Minnesota Hunters and Fishermen|More ‘keeper’ walleyes to be allowed on Mille Lacs; hunting application deadlines approaching fast

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Minnesota’s state government shutdown will not affect upcoming hunting seasons or prevent a mid-season walleye regulation change at Lake Mille Lacs.
“Some application deadlines are approaching fast but that’s the only significant impact to hunters,” said Ed Boggess, director of the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Fish and Wildlife Division. “On the angling side, we moved quickly to implement a more liberal walleye length limit regulation on Lake Mille Lacs.” The upcoming regulation change is based on an evaluation of the 2011 walleye harvest through June 30 that deemed a change was warranted.
Effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, the walleye length limit regulation on Lake Mille Lacs will change to a 20- to 28-inch protected slot. Currently the walleye regulation is an 18- to 28-inch protected slot.
As DNR services resume operation, the following items relate to hunters and anglers:

• Fishing and hunting licenses: They are again available at any of the state’s 1,500 license agents, as well as over the Internet or by phone.
• Bear license purchase deadline: Hunters who successfully applied in the 2011 bear license lottery must purchase their license by Aug. 1. Licenses that are not purchased will go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Thursday, Aug. 4. Bear baiting can legally begin Friday, Aug. 12.
• Fall turkey/prairie chicken: The application deadline for fall turkey and prairie chicken licenses is Friday, July 29. Applications may be made online, by calling toll-free 888-665-4236, or through the electronic licensing system wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
• Deer hunting: Licenses will go on sale Aug. 1. The deadline for lottery either-sex permit applications and special deer hunts is Thursday, Sept. 8. The firearms deer season opens Nov. 5. The Camp Ripley archery hunt will be held as scheduled, as will special youth and state park deer hunts. One potential exception is the St. Croix State Park youth deer hunt. The feasibility of going forward with that hunt is under evaluation because of widespread damage to the park from high winds on July 1. Additional information will be announced later.
• Hunting regulations booklet: Printed copies of this year’s regulation booklet won’t be available until mid-August but an online version should be available Aug. 1.
• Waterfowl hunting: Hunting season decisions will be made in mid-August.