DNR news releases, Sept. 30, 2013

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources header

MINNESOTA DNR NEWS #73                                                                             Sept. 30, 2013
All news releases are available in the DNR’s website newsroom at www.mndnr.gov/news.
Follow the DNR on Twitter @mndnr.

IN THIS ISSUE
DNR to limit access at some Minnesota state parks during hunting season
Early antlerless deer hunting open in 3 southeast Minnesota areas
Whitefish-tullibee sport-netting to open on northern lakes
DNR seeks designs for Minnesota’s 2014 walleye stamp
Question of the week: Is rice at wedding harmful to birds?


DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DNR to limit access at some Minnesota state parks during hunting season
DNR advises park visitors to wear blaze orange or bright
colors at parks that remain open during special hunts

Special hunts to prevent overpopulation of deer and protect resources will take place this fall at several Minnesota state parks, and access to the parks will vary during these hunts, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Some parks will remain open to all visitors, some will have limited access and some will be open only to hunters with special permits (closed to the general public). The deadlines for youth and adults to apply for a special permit to participate in the hunts – which include regular firearms, muzzleloader and archery options – have passed.

For a list of parks that are open, partially open or closed during the 2013 hunting season, visit www.mndnr.gov (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/hunting.html) or contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or at info.dnr@state.mn.us. Details on which areas of each park will be affected by the special deer hunts also are included in the “Visitor Alert” boxes on the individual park Web pages at www.mndnr.gov (www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks).

The DNR advises anyone planning to visit a state park between now and the end of December to look online or call ahead to find out whether a hunt is planned and confirm whether the park will be open. The DNR also advises visitors to parks where hunts are planned to wear blaze orange, even if they will not be hunting. Visitors should check for hunt-related information at the park office when they arrive, look carefully for hunt-related signage and follow instructions.

“These annual resource management hunts help control the deer population at state parks,” said Ed Quinn, resource management consultant for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Too many deer in one area can negatively affect native plants and the health of the ecosystem. In managing natural resources, we’re always striving for a sustainable balance.”

Parks that will be open only to hunters with special permits (hunt dates in parentheses):
Afton State Park (Nov. 9-10).
Blue Mounds State Park (Dec. 7-8).
Camden State Park (Nov. 2-3).
Crow Wing State Park (Dec. 13-15).
Frontenac State Park (Nov. 23-25).
Great River Bluffs State Park (Oct. 26-27).
Iron-Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area (Nov. 9-24).
Lake Shetek State Park (Oct. 26-27 and Dec. 7-8).
St. Croix State Park (Nov. 2-3, Nov. 15-18).
Sibley State Park (Oct. 26-27, Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
Whitewater State Park (Nov. 23-24).
William O’Brien State Park (Nov. 9-10).

Parks with special hunts that will remain open or partially open to all visitors:
Banning State Park (Nov. 2-3).
Buffalo River State Park (Nov. 9-10).
Cascade River State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Flandrau State Park (Oct. 19-Dec. 31, see “special situations”).
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (Nov. 9-10).
Glacial Lakes State Park (Nov. 14-17).
Gooseberry Falls State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area (Sept. 14-Dec. 31).
Hayes Lake State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Itasca State Park (Oct. 12-13, Nov. 9-17, Nov. 30-Dec. 15).
Jay Cooke State Park (Dec. 7-11).
Judge C.R. Magney State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Lake Bemidji State Park (Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-12, Dec. 6-8).
Lake Bronson State Park (Nov. 9-10, Nov. 16-17).
Lake Carlos State Park (Nov. 9-10).
Lake Louise State Park (Nov. 16-17).
Lake Vermilion State Park (Nov. 30-Dec. 15).
Maplewood State Park (Nov. 9-12).
Myre-Big Island State Park (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
Old Mill State Park (Nov. 9-12).
Savanna Portage State Park (Oct. 26-27, Nov. 16-18).
Scenic State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Schoolcraft State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Soudan Underground Mine State Park (Nov. 30-Dec. 15).
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Tettegouche State Park (Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-24).
Zippel Bay State Park (Oct. 12-13, Nov. 9-24).

