News releases March 13, 2023



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*Minnesota DNR News
*




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*

March 13, 2023




*For more information:*
Contact the DNR Information Center
by?email <[email protected]>?or call 888-646-6367.





In This Issue

* DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac [ #link_1491411839600 ]
* DNR certifies state record tie for northern pike [ #link_1491411977526 ]
* Landowner enrollment to begin for Walk-In Access Program [ #link_1491412003165 ]
* DNR seeks public input on Red Lake WMA master plan update [ #link_1491412051810 ]
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DNR Fish and Wildlife Almanac

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

DNR webinars cover bison conservation, loons

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that feature discussions about bison conservation and loons.

The first webinar is at noon Wednesday, March 15. Richard Milda, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community?s bison herd coordinator, and Molly Tranel Nelson, DNR Parks and Trails bison expert, will share general information about bison biology. They will also discuss the history and future of bison in Minnesota, the Bison Conservation Herd Program, where the public can view bison in Minnesota, and how to help support bison management and stewardship.

The second webinar is at noon Wednesday, March 22. Kevin Kenow, loon researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey, will discuss where loons breed, where they spend the winter, what they eat, what threats they face and information on Minnesota?s loon population.

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 certifies state record tie for northern pike

An angler caught and released a 46 1/4 inch northern pike on Mille Lacs Lake that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources certified as a tie with the current catch-and-release state record.

Brad Lila caught and released the fish Jan. 22.

?I set the hook as the line was quickly peeling out,? Lila said. ?Immediately, I knew it was a very large fish because it peeled out drag and there was no stopping it. After about 10 minutes of fighting the fish, I knew that it might take more than me to land it.?

Lila hollered and waved for help and two nearby anglers came to his aid. Lila tried to get the fish to turn its head to come up the hole, but the fish was large and slush under the ice complicated the endeavor.

?Every time she would get near, a few inches of slush would come up and we couldn?t see down the hole,? Lila said. ?An additional challenge was that my braided line would groove the bottom of the ice and when my knot connecting the fluorocarbon leader would meet the ice bottom, it would get stuck. I?d have to put my rod down into the hole to free up my line and then my line guides would freeze.?

After about 30 minutes, Lila was able to get the fish through the ice and get quick measurements before releasing it back into the water. The fish was most likely a female that was carrying eggs before spawning.

?It was so satisfying seeing her swim away,? Lila said. ?I am so very appreciative of the state of Minnesota for supporting a catch and release [record fish] program. It?s great to know that she?s out there passing along those incredible genes and that someone else may have a chance of landing her someday.???

The DNR announces new state records in news releases, on social media and on the DNR website. Find current records and guidelines for each type of state record on the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/recordfish).

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Landowner enrollment to begin for Walk-In Access Program

Enrollment opens Wednesday, March 15, for Minnesota?s 2023 Walk-In Access program, which pays landowners to allow public hunting on private lands.

Since 2011, the Walk-In Access program has enrolled parcels of 40 acres or larger with high-quality natural cover. Land enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program or Reinvest In Minnesota is preferred, but enrollment in such programs is not a requirement. This year, landowners can receive $18 per acre enrolled. For more information about what land is eligible for this program, visit the DNR website [ [link removed] ] (dnr.state.mn.us/walkin/enroll.html).

A $3 fee paid when purchasing a hunting license allows a hunter to access enrolled parcels, which are marked with highly visible signs posted by DNR staff. Walk-In Access is often seen as a win-win for hunters and landowners, Walk-In Access Program Coordinator Amber Knutson said.

?For just $3, hunters have nearly 30,000 acres of privately-owned land available to them,? Knutson said. ?Hunters can have confidence that they?re welcome on that parcel, and that can be a big time-saver in the field.?

Participating hunters can access Walk-In Access parcels Sept. 1 through May 31. Hunting laws are enforced by DNR Conservation Officers. Landowners aren?t required to purchase additional liability insurance since enrolled lands are covered by recreational use laws under Minnesota state statute.

This program is primarily funded through a Voluntary Public Access grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additional funding sources come through a surcharge on all nonresident hunting licenses, Walk-In Access validations, and donations.

Landowners can sign up for the program at their local Soil and Water Conservation District office or by contacting Knutson at 507-537-6464. More information is available at the DNR?s Walk-In Access page [ [link removed] ] (mndnr.gov/walkin).

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DNR seeks public input on Red Lake WMA master plan update

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area to participate in a webinar and help inform the DNR?s updates to the WMA?s master plan.

The webinar will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 23. DNR staff will present a brief overview of the WMA and the planning process, answer questions and take feedback during the session. Registration is not required. A link to join the webinar is available on the DNR?s Red Lake WMA page [ [link removed] ]?(mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife/red_lake_wma.html).

The updated plan will guide management of the popular hunting and wildlife-watching destination in northwestern Minnesota.

?Public input is important as we update this plan,? said Charlie Tucker, Red Lake WMA supervisor. ?The last plan was completed in 1980, and we want this update to reflect current science and values about how the land should be managed into the future.?

Input from the upcoming webinar will help the DNR develop a draft management plan for Red Lake WMA. The draft plan will be available for public review and input later in the spring, including opportunities to comment on the draft plan in person and online. The DNR will finalize the plan by June 30.

Red Lake WMA?s 325,000 acres provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species. The updated master plan will be used to guide management of the Red Lake WMA?s forests, wetlands, peatlands and brushlands. It will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the WMA for the next 10 years.

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