DNR briefing

News from the Minnesota Department of Natural Recources

Jay Cooke getting in winter shape with deep snow

Staff at Jay Cooke State Park east of Carlton have been busy after the recent snowfalls. They’ve been able to open up the office, River Inn, Oldenburg and Grand Portage parking lots but there’s now intermittent ice on sidewalks and roads. Due to a muzzleloader deer hunt Dec. 7-13, ski trails have not been groomed. With snow depth and ice on trees, it will take some time to groom beginning Saturday. Skiers are welcome to ski on ungroomed trails. A great Minnesota Ski Pass is required to ski in the park. Pets are not allowed on ski trails. Ogantz, Grand Portage and Carlton trails are not groomed in the winter and are open to hiking and snowshoeing.

CWD test results are online

Hunters can find chronic wasting disease test results of deer they harvested on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/cwdcheck. The site also shows statewide CWD test results, including locations of deer that tested positive, and statistics. Any additional deer harvested during current and upcoming Minnesota deer seasons that test positive for CWD will be reported on this CWD results webpage. The DNR will directly notify any hunter who harvests a deer that tests positive.

Minnesota is one of several states relying on the same laboratory to process hunter-harvested samples, and because of the large amount of samples the laboratory is processing, there may be delays. The DNR appreciates the patience of hunters still waiting for test results from their deer.

Fisher and marten updates

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 and fur registration will be Tuesday, Jan. 28. The river otter season (currently open) will continue through Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and fur registration will be Jan. 28. These dates can be found in the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations, on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting.

Give the gift of outdoor opportunities this season

Still hunting for holiday gift ideas? Consider sharing your passion and give the opportunity for a lifetime of outdoor adventures. Purchase a lifetime hunting or fishing license for yourself or as a gift to someone else. More information is available on the DNR website about licenses for both residents and non-residents.

Winter outdoors workshop for women coming up

Women can sign up for a January weekend workshop that will include classes on archery, canning, climbing, dark house fishing, fly fishing, hiking, knots, rifle shooting, scouting for wildlife, snowshoeing, trapping, turkey hunting, wood burning design and wild game cooking. The winter workshop is Jan. 24-26 at the Audubon Center of the North Woods near Sandstone, and is organized by the Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. A winter workshop schedule with a registration form is available at mndnr.gov/bow.

Northern anglers, spearers reminded of regulations

As cold temperatures continue to make ice on Minnesota lakes, ice anglers and spearers gearing up for winter fishing action are reminded that northern pike zone regulations apply. The regulations went into effect in May 2018 and created three distinct zones in the north-central, northeastern and southern parts of the state.

The northern pike regulations apply to inland waters but do not affect border waters or individual lakes, rivers and streams that have their own special regulations for northern pike. Special pike regulations are in place on about 95 waters and always take precedence over statewide regulations.

Specific regulation details can be found on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/pike or in the Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet online at mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing. Anglers also can find ice safety guidelines at mndnr.gov/icesafety.