MN, WI Hunting Preps

The fall hunting season is upon us. The Minnesota DNR and Wisconsin DNR are finding new ways to encourage both the experienced and inexperienced to get out and actively participate the sport.

Wisconsin's new mentorship program allows youth ages 10 or older to obtain a license and hunt without the need to first take hunter education. "Prior to this 10 and 11-year-olds could accompany a person hunting but they couldn't actually hunt themselves. And now they can try it out and hopefully the will like it and want to continue as they grow older," said Fred Strand of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Both states have specific youth hunting seasons. These special hunts allow adults to introduce young people to the sport without taking away from time they could be hunting. "They get a special time to go and try their sport or their activity and not face the competition or crowding that sometimes happens if they were to hunt during the normal season."

The city of Cloquet will see a new city deer bow hunt recently approved unanimously by the city council. "Bow hunters that are interested in that hunt have to apply through the Cloquet Police Department for a permit. Generally they have to follow state wide bow hunting regulations," Chris Balzer of the Minnesota DNR.

In Minnesota the antlerless deer permit and special hunt lottery deadline is the 10th. This year we're scaling back on that a little bit there's going to be quite a few lottery areas, were a little afraid that it might catch some hunters by surprise," said Balzer.

The archery season for deer along with small game opens on September 19th in Minnesota and a week earlier, on the 12th in Wisconsin. Hunters in both states will see plenty of birds this season. The DNR hopes hunters will take advantage of the high populations.

MINNESOTA HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASON DATES

WISCONSIN HUNTING AND TRAPPING SEASON DATES