Application deadline for bear hunt lottery closes May 5
Prospective bear hunters have until Friday, May 5, to apply for a bear hunting license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Applications for the 2023 season can be submitted online, at any license agent or by telephone at 888-665-4236.
A total of 4,035 licenses are available in 14 permit areas for the 2023 season, which opens Friday, Sept. 1, and closes Sunday, Oct. 15.
Lottery winners will be notified by Thursday, June 1. The deadline to purchase bear hunting licenses awarded by lottery is Tuesday, Aug. 1. Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available over the counter starting at noon Friday, Aug. 4.
An unlimited number of bear licenses also will be sold over the counter for the no-quota area that includes east-central and far northwestern Minnesota. No-quota licenses are valid only in the no-quota area.
Hunters with either a quota or no-quota license who are interested in taking a problem bear should contact the area DNR wildlife manager in the area(s) of interest to be added to the hunter contact list for any potential opportunities.
Complete instructions about how to apply for a license, maps of permit areas and a listing of permit availability for each area are available on the DNR website.
DNR webinars cover coldwater fish hatcheries, fishing for freshwater drum
The DNR invites people interested in fishing, wildlife and outdoor skills to tune in to upcoming webinars that feature discussions about coldwater fish hatcheries and fishing for freshwater drum, also called sheepshead.
The first webinar is Wednesday, April 26. Minnesota has a large system of coldwater hatcheries that provide 1.7 million trout each year for stocking into 200 lakes and 100 streams throughout the state. Meredith Warmuth, DNR fish hatchery specialist, will share information on the components of the hatchery system, how it benefits trout fishing in Minnesota, and how to tour these facilities.
The second webinar is Wednesday, May 3. Chris Domeier, DNR Ortonville area fisheries supervisor, will discuss when, where and how to fish for freshwater drum in Minnesota. He’ll also cover their life history and how to clean and cook this often overlooked, native and tasty species.
The webinars are 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.