DNR Hosts Deer Hunting Meeting

he Department of Natural Resources hosted a meeting for deer hunters at the Iszigamizigan Powwow Grounds in District I on Thursday, September 2, to answer questions and share information about the upcoming harvest.

The big news of the day was the announcement of a special hunt at Mille Lacs Kathio and St. Croix State Parks. The Kathio hunt will be November 6–8 with regular firearms. At St. Croix, there will be a youth hunt with regular firearms October 30–31, a regular firearms hunt November 18–21, and a muzzleloader hunt December 1–5. Band members are eligible for both hunts and if interested should contact LeRoy Day at 320-532-7439.

Commissioner of Natural Resources Kelly Applegate also shared the news that white-tailed deer have been infected with coronavirus. A study from the eastern U.S. showed that 33 percent of whitetails have antibodies.

It is recommended that hunters take precautions like wearing gloves and masks while processing deer.

Fortunately, there is no evidence that eating infected deer is dangerous. As always, make sure venison reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Kelly also gave an update on Chronic Wasting Disease, a contagious, fatal brain disease affecting wild and farmed deer and other species. Although no cases in wild deer have been found in reservation communities, there was one case in a wild deer in Crow Wing County last year, and the DNR is closely monitoring deer in the Bemidji and Pine County areas, where captive deer have tested positive.

Watch for updates on testing requirements at www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwd.

Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk for humans, but public health officials recommend that no one consume meat from animals known to be infected. If you shoot a deer in a CWD management area, it is best to wait for test results before consuming the meat.

DEER HUNTING FAQS

What are this year’s deer hunting season dates? The main off-reservation deer hunting season begins the day after Labor Day and runs through December 31.

Where can I hunt? Tribal lands (fee and trust), public lands with Band license within the 1837 ceded territory. If interested in hunting a specific area, or if you need a map, please contact MLBO DNR.

What are safe hunting times? Off-reservation in the Minnesota 1837 ceded territory, 30 minutes prior to sun-up and 30 minutes after sunset.

How do I get a permit? Contact your local MLBO DNR office at the numbers below.

What is NAGFA? Native American Game and Fish Applications (NAGFA) is a web-based system that will allow you to manage and track all of your tribal licenses and permits and to self-register your deer.

How can I get signed up and start using NAGFA? If you’ve hunted with a Band harvester permit previously, it is likely you are in the NAGFA system. You will need your NAGFA ID number to log in and use the system. Call one of the numbers below with questions.

What do I need to bring to get a Band harvesting license? Tribal ID. If you have a hunter safety certificate or number, please provide that as well.

With additional questions, contact: LeRoy Day (District I): 320-532-7896; Steven Aubid (DII): 218-768-5316; Vanessa Gibbs (DIII): 320-384-6240, ext. 3230.