DNR announces northwestern Minnesota furbearer registration stations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds northwestern Minnesota fur trappers to register their pelts in December and January at one of several furbearer registration stations.

At the following locations, furbearers (all species) may be registered from noon to 7 p.m., or 3 to 6 p.m. (depending on the office), on Dec 2. Bobcat and otter only registration will be held between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 10.

• Backus DNR forestry office, 4391 State Highway 87, 218-732-8452.
• Baudette area wildlife office, 204 Main St. E., 218-634-1705.
• Bemidji area wildlife office, 2114 Bemidji Ave., 218-308-2339.
• Detroit Lakes area wildlife office, 14583 County Highway 19, 218-846-8470.
• Fergus Falls area wildlife office, 1509 1st Ave. N., 218-739-7576.
• Park Rapids area wildlife office, 603 First St. W., 218-732-8452.
• Roseau County courthouse, 606 5th Ave. SW, 218-463-1130.
• Thief Lake WMA office, Middle River, 42280 240th Ave. NE, 218-222-3747.
• Wadena County Highway Department, 221 Harry Rich Dr., Wadena, 218-732-8452.
• Warroad DNR forestry office, 804 Cherne Drive NW, 218-783-6861.

Registration is also available by appointment throughout the furbearer season at any of the following DNR area wildlife offices. Trappers and hunters must call ahead to make an appointment.

• Baudette area wildlife office, 204 Main St. E., 218-634-1705.
• Bemidji area wildlife office, 2114 Bemidji Ave., 218-308-2348.
• Park Rapids area wildlife office, 603 First St. W., 218-732-8452.
• Crookston area wildlife office, 204 Main St. S., 218-281-6063.
• Detroit Lakes area wildlife office, 14583 County Highway 19, 218-846-8374.
• Fergus Falls area wildlife office, 1509 1st Ave. N., 218-739-7576.
• Glenwood area wildlife office, 23070 N. Lakeshore Drive, 320-634-7337.
• Karlstad area wildlife office, 202 Main St. N., 218-436-2427.
• Red Lake WMA office, Norris Camp, 218-783-6861.
• Roseau River WMA office, Roseau, 27952 400th St., 218-463-1130.
• Thief River Falls area wildlife office, 246 125th Ave. NE, 218-681-0946.
• Thief Lake WMA office, Middle River, 42280 240th Ave. NE, 218-222-3747.

Pelts must be removed from the carcass and thawed for inspection purposes. The entire carcass of bobcats, and the heads of each pine marten and fisher, must be presented at the time of registration. Trappers must present completed site validation coupons for each fisher, pine marten and river otter when presenting these pelts for registration. The site validation tags must be notched to indicate the date and time of harvest. Trappers can obtain four otter tags and two fisher/marten tags, which are available upon request from license vendors. Trappers may have two combined (one fisher and one marten) or two fisher or two marten.
To expedite registration, trappers must produce their license (trappers should also bring their small game license) and should bring the following written information for each animal to be registered: species; sex; date and location taken (county, township and range); method of take, including type of trap used; and the DNR number as shown on the license.
Fur registration forms and additional information are available from the area wildlife offices or the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/trapping.

Beaver season extended in northern counties

The beaver trapping season has been extended through Friday, May 15, in the northern third of the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Trappers who participate in the season extension are required to take the following actions to prevent incidental otter catch:

• Foothold traps must be set in at least 8 inches of water.
• Body-gripping traps must be completely submerged. Body-gripping traps with a jaw opening greater than 7-1/2 inches must be set with the trigger wires moved all the way to one side of the trap.
• Snares must be set with stops affixed to the cable to ensure that the noose loop is no less than four inches in diameter when fully closed.

The season will be extended north of Minnesota Highway 200, east of Minnesota Highway 73, and north of the Pine/Carlton county line. Before the extension, the season had been scheduled to close statewide on Thursday, April 30. In the southern two-thirds of the state, the season will still close on that date.

A map of the open area (the north mink/muskrat/beaver/otter zone) can be found on page 49 of the 2014 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook and at www.mndnr.gov/trapping.

