Minnesota wildlife

Voluntary CWD sampling and self-service stations among changes this year.

In the ongoing strategy to manage chronic wasting disease in Minnesota’s wild deer, we’ve made several changes to this year’s deer hunting regulations.

CWD sampling is voluntary for 2020, with hunters submitting samples from their deer at unstaffed sampling stations that facilitate social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There will be dumpsters available so hunters can properly dispose of carcass parts inside CWD management and control zones.

Hunters in CWD management and control zones need to follow these restrictions.

Mandatory carcass movement restrictions are in effect for all CWD management and control zones, in southeastern Minnesota and the south-metro area.

Whole carcasses cannot leave these zones until a “not detected” test result is received. If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling, they must debone and quarter their deer, in order to transport their harvest. No carcass movement restrictions are in place in CWD surveillance areas, where the disease has not been discovered in wild deer.

South metro CWD information meeting is Sept. 15.

The DNR will host a virtual public meeting on CWD pertaining to its discovery in a wild deer in Dakota County in March.

The meeting will be 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, and will include presentations by DNR staff and also opportunity to ask questions. Registration and details for the event can be found on the CWD webpage.

Hunters in lottery deer areas who want to harvest antlerless deer: know this deadline.

Firearms and muzzleloader hunters, here’s a reminder that if you want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area designated as lottery this hunting season, you must purchase your license by Thursday, Sept. 10.

Hunters who want to participate in special firearm or muzzleloader deer hunts also need to apply for permits that are issued through a lottery, and that application deadline is also Sept. 10.

Please keep trash and birdseed away from bears.

A shortage of natural foods is causing more bear-human conflicts in northeastern and north-central Minnesota as bears gravitate toward food sources at homes, cabins and campsites.

The DNR is asking people to remove food sources that could attract bears from their properties or campsites.

Please be vigilant in keeping trash and birdseed away from bears to ensure they don’t get an easy meal from what people leave out.

There are about 20 valuable research bears in Minnesota marked with ear tags and collars.

The Minnesota bear hunting season opens Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to avoid shooting marked research bears. These bears are marked with distinctively large, colorful ear tags and have radio collars.

Researchers with the DNR are monitoring about 20 radio collared black bears across the state, especially in bear hunting zones 27, 25 and 45, and in parts of the no-quota zone. Most of them are in or near the Chippewa National Forest between Grand Rapids and Bigfork. Others are near Voyageurs National Park or around Camp Ripley.

Photos of collared research bears and some research findings gained from them are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/bear.

Minnesota’s ruffed grouse spring population counts are similar to last year.

The grouse counts are likely following the 10-year cycle of rise and fall—a predictable pattern recorded for 71 years.

Drumming is a low sound produced by males as they beat their wings rapidly and in increasing frequency to signal the location of their territory. Drumming displays also attract females that are ready to begin nesting. Ruffed grouse populations are surveyed by counting the number of male ruffed grouse heard drumming on established routes throughout the state’s forested regions.

West Nile virus test results are similar to last year.

Test results from the second year of a study on West Nile virus in ruffed grouse showed similar results to the previous year. Antibodies consistent with virus exposure were detected in 12.3 percent of the 317 samples submitted by hunters in 2019. This compares with a 12.5 percent antibody rate in the 273 samples submitted by hunters in 2018. The complete report is on the DNR website.

Harvesters: Know the regulations before you go.

Wild rice conditions are looking good this year in many areas of Minnesota and the DNR is offering tips and a reminder of important regulations restricting harvest to rice stands that are ripe.

Minnesota has more acres of natural wild rice than any other state in the country. Wild rice and its harvesting are profoundly important to Minnesota’s tribal nations, for cultural, spiritual, and social reasons. Many other Minnesotans also enjoy harvesting wild rice, an all-natural and nutritious grain.

Prairie chicken populations are stable but low.

The annual survey of prairie chickens numbers in Minnesota gives a snapshot of the population that can be used to spot trends over multiple years.

This year’s survey report results are stable but low, reflecting concerns that prairie chickens are sensitive to habitat loss. Over time, changes in the population levels have coincided with gains and losses in enrollments in the Conservation Reserve Program. The full prairie chicken survey report is available on the DNR website.

Organization that do conservation work can apply.

Applications are being accepted for our Conservation Partners Legacy grant program. This funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, or habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota.

Hunters, you're all set to plan ahead for the fall!

The DNR has released the 2020 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping regulations handbook, now available on the DNR website.

Deer hunters this season will generally see more harvest opportunities. Deer hunting regulations and permit area maps are on the DNR deer hunting page.

Hunting licenses go on sale Saturday, Aug. 1. You can buy your license at any DNR license agent, by telephone at 888-665-4236, or online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense.

The popular youth deer hunting season is again statewide.

The statewide season is Oct. 15-18. During last year’s inaugural statewide youth season, nearly 5,700 young deer hunters harvested a deer, which represented a 77 percent increase from the previous season when it was limited to fewer areas.

The DNR has expanded the early antlerless deer season, Oct. 15-18, to include more deer permit areas.

This season is in central and southeastern Minnesota. The season increases opportunities for hunters in areas where deer populations are above population goals, or where there is an increased risk of chronic wasting disease spreading. Permit areas open during the hunt are 213, 214, 215, 341, 342, 343, 344, 604, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649 and 655.

Several deer permit area boundaries in north-central and northwestern Minnesota have changed.

These permit areas changed due to input from the public and DNR staff during the deer population goal-setting process, or in response to CWD spread. Hunters should double check the boundaries of any permit areas where they plan to hunt.

A study details the attitudes of Minnesota residents, livestock producers and deer hunters toward wolves and wolf management.

The DNR conducted the study in partnership with the University of Minnesota through the Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, to support the DNR’s update to the state’s wolf management plan.

Results of the survey will help in understanding how people and different groups think about wolves and wolf management. While there may not be agreement on all aspects of wolf management, there is strong support from Minnesotans in maintaining a wolf population.

Feeding restrictions are in place in certain areas. These updates took effect July 1.

The restrictions require food to be kept out of reach of deer. Restrictions started July 1 in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, Scott and Washington counties. These counties were added to deer feeding and attractant bans that were already in effect in other counties affected by chronic wasting disease.

Keeping food that attracts deer out of reach can help prevent close contact between deer that can transmit chronic wasting disease.