Here's a summary of regulation changes for this fall's hunting and trapping seasons. For more details, consult the Minnesota and Wisconsin hunting regulations booklets.
MINNESOTA
Small game
Youths 15 and younger are now required to obtain a free license.
Sandhill crane hunt: Minnesota's first sandhill crane hunt opened Saturdayin several northwestern counties. It will run until Oct. 10. A sandhill crane permit, but no other license, is required for the hunt. Deer
Hunters may now apply for both firearms and muzzleloader lottery either-sex deer permits. Deadline to apply for the either-sex deer lottery is Thursday .
You may now register your deer over the phone or online. Check synopsis for details.
An either-sex youth deer season runs Oct. 21-24 in the northwest and southeast.
Several changes have been made in the Zone 3 deer season.
Several boundaries have changed in deer permit areas, including those in Northeastern Minnesota. Hunters should be sure they designate the right area when buying their licenses. Trapping
Body-gripping traps with jaws larger than 6½ inches may not be set in road rights-of-way.
New regulations apply to tending weasel boxes.
The fisher and pine marten limit is five but may include no more than two fishers.
Beaver season will close April 30.
New rules apply to staking muskrat houses.
The raccoon/fox/badger/opossum trapping season will open Oct. 16 in the north mink/muskrat/beaver/otter zone.
New rules cover reporting incidental take of certain furbearers. WISCONSIN
Deer
No longer is there a three-day waiting period to use an archery license purchased during the open season.
Non-residents 65 and older may use a crossbow for hunting with the appropriate hunting license without a special permit authorizing the crossbow's use. This provision is the same as residents 65 and older.
Scopes or telescopic sights with magnification are now legal on muzzleloaders during the 10-day muzzleloader season, Nov. 29 to Dec.8.
Deer and bears may now be quartered for easier removal from the field, subject to certain restrictions.
A four-day antlerless-only deer hunt will be held in all herd-control and CWD units Oct. 14-17. Another four-day antlerless-only hunt will be held Dec. 9-12 for all units statewide (including those north of Highway 8) except in state parks and non-quota areas.
A two-day youth deer hunt will be held Oct. 9-10. Small game/trapping
The bobcat hunting and trapping season is split between two time periods, and permits are valid for only one of the seasons.
Bobcat harvest must be reported within 24 hours.
Fall turkey hunting with dogs is allowed statewide.
Non-residents 65 and older may hunt with a crossbow.
The bobcat season has been extended through January and split into two time periods. Trappers also will be able to use cable restraints for bobcats in the January portion of the season if they have a permit for the second bobcat time period.
Several changes to the waterfowl season structure include eliminating the Burnett Subzone closed area, making it huntable as part of the exterior zone, and implementing new property rules at the Mead and Zeloski Marsh properties.
