Jenna Covey

This document outlines Minnesota's new, first-ever statewide white-tailed deer management plan, intended to guide deer management for the next decade through 2028. The plan includes eight broad goals covering topics such as communication, stakeholder satisfaction, population management, research, and maintaining healthy deer populations and habitats. A top priority is responding to chronic wasting disease (CWD) to eliminate it in wild deer and minimize new introductions. The plan also supports Minnesota's hunting heritage by focusing on hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation, while aiming to minimize deer damage to native plants, agricultural crops, and forests, as well as mitigating negative societal impacts like deer-vehicle collisions and urban deer conflicts. It emphasizes increasing two-way communication with hunters, landowners, and other interested citizens.

Key discussions during the meeting involved updates on fisheries management. Staff reported on the stocking of yearling muskies with PIT tags, noting yearlings have significantly higher survival rates than fingerlings. The DNR outlined plans for a new year-round bass fishing season starting in 2026, including extending the catch and release period, which raised concerns about barotrauma for spring bass. Creel results indicated the state's walleye harvestable surplus is currently at 30% for the year, with discussions surrounding hooking mortality and temperature effects. The committee extensively debated proposed winter regulations for walleye, with consensus leaning towards a 3-fish limit (17-inch minimum, 1 over 20 inches), while a 10-fish bag limit without a size limit was generally supported for yellow perch. Fall assessment results showed a slight decrease in pounds per net, low numbers of age-0 perch, and concerns regarding the recruitment of the 2025 walleye class. Public comments addressed favoring a more liberal walleye regulation, concerns about tribal harvesting in specific areas, and requests regarding summer night fishing time extensions.

The meeting focused heavily on fisheries management and recent survey results. The DNR reported that angler hours were substantial, but walleye harvest was low (21.6% of the surplus), prompting plans to increase the bag limit from 2 to 3 walleye starting in mid to late August. The removal of the fall night ban effective September 1, 2025, was confirmed, with future discussion planned for seasonal adjustments. Updates were provided on spring monitoring of northern pike and smallmouth bass, noting high numbers of larger pike and strong bass length distributions. Presentations from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and GLIFWC detailed telemetry research regarding walleye spawning site fidelity, habitat use (depth and temperature), and home range analysis, suggesting potential implications for establishing protected fish zones. Furthermore, muskie stocking will increase to an annual basis, and the committee discussed methods to smooth population status metrics.

The meeting included discussion of the Governor's Executive Order on Climate Change, Peatland Conservation/Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and SNA Program Mission Drift. The committee discussed the possibility of making agendas and minutes available online. The committee also discussed non-toxic fishing tackle and ammunition and the status of the CAC charter approval and new member application process. A presentation was given on long-term monitoring efforts.

The meeting included introductions of a new CAC member and DNR staff, and discussions around legislative priorities, including repealing exemptions under the E.S. law, banning commercial turtle harvesting, and supporting legislation to ban lead shot and tackle. There were program updates from the Minnesota Biological Survey, Forest Management, Conservation Management & Rare Resources, and the SNA Program. The committee also discussed the CAC Charter review and priorities for the upcoming legislative session.