Minnesota Mixed Bag: Arrowhead Ice-Fishing Show begins Friday in Duluth

Duluth, Minn. — The Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show kicks off Friday and continues through Sunday at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

Are you in the market for the latest in ice-fishing gear? Visit with exhibitors and find some hot deals for the upcoming ice season. Be sure, too, to take in an “ice-box” seminar or two, featuring ice-fishing experts such as Grant Sorensen, Justin Wiese, and others. For the whole family, there’s the “sea lion splash,” the frozen basin, and other attractions.

Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. Admission is $10 for those age 18 and older, $6 for those ages 6 to 17, and free for kids age 5 and under. Visit arrowheadiceshow.com for more information.

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

Commentary: North Dakota study shows effects of winter without wolves on whitetails

Will new aquaculture plan fix minnow shortage issues in Minnesota? Public asked to comment

‘Hundreds’ of geese found dead or dying on Fairmont chain of lakes in southern Minnesota

FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED SEATS TO BE OFFERED FOR 2025 DNR ROUNDTABLE

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR’s Roundtable – an annual gathering of conservation partners to discuss fisheries, wildlife, and ecological and water resource topics and encourage partnership – will again include a no-cost, open-registration opportunity.

The 2025 DNR Roundtable will be held Friday, Jan. 10. The opportunity to register for one of a limited number of first-come, first-served slots opened at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Visit mndnr.gov for more information.

The 2025 Roundtable will include a mix of topics during the course of the day and an informal early evening reception. Program details will be available closer to the event.

DNR ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON VOYAGEUR COUNTRY ATV TRAIL EXPANSION

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR is accepting comments through Dec. 26 on an environmental assessment worksheet to address the second phase of a proposed ATV trail expansion in Koochiching and St. Louis counties. A copy of the EAW is available on the DNR website. A printed copy may be requested by calling (651) 259-5694.

Emailed comments should be sent to environmentalrev.dnr@state.mn.us with “Voyageur ATV Phase 2 Project” in the subject line.

Mailed comments should be sent to the attention of Kathy Metzker, EAW project manager, Environmental Policy and Review Unit, DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division, 500 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025.

MN-FISH CONTINUES LEGISLATOR TOURS OF ST. PAUL HATCHERY

St. Paul — Earlier this month, MN-FISH hosted its fourth “legislator tour” of the dilapidated Minnesota DNR’s St. Paul hatchery. MN-FISH members were joined by state Rep. Kaohly Vang Her.

The fishing advocacy group is pushing the state to replace this outdated facility with a state-of-the-art hatchery that not only meets the current and future fish-stocking needs of several popular fisheries across the Twin Cities, but also offers educational tours opportunities for the public. The St. Paul hatchery historically produces an average of 20 million walleye fry annually. This facility is also the primary hatchery for the production of muskies.

MN-FISH will continue to set up tours for legislators throughout the next several months to demonstrate, in-person, why this facility needs replacement and how it serve as an educational facility for the public.

WISCONSIN DNR CONSIDERING CHANGES TO DEER UNIT BOUNDARIES

Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has announced the start of a public comment period for a draft rule that would rework portions of the state’s deer management unit boundaries. The public comment period runs until Jan. 10.

This draft rule would allow the DNR to carry out the deer management unit boundary changes being proposed as part of this year’s deer management unit review process. Generally, the draft rule proposes a return to habitat-based deer management units in the Northern Forest Zone and adjusts a portion of the Central Forest Deer Management Zone boundary and select Metropolitan Sub-unit boundaries.

People are encouraged to visit the DNR’s Proposed Permanent Administrative Rules web page (dnr.wisconsin.gov, under the Wildlife Management section) for a link to the draft rule and details on the public hearing and how to submit comments.

DNR SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR ACCESS AND INCLUSION MANAGER POSITION

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR currently is seeking an access and inclusion manager for the Operations Services Division’s Office of Access and Inclusion.

According to the agency’s job listing, “The Office of Access and Inclusion is responsible for supporting the agency’s strategic priorities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by leading agency-wide diversity program coordination, training, workforce development programming, and affirmative action initiatives. The OAI manager also champions and aligns the work of the Equity Change Team, a DNR committee responsible for developing and implementing a plan to produce and embed equity outcomes within agency policies and administrative practices, throughout the agency.”

The closing date to apply is Dec. 26, and the salary range for the position is $48.45 to $69.48.

The department currently has 23 other job listings, including assistant area wildlife manager in Forest Lake and aquatic invasive species management consultant, a St. Paul position. For more information, visit careers.mn.gov