Hunter-harvested birds not allowed into U.S. from Canada

Contact: Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist, 218-766-0112.

Hunter-harvested, unprocessed wild game bird meat or carcasses that originate from or transit Canada will not be permitted to enter the United States, per new restrictions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service. This new restriction is in effect regardless of the Canadian province from which the bird was harvested.

The USDA will allow hunter-harvested wild game bird trophies to enter the U.S. from Canada if the trophies are fully finished. The USDA has specific permitting requirements for trophies that are not finished. Find more information about these requirements on the USDA website (aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/restrictions-onhhwg-meat).

Youth waterfowl weekend is Sept. 10-11

Contact: James Burnham, DNR hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation coordinator, 651-259-5191.

During the youth waterfowl hunt Sept. 10-11, youth hunters will have a special opportunity to learn how to hunt waterfowl with an adult who is not hunting.

During the two-day hunt, waterfowl hunters age 17 and younger, when accompanied by a nonhunting adult age 18 and older, may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens from a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Bag limits are the same as the regular duck and September goose seasons (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl).

Tribal closure of wild rice waters for early waterfowl hunting seasons

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the White Earth Nation have closed all wild rice waters within the boundaries of their respective reservations to all over-water waterfowl hunting during the traditional wild rice harvest. Affected by these closures are the experimental early teal season (Sept. 3-7) and the early goose season (Sept. 3-18).

The DNR advises all waterfowl hunters to be aware of these tribal restrictions and urges hunters who have planned to hunt within the boundaries of the Leech Lake or White Earth reservations to contact each tribe’s natural resource department for more information:

• Leech Lake Division of Resource Management (llojibwe.org/drm): 218-335-7400.
• White Earth Division of Natural Resources (whiteearth.com/divisions/natural_resources/contact): 218-983-3201.

Other hunt details

Hunters ages 13 to 17 must have a firearms safety certificate or apprentice hunter validation in their possession while hunting. In addition, youth hunters age 16 and 17 must have a Federal Duck Stamp and a youth small game license. All other migratory bird hunting regulations apply. Because the accompanying adult will not be actively hunting, the adult does not need a license. All hunters must carry proof of answering “yes” to the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey question (files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/waterfowl.pdf#page=10) of whether they intend to hunt migratory birds. There is no minimum age to participate and firearms safety requirements for youth are listed by age groups on page 35 of the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations (files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/full_regs.pdf#page=35).

Information to help hunters properly identify waterfowl is available in an illustrated guide contained in the 2022 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations (files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/hunting/waterfowl.pdf#page=18). Complete regulations and the illustrated guide also are available in Hmong, Karen, Somali and Spanish, available on the DNR’s hunting regulations page (mndnr.gov/Regulations/Hunting).

Access to complete information on Minnesota’s waterfowl hunting seasons is available from the DNR’s waterfowl hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Waterfowl).

Winner chosen for waterfowl stamp contest

NOTE: The stamp image is available in the DNR Media Room.

Contact: Cathy Rajtar, DNR stamp contest coordinator, 651-259-5221

Cannon Falls artist Jim Caturia won the Minnesota waterfowl stamp contest with a painting of a blue-winged teal. Stephen Hamrick of Lakeville earned second place, and third place went to Ron Engebretson of Owatonna. The winners were selected out of 14 eligible submissions. The waterfowl stamp can be purchased in combination with a hunting license, or as a collectable. Visit the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Stamps) for more information about habitat stamps and contest guidelines.

DNR seeks applications for a variety of advisory committees

Contact: Natural Heritage Advisory Committee: Jan Shaw Wolff, ecosystem management and protection section manager, 651-259-5106; Game and Fish Fund: Beth Carlson, planning director, 651-259-5531. Fish and Wildlife advisory groups: Kelly Wilder, policy planning supervisor, 651-259-5182.

In addition to candidates possessing the specific knowledge and experience required for each committee, the DNR seeks inclusive and well-rounded advisory committees, encompassing differences including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, life experience, ideas, knowledge and learning styles.

