District 9 – Brainerd area Last updated: 2023-02-27 CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports area lakes saw high activity among ice anglers this weekend and recent snowfall allowed snowmobilers to enjoy a great weekend on the trails. Sullivan also checked area lakes for litter and permanent shelters that have not been visited lately. The permanent shelter removal…
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CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked ice angling activity, including a local fishing contest. Several fish houses were being removed from the lakes due to the snow forecast and the season winding down. A lot of snowmobile riders were out despite icy conditions. CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) worked snowmobiling and angling activity. Mille Lacs Lake was…
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CO Andrew Ladzinski (Pine River) patrolled area lakes for snowmobiling and angling activity. Follow-up investigations were conducted for invalid licenses during this past deer season. He patrolled with other officers in Voyageurs National Park during the busy holiday weekend. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile-registration and angling violations. CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports recent rain…
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Hunters harvested about 170,000 deer during the 2022 deer hunting season, a lower total harvest than in recent years. Total harvest was down 7% compared to the 2021 season and 10% less than the five-year average deer harvest for Minnesota. “Lower deer numbers in northern Minnesota and poor weather during opening weekend in some parts…
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Spearers, anglers and bowfishers will be allowed to keep up to 10 gar — the toothy, prehistoric fish native to Minnesota waters — starting March 1, when a new gar possession limit is in effect on all Minnesota inland and border waters. The limit applies to longnose and shortnose gar, which previously could be kept…
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District 10 – Mille Lacs area Last updated: 2023-02-13 CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked angler activity. Pleasant weather had anglers out catching perch and crappies. Snowmobile riders were out but trail conditions deteriorated rapidly with the thaw. Verkuilen also attended training and checked trapping activity. CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) worked snowmobile and area lake activity. Griffith…
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CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports area lakes are seeing less angling pressure as winter progresses. Anglers are starting to target sunfish and crappies. Snowmobile trails in the area are starting to show wear with the recent increase in temperature, but riding conditions are still good. Deer-hunting investigations continued and enforcement action was taken for an…
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Turkey hunters who want to take part in the spring hunting seasons have until the end of business today to apply for turkey hunting permits. The permits, along with a turkey license, are required for hunters over 18 to take part in the early spring season.the permits are good for the A-C spring hunting season…
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The Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee will meet from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. The meeting is hybrid — via online videoconference as well as in-person at McQuoid’s Inn, 1325 State Highway 47, Isle. The agenda will include updates on fall netting results, the winter creel survey, the 2023 harvestable surplus level and a discussion of…
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CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked angler activity where colder weather froze slush and allowed broader fish house access. Snowmobile riders were out but lake surfaces were rough and caused limited speed. Many pelts are prime this time of year, resulting in predator hunters getting checked and contending with deep snow depths. Many local deer were…
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