Five furbearer registration stations in northern Minnesota will have new hours this year.
Trappers who register furs at the Effie, Finland, Grand Marais, Northome and Orr locations can do so without an appointment on Friday, Dec. 2, from 3 – 6 p.m. Trappers may register at these locations at another time by calling in advance for an appointment. Full Story
Hunting or fishing license holders can order discounted tickets to select Minnesota Wild hockey games, as the Wild and the Department of Natural Resources team up for this special ticket offer. Full Story
Invasive species found on equipment being removed for season
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Franklin Lake in Otter Tail County. This is one of several recent confirmations across the state as lake property owners and lake service provider businesses check equipment for invasive species at the end of the season. Full Story
Anglers fishing Upper Red Lake this winter will be able to keep three walleye of which only one may be longer than 17 inches, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
Minnesota will release a new critical habitat license plate early next year with a design that will feature pollinators in native habitat, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The new design will be selected from a public contest among Minnesota artists and their original artwork. Full Story
Applications due by Wednesday, Dec. 14
The Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee. Full Story
Common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn retain their leaves well into late fall, so now is a good time to identify and control this invasive shrub. Full Story
Harvest down 3 percent from a year ago
Minnesota firearms hunters registered 68,958 deer during the first two days of firearms deer season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
A recent field trip to Whitewater State Park near Rochester turned into more than a hypothetical exercise when a group of 125 seventh graders from Plainview-Elgin-Millville Junior High discovered an emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation in the park. Full Story
Open house scheduled for Nov. 17
The Department of Natural Resources invites the public to share their thoughts—either in person or online—on how to best manage Kilen Woods State Park in the future. While there are no immediate plans to change how the park is managed, the DNR would like to explore possible management alternatives as part of implementing the State Parks and Trails System Plan. Full Story
The 2016 elk hunts in northwestern Minnesota wrapped up on Sept. 18 with another successful season in the Kittson County area, according to the Department of the Natural Resources. Five of seven hunters harvested bulls. Full Story
The Department of Natural Resources is closing a 1970s-era fish hatchery because of failing infrastructure and excessive energy consumption. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding lake property owners to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts, and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when closing cabins for winter. Several recent new zebra mussel confirmations were initially reported by people making end of season inspections of docks, boats and boat lifts. Full Story
Invasive species found on dock
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Adley Lake in Otter Tail County. This is one of several confirmations this fall as docks and boat lifts are being checked for invasive species at the end of the season. Full Story
Archers took 113 deer during this year’s bow hunts at Camp Ripley Military Reservation near Little Falls. Full Story
Richfield artist Timothy Turenne won the 2017 Minnesota Walleye Stamp contest. The painting was selected by judges from among eight entries for the annual contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
2017 Walleye Stamp Competition
First Place: Timothy Turenne
Turenne’s painting of a walleye foraging on minnows will be featured on the 2017 walleye stamp.
This is the second time Turenne has won the walleye stamp contest, his first win being in 2010. What’s more, Turenne has now won all four state stamp contests he’s entered this year – leaving out only the pheasant stamp.
“This is an incredible feat to win all these contests in one year,” said Neil Vanderbosch, fisheries program consultant. “The only reason he did not enter the pheasant stamp contest this year was because he won that contest last year and was ineligible to enter.”
The voluntary walleye stamp validation costs $5 but is not required to fish for or keep walleye. For an extra 75 cents, purchasers will be mailed the pictorial stamp. A pictorial collectable stamp without the validation is available for $5.75. Walleye stamps are available year-round and need not be purchased at the same time as fishing licenses.
Four entries advanced as finalists and were selected Oct. 27 at DNR headquarters in St. Paul. The DNR offers no prizes for the stamp contest winner, but the winning artist retains the right to reproduce the work.
Revenue from stamp sales is used to purchase walleye for stocking in Minnesota’s lakes. The 2016 walleye stamp is still available for purchase at all license vendors. More information about stamps is available on the fish and wildlife habitat stamp program page.
