Minnesota fish and wildlife

The lottery deadline is Friday, Jan. 24, for firearms turkey hunting in Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs in A-C season.

Remember to apply for the lottery for these high-demand areas by this Friday, Jan. 24.

If you’re chosen, you may hunt statewide, in addition to your selected WMA.

All turkey hunters can purchase a license over-the-counter beginning March 1. Changes made this year will allow firearms hunters to hunt all permit areas in the state. And except for the permits to hunt the three large WMAs, there is no lottery for spring wild turkey licenses. Find more information on the DNR turkey hunting page.

DNR has started the next deer population goal-setting and you can be a part of it. The four-year process will assess and determine goals for blocks across the entire state.

Goal setting starts with blocks in the northwestern and western parts of the state.

Based on feedback from deer hunters and others, the DNR is using a new workshop format to integrate small group discussions to both scope issues and create recommendations. To find out more about the goal-setting process – including the complete details about the workshops starting in January – check out the goal-setting webpage for details. The other remaining workshops are all 6-9 p.m.

• Permit areas 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111 and 114 are Wednesday, Jan. 29, and Thursday, Feb. 27;

• Permit areas 201, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 261, 263, 264, 267 and 268 are Thursday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Feb. 26;

• Permit areas 262, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272 and 297 are Monday, Feb. 24;

• Permit areas 213, 214, 215, 218, 239, 240, 273, 276 and 277 are Wednesday, Jan. 22; and Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The DNR is seeking public input on deer populations and observations from 2019.

People can share experiences had during the deer hunting season, issues related to deer damage, or other deer-related issues. The DNR will use the feedback to shape regulations for the 2020 hunting season. The survey, which is open until through Sunday, Feb. 16, and further details are on the DNR website.

During the 2019 hunting season and special hunts, chronic wasting disease was confirmed in 27 wild deer, all from southeastern Minnesota.

In total, 12,618 hunter-harvested deer were tested in the southeast disease management and control zones, 3,965 in the north-central disease management zone, and 536 in the central surveillance area.

CWD was not detected in wild deer in central and north-central Minnesota. You can find a summary of statewide CWD test results in the DNR news release.

Schools, nonprofit organizations and public entities continue to show strong demand for resources to get more children outdoors.

The DNR had another overwhelming response to the No Child Left Inside grant program, with more than 200 applications to the second phase of the program the Minnesota Legislature authorized in 2019. The DNR hopes to announce Phase 2 award winners by April 1.

Meanwhile, 59 recipients for Phase 1 funding are posted on the DNR website and include projects aimed at getting kids snowshoeing, shooting, playing in nature, fishing, exploring, cross country skiing, canoeing, birding, biking and more.

Minnesota fishing regulations recognize two types of shelters: portable and nonportable.

A portable shelter is one that collapses, folds or is disassembled for transportation. Portable shelters only need licenses and identification when left unattended, which is defined as all occupants being more than 200 feet away. In contrast, all nonportable ice shelters must be licensed. Wheeled fish houses are not considered portable and must be licensed. Get all the details you need on the DNR ice shelter page.

As you pack those tip-ups or spears in search of northern pike, a reminder: Northern pike zone regulations went into effect in May 2018.

There are three distinct northern pike zones in the north-central, northeastern and southern parts of the state. The northern pike regulations apply to inland waters but do not affect border waters or individual lakes, rivers and streams that have their own special regulations for northern pike. Special pike regulations are in place on about 95 waters and always take precedence over statewide regulations. You can find specific regulation details on the DNR’s northern pike page.

The DNR has up to 200 paid summer internships in areas such as fisheries, wildlife, forestry, parks and more.

Help us create a healthy, sustainable, livable Minnesota for future generations! This is your golden opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field of natural resources. Apply now through Friday, Jan. 31.

You don’t need a Minnesota walleye stamp to fish for or keep walleye, but you can buy one to help support walleye stocking.

The Minnesota walleye stamp helps pay for walleye that are stocked into lakes that lack naturally reproducing walleye populations. Anyone can buy a walleye stamp any time of the year, even if they don’t have a fishing license. Dollars from the $5 walleye stamp validation flow into a dedicated account for walleye stocking. For $0.75 more, the DNR will mail you the actual walleye stamp as a collector’s item.

The start of the new year is a great time to think about signing up for a firearms safety course.

Whether you want to try hunting or just want to feel comfortable around firearms, these classes may be for you! Many classes already have been scheduled and more will be added to the calendar. Classes tend to fill up quickly. Firearms safety certification is required of anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979, who wants to purchase a hunting license in Minnesota, but safety officials recommend it for anyone who’s around firearms. Details, exemptions and requirements are available on the DNR website.

Schools and nonprofit organizations interested in introducing students to archery can apply for a DNR program.

Through the program, which that pays for some of the cost of archery equipment, teachers can also receive training on how to teach archery in their schools to students in grades 4-12, using curriculum designed by the National Archery in the Schools Program. Funding is awarded on a first-come first-served basis, with an application deadline of Wednesday, April 1. Some matching funds are required by applicants. Details about the program are available at the DNR website.

Conservation efforts for pheasants, ducks and their habitats are outlined in new DNR action plans.

The plans were developed during the last 10 months with the help of conservation and tribal partners as well as the public and technical experts. Each plan is designed to better define what the DNR will do and how it will work with partners.

Each outlines short-term actions that can help fulfill long-term conservation goals.

The intent of the plans is to better define and track the DNR’s work to foster stewardship of pheasants, ducks and their habitats; increase recreational opportunities; and increase public awareness and appreciation of habitat conservation. You can find copies of the plans on the DNR website.

Trappers are reminded that season dates have changed for several species.

The fisher and marten season is open Saturday, Dec. 21, through Sunday Dec. 29, and fur registration will be Tuesday, Dec. 31. The bobcat season is open from Dec. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and fur registration will be Tuesday, Jan. 28. The river otter season (currently open) will continue to be open through Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and fur registration will be Jan. 28.