rules for portable stands on WMA's

Hunters planning to use portable stands on wildlife management areas this season are reminded to check regulations to learn when they need to remove stands after hunting.

“In most of the state, leaving stands overnight on WMAs is not allowed and they must be removed at the end of the day,” said Bob Welsh, Department of Natural Resources wildlife operations manager. “Users of most WMAs will not see a change in stand regulations this year, but there is a change in an area of northwestern Minnesota.” 

In a specific portion of northwestern Minnesota, new legislation allows portable stands to be left out on WMAs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

Minnesota has 1.3 million acres of land in WMAs, and an estimated 500,000 hunters are expected to hit the woods and fields during firearms deer season in hopes of harvesting a deer.

New in northwestern Minnesota
The new regulation allows WMA users to leave up to two portable stands overnight in any WMA in the northwestern corner of the state roughly north of Thief River Falls and west of Warroad. The area also is described as north of Highway 1 where it exits the Red Lake Indian Reservation to the western edge of the state, and west of a line from Highway 89 where it exits the Red Lake Indian Reservation to Fourtown, then north on the west side of Dick’s Parkway Forest Road, then north to Highway 5 to the northern edge of the state.

The DNR defines a portable stand as a stationary platform or blind designed and capable of being readily moved by hand by a single person in a single trip without the aid of a motorized vehicle, is secured in position and does no permanent damage to the natural environment.

Hunters leaving a stand overnight must label the stand with the hunter’s name and address; the hunter’s driver’s license number; or simply with the hunter’s MDNR number. The label must be readable from the ground.

WMAs elsewhere in Minnesota
In WMAs in the remainder of the state, stands cannot be left overnight.

“Every year we have people leaving stands overnight on WMAs, so it’s a common violation,” said Greg Salo, assistant director of the DNR Enforcement Division. “We have this regulation in place to prevent some users from preempting others from the opportunity to use WMAs on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Portable stands may be used on WMAs if they are removed each day at the close of shooting hours and do no permanent damage. Spikes or nails driven into trees are not allowed, but screwing or clamping devices are allowed if removed each day at the close of shooting hours.

“In addition to WMAs, there are a variety of other public land types and hunters should be aware that regulations governing the use of portable stands can differ depending on the type of public land they’re hunting,” Salo said.

Hunters should always wear a safety harness if using an elevated stand, added Salo.

“In addition to wearing a safety harness, check climbing sticks, steps or ladders for damage and always wait to load a firearm until safely in the stand,” Salo said.

Hunters need to be familiar with hunting regulations, which are available at any DNR license agent or online at mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting. Hunting questions should be directed to the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Red Lake Watershed District and DNR progress on Pine Lake flood project

The Red Lake Watershed District and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources continue their efforts toward better water management of the Pine Lake watershed in Clearwater County.

One of several flood damage reduction projects in the watershed district, the Pine Lake project will allow for water level management throughout the year by constructing a new control structure on Pine Lake and creating upstream retention basins to reduce flood damage at the lake and areas downstream.

A 45 square-mile drainage area flows into Pine Lake. Runoff causes rapid increases in lake levels in the spring and cabins have been flooded in 13 of the last 33 years. Lower lake levels in late summer, fall and winter can result in lake access issues for shoreland owners and may be detrimental to over-wintering fish populations.

Recently, the watershed district and the DNR signed a memorandum of understanding to seasonally hold water in the wetland located on the Little Pine Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) as part of area flood damage reduction efforts in the watershed. The WMA is located upstream from Pine Lake.

Under the memorandum, the watershed district will build a new dam on the wetland on Little Pine Lake WMA and the DNR will use it to manage water levels upstream to reduce flood damage and enhance wildlife habitat. In late fall, the DNR will drop water levels 2 feet in anticipation of holding upwards of 4 feet of water during a flood.

“Lower fall, and in drier years, lower spring water levels would offer some natural resource enhancements,” said Dave Rave, Bemidji DNR area wildlife supervisor. “Lower water levels will provide breeding and migrating waterfowl and shorebird habitat. In very wet springs, we will hold back water to minimize flooding at Crookston and other areas downstream.”

Better water management in this and other watersheds will ensure that they work efficiently to meet local needs and also help address a Red River basin region-wide goal, the Red River Basin Commission established to reduce peak flows along the Red River of the North.

Landowners and other watershed partners attended public meetings last July and provided input on the Pine Lake project, as well as a similar project on the Four Legged Lake watershed. The project teams met in August. The public input is now being used to determine the best options for both projects.

“Public input has been helpful in determining suitable alternatives for evaluation,” said Myron Jesme, Red River Watershed District administrator. “We’re encouraged that the DNR and the Red Lake Watershed District have signed an agreement that establishes authority and responsibility for water level management on the Little Pine Wildlife Management Area.”

For more information on both Pine Lake and Four Legged Lake Watershed projects and progress, visit www.redlakewatersed.org/.