September 19, 2003

Under state law, adults who take youngsters under the age of 16 small game hunting anywhere in the state of Minnesota are not required to purchase a hunting license during the special Take-A-Kid Hunting Weekend.

Editor St. Paul DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam found himself embroiled in a bass tournament brouhaha early this week when it became public that he gave a catch-and-kill bass event the option of releasing its fish. Boat manufacturer and Wal-Mart FLW Tournament sponsor Irwin Jacobs called Merriam in July to protest a point in the permit

Editor St. Paul Round 2 of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program could look quite different from the successful Minnesota River Valley version. As of early this week, the question of whether a new Minnesota CREP would retain “perpetual easements” remained unanswered. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s office currently is reviewing and preparing its CREP proposal for

Seven lots located within the city of Blackduck will be sold by sealed bid auction. This property may be sold at less than appraised value. Bids must be submitted on a form obtained from the DNR. All bids must be received by the DNR on Oct. 10 before 4:30 p.m. Central time. The bid opening

Mallards are king here in the Midwest. In fact, it is pretty much mallards and then those “other” ducks, with the other ducks all lumped together as if they had no identity. Those other ducks, like teal and wigeon, gadwall, and ringnecks, woodies, and bluebills, along with the odd pintail, canvasback, or redhead, actually provide

Johnson and the MDHA are asking Minnesotans to refrain from deer feeding because of concerns about chronic wasting disease. Feeding can play a role in the transfer of diseases, including CWD and tuberculosis, from one deer to the next. No wild deer in Minnesota have tested positive for CWD. The MDHA has a CWD brochure

Associate Editor St. Paul Each fall, conservation officers get calls from hunters with questions regarding hunting regulations. This year, some COs report, changes in deer hunting regulations have increased the annual barrage. “This year, the (deer hunting) regulations were supposed to be simplified, but they’re not,” said Stuart Bensen, a CO from the Erskine area

The trails traverse forests managed to provide timber and as wildlife habitat. Interpretative signs will explain how forest management practices benefit various wildlife species. The trails will be gated and mowed. Boise is a corporate partner of RGS and recently made a financial donation to the organization. Boise employee-volunteers contribute their efforts to RGS conservation

GRAND RAPIDS AREA The north end of Bowstring Lake is producing crappies in less than 10 feet of water. The north end humps of Bowstring also are worth noting for walleyes. Look to Spider Lake for crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water. Lake Pokegama and Trout Lake have produced a few walleyes, as