Minnesota Mixed Bag: DNR reminds bear hunters to buy licenses, check regulations

St. Paul — Bear hunters who entered the lottery for bear-hunting licenses should watch their mail to see if they were selected for a license. The Minnesota DNR mailed postcards to lottery winners during the first week of June.

Hunters may also look on the DNR website to see if they were selected. The deadline to purchase a lottery bear license is Friday, Aug. 1. Unsold lottery-awarded licenses will be available to any eligible person on Wednesday, Aug. 6, beginning at noon.

Bear baiting may begin Friday, Aug. 15, and the hunting season runs Monday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 12. Find more details on the Minnesota DNR’s bear-hunting webpage.

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ZEBES FOUND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY LAKES, BELTRAMI LAKE

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR has confirmed the presence of zebra mussel larvae in Long Lake, DeMontreville Lake, and Olson Lake, a connected chain of lakes near Pine Springs in Washington County.

The invasive species also was confirmed in Beltrami Lake in Beltrami County.

Last October, a contracted surveyor observed adult zebra mussels during a lake bottom sediment survey in Long Lake. Recent follow-up water sampling detected zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, in Long, DeMontreville, and Olson.

In Beltrami County, a lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels attached to rocks in Lake Beltrami. During a follow-up search, a DNR invasive species specialist found an adult zebra mussel attached to another rock nearby.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.

WISCONSIN DNR: STATE DUCK NUMBERS STABLE

Madison, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last week announced that data is now available from the annual spring survey of breeding waterfowl. The survey indicated stable population numbers and habitat conditions for migratory birds.

The data from this survey is used as part of the overall survey of breeding waterfowl in North America, and the information helps the DNR make management decisions about waterfowl in Wisconsin. The survey has been conducted annually since 1973, except for 2020 (due to the pandemic). Survey results are best interpreted as trends over several years rather than year-to-year comparisons.

Surveyors estimated the state’s 2025 breeding duck population at 564,693 birds, a 7% increase from the 2024 estimate and 26.9% above the long-term average. The 2025 mallard breeding population estimate is 149,568 birds, 2% higher than 2024 but lower than the longterm average. Wood duck populations decreased 1.8% from last year but remain 5.1% above the long-term average.

REMAINING DEER GUN LICENSES AVAILABLE AUG. 13 IN NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck, N.D. — More than 1,100 deer licenses are available in four units for North Dakota’s 2025 deer gun season, and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Aug. 13 at 8 a.m. Central time. Residents and nonresidents who have not already received a lottery or landowner license are eligible to apply online by visiting the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov.

Hunters who wish to purchase additional licenses may do so Aug. 20 at 8 a.m. Central time. At that time, any remaining licenses will be issued as a concurrent season license, which may be used during the archery season with a bow; deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. However, youth under age 14 (at the end of the calendar year) will be issued a concurrent season license for archery only.

There is no limit on the number of concurrent season licenses a hunter may purchase.

Hunters with concurrent season licenses are restricted to the type of antlerless deer printed on the license and must stay in the unit in which the license is assigned.

NEBRASKA DUCK HUNTERS HAVE LIMIT OPTIONS

Lincoln, Neb. — Duck hunters in Nebraska will again have the option to choose between two daily bag limits when they register for their Harvest Information Program number this year.

Tier I is a traditional six-duck bag limit with species and sex restrictions. Tier II is a three-duck bag limit with no species or sex restrictions.

HIP registration begins Aug. 1. During the registration process, hunters will be asked if they plan to hunt ducks. If they do, they will be prompted to select a tier for the entire season; selections cannot be changed until the next year.

The regulations will not apply to goose limits or during the early teal season, which have their own bag limits.

HAASE NAMED WILDLIFE DIVISION CHIEF OF NDG&F

Bismarck, N.D. — Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director, has announced the appointment of Bill Haase to the agency’s Wildlife Division chief.

Haase replaces Casey Anderson, who was appointed deputy director in June.

Haase has worked for the NDG&F for 22 years, the last four as assistant Wildlife Division chief. Prior to that, he was the wildlife resource management supervisor for 10 years.