Minnesota wildlife

Hoping to bag a tom turkey this spring? Check out the changes that simplify turkey hunting licenses.

In summary, hunters don’t need to enter the spring lottery for most wild turkey permit areas. Most permits are not restricted to a specific turkey permit area. And people who want to hunt in Carlos Avery, Mille Lacs and Whitewater wildlife management areas do still need to enter the lottery for those permits through Friday, Jan. 24. Get the details you need on the DNR’s turkey hunting page.

DNR is starting the next deer population goal-setting in January 2020 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.

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.

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.

Hunters can find CWD test results on the DNR website.

Did you harvest a deer and have it tested for chronic wasting disease? You can find your CWD test results at mndnr.gov/cwdcheck. The DNR directly notifies any hunter who harvests a deer that tests positive.

The page is where the DNR will report any additional deer harvested during current and upcoming Minnesota deer seasons that test positive for CWD, and it also shows statewide CWD test results, including locations of deer that tested positive, and statistics.

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.