Outdoors

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for today through Sunday for northern Minnesota.

As a result, the Department of Natural Resources will not issue burning permits for brush or yard waste for all areas north of Alexandria, including Mille Lacs and Pine counties.

Burn restrictions may expand as smoke from the Canadian fires drifts south.

For updates and the air quality forecast, check the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency website.

A plan that covers how fish populations will be managed in Lake Vermilion through 2022 has been finalized by the Minnesota DNR.
Public input resulted in slight changes to the final plan including new stocking guidelines for muskie, a planned evaluation of the current northern pike special regulation and adjustments to fish survey methods including the timing of fish sampling.
The plan retains the walleye regulation implemented in May 2017.
The planned evaluation of the current northern pike special regulation is underway, including a proposal to simplify pike regulations by bringing them in line with the new statewide zone regulation starting in May 2019.
A public open house on that topic is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the Tower Civic Center, 402 Pine St., in Tower.

by Nick Wognum -

A new statewide deer plan released today by the Minnesota DNR sets new goals and priorities, increases formal opportunities for citizens to influence deer decisions, and aims for a disease-free deer population.
The plan reflects a two-year planning effort that involved statewide meetings and hundreds of in-depth conversations with citizens and stakeholders. It includes input from a 19-member citizen advisory committee, dozens of public input meetings and open houses, more than 1,100 submitted comments and letters from tribal governments, hunting organizations and others.
“We’ve listened, and the plan reflects that,” said Tom Landwehr, DNR commissioner. “The document is largely about sharing a vision, clarifying expectations and improving two-way communication among hunters and other stakeholders for the benefit of deer management.”
The 50-plus page plan is available on the DNR website.

Austin Meskill, Alex Motes, Kenny Aase, Coach Louie Meskill, Ryan Milton, Robert Daugherty and Josh Pohlman (not pictured) traveled to Mason Michigan to compete in the USA Clay Target League’s National Championship.

The Angler is pronted every week all summer and features fisherpersons with their catches. Pick one up at any registration station. Enter your fish at one of those places. All fish entered are eligible for the drawing for a free fishing vacation. Entries must be received by noon each Monday for the week’s publication.

by Tom Coombe -

Novice and Junior Varsity team state championships were claimed by the Northeast Range trap teams.

On Tuesday, June 19, The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is planning a second treatment to eradicate gypsy moth infestations in areas in Cloquet, Duluth, Two Harbors, and White Iron Lake near Ely. This is dependent on the weather at the time.

The aerial treatments will start as early as 5:15 a.m. in Duluth, followed by White Iron Lake near Ely, Two Harbors, and Cloquet, which will be completed around noon. If weather conditions are not favorable the entire time, any remaining areas will be treated the next day, Wednesday, June 20, starting as early as 5:15 a.m.

The low-flying airplane will be traveling up to a half mile outside the treatment areas as it navigates through the gypsy moth infestation sites. The MDA apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the noise of the plane.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin herbicide applications on select state lands to improve reforestation efforts. Applications will begin around June 15 and continue through approximately September 15.

Signs will be posted on all herbicide treatment sites. Adjacent landowners within a quarter mile of the treatment sites have already been notified. Herbicides will not be applied within 100 feet of any water body, following DNR herbicide application guidelines.