MDA to set nearly 15,000 traps statewide to look for gypsy moth

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will set nearly 15,000 gypsy moth traps across Minnesota this spring. The work is part of the MDA’s annual detection trapping program and is designed to protect Minnesota’s forests and urban areas from new infestations of gypsy moth.

Beginning May 15, MDA staff will be out in southern Minnesota setting traps. The northern portion of the state will start to receive traps after June 12. Setting the thousands of traps will take several weeks.

Most of the gypsy moth traps are small, triangle-shaped and made of cardboard. Milk carton traps, which are much larger, are used in areas of northeastern Minnesota where moth numbers are expected to be much higher than elsewhere. All of the traps are set on trees or poles across the state and contain a pheromone to lure in male gypsy moths.

Citizens are asked not to disturb the traps and to call MDA’s Arrest the Pest Hotline at 888-545-MOTH if they would like traps moved or removed from their properties. 

Trapping results may identify areas that need localized treatments to control the moths. The Twin Cities metro area is considered high risk for human-assisted introductions of gypsy moth, but trap counts are still expected to be low in that area. Northeastern Minnesota is again expected to be the hot spot for gypsy moths in 2014, as the invasion front has now moved into that area from infested states to the east.

“For over 40 years, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and our partners have protected Minnesota’s trees from this nasty pest,” MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said. “Our efforts have saved important industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm. Each year we delay the moths is a victory for the environment and the economy.” 

Gypsy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch and willow. Severe, repeated infestations can kill trees, especially when the trees are already stressed by drought or other factors.

For more details about the trapping program and gypsy moth, visit the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth.

Long winter prompts temporary beaver season extension

Due to prolonged ice cover, the beaver trapping season in the northern third of Minnesota will be extended through Thursday, May 15.
The season was scheduled to close statewide on Wednesday, April 30, but a second consecutive winter of persistently frozen lakes and rivers in the north prompted the Department of Natural Resources to temporarily extend the 2013-14 season. Beaver trapping will close as scheduled in the southern two-thirds of the state.
Trappers who participate in the season extension will be required to take the following modifications to prevent incidental otter catch:

• Foothold traps must be set in at least 8 inches of water.
• Body-gripping traps must be completely submerged. Those with a jaw opening greater than 7 ½ inches must be set with the trigger wires moved all the way to one side of the trap. The wires must point straight down.
• Snares must be set with stops affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the snare that makes up the noose loop may not be less than 4 inches in diameter when fully closed.

The season will be extended north of state Highway 200, east of state Highway 73 and north of the Pine-Carlton county line. A map of the open area (the north mink/muskrat/beaver/otter zone) can be found on page 48 of the 2013 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook, which is available online www.mndr.gov/regulations/hunting.

DNR closes wolf season in northwestern Minnesota

The 2014 wolf hunting and trapping season in northwestern Minnesota closes at the end of shooting hours on Friday, Dec. 27, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

By Thursday evening, Dec. 26, hunters and trappers had harvested 86 wolves, three wolves short of the northwest wolf zone’s harvest target. DNR officials called for the closure anticipating that the target harvest would be met by the end of Friday, Dec. 27. 

Wolf hunting and trapping continues in the east-central wolf zone for anyone with a valid license. The late season in the east-central zone is scheduled to end on Friday, Jan. 31, or whenever the target harvest is expected to be met, whichever comes first.

As of Dec. 27, hunters and trappers had harvested five wolves in the east-central zone during the late season.

The late wolf season closed in the northeast zone on Dec. 18; hunters harvested 37 wolves. During the early hunting season, which concluded Nov. 25, hunters harvested 32 of 33 wolves in the northeast; 56 of 73 wolves in the northwest; and no wolves in the east-central zone.
Complete wolf hunting information, including a map of the wolf zones, is available online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf. Information about wolf management is available online at www.mndnr.gov/wolves.

East-central zone closes to wolf hunting and trapping Dec. 14

Wolf hunting and trapping in the east-central zone will close for the remainder of the late season at the end of shooting and trapping hours on Friday, Dec. 14, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The northwest and northeast zones remain open through Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, or until a zone’s target harvest is reached. The northeast zone also is approaching its target harvest and may close within the next few days. Permits are not zone-specific, allowing hunters and trappers to hunt or trap in any open zone.

