Tonight: first wolf plan open house

The first of three virtual open houses is 6 p.m. tonight offering an opportunity for people to hear about wolves in Minnesota and share their thoughts as the DNR updates the state’s 20-year-old wolf management plan. Registration is required and available right up until the start of the event.

The open houses will include informational presentations from the DNR and allow real-time public input and Q&A. Each open house takes place from 6-8 p.m. and will focus on a particular geographic area.

• Northwest region - tonight, Sept. 29. Register here.
• Central and southern region, including Twin Cities area - Oct. 6. Register here.
• Northeast region - Thursday, Oct. 8. Register here.

Comment on wolf plan update

In addition to connecting with any of the virtual open houses on wolves, you can share your thoughts by commenting online now through Sunday, Nov. 1. Once a draft plan is ready, anticipated later this year, people will be able to comment on the draft plan itself.

Learn about wolves in webinars

Want to learn more about wolves in Minnesota? The International Wolf Center will present three free online webinars. Each starts at 5 p.m. and registration is required.

• What is Minnesota’s wolf population, and how is it estimated? John Erb, a research scientist with the DNR, will explain how the Minnesota wolf population is estimated Wednesday, Oct. 7. Register online.
• What does it look like to live with wolves in Minnesota? John Hart, district supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services program, will discuss just that Monday, Oct. 19. He’ll also cover wolf depredation in Minnesota and topics such as the frequency of wolf depredation and the number of livestock producers who are affected every year in the state. Register online.
• How do wolf, moose and deer interact in Minnesota? Glenn DelGiudice, a DNR research scientist, will discuss how wolves, moose and deer coexist in Minnesota Wednesday, Oct. 21. Register online.

Photo credit: International Wolf Center

DNR testing for PFAS in deer

The DNR will test liver and muscle samples from deer to help determine whether industrial chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in deer near two PFAS contaminated sites.  

The DNR initiated sampling near the Duluth airport south of Rice Lake Reservoir when the archery season opened on Sept. 19, and is also making arrangements for samples to be collected in portions of the east metro area of the Twin Cities.

This will be the first time the Minnesota DNR has sampled deer for PFAS. More information is available in the DNR news release.

Try a Hunter Walking Trail

The DNR maintains hunter walking trails as easy ways to travel by foot through wildlife management areas, state and federal forests, and other public hunting lands. Some trails may be unmowed this year; however, they still remain open for use and wind through prime habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, wild turkey and white-tailed deer.

The DNR offers a hunter walking trail tool that provides information on trail locations by name and county. Hunters can also call area wildlife offices for information about the trails or hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities and tips.

Learn to deer hunt classes continue

Anyone who wants to learn how to hunt deer can register and participate in a series of online classes with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that continues through mid-October. Classes will cover a variety of topics including deer ecology and habitat use, scouting, identifying public lands, finding hunting land, picking a spot to hunt, what to do after the shot and how to care for meat from a harvest.

Upcoming classes are Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, 6, 8, 13 and 15. Participants can tune in to any or all of the classes at no cost. Registration and post-event surveys are required. All classes will be archived. Details are available on the DNR learn to deer hunt page.

How to mentor your kids in hunting

Parents and guardians, want some advice on how to get your kids interested in fishing and hunting?

Register and join in at 7-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, with Benji Kohn, DNR mentor coordinator, and Jeff Ledermann, DNR outreach supervisor, as they talk about their experiences getting their children involved in hunting and fishing. They’ll cover tips and tricks that worked for them, safety concerns, and some of the rules and regulations involved. In addition, their daughters will join in on the webinar, so they can share their thoughts and ideas as well!

Deer carcass restriction reminder

Deer carcass movement restrictions are in place in chronic wasting disease (CWD) management and control zones, which are located in southeastern and north-central Minnesota and the south metro area.

Whole deer carcasses cannot leave these zones until a “not detected” test result is received. If hunters do not submit their deer for sampling, which is voluntary this year, or want to transport it outside the zones before getting a test result, they must debone and quarter their deer, properly disposing of the head and spinal column inside the zones.

These restrictions are part of a comprehensive strategy to keep Minnesota’s deer, elk and moose healthy by limiting the spread of disease. No carcass movement restrictions are in place in CWD surveillance areas. Detailed information is available on the DNR website.