In This Issue
Weekly news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management.
Late-season deer hunt to manage CWD is Dec. 19-21 in select areas
Deer hunters can participate in a late-season chronic wasting disease management hunt Friday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 21. Deer permit areas open to this CWD management hunt are 605, 642, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648 and 649.
CWD testing is voluntary for this year’s late CWD hunt. Hunters who would like to get their deer tested for CWD can use a self-service station, the partner sampling program, or hunter mail-in kits. Hunters can also make an appointment at a DNR wildlife office (mndnr.gov/areas/wildlife). This year, there will not be any in-person, staffed check stations available during the CWD management hunt dates.
While CWD testing is voluntary, carcass movement restrictions remain in effect for all the DPAs included in the late CWD hunt. Details on those restrictions are available on the Minnesota DNR deer imports webpage (mndnr.gov/deerimports).
Additional details on licenses and permits, bag limits, voluntary CWD sampling, and other important information for hunters are available on the Minnesota DNR CWD hunts webpage (mndnr.gov/cwd/cwd-hunts.html).
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 Each winter, candlelight events inspire people to get outdoors and explore Minnesota state parks and trails at night. Depending on the event location and snow cover, visitors can hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski along a luminary-lit trail.
“Candlelight events are visitor favorites every year and celebrate the beauty of Minnesota in winter,” said Ann Pierce, Parks and Trails Division director with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Candlelight trail events are suitable for all ages. In some locations, visitors can rent snowshoes and cross-country skis at the ranger station or visitor center. Call the state park in advance to confirm the availability of equipment.
This winter, the DNR has 20 candlelight events planned at 17 locations between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28:
- Afton State Park: Feb. 7
- Big Bog State Recreation Area: Feb. 21
- Camden State Park: Jan. 31
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park: Jan. 1
- Fort Ridgely State Park: Jan. 31
- Frontenac State Park: Jan. 31
- Gateway State Trail: Jan. 23
- Glacial Lakes State Park: Feb. 14
- Gooseberry Falls State Park: Feb. 14
- Itasca State Park: Jan. 10 and Feb. 14
- Lake Bemidji State Park: Jan. 31 and Feb. 14
- Lake Carlos State Park: Jan. 31 and Feb. 28
- Luce Line State Trail: Jan. 2
- Lac qui Parle State Park: Jan. 3
- Mille Lacs Kathio State Park: Jan. 31
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park: Jan. 24
- Wild River State Park: Feb. 14
For full event details, visit the DNR’s candlelight hike webpage (mndnr.gov/candlelight).
Save time: Get a vehicle permit online before you go
While candlelight events are free, visitors need a vehicle permit to enter Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. The DNR recommends buying permits in advance on the DNR state parks vehicle permit webpage (mndnr.gov/permit). The cost is $7 per day or $35 for a year-round permit.
Certain candlelight events allow cross-country skiing, and skiers ages 16 and older will need a Great Minnesota Ski Pass. Ski passes can be purchased on the DNR's ski pass webpage (mndnr.gov/skipass) or in person at the state park.
In the case of severe weather, check visitor alerts on the individual state park or trail webpages or call the park office for event updates.
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