The harvest target for the east-central zone during the late season is 10 wolves. Nine were registered when DNR initiated season closure on Dec. 13.

Hunters and trappers in all zones have registered a total of 114 wolves so far during the late season. The total harvest target for all zones is 253 wolves for the late season.

Wolf hunters and trappers must:

Register all wolves by 10 p.m. the day of harvest in order for the DNR to monitor zone-specific harvest levels. Registration is available via telephone, website or in person.

Obey zone closures, which become effective the end of legal shooting and trapping hours for the day on which a zone is closed.

Take responsibility for tracking season progress and season/zone closure each morning before hunting or trapping by calling 888-706-6367 or checking the DNR wolf hunting page.

Season status and harvest targets will be updated in real-time for each zone.

Return any radio collars when they bring wolves in for the mandatory wolf inspection and bring an ear tag along so that information on the tag can be examined and recorded.

Present the entire skinned wolf and pelt for inspection as outlined in the wolf hunting and trapping regulations so the DNR can collect data on wolves for population monitoring.

Complete wolf hunting information, including a map of the wolf zones, is available online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf.

DNR announces wolf season details

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resource (DNR) has finalized rules for Minnesota’s first regulated wolf hunting and trapping season this fall and winter. There are several changes to what the DNR originally proposed in May as a result of input received since the proposal was announced.

“We changed the closing date for the late season from Jan. 6, 2013, to Jan. 31,” said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife program manager. “We also tightened the wolf harvest registration requirement so we can more quickly close a zone based on harvest results.”

Another notable change is that the wolf range will be divided into three zones for the purposes of harvest targets, registration and season closure. The northeast zone and the east-central zone closely parallel the 1854 and 1837 treaty ceded territory boundaries. These zones will allow the state to allocate and manage wolf harvest in consultation with Indian bands that have court-affirmed off-reservation hunting rights. The northwest zone will be the other area open to wolf hunting. Only that portion of Minnesota where rifles are legal for deer hunting will be open for taking wolves. When harvest targets are reached in any zone, that zone will be closed and hunters will be able to continue to hunt in any other open zone.

The state’s first regulated wolf hunt will begin Saturday, Nov. 3. The target harvest is 400. The early wolf season will last up to nine days in the 200-series deer permit areas and up to 16 days in the 100-series deer permit areas. The late season, which also allows trapping for those with a wolf trapping license, will begin Nov. 24 statewide. Target harvests are 265 in the northwest zone, 117 in the northeast zone and 18 in the east-central zone.  
  
The state’s inaugural wolf season will be conducted under a conservative approach that is consistent with the goal of ensuring the long-term survival of wolves, and addressing wolf and human conflicts. The state’s wolf population is estimated at 3,000. This year’s wolf season follows the transition of wolves from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act to state management this past January. The 2012 Legislature also passed and Gov. Dayton signed a bill providing additional direction and authorities for conducting a wolf season.

Merchant said the public comment period that ended June 20 was helpful, providing additional insights that helped determine the final decisions. The DNR received 7,351 online survey responses. The survey was designed to solicit input on specific management options for the hunting and trapping season. 

“Of those who approved of the season, 82 percent of survey respondents said they supported the DNR’s proposed season structure and implementation of a limited fall hunt,” said Merchant. “That suggested our proposal was generally in line with hunter and trapper expectations.”

Other survey results included strong backing (75 percent) from those who supported wolf hunting for having both early and late wolf hunts. The DNR also asked hunters and trappers for their preference on notification and closure for ending the hunt when the target harvest quota is reached. Respondents overwhelmingly preferred that notification of closure be published by early morning, and that hunters and trappers be allowed to finish out the day’s hunt. The season will close at the end of the first full day for which closure notification is posted and sent to license holders.

Additional information about wolf management and the upcoming season is available online at www.mndnr.gov/wolves.

