A free online atlas of hunting lands enrolled in Minnesota's new Walk-In Access program is available for viewing and downloading at www.mndnr.gov/walkin .
This is the first year of Minnesota's Walk-in Access program, in which farmers are paid to open their land to hunters on foot. It's designed primarily for pheasant hunters.
"Our website offers a number of ways for hunters to identify and locate WIA parcels," said Marybeth Block, Walk-In Access coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "In addition to aerial maps, we offer some neat interactive options through Google maps, Google earth and the DNR recreational compass."
Block said crews have posted boundary signs on more than 9,500 acres enrolled in the program in southwestern Minnesota.
Walk-In sites are not considered open until boundary signs are in place, Block said. Maps should be used for reference only.
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The public may hunt on any signed Walk-In parcels of land without getting additional permission from landowners. No motorized vehicle traffic is allowed. Trapping, trap shooting, fishing, dog training or other activities outside of hunting are prohibited.
2012 duck stamp design chosen
2012 duck stamp design chosen
A ruddy duck painted by Stephen P. Hamrick of Lakeville, Minn., will be featured on the 2012 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.
Hamrick's painting was chosen as the winning design from among 26 entries in the stamp contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The $7.50 duck stamp is required of all Minnesota waterfowl hunters ages 18 through 64. Stamp sales generate between $500,000 and $900,000 per year for habitat enhancement projects.
Gary Loomis to speak in Duluth
Gary Loomis, founder of the G. Loomis fishing rod company, will make a presentation titled "A Fish First Success Story" from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth. The presentation, open to the public, is about restoration of salmon streams in the Pacific Northwest. The event is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute.
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Meetings set on sunfish, crappie proposals near Grand Rapids
The Grand Rapids Area Fisheries Office of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold two public open-house meetings about sunfish and crappie regulation proposals.
A five-fish limit on sunfish is being proposed for Dixon, Sand and connected waters (near Max); Splithand, Little Splithand, Cut Foot Sioux and Little Cut Foot; and Blackwater, Jay Gould and Little Jay Gould. On Sand and connected waters, Dixon and Splithand, the proposal also includes a five-fish possession limit for crappies.
Meetings will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids; and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Sand Lake Community Center, on County Road 4 about four miles west of Spring Lake.
Comments also may be directed to Chris Kavanaugh, DNR Area Fisheries, 1201 E. Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or e-mail chris.kavanaugh@state.mn.us .
Vermilion walleye population up for discussion
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting to provide an update on the Lake Vermilion walleye population.
The meeting location has been changed from an earlier announcement. Originally scheduled at the DNR area office, the meeting now will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Tower Civic Center.
