Minnesota Mixed Bag: Second weekend of Game Fair runs Friday through Sunday

Ramsey, Minn. — The second action-packed weekend of Game Fair kicks off this Friday, Aug. 14 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 16 at Armstrong Ranch Kennels in Ramsey.

Don’t miss your chance to watch or partake in Game Fair’s host of dog-related events, from the obstacle course to the ever-popular long jump; sit in on a seminar hosted by dog trainers, elk hunters, smallmouth fishers, and others; bring your (cased) shotgun or bow and test your skills; or just enjoy visiting with the many vendors at the show.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 and over as well as veterans, $5 for kids ages 6 to 14 and free for youth under age 6 and active military members.

For more information see pages 14-15, or visit www.gamefair.com

ZEBRA MUSSELS CONFIRMED IN SHAMINEAU LAKE IN MORRISON COUNTY

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Shamineau Lake, near Motley, in Morrison County. After the DNR received a report of a zebra mussel found by an angler on Shamineau Lake, DNR invasive species staff searched both public accesses and other locations in the lake and found one other adult zebra mussel.

Contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if you think you have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body. For contact info, go to www.mndnr.gov and search “Contact An Expert.”

MORE COVERAGE FROM MINNESOTA OUTDOOR NEWS:

Positive outlook for Minnesota’s wild rice pickers this summer

Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs reaches 71% of state’s walleye harvest quota

Minnesota DNR using time stamp data to distribute remaining surplus bear tags after ELS disruption

BLUFFLAND WHITETAILS ASSOCIATION HOSTS MEMBER DRIVE EVENT

Rochester, Minn. — Bluffland Whitetails is inviting the deer hunting public to a Deer and Beer Member Drive on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill, 1536 Greenview Dr SW, in Rochester.

BWA is looking for more active members to participate in the organization. Membership is free; the group just needs contact info and email to sign up. Attendees get a free pint glass and microfiber towel for signing up. Bring your deer antlers and sheds; a representative from Minnesota Official Measurers will be on hand to score antlers. Learn more at the Bluffland Whitetails Association page on Facebook.

DNR COMPLETES ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN FINLAND STATE FOREST

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has completed a project to install three new arch culverts over water crossings along the Stoney River Grade State Forest Road in Finland State Forest. The road is now open.

The arch culverts replace undersized pipe culverts and are designed to withstand high water flow during flood events. Their design also maintains the stream bed, providing a natural passage for fish and other aquatic life during low or high water. In 2022 and 2024, heavy rainfall events damaged the previous crossings, creating prolonged road closures that affected recreational access to public land, local traffic, and access for emergency vehicles. These redesigned crossings will ensure that the road is accessible year-round for activities like hunting and hiking.

Located near George H. Crosby Manitou and Tettegouche state parks, the nearly 312,000-acre Finland State Forest is a popular destination for trout fishing, camping, and other recreation opportunities.

Learn more about the Get Out More funding initiative behind the project at www.mndnr.gov/get-out-more.

N.D. ESTABLISHES SMALL GAME, WATERFOWL, FURBEARER REGULATIONS FOR 2026

Bismarck, N.D. — North Dakota’s 2026 small game, waterfowl and furbearer regulations are set, with some noteworthy changes from last year. The changes include:

Opening day for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers for North Dakota residents is Sept. 26. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota on Monday, Oct. 5.

Starting Nov. 29, shooting hours for geese will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset to the end of the respective goose season.

American marten will be allowed for take for the first time in 2026.

The season will mirror the fisher season. Fisher can now be trapped statewide, removing the restricted area in the Turtle Mountains. River otter harvest will change to a three-week season, running Nov. 23 through Dec. 13. Previously, the season was Nov. 23 through March 15, closing after the 30-otter quota was met.

Hunters and trappers can find upland game, migratory game bird and furbearer/trapping regulations, on the Game and Fish website.

WDNR SERVICE CENTER COUNTERS, CALL CENTER UNAVAILABLE AUG. 26-27

Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin DNR last week announced the counter service at all DNR service centers, the DNR statewide call center and email service will be unavailable on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 26 and 27. All DNR Customer and Outreach Services staff will be attending training for continued customer service excellence, including important program-specific training. The training dates were selected because they coincide with the lowest license sales and phone call volume during that time of the year.

The DNR Tipline, Emergency Spills line and Wisconsin Emergency Management hotline will continue to be answered. Many services can be accessed on the DNR website. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased online via Go Wild.

There are many license agents throughout Wisconsin that can also provide boat and recreational vehicle renewal services, order ATV/UTV trail passes and sell fishing and hunting licenses.

Counter services, the call center and email responses will resume normal business hours on Friday, Aug. 28.