Mn DNR hunting news for Aug

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Minnesota Hunting – August 2016

2016 fall duck and goose seasons approaching

Minnesota’s regular waterfowl season will open on Saturday, Sept. 24, with similar bag limits and season dates that were in place last year. The daily bag limits for ducks remains at six per day and individual species limits are identical to those used last fall.

Canada goose hunters will see some changes compared to last year. There is no August Canada goose management action in Minnesota. The September Canada goose season runs from Sept. 3-18 with a bag limit of five per day statewide.

The August management action was eliminated because the Canada goose population in the state is near goal and Canada goose harvest did not increase the past three years even when additional harvest opportunities were offered.

Youth Waterfowl Day will be Saturday, Sept. 10. The season for sandhill cranes runs Sept. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 16, in the northwest goose and sandhill crane zone only. For detailed season information, weekly migration reports and more, visit the DNR’s waterfowl hunting page.

Upcoming dates to remember
Friday, Aug. 12: Bear baiting start date
Friday, Aug. 19: Prairie chicken hunt lottery deadline; Camp Ripley archery hunt application deadline
Thursday, Sept. 1: Hunting seasons open for bear, snipe and rail, mourning dove and crow
Saturday, Sept. 3: Early Canada goose season opens
Thursday, Sept. 8: Antlerless deer and special hunt lottery deadline
Saturday, Sept. 10: Youth Waterfowl Day; sandhill crane season opens in northwest zone
Saturday, Sept. 17: Archery deer season opens; small game season opens including for ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, spruce grouse, Hungarian partridge, rabbits and squirrels
Saturday, Sept. 24: Waterfowl season opens; hunting seasons open for woodcock and prairie chicken
Saturday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Sept. 25: Take a Kid Hunting Weekend
Saturday, Oct. 1: Fall turkey season opens
Saturday, Oct. 15: Pheasant season opens; hunting and trapping in north zone opens for raccoon, red fox, gray fox, badger and opossum
Thursday, Oct. 20-Friday, Oct. 21: First Camp Ripley archery deer hunt
Saturday, Oct. 22: Hunting and trapping in south zone opens for raccoon, red fox, gray fox, badger and opossum
Thursday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 23: Youth deer season
Saturday, Oct. 29-Sunday, Oct. 30: Second Camp Ripley archery hunt
Saturday, Oct. 29: Trapping seasons open for beaver, otter, mink and muskrat
Saturday, Nov. 5: Firearms deer opener


Hunters looking forward to deer season

Steadily growing deer populations may produce more deer sightings and slightly more harvest opportunities for hunters during the 2016 season, although one-deer limits remain in place for much of the state.

Deer licenses are on sale and hunters can apply to the lottery for antlerless deer permits through Thursday, Sept. 8. Archery deer season opens Saturday, Sept. 17, and firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 5. Lottery winners will be notified in October.

Deer hunting licenses, lottery applications and special hunt applications are available at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-665-4236 or online.

Hunters need to review new deer hunting regulations, permit area designations and boundary changes before applying. On the DNR website, current information is available, as is information about deer management.

Changes affect how deer carcasses can enter Minnesota

Starting this fall, hunters can no longer bring whole deer carcasses into Minnesota from anywhere in North America. This restriction includes all members of the deer family (deer, elk, moose and caribou). This change is an effort to respond to the increasing prevalence and geographic spread of CWD.

Previously, the restriction only applied to animals harvested in areas of North America where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been known to occur.

Starting this fall, hunters may bring only the following parts into Minnesota, regardless of where the animal was harvested outside of the state:

Meat that is boned out or that is cut and wrapped (either commercially or privately).
Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
Hides and teeth.
Antlers or clean skull plates (no brain tissue attached) with antlers attached.
Finished taxidermy mounts.
Nonresidents transporting whole or partial carcasses on a direct route through Minnesota are exempt from this restriction; however, similar restrictions exist in all surrounding states.

The 2016 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook states that this rule is likely to be in place (pages 2 and 62). This rule has been finalized and is in place for the fall of 2016.

Southeastern Minnesota CWD testing planned

Southeastern Minnesota hunters in the 300 series deer permit areas should be aware that the DNR will be testing for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the fall 2016 deer season.

Most testing will happen during the opening weekend of the statewide season A firearms deer season that begins Saturday, Nov. 5.

During this time hunters in some areas may need to register deer in person because phone and internet registration will likely be shut down until sampling goals are reached. Check the DNR’s CWD page this fall for more information, including the stations where deer will be sampled.

Youth can hunt with adult mentors during special deer hunts

Youth can apply to hunt deer in select state parks and other refuge areas during 17 special deer hunts in October and November. The application deadline for the hunts is Friday, Aug. 19.

Of the 17 special hunts, 15 are firearms hunts for youth ages 12 to 15, and two are archery hunts for youth ages 12 to 17. Details and application information is available on the DNR website.

Grants aim to help increase number of hunters, anglers

A dozen organizations are receiving funding to help increase how many people hunt or fish – or support those who already do – through a new DNR grant program.

The Angler and Hunter Recruitment and Retention Grant Program began this year and award winners are posted. The program was very competitive with 35 applicants in round one.