Parks that are wholly or partially open to hunting (all seasons) by legislation (plus “special” hunts, where indicated):
Big Bog State Recreation Area.
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (Nov. 9-10).
Garden Island State Recreation Area.
George H. Crosby-Manitou State Park.
La Salle Lake State Recreation Area.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Nov. 9-24).
Temperance River State Park.
Tettegouche State Park (Oct. 19-20, Nov. 9-24).

Parks where no hunting will take place:
Bear Head Lake State Park.
Beaver Creek Valley State Park.
Big Stone Lake State Park.
Carley State Park.
Charles A. Lindbergh State Park.
Father Hennepin State Park.
Fort Ridgely State Park.
Fort Snelling State Park.
Franz Jevne State Park.
Glendalough State Park.
Grand Portage State Park.
Hill Annex Mine State Park.**
Interstate State Park.
John A. Latsch State Park.
Kilen Woods State Park.
Lac qui Parle State Park.
Lake Maria State Park.
McCarthy Beach State Park.
Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
Minneopa State Park.
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area.
Monson Lake State Park.
Moose Lake State Park.
Red River State Recreation Area.
Rice Lake State Park.
Sakatah Lake State Park.
Split Rock Creek State Park.
Upper Sioux Agency State Park.
Wild River State Park.

Special situations:
*The city of New Ulm is having an archery deer hunt Oct. 19-Dec. 31. Some of the deer stands are located within Flandrau State Park, but nowhere near trails or public use areas. The park will remain open to all visitors during this time. There is no archery or other hunting anywhere else in the park.
**Although there is no hunt at Hill Annex Mine State Park, the park is only open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS                                                             Sept. 30, 2013 

Early antlerless deer hunting open in 3 southeast Minnesota areas

Three small areas of Winona and Houston counties that have high deer densities will be open to an early antlerless deer hunt Thursday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 20, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Two portions of deer permit area 346 will be open as well as one portion of permit area 345. Hunt areas are detailed online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/deer and on the large, fold-out deer map included in the 2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook.

“While the overall deer permit areas are at or near established population goals, there continue to be localized areas where deer densities need to be reduced to desired levels,” said Leslie McInenly, the DNR’s big game program  leader. “This year’s more limited early antlerless season will be evaluated as an additional management tool to reduce deer densities on a local level.”

Only antlerless deer may be taken, and hunters may use up to five early antlerless permits.  Deer harvested during the special season do not contribute a hunter’s statewide limit during the regular season. Early antlerless permits cost $7.50 for residents and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold.

All deer harvested during this season must be tagged with an early antlerless permit. Hunters must also have a valid archery, firearms or muzzleloader license and harvest a deer using the method for which they are licensed.

The antlerless hunt coincides with the four-day special youth deer season.  

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 Sept. 30, 2013 

Whitefish-tullibee sport-netting to open on northern lakes

Recreational netting for whitefish-tullibee opens Friday, Oct. 11, on designated lakes that are less susceptible to sudden changes that impact water temperature, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

These lakes, known as Schedule II lakes, offer recreational netting on the following schedule:

  • Schedule II A lakes open Friday, Oct. 11, and close Sunday, Dec. 1.
  • Schedule II B lakes open Friday, Nov. 1, and close Sunday, Dec. 8.
  • Schedule II C lakes open Friday, Nov. 8, and close Sunday, Dec. 8.

Schedule I Lakes, which are more susceptible to factors that impact water temperatures, will be opened and closed on a 48-hour notice posted at lake accesses and other public places.

Netting in infested waters may be restricted or closed to sport netting of whitefish and tullibee. 

The list of all Schedule I and II lakes, status of the seasonal openings and closures, as well as detailed netting regulations are available online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing or by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296 6157 or toll-free at 888-646-6367.

