The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has certified two new state record fish so far this fall: in the catch-and-release category, a 58.25-inch muskellunge fish caught on Mille Lacs Lake by Eric Bakke of Princeton; and in the certified weight category, a one pound 12-ounce hybrid sunfish from Green Lake in Kandiyohi County that tied…
Read more
Archery hunters who participated in the Oct. 28-30 Camp Ripley Hunt near Little Falls had good success, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This year, 1,953 participating hunters harvested 221 deer during the three-day hunt, including several large bucks weighing more than 220 pounds. Last year, 1,949 hunters harvested 273 deer during the…
Read more
Winter anglers on Mille Lacs Lake can enjoy a walleye harvest opportunity for the seventh season in a row. Starting on Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers will be allowed to keep one walleye between 21-23 inches or one walleye longer than 28 inches on Mille Lacs. “Our assessment netting shows that the walleye population is abundant…
Read more
CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked deer hunters, who were having slow success and struggling with windy conditions on the Sunday of opening weekend. Verkuilen also talked about deer season regulations on a local radio program. Anglers made use of the calmer days to go after Mille Lacs Lake muskies. They also caught some limits of…
Read more
District 9 – Brainerd areaLast updated: 2022-11-07CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) focused on deer hunting activity this past week. During the opening weekend of firearms season Sullivan contacted hunters that were transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle, hunting deer with the aid of bait and trespassing. During the investigations firearms and illegally taken deer were…
Read more
Last updated: 2022-11-01 CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked small-game hunters, who were having better luck with the fallen leaves. Nice weather translated to increased angler activity and docks being moved. Deer-season complaints were investigated and various permits were issued. CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) spent time answering questions concerning the upcoming firearms deer season. Time was also…
Read more
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is restricting open burning due to increased wildfire risk from dry conditions across much of Minnesota. The burning restrictions apply in the following counties: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore,…
Read more
Last updated: 2022-11-01 CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) completed another week of training with COC Ohnstad. They spent time on ATV/ORV enforcement and checking hunters in the field. Some of the violations were failure to register ORVs, riding within the public roadway with Class I ATVs, and fishing with extra lines. CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports…
Read more
The Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee will meet from is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. The meeting is hybrid — via online videoconference as well as in-person at at McQuoid’s Inn, 1325 State Highway 47, Isle. The agenda will include recent creel and other lake survey results, and a discussion on the state’s priorities when setting…
Read more
Recreational use of off-highway vehicles will be restricted on some state forest trails and access routes during the upcoming firearms deer hunting season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Vehicles affected by the restrictions include all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and registered off-road vehicles, such as four-wheel drive trucks. At certain times of day…
Read more