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2017 fish, game and trapping licenses expire Wednesday
Minnesota fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for 2017 expire Wednesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Licenses for 2018 are now available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236. All 2018 fishing licenses become effective Thursday. New licenses are required for 2017 hunting and fishing seasons that continue past Feb. 28.
This year license fees increase by $3 for a resident individual angling license, and fees also increase for other license types including deer hunting licenses, sports licenses and lifetime licenses.
License fees support the ongoing work of DNR fish, wildlife and enforcement staff to conserve, enhance and protect our waters, fields and forests.
"Thank you to all who purchase a license. License fees pay for the work we do and the dollars go directly toward improving fishing and hunting opportunities in Minnesota," said Steve Michaels, DNR licensing program director.
Customers who purchase online via a smartphone won't receive a conventional paper license. Instead, they'll receive a text message or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers. A printed copy of the text or email also can serve as proof of a valid license.
Customers are encouraged to update their customer record online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Adding an email, while not required, allows the DNR to send important hunting and fishing information, and gather input through surveys.
More information about how the DNR spends license dollars can be found at mndnr.gov/LicenseDollarsAtWork.
Register for beginner fly-fishing weekend for youth-adult pairs
A youth paired with an adult can join other youth-adult pairs to learn the basics of fly fishing from experienced instructors from evening on Friday, April 27, to afternoon on Sunday, April 29, near Lanesboro.
"Youth and adults in these classes are both beginners so they can learn to fly fish together," said Deb Groebner, a regional specialist with MinnAqua, an educational program of the Department of Natural Resources. "When they finish the weekend, they'll be ready to take on more fishing adventures for a variety of species."
To participate, youth must be 11 to 17 years old as of April 27, and adult and youth must each have less than 5 hours of fly-fishing experience.
The registration fee is $130 per pair and includes meals, lodging, guiding services, equipment and additional materials. Sponsorships to offset registration fees may be available from angling and conservation organizations. This event is limited to 20 youth-adult pairs.
Apply online. For more information, contact Groebner at 507-359-6049 or deborah.groebner@state.mn.us.
DNR announces new recreational skills classes for women and families
Women and families can learn outdoor recreational skills in a supportive atmosphere by registering for any of a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities in the newly released 2018 Becoming an Outdoors Woman and Becoming an Outdoors Family catalog.
"Women can learn skills related to outdoors sports in a safe and supportive environment," said Linda Bylander, BOW coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "And in many cases prior experience is not required."
For more information about upcoming classes, visit mndnr.gov/bow or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 and request a copy of the BOW 2018 spring, summer and fall catalog of events.
Ham Lake man is snowmobile safety instructor of the year
Marvin Buchholz, of Ham Lake, has been named the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Snowmobile Volunteer Instructor of the Year for 2017.
During his almost 50 years as a volunteer instructor, Buchholz has instructed more than 2,500 youth and adults about how to operate snowmobiles safely and responsibly. In addition, he's helped recruit and train more than 20 other certified instructors.
"The best example I can give of the quality and character of Marvin's instruction is that Marvin is now teaching third and fourth generations of the same families," said Kevin Vnuk, an instructor with Buchholz who nominated him for the award. "They keep coming back to Marvin's class because of the quality and content of the class."
He's also a go-to person when it comes to addressing any concerns about snowmobiles in Ham Lake. Buchholz long has been active in his community, too, serving for 47 years as volunteer firefighter for the city of Ham Lake. In addition to being one of the department's founders, he also was its longtime training officer. He's also been a member of the Ham Lake Lions Club for more than 40 years.
"Marvin has been an active participant in the sport of snowmobiling for more than 50 years," said Bruce Lawrence, recreational vehicle coordinator for the DNR Enforcement Division. "He has ridden more than 100,000 miles on snowmobiles and at age 75 still rides hundreds of miles every year.
More than 1,000 volunteer instructors teach DNR snowmobile safety courses across the state. For more information on the dates and locations of these courses, see an online list on the DNR's snowmobile safety page or call 800-366-6367. For a copy of the 2017-2018 Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Laws, Rules and Regulations handbook, call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367, or visit the snowmobile regulations page on the DNR website.
For a copy of the DNR's 2016-2017 Minnesota Snowmobile Safety Laws, Rules, and Regulations handbook, call 888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157 or visit the regulations webpage.