Hunter-harvested birds not allowed into U.S. from Canada
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.
Youth waterfowl weekend is Sept. 10-11
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.
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: 218-335-7400.
- White Earth Division of Natural Resources: 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 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.
Information to help hunters properly identify waterfowl is available in an illustrated guide contained in the 2022 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations. Complete regulations and the illustrated guide also are available in Hmong, Karen, Somali and Spanish, available on the DNR’s hunting regulations page.
Access to complete information on Minnesota’s waterfowl hunting seasons is available from the DNR’s waterfowl hunting webpage.
Winner chosen for waterfowl stamp contest
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 for more information about habitat stamps and contest guidelines.
DNR seeks applications for a variety of advisory committees
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is recruiting new members to serve on key advisory groups related to Minnesota’s natural heritage, the Game and Fish Fund, and wildlife and fisheries management. Interested people can apply on the Engage with DNR website through Monday, Sept. 19 for the fish and wildlife advisory committees, including the Deer Advisory Committee, Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee, Minnesota R3 Council (R3 refers to the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters and anglers), and fisheries work groups. The application period for the Natural Heritage Advisory Committee is open through Monday, Oct. 17.
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
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.