With the Minnesota firearms deer season beginning Saturday, Nov. 5, hunters are reminded that deer stands cannot be left overnight on state wildlife management areas (WMA). Full Story
Winter fishing limits 1 walleye, 5 northern pike per angler
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today announced that the winter walleye regulation will allow anglers to keep one walleye between 19 and 21 inches or one longer than 28 inches. Full Story
The Information Center at the Department of Natural Resources is piloting a permanent move to longer phone hours and days. Starting Nov. 2, outdoor enthusiasts can call for information in the evenings and Saturdays. Full Story
Excellent fishing abounds in Minnesota and travel to far-off locations is not a requirement to hook into state record fish – as shown by angler Kanchic Yang of St. Paul, who caught the state record weight white bass. Full Story
In less than a week, excitement over Halloween and pumpkins turns to deer hunting and blaze orange, with the Minnesota firearms deer hunting season set to begin a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 5. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Tower area fisheries office has set the whitefish and cisco sport netting dates on Lake Vermilion, Newton, Basswood and Fall lakes. The lakes will be open to whitefish and cisco (tullibee) sport netting from Saturday, Oct. 29, through Wednesday, Nov. 16. Full Story
Invasive species found on boat lifts
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Kimble Lake in Crow Wing County. As with a recent confirmation at another Crow Wing County Lake, zebra mussels were reported on boat lifts that had been removed from the water at the end of the season. Full Story
With hunting season in progress, it’s time for waterfowl hunters to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
Portion of season ticket purchases to benefit Loon Monitoring Program
The Minnesota United, a professional soccer team commonly referred to as “the Loons,” is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources to support loon populations throughout the state by way of the Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public informational meeting to update interested citizens and anglers on the reproduction study recently completed on Fish Lake Reservoir. The study involved three years of stocking marked walleye fry to assist in determining the contribution of spawning stocks, natural reproduction, and survival of eggs and fry in Fish Lake Reservoir. Full Story
The Department of Natural Resources is accepting grant applications for projects through its Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. Approximately $450,000 will be available for grant projects starting after July 1, 2017 through funding provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management. Applications are due Monday, Dec. 12. Full Story
Entry fees at all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas to be waived the day after Thanksgiving
Smith and DNR encourage all Minnesotans to get outdoors and explore Minnesota’s parks and trails
Following the success of last year’s Free Park Friday, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is encouraging all Minnesotans to include outdoor activity as part of their family festivities over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. As added incentive, Smith announced that entry fees at all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas will be waived on Friday, Nov. 25. Full Story
Hunters are reminded to register deer before processing, before antlers are removed and within 48 hours after taking the animal, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
Fishing and curiosity have always gone hand in hand, and when it comes to cleaning fish, some anglers have memories of examining the stomach of a catch – perhaps finding minnows, crawfish or the occasional oddity on the cutting board. Full Story
Recreational netting for whitefish and tullibee is anticipated to open on several Schedule I Lakes in the Grand Rapids fisheries work area beginning in late October, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Schedule I Lakes, which are more susceptible to sudden changes that impact water temperatures, will be opened and closed on a 48-hour notice posted at lake accesses, other public places, and the DNR website. Schedule II Lakes, will open Nov. 4. Full Story
Public access closed during treatment
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the Greater Lake Sylvia Association on an aggressive new treatment method for the invasive algae starry stonewort in West Lake Sylvia in Wright County. This week’s treatment is the first time the diver-assisted suction harvest, or DASH, method has been used in Minnesota. Full Story
The Department of Natural Resources and numerous partners have updated the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan to better reflect conservation of the state’s native wildlife species in a changing climate. Full Story
A specialty license plate benefitting Minnesota state parks and trails will be available starting Thursday, Dec. 1, at Driver and Vehicle Services offices statewide. Full Story
The Department of Natural Resources this week designated the state’s second groundwater management area. Designation of the central Minnesota Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area allows a more comprehensive and focused approach to ensuring that groundwater supplies will be adequate to meet human needs while protecting lakes, streams and wetlands. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launched a new version of its performance and accountability reporting webpage. The webpage on the DNR’s website tracks the DNR’s progress toward achieving conservation results through 88 performance measures and targets. Full Story
Teresa Head always has loved hiking and being outside, even doing organized trail work when she lived in Alaska. The one-time vegetarian never had hunted or even held a gun until a few weeks ago. Full Story
Youth, ages 10-15, can participate in a special deer season that runs from Thursday, Oct. 20, to Sunday, Oct. 23, in 27 permit areas of southeastern and northwestern Minnesota, including in the Twin Cities metro permit area 601, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
Invasive species found on boat, boat lift
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Lower Cullen Lake and nearby Lake Hubert in Crow Wing County. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, along with the nation, celebrates National Forest Products Week, Oct.16-22, by bringing attention to the vast array of products forests provide. Full Story
Deer: The animal
With nearly 500,000 firearms deer hunters in the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages hunters to purchase their licenses early to avoid long lines and any potential system issues associated with the high sales volume. The 2016 Minnesota firearms deer season begins Saturday, Nov. 5. Full Story
Park visitors advised to wear blaze orange or bright colors at parks that remain open during special hunts
Special hunts to prevent overpopulation of deer and protect resources will take place this fall at several Minnesota state parks, and access to the parks will vary during these hunts, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has created an improved search tool that makes it easier for people to find places to hunt or enjoy the outdoors at wildlife management areas (WMA). Full Story
Equestrian enthusiasts will soon be able to enjoy the horse trails to their fullest at Fort Ridgely State Park in Fairfax, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Full Story