DNR webinar covers the basics of grouse hunting

Contact: Benji Kohn, volunteer mentor program coordinator, 651-259-5178.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites Minnesotans interested in wildlife, fishing and outdoor skills to tune in to an upcoming webinar that will discuss the basics of hunting ruffed grouse. The webinar is at noon Wednesday, Sept. 14. Charlie Tucker, DNR area wildlife manager, and Kraig Kiger, shooting sports program coordinator, will discuss the basics of hunting ruffed grouse including equipment, where and when to hunt, and hunting methods.

The webinar is part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. The webinars are free but registration is required. More information is available on the outdoor skills and stewardship page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Discover).

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Contact: Tim Lyons, DNR upland game research scientist, 507-578-8914.

Pheasant numbers increase after favorable spring weather

Pheasant numbers in Minnesota increased 18% from 2021, and exceeded the 10-year average by similar amount, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ annual roadside pheasant survey.

When the pheasant hunting season opens on Saturday, Oct. 15, bird numbers are expected to be strong.

“The weather really cooperated this year in terms of producing favorable nesting conditions for pheasants,” said Tim Lyons, DNR upland game research scientist. “Pheasant numbers are generally as good or better than last year.”

This year’s statewide pheasant index was 48 birds per 100 miles of roads driven. Compared to 2021, all regions saw an increase in pheasant numbers except the southwest, which saw a decrease of 8%.

Weather and habitat are the main influences on Minnesota’s pheasant population trends. Weather causes annual fluctuations in pheasant numbers, while habitat drives long-term population trends.

Habitat factors

Conservation Reserve Program acres in particular play a large role in providing habitat for pheasants in Minnesota. The program, authorized under the federal Farm Bill, pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and restore vegetation that will reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

Despite a long-term downward trend in CRP enrollment, there was a net increase in CRP acres in 2022 as approximately 5,000 additional acres were enrolled. In addition to CRP acres, there were more than 7,000 acres protected through easement programs like the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and Reinvest in Minnesota. An additional 9,000 acres of habitat were permanently protected through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquisitions and by the DNR as wildlife management areas.

How the DNR conducts the survey

Monitoring pheasant population trends is part of the DNR’s annual roadside wildlife survey, which began in 1955. Wildlife managers and conservation officers in the farmland regions conduct the survey during the first half of August. This year’s survey consisted of 166 routes that were 25 miles in length, with 147 routes located in the pheasant range.

Observers drive each route early in the morning and record the number of farmland wildlife game species they see. The data provide an index of species abundance and are used to monitor annual fluctuations and long-term population trends of pheasants, gray (Hungarian) partridge, eastern cottontail rabbits, white-tailed jackrabbits, mourning doves, Sandhill cranes, and white-tailed deer.

Pheasant hunting areas

Many publicly-owned lands are open to hunting, as are private lands enrolled in the state’s Walk-in-Access program (mndnr.gov/WalkIn). Hunters can use the DNR’s online mapping tools to find WMAs by accessing the WMA finder (mndnr.gov/WMAs), and the DNR Recreation Compass (mndnr.gov/Maps/Compass) to help locate state hunting grounds and private lands enrolled in the WIA program, including updates on the condition of specific properties.

Additional resources

The 2022 August Roadside Survey report, a map of pheasant hunting prospects, data for other surveyed species, and information on hunting regulations and bag limits are available on the DNR pheasant hunting page (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Pheasant).

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Contact: Barbara Keller, DNR big game program leader, 651-259-5198 (archery deer season questions); Erik Hildebrand, DNR wildlife health program supervisor, 651-539-3311, (chronic wasting disease questions).

DNR encourages deer hunters to make a plan for archery season

Archery deer hunting begins Sept. 17

Minnesota’s archery deer season opens Saturday, Sept. 17, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to make a plan for the season by considering safety, hunting regulations, chronic wasting disease and steps they need to take to process their deer.

