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Thursday, November 14th, 2024

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Search
Thursday, November 14th, 2024

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Brian Mozey

Minnesota DNR seeking public sightings of turkeys, pheasants to better gauge population trends

The Minnesota DNR has announced a new initiative that allows people to report sightings of turkeys and pheasants during the summer. The hope is for the DNR to use these reports to determine population trends and help with future regulations.
From May to October, citizens can go on the DNR website via their phone or computer to report a sighting of turkeys and pheasants. The reporting takes only a few minutes to complete.

Minnesota DNR seeking public sightings of turkeys, pheasants to better gauge population trends Read More »

New statute language doesn’t affect Voyageur’s frozen lake surface plan in Minnesota

The Minnesota legislative session ended in May with changes to state laws regarding frozen waters. Currently, there’s a Frozen Lake Surface Plan being considered for Voyageurs National Park (VNP) in International Falls.
Bob DeGross, superintendent at Voyageurs National Park, said the new state law does not affect the planning. The process continues, including several meetings for public comments.

New statute language doesn’t affect Voyageur’s frozen lake surface plan in Minnesota Read More »

DNR launches 3-year deer research project in northeastern Minnesota

The Minnesota DNR is starting a three-year research project to study whitetail populations in the northeastern part of the state. The project will use trail cameras on public and private land to determine deer density in specific areas.
The deer permit areas (DPAs) included in the study are 169, 176, 177, 178, 197, and 679, and they’re located in Cass, Beltrami, Itasca, Hubbard, and St. Louis counties. This month, the DNR will reach out to private landowners to request access to their property to set up trail cameras.

DNR launches 3-year deer research project in northeastern Minnesota Read More »

Invasive sea lamprey numbers increasing in Lake Superior

If anglers are heading to Lake Superior or nearby streams and rivers, they might pull out a fish sporting a circular wound, or there even might be a parasite fish connected to the larger sportfish.
The small fish that resemble mini-eels are called sea lamprey, and they cause the circular wounds on larger gamefish. Sea lampreys invaded the Great Lakes in the 1920s and ’30s via the St. Lawrence Seaway, and they’ve been killing gamefish ever since.

Invasive sea lamprey numbers increasing in Lake Superior Read More »

Minnesota turkey hunters shatter previous record harvest as spring season concludes

The spring wild turkey season ended May 31, and a record-breaking year is on the books. The total harvest reached 16,660 turkeys, according to a preliminary report from Nate Huck, Minnesota DNR resident game bird specialist.
While a few birds might still be reported, most of the harvest officially is wrapped up. The 16,660-harvest count surpasses the 2020 record of 13,996 by 2,664 turkeys.

Minnesota turkey hunters shatter previous record harvest as spring season concludes Read More »

New laws in Minnesota aim to ease burden on imports for deer hunters, taxidermists

The 2024 legislative session introduced several new laws and statutes related to hunting and fishing for the upcoming year and beyond. One notable change involves taxidermists and the handling of deer and other big-game harvested outside of Minnesota.

Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki, of the Minnesota DNR’s Enforcement Division, said the development of the new laws has been a years-long process involving taxidermists and wildlife organizations. The complexity stemmed from factors including chronic wasting disease, taxidermy business operations, wildlife conservation, and DNR enforcement.

New laws in Minnesota aim to ease burden on imports for deer hunters, taxidermists Read More »

A state sharp-tailed grouse plan: Will it happen in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s sharp-tailed grouse population has been declining, prompting the Minnesota DNR to close the hunting season in the east-central region in 2021, while maintaining a season in the northwest area.
The 2023 sharp-tailed grouse survey indicated a decrease in the mean, 95% confidence interval, and number of leks statewide, with similar trends in both the northwest and east-central regions of the state. There was, however, a notable increase in the number of leks in the east-central region.

A state sharp-tailed grouse plan: Will it happen in Minnesota? Read More »

Should fishing guides be licensed in Minnesota? Some say ‘yes,’ noting its potential benefit to fisheries

Minnesota, boasting more than 10,000 lakes, hosts myriad fishing guides who provide memorable excursions, often yielding noteworthy catches.
Tom Neustrom, a fishing guide with more than 40 years of experience, is advocating for a fishing guide license in the state, a measure already adopted by several Midwestern states. Neustrom’s conversations with fellow guides reveal widespread support for this initiative, suggesting a need for action from the Minnesota DNR.
“It brings out a lot of accountability to the guiding profession,” Neustrom said.

Should fishing guides be licensed in Minnesota? Some say ‘yes,’ noting its potential benefit to fisheries Read More »

Year-round bass fishing is on the table in Minnesota; here’s where things stand

The idea of year-round bass fishing in Minnesota came into Eric Altena’s mind in 1998, when he started working for the Minnesota DNR. The current DNR Little Falls area fisheries supervisor said he’s hoping to see the regulation happen in the state sooner than later.
Discussion on a year-round bass season started in 1999, but there wasn’t enough data to determine if it could be done. Fast forward 25 years, and Altena and the DNR’s bass technical team believe there’s enough data to show that such a season wouldn’t hurt the bass population and would provide more opportunities for anglers.

Year-round bass fishing is on the table in Minnesota; here’s where things stand Read More »

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