The application for round two of the grant program can be found at the same webpage. Organizations interested in applying for the grant program are invited to apply by Thursday, Oct. 13.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, and require a dollar-for-dollar match of the state grant award amount, or else a match of the value of labor, materials or services of the state award. The DNR expects to have over $100,000 to distribute in round two.

Eligible projects have a purpose that supports angler or hunter recruitment and retention. Types of activities could include fishing and hunting educational programs, clinics, workshops and camps, and funding for fishing and hunting equipment and transportation. Second-round projects must be completed in Minnesota and be finished by June 30, 2018.

DNR announces speakers for angler and hunter summit

Declining participation in fishing and hunting has led the DNR to plan a two-day conference from Friday, Aug. 26, to Saturday, Aug. 27, that will focus on recruiting and retaining hunters and anglers.

Keynote speakers include:

Matt Dunfee is the programs manager for the Wildlife Management Institute, a 101-year old, nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to science-based, professional wildlife management. He has developed recruitment, retention and re-engagement strategies; developed related programs, evaluations and best practices; and conducted numerous multi-day training and information workshops on the topic for state and federal wildlife agency staff and administrators.
Ron Hustvedt, Jr. is the founder of WriteOutdoors.com. His writing appears regularly in numerous regional and national publications and frequently includes experiences of teaching his own young children to fish and hunt. He is a middle school social studies teacher and received the 2014 National Teacher of the Year from the Magnet Schools of America.
Col. Scott St. Sauver is the post commander of Camp Ripley. He is a leader of hunting programs and “Trolling for Troops,” where pro anglers accompany disabled veterans, current service members and recently deployed soldiers on a fishing excursion for the day. He will share stories how these programs have impacted the lives of participants and insights on what we can learn from them.

The Aug. 26-27 conference will be at Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center. Volunteers and staff of organizations or agencies and members of the public involved or interested in preserving Minnesota’s outdoor heritage are encouraged to attend. There are no fees for registration or meals. Online registration is open.

Ripe wild rice harvesting season opens in late August

Wild rice harvesting season opens annually between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30. Harvesters must first make sure the rice is ripe before launching their canoes because it is illegal to harvest “green” or unripe rice.

Wildlife managers indicate it’s shaping up to be a challenging season for wild rice harvesting. Severe storms in July hurt many wild rice lakes. Learn more about the upcoming season.

Twins offer discounts and free hat through partnership with DNR

Anyone with a 2016 Minnesota hunting or fishing license can receive a free camouflage and blaze orange Twins logo baseball cap and discounted tickets by being among the first 500 to buy through a special Minnesota Twins ticket offer online.

The offer is good for these Minnesota Twins home games:

Sunday, Aug. 14, vs. Kansas City Royals
Saturday, Sept. 3, vs. Chicago White Sox and
Saturday, Sept. 24, vs. Seattle Mariners.

Tickets prices vary by game and seat locations are either in the Field Box or Home Run Porch. All ticket holders under this partnership will pick up their cap at the game. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The offer is available only through the DNR Twins Web page.

Designs due Sept. 2 for waterfowl stamp

Wildlife artists can submit entries for the 2017 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp contest from Monday, Aug. 22, through 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2.

The waterfowl stamp validation for hunting is $7.50 and for an extra 75 cents purchasers can receive the pictorial stamp. It also is sold as a collectible. Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to waterfowl management and habitat work.

The redhead is the only eligible species for depiction on the 2017 waterfowl stamp. Artists are prohibited from using any photographic product as part of their finished entries. Winning artists usually issue limited edition prints of the artwork and retain proceeds. Judging will take place Thursday, Sept. 8, at DNR headquarters in St. Paul.

To see more information on stamp contests, guidelines for submitting work, and to sign up to receive regular email updates on the stamp contests, visit the DNR's stamp page. Contest guidelines are also available from the DNR Information Center by calling 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367.

DNR partners with St. Paul Saints on special ticket offer, free hat

Anyone with a 2016 Minnesota hunting or fishing license can receive a special offer on tickets and a free Saints logo cap to select St. Paul Saints games through a partnership between the Saints and the DNR.

The offer is good for these upcoming Saints games at CHS Field:

Saturday, Aug. 13, vs. Sioux Falls
Sunday, Aug. 14, vs. Sioux Falls.

Tickets are $20 for reserved outfield seating. All ticket holders under this partnership will pick up their cap at the game. Due to high demand, seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis only, and the offer is good for advance purchases only through the DNR Saints webpage. Phone orders cannot be accepted. Only orders purchased together will be seated together. Game times are subject to change, and there are no refunds or exchanges.

Buy fishing and hunting licenses at any DNR license agent, online with a mobile or desktop device, or by phone at 888-665-4236. Mobile buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.
Q&A: Do I need a printed copy of my license?

Question: If you purchase a hunting or fishing license on the DNR website, do you need to keep a printed copy while out in the field?

Answer: If you’re using a home computer, you can print most licenses and need to keep a copy with you when participating in the activity. In cases where the license has a tag, the license will be mailed to you, and you must have the license in possession.

Licenses purchased on a mobile device are issued in electronic format, and you can choose to receive an email and/or text message that serves as your license. In that case, you must carry your mobile device or a printed copy of this email or text message to show proof of license.