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Outdoors Notebook: Ontario proposes cuts to Lake of the Woods walleye limits in provincial waters

The proposal results from concerns that harvest rates in Ontario waters of Lake of the Woods are too high, walleye biomass is below target levels and high mortality rates have resulted in few older walleyes in the population.

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A walleye released in August 2022 from the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods.
Brad Dokken/Grand Forks Herald

KENORA, Ont. – Anglers fishing the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods could keep a daily limit of 2 walleyes with a sport license or 1 walleye with a conservation license under a proposal the province’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry posted Nov. 10.

According to a story posted on Ontario’s DrydenNow website, the proposal results from concerns that harvest rates in Ontario waters of Lake of the Woods are too high, walleye biomass is below target levels and high mortality rates have resulted in few older walleyes in the population.

As part of the Lake of the Woods Draft Recreational Walleye Plan, anglers with a sport license could keep 2 walleyes daily less than 16.9 inches, with one over 27.5 inches allowed, on the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods. The possession limit would be 4 with the same size restrictions.

Anglers with a conservation license could keep 1 walleye daily less than 16.9 inches, with a possession limit of 2, which also would have to be less than 16.9 inches, on the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods.

Ontario and Canada residents with a sport license currently can keep 4 walleyes daily, including 1 over 18 inches; and 2 walleyes daily, including 1 over 18 inches, with a conservation license. Nonresidents can keep 2 walleyes daily, of which no more than 1 can exceed 18 inches. Daily and possession limits are the same.

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As reported by DrydenNow, the MNRF has partnered with several local Indigenous communities, tourism operators, municipal government and recreational users to form the Lake of the Woods Fisheries Advisory Council, which has been meeting since January 2021 to develop the draft recreational walleye plan.

A 60-day comment period on the plan opened Nov. 10 and continues through Jan. 9, 2023.

– Herald staff report

MDF expands staff in the Dakotas

SALT LAKE CITY – The Mule Deer Foundation announced this week that it has hired a habitat partnership coordinator and a regional director to focus on the Dakota Grasslands region. Casey Nordine was hired in October to serve as the regional director who will coordinate chapter activities and fundraisers in South Dakota and Nebraska.

In early November, Brennen Borah joined the MDF staff to serve as a habitat partnership coordinator working with state and federal agencies and private landowners to restore habitat for mule deer, sage grouse, pronghorn and other wildlife in the Dakota Grasslands project area.

Together with North Dakota regional director Sara Wagner, Wyoming regional director Shawn Blajszczak and Montana regional director Chris Fortune, the Dakotas staff will direct focused effort to implement projects on the eastern range of mule deer, which is dominated by private land with intermixed federal and state lands.

The efforts kicked off Wednesday, Nov. 23, with a volunteer project to remove old fencing or convert it to wildlife-friendly designs in the U.S. Forest Service’s McKenzie Ranger District of western North Dakota. The project on the Little Missouri National Grassland was an effort to remove fencing that was a barrier to wildlife movement and replace it with wildlife-friendly fencing.

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“The Mule Deer Foundation has been growing our role in North Dakota over the past five years with volunteer and industry projects on private lands that benefit mule deer and many other wildlife species,” Steve Belinda, MDF chief conservation officer, said in a statement. “The addition of Brennen and Casey to our team in the Dakota Grasslands region will create significant new opportunity for us to make a difference on the prairies where mule deer live.”

– Herald staff report

DNR offers Upper Red, Mille Lacs reminders

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources this week offered a reminder on winter walleye limits for ice anglers who fish Mille Lacs and Upper Red lakes.

On Upper Red Lake, a three-walleye bag limit, with one walleye longer than 17 inches allowed in possession, went into effect Nov. 1.

On Mille Lacs Lake, a one-walleye bag limit, with one walleye between 21 inches and 23 inches or one walleye longer than 28 inches allowed in possession, will go into effect Thursday, Dec. 1.

More info:

  • Upper Red Lake: mndnr.gov/LakeFind/Lake.html?id=04003501.
  • Mille Lacs Lake: mndnr.gov/MilleLacsLake.

– Herald staff report

Group seeks lead ban on NPS lands

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility nonprofit group has filed a petition to ban the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on all property managed by the National Park Service, the Columbus-based Sportsmen’s Alliance reported in a news release. According to the petition, the proposed ban includes more than 51 million acres open to hunting, comprising more than 60% of the land area in the system.

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The PEER petition cites the 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunt/fish rule, which began the process of banning lead ammo and tackle on national wildlife refuges this past summer. As with the FWS rule, the PEER petition argues for a total ban, citing lead’s known toxicity, but fails to cite specific evidence of population-level effects on particular NPS properties of concern, according to the Sportsmen’s Alliance report.

As the Sportsmen’s Alliance forecasted, the FWS effort to ban lead is being followed by other groups – and potentially – more agencies.

“As we stated earlier about the FWS hunt/fish rule, these bans, which fail to show specific population-level effects, are highly irresponsible,” Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance, said in a statement. “In every case, we have no idea how many hunters and anglers will be driven away by the high cost of alternatives, so we strongly condemn such actions when there is no hard science to back up the bans in the first place.”

– Herald staff report

NDGF offers early-ice reminders

BISMARCK – As anglers begin venturing out on early ice, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds outdoor enthusiasts to be aware of conditions and the potential for unsafe ice.

A few reminders include:

  • Edges firm up faster than farther out from shore.
  • Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, hiding cracks, weak and open water areas.
  • Ice can form overnight, causing unstable conditions. Ice thickness is not consistent, as it can vary significantly within a few inches.
  • Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
  • Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
  • Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
  • The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or ATV; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.

Game and Fish also offered these life-saving safety tips:

  • Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
  • Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
  • If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.
  • To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport the victim to a hospital.

– Herald staff report

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NDGF highlights late-season hunting dates

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s statewide duck and white-fronted goose seasons close Sunday, Dec. 4, the Game and Fish Department said in a reminder. However, duck hunting in the High Plains Unit reopens Saturday, Dec. 10, and continues through Sunday, Jan. 1.

In addition, the season for Canada geese closes Dec. 17 in the Eastern Zone, Dec. 22 in the Western Zone and Dec. 30 in the Missouri River Zone. Light goose hunting closes statewide on Friday, Dec. 30.

Archery deer, fall turkey, sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse, partridge and pheasant hunting seasons continue through Sunday, Jan. 1.

– Herald staff report

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