“The start of fall is an exciting time for hunters who are looking forward to deer season,” said Barbara Keller, DNR big game program leader. “Because regulations and CWD testing requirements can change year-to-year, it’s critical for hunters to think ahead and make a plan for a safe, successful and enjoyable season.”

Hunters may notice their deer permit area bag limit has changed. The DNR increased the bag limits or lottery permits in 28 deer permit areas this year and reduced limits in 12 DPAs. Bag limit changes are made based on deer populations in each DPA relative to the population goal for that permit area. Population goals are reviewed every 10 years through a process that includes public input.

Hunters should know the DPA number of the area they plan to hunt prior to buying a license and ensure they understand CWD regulations and sampling requirements for that particular area. Hunters can use the DPA lookup tool on the DNR’s make a plan for deer season webpage (mndnr.gov/DeerHunt) to check if the DPA they plan to hunt requires CWD sampling during the opening weekend of firearms A season, has carcass movement restrictions, or has deer feeding or attractant bans in place.

As a result of CWD’s larger footprint in Minnesota, the DNR has changed the availability of self-service sampling stations. These stations will be available during firearms deer season, and the most up-to-date locations and available times will be posted on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/CWD). For archery season, self-service stations will only be available in DPAs 213, 256, 257, 262, 265 and 273. Archery hunters in DPAs located within CWD zones will have other options for submitting voluntary samples, including by appointment with DNR in some locations, through participating taxidermists and processors, and via mail-in kits.

“Many hunters are accustomed to using self-service stations during archery season and this year we’re asking them to instead consider using one of the other voluntary sampling methods available,” said Erik Hildebrand, DNR wildlife health program supervisor. “Submitting samples for CWD testing is voluntary for all archery hunters unless they’re hunting during the firearms opening weekend when it is mandatory for all deer harvested Nov. 5 or 6.”

To provide more locations statewide for hunters to submit samples for CWD testing, the DNR has expanded the network of taxidermists and processors participating in the partner sampling program (mndnr.gov/CWD/CWD-Partners.html). Additionally, the DNR is piloting hunter mail-in sampling kits (mndnr.gov/CWD/CWD-Kits.html), which allow a hunter to submit a lymph node sample from their deer. Finally, hunters within CWD zones can make appointments with DNR area wildlife offices (mndnr.gov/Areas/Wildlife) to get their deer sampled by appointment.

Hunters will be required to have their deer sampled for CWD during the opening weekend of firearms season Nov. 5-6 in most CWD zones, including hunters using archery equipment during the firearms season.

Deer hunting regulations are available on the DNR’s deer hunting page (mndnr.gov/Hunting/Deer) and in the hunting and trapping regulations booklet.

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Contact: Nicholas Brown, DNR wildlife lakes/Red River Basin specialist, 218-671-7970.

DNR begins drawdown of Lake Christina in Douglas, Grant counties to benefit fish and vegetation

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has begun lowering the water level of Lake Christina in Douglas and Grant counties.

“The purpose of the drawdown is to increase the chances of winter die-off of unwanted fish populations that have negative impacts on water quality and aquatic vegetation,” said Nicholas Brown, DNR wildlife lakes/Red River Basin specialist. “An added benefit is to allow more sunlight to get to the lake bottom to stimulate native plant growth in the early growing season next year.”

A portion of Lake Christina is a Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Area and drawdowns are part of an ongoing adaptive management approach for the lake. The lake’s permanent pump system will be used to lower the lake two feet or more below the historically average water level. Most of the lake is closed to motorized watercraft and the closed area is posted.

The lake has a fair amount of emergent plant vegetation, which can provide cover for hunters. The lower water levels during the drawdown may make access difficult later in the waterfowl season for hunters with larger boats.

“We thank hunters for their patience with the low water conditions,” Brown said. “These conditions will increase the number of waterfowl using the lake and will lead to better hunting in future years.”

For information on the management of Lake Christina or the drawdown operation, contact Nicholas Brown, DNR Wildlife Lakes/Red River Basin specialist, at 218-671-7970 or nicholas.brown@state.mn.us.