Details of the season
Consistent with state law, the state’s first regulated wolf season will start with the beginning of firearms deer hunting on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The season will be split into two parts: an early wolf hunting season coinciding with firearms deer hunting; and a late wolf hunting and trapping season after the firearms deer season for those with a specific interest in wolf hunting and trapping.

A total of 6,000 licenses will be offered, with 3,600 available in the early season and 2,400 in the late season. Late season licenses will be further split between hunting and trapping, with a minimum of 600 reserved for trappers. The target harvest will be 400 wolves for both seasons combined, and will initially be allocated equally between the early and the late seasons.

The early hunting only season will be open only in the northern portions of Minnesota where rifles are allowed for deer hunting. It will start on Saturday, Nov. 3, the opening day of firearms deer hunting. It will close either at the end of the respective firearms seasons in the two northern deer zones (Nov. 18 in Series 100 deer permit areas or Nov. 11 in Series 200 deer permit areas), or when a registered target harvest by zone is reached.

The late hunting and trapping season will begin Saturday, Nov. 24. It will close Jan. 31, 2013, or when a registered total target harvest by zone or total harvest of 400 in both seasons combined is reached, whichever comes sooner. The late season will be open only where rifles are allowed for deer hunting. The use of bait and electronic calls will be allowed.

Wolf hunting licenses will be $30 for residents and $250 for nonresidents. Nonresidents will be limited to 5 percent of total hunting licenses. Wolf trapping licenses will be $30 (limited to residents only). A lottery will be held to select license recipients. Proof of a current or previous hunting license will be required to apply for a wolf license. The application fee will be $4. A wolf season regulation booklet is being developed.

Season structure

• The early wolf hunting season (legal firearms or archery) will be concurrent with the deer season and open only in that portion of the state where rifles can be used to hunt deer.
• The early season dates are Nov. 3-18 in 100 Series deer permit areas (northeastern and east-central Minnesota) and Nov. 3-11 in the rifle zone portion of 200 Series deer permit areas (central and northwestern Minnesota). The early season will close before those dates if the target harvest by wolf zone is reached sooner.
• No trapping will be allowed in the early season.
• The late hunting and trapping season will open Nov. 24 statewide. It will close Jan. 31 or when the total target harvest by wolf zone is reached, whichever is sooner.
• Licensed wolf hunters will be responsible for checking each day to assure that the season is still open.
• Landowners and tribal authorities may close land under their control to wolf harvest at their discretion.
• The bag limit is one wolf per licensee.

Licensing

• A person cannot purchase both a wolf hunting and a wolf trapping license. A person with a hunting license may take a wolf only by firearms or archery; a person with a trapping license may take a wolf only by trap or snare.
• 3,600 licenses will be available for the early season and are only valid for the early season. 
• 2,400 licenses will be available for the late season (at least 600 trapping) and are only valid for the late season.
• The number of hunting licenses offered to nonresidents will be capped at 5 percent for both the early and late seasons.
• Licenses must be purchased prior to the opening day of the respective seasons.

Application process

• Application materials will be available online in mid-August with a $4 application fee.
• A person must have proof of a current or previous hunting license to apply.
• Trappers born after Dec. 31, 1989, need a trapper education certificate or proof of a previous trapping license to purchase a wolf trapping license.
• The application deadline will be Sept. 6; online winner notification will be no later than Oct. 14.
• Licenses will be available for purchase no later than Oct. 15.
• Groups of up to four individuals many apply as a single group and may assist another licensed wolf hunter, but may not shoot or tag for each other.
• Applicants can apply for only one of three license types: early wolf hunting, late wolf hunting, or late wolf trapping.

Registration

• All animals must be registered by 10 p.m. of the day of harvest (can be done electronically at ELS agent, online or by phone).
• Harvest registration information/reporting will be available online and via a toll-free phone number.
• Harvest registration must identify the zone in which the wolf was taken.
• Carcasses must be presented for collection of biological data.

Season closure and notification

• The season for each wolf zone will close at the end of legal shooting hours on the day for which hunters and trappers are notified that the closure will occur.
• Notification will be available via a toll-free phone number and DNR web site indicating whether the season is open or closed in each wolf zone.