Outdoors Notebook: Minnesota small game license sales continue to lag, DNR says

Nov. 5—ST. PAUL — The number of small game hunters in Minnesota continues to decline along a long-term trendline, the Department of Natural Resources reported this week. The number of small game licenses sold in 2021 was 233,901, down 4% from the previous year and 7% below the 10-year average.

Hunters who did pursue waterfowl, grouse and pheasants had success rates similar to the 10-year averages, according to the DNR's hunter mail survey.

The survey covers estimated harvest and number of hunters for two dozen species. The survey asked small game license buyers whether they hunted, what species they hunted and harvest numbers. Using the 2021 survey results, the DNR estimates the following harvest and hunter numbers:

* Canada goose: Harvest of 218,200 geese, down 13% from the 10-year average of 251,800 geese. There were 36,100 hunters, down 26% from the 10-year average of 48,800 hunters.

* Ducks: Harvest of 590,000 ducks, down 16% from the 10-year average of 702,800 ducks. There were 56,600 hunters, which was 21% below the 10-year average of 71,900 hunters.

* Ruffed grouse: Harvest of 206,700 grouse, down 27% from the 10-year average of 281,900 grouse. Approximately 57,300 hunters pursued grouse in 2021, 26% below the 10-year average of 77,900 hunters.

* Pheasants: Pheasant stamp sales (78,538 stamps) were 4% below the previous year's sales but similar to the 10-year average of 78,873 stamps. Harvest was estimated at 210,300 roosters, which was slightly above the 10-year average of 200,400 roosters. There were 49,000 hunters, which was 18% below the 10-year average of 60,000 hunters.

The complete small game hunter survey report is on the

DNR website

at mndnr.gov/Wildlife/Research/Wildlife-Research-Publications.html#Reports. — Minnesota DNR

BISMARCK — Fisheries crews for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department have completed their annual salmon spawning operation on the Missouri River System, collecting more than 1.8 million eggs, the department reported. About 500,000 eggs went to South Dakota to meet their egg collection goal.

Crews collected enough eggs to stock 400,000 smolts planned for Lake Sakakawea in 2023, said Russ Kinzler, North Dakota Game and Fish Department Missouri River System fisheries biologist.

About 80% of the eggs were collected from Lake Sakakawea and the remainder from the Missouri River below Garrison Dam. Average size of female salmon was 5 pounds, which is about 2.5 pounds smaller than last year. The largest salmon was 21 pounds and was collected in the Missouri River below Garrison Dam.

Chinook salmon begin their spawning run in October. Since salmon cannot naturally reproduce in North Dakota, Game and Fish personnel capture the fish and transport them to Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery where they are relieved of their eggs.

Once the eggs hatch, young salmon spend about 6 months in the hatchery before being stocked in Lake Sakakawea. — N.D. Game and Fish Department

BISMARCK — Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., met Wednesday, Nov. 2, with North Dakota Game and Fish Department officials, including Director Jeb Williams, as well as representatives from sportsmen and livestock groups, to discuss efforts to combat chronic wasting disease. Hoeven is sponsoring legislation with Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., that would provide $70 million per year, split evenly between both research and management of the disease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture would administer the funds through cooperative agreements with state and tribal wildlife agencies and agriculture departments.

"Our ag researchers and Game and Fish officials are working hard to combat this harmful disease, but they need additional help," Hoeven, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said in a statement. "Our legislation would bolster their efforts by providing needed resources to research and develop better testing methods and management practices, while also empowering states and tribes to implement these solutions." — Herald staff report

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota DNR has certified a new state catch-and-release record muskie, a 58.25-inch fish caught by Eric Bakke of Princeton, Minn. The previous record was a tie for 57.25-inch muskies, which were caught on Lake Vermilion in 2019 and 2021.

Bakke was fishing June 11 on Mille Lacs Lake with fishing partner Jon Blood and caught the huge fish while trolling with a footlong muskie lure. After a minute or two of trying to reel in the fish, Blood was able to net it and they measured, photographed and released the fish in less than a minute.

"To be able to target and catch fish of this caliber has been one of the great passions of my life," Bakke said.

"In order to catch more and bigger fish you have to put them back: 'let them go, let them grow,'" Bakke added. "This record should and will be broken in the next year or two if we all make the choice to keep all those big fish alive and swimming for the next person to experience and catch a fish of their lifetime."

More information on Minnesota state record fish and guidelines is available at mndnr.gov/RecordFish. — Herald staff report

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota DNR is offering another phase of the No Child Left Inside grants to help more children cast a line, study animal tracks, hike or bike, or simply learn more about nature.

"This successful outreach grant program continues to send resources to schools and organizations to help get children outdoors," said Jeff Ledermann, DNR education and skills team supervisor. "These grants help boost outdoor programs and initiatives all around the state and especially in communities with limited opportunities to connect with nature."

Public entities and nonprofit organizations serving youth younger than 18 can apply for No Child Left Inside grants.

The request for proposals is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/No-Child-Grants, and applications will be accepted through 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7. — Herald staff report

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota DNR is restricting recreational use of off-highway vehicles on some state forest trails and access routes beginning Saturday, Nov. 5, the opening day of the state's firearms deer season, the agency said. Vehicles affected by the restrictions include ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and registered off-road vehicles, such as four-wheel drive trucks.

At certain times of day (listed below), these restrictions do not apply to vehicles being used by a licensed deer hunter in conjunction with deer hunting.

The effective dates of the recreational riding restrictions are:

* Nov. 5-20 for the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series deer season.

* Nov. 5-13 for the Minnesota 200 Series deer season.

The restrictions, which do not apply to state forest roads, aim to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize the potential for conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders.

Licensed deer hunters may still use restricted routes in conjunction with their hunting activity during the following time periods:

* Before legal shooting time.

* From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* After legal shooting hours.

More info: mndnr.gov/OHV/Closures.html. — Herald staff report

SOUTHOLD, N.Y. — The

Sea Tow Foundation

has announced the launch of its Life Jacket Loaner Program Grant Application for the summer of 2023 boating season. Anyone who is passionate about boating and saving lives through life jacket use can now apply to host a life jacket loaner station or restock an existing one.

The foundation receives grant funding through the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Funding allows the Sea Tow Foundation to purchase life jackets and loaner stand-building kits that can be distributed to organizations, agencies and businesses around the country to prevent drowning by making life jackets available to the boating public in a life jacket loaner program.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 1, 2023. Apply at

boatingsafety.com/page/2023-grant-application

. — Herald staff report

OSSEO, Minn. — The MN-FISH Sportfishing Foundation, in partnership with Toys for Tots, has launched "The Gift of Fishing," a campaign to provide Disney-themed fishing rod-and-reel combos to underprivileged youth throughout Minnesota.

To support the effort, MN-FISH is seeking donations.

"Imagine a child's joy when they find a fishing rod with their name on it this holiday season," MN-FISH said in a news release. "Share your love of fishing while supporting kids whose families can't afford to buy them a gift this year."

MN-FISH will ensure rods and reels are delivered to the Minnesota Toys for Tots collection stations operated by the U.S Marine Corps in plenty of time before Santa arrives.

To make a donation, send a check to MN-FISH/The Gift of Fishing, Box 7, Osseo, MN 55369.

More info: mn-fish.com. — Herald staff report