A 30-day comment period for the Refuge's Draft Hunting Plan began on December 5, 2011, and will end January 4, 2012. Migratory game bird, big game, and upland game hunting are allowed on designated areas of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge during state seasons. The hunting plan is being revised to include land owned or managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service between Jordan, Minn. and Henderson, Minn. Other proposed revisions include expanding areas open to special hunts, requiring non-toxic shot for turkey hunting, and limiting species open to hunting on a portion of the Wilkie Unit.
The Draft Hunting Plan is available on-line on the Refuge website: http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/minnesotavalley. Paper copies are available at both the Rapids Lake Education & Visitor Center, located at 15865 Carver Highlands Drive in Carver, and the Bloomington Main Office at 3815 American Blvd. East in Bloomington. Written comments will be accepted at the Bloomington Office or via email at minnesotavalley@fws.gov. Please include "Draft Hunting Plan" in the subject line.
The Refuge is conducting a Listening Station to make it more convenient for people to comment on the Draft Hunting Plan. The Listening Station will be conducted at the Rapids Lake Education & Visitor Center on Thursday, December 15, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. People who want to comment on the draft plan or who are seeking more information are invited to stop by or drop off written comments, give oral comments or ask questions one-on-one with a Refuge employee.
For more information on the Listening Station or the Draft Hunting Plan, please call (952) 854-5900