Lakes closed to recreational netting in 2013 are:

  • Mille Lacs Lake in Aitkin, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs counties.
  • Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County.
  • O’Reilly Lake in Itasca County.
  • Burgen Lake in Douglas County.
  • East and West Fox lakes in Crow Wing County.
  • Island Lake in Itasca County.
  • Little Jessie Lake in Itasca County.
  • Lakota Lake in Douglas County.
  • Mitchell Lake in Crow Wing County.
  • Nisswa Lake in Crow Wing County.
  • Osakis Lake in Douglas and Todd counties.
  • Roy Lake in Cass and Crow Wing counties.
  • Serpent Lake in Crow Wing County.
  • Victoria Lake in Douglas County.

Anyone setting whitefish/tullibee nets in the following lakes, which contain spiny waterfleas but are open to netting in 2013, may not use nets and equipment in any other lakes open to whitefish/tullibee netting in 2012:

  • Devil Track Lake in Cook County.
  • Caribou Lake in Cook County.
  • Greenwood Lake in Cook County.
  • Lake of the Woods in Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties.
  • Namakan Lake in St. Louis County.
  • Crane Lake in St. Louis County.
  • Sand Point in St. Louis County.
  • Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County (new in 2013).
  • Rainy Lake in Koochiching and St. Louis counties. 

 
About 700 people obtain special permits to net for whitefish-tullibee each year. DNR bases netting schedules on expected water temperatures. As the water temperature cools, game fish head to deeper water and whitefish-tullibee come to shallow water for fall spawning. Netting is allowed when there is little chance that game fish populations would be negatively impacted by recreational netting in shallow water.

Minnesota law restricts the size of the net and its openings; requires that netting be done in water not deeper than six feet unless specifically authorized; stipulates that netted fish cannot be sold; and requires that only rough fish caught in the net may be kept. State law also limits net size to 100 feet long and 3 feet wide; allows one person to use no more than one net; and forbids recreational netters from possessing angling equipment when netting whitefish-tullibee.

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DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              Sept. 30, 2013

DNR seeks designs for Minnesota’s 2014 walleye stamp

Wildlife artists can submit entries for Minnesota’s walleye stamp from Monday, Oct. 7 through Friday, Oct. 18, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Designs should be securely wrapped and enclosed in an envelope or other container. The words “Walleye Stamp” should be clearly marked on outside of the container. Late entries will not be accepted.

Entries must be sent or delivered to 2014 Walleye Stamp Contest, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division, Box 20, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020.

The walleye (Sander vitreus) must be the primary focus of the design. Other fish species may be included in the design if they are used to depict common interaction between species or are common inhabitants of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.

Artists are prohibited from using any photographic product as part of their finished entries. Any entry that contains photographic products will be disqualified.

The contest, which offers no prizes, is open to Minnesota residents only. Winning artists usually issue limited edition prints of the artwork and retain proceeds. Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to walleye stocking. 

A contest entry form and reproduction rights agreement, which grants the DNR the right to use the design for the stamp image and other promotional, educational, and informational purposes related to walleye, must be signed and submitted with the design.

Judging will take place at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Contest judges will have expertise in art, ichthyology, fishing, aquatic habitats and/or printing.

For complete contest criteria and information contact the DNR Information Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020. Information also is available by calling the Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free at 888-646-6367, or on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/contests/stamps.html.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: Someone told me that for the sake of birds, rice shouldn't be thrown outside after a wedding. Is this true? And is there a substitute for rice?

A: Instant rice is bad for a bird because it expands in its crop (throat) and can kill it. Some rice might be harmless to birds, but polluting sidewalks with rice is not recommended.  Instead, use wild bird seed to throw at weddings. The seed will be cleaned up, naturally, within a few days and will also provide food for our feathered friends.  

-Lori Naumann, DNR Nongame wildlife program information officer