll even be able to check out some of our cutting-edge fire equipment!

Additionally, at the Public Lands Pavilion at 2 p.m. Saturday, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen will join a panel moderated by Outdoor News? Rob Drieslein to discuss Minnesota?s Legacy Amendment, its successes, and threats to its future.

In 2008, Minnesota voters overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. Since that time, more than 27,000 projects have been funded across the state, leading to better habitat and public access.

Join us at Pheasant Fest to get excited about upland hunting and learn from conservation and hunting experts from across the nation. We hope to see you there.

Whitewater WMA photo taken from a bluff looking down at the road that goes through the valley

Whitewater WMA plan finalized

The DNR has finalized an updated management plan for the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area. The plan will guide management of the popular hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching destination in southeastern Minnesota.

The new plan, finalized after a public input process, reflects current public values and attitudes about how the land should be managed into the future. You can find the final plan on the Whitewater WMA page.

harvested turkey with photo up close on its spur and talons

Apply through Feb. 17 for turkey permits in Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs

Turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 17, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A-C spring hunting seasons in Mille Lacs and Carlos Avery WMAs and the A-B seasons in Whitewater WMA.

In addition to a turkey license, a permit is required for hunters 18 and older hoping to bag a tom turkey with a firearm in one of these WMAs during early seasons. Turkey firearm permits for these WMAs are distributed via a lottery system. In a change this year, there is no permit required to hunt Whitewater WMA during the C season. Turkey hunting season dates and other details for 2023 are available on the?DNR turkey hunting page.

photo of a flock of light geese on grass

Light goose harvest opportunity begins Feb. 18

Hunters can help reduce the population of light geese through a federally authorized spring conservation harvest running from Feb. 18 through April 30. Light geese are snow geese, blue-phased snow geese and the smaller Ross?s goose. Permits are on sale, and harvest regulations can be found on the DNR website. The conservation action aims to reduce damage from these geese to fragile ecosystems in Arctic coastal areas and around Hudson Bay.?

Get hunting information

Find hunting and trapping regulations, harvest registration, how to contact a conservation officer and information about pursuing a variety of species at the DNR hunting webpage. New to hunting? Check out the DNR learn to hunt guides.

Have Minnesota wildlife or deer hunting photos to share? Upload your photos so we can share them in DNR email updates, social media and our website.

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