Reminder: Apply for turkey permits in Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs by Feb. 16
Turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 16, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A-C spring hunting seasons in Mille Lacs and Carlos Avery wildlife management areas and the A-B seasons in Whitewater Wildlife Management Area.
In addition to a turkey license, a permit is required for those hoping to bag a tom turkey with a firearm in one of these WMAs during early seasons. Turkey firearm permits for these WMAs are distributed via a lottery system. There is no permit required to hunt Whitewater WMA during the C season.
Turkey licenses go on sale March 1 for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off Wednesday, April 17. New this season, crossbows will be allowed by all hunters with an archery turkey license. Turkey hunting season dates and details for 2024 are available on the Minnesota DNR website.
Light goose harvest opportunity begins Feb. 18
Hunters can help reduce the population of light geese through a federally authorized spring conservation harvest running from Feb. 18 through April 30. Light geese are snow geese, blue-phased snow geese and the smaller Ross’s goose. Licenses go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 13, and harvest regulations can be found on the Minnesota DNR website. The conservation action aims to reduce damage from these geese to fragile ecosystems in Arctic coastal areas and around Hudson Bay.
Minnesota DNR webinars focus on dates in nature, edible mushrooms
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in wildlife and outdoor skills to check out the winter program schedule for the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 14, environmental psychologists Dr. Christie Manning and Dr. Elise Amel will share how time spent in nature improves our mental health and provides many other benefits. The webinar will also highlight several opportunities and programs available to people to “make a date” with nature and significant others or family members this winter.
In a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 21, a member of the Minnesota Mycological Society will discuss edible mushrooms that grow in Minnesota and how foraging for mushrooms, after learning how to do so safely, can be a fun and healthy way to find delicious wild food and connect with the outdoors.
The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website for the registration portal, more information about upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.