Input meeting to discuss open-water hunting

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) soon will seek citizen input on creating limited opportunities for open-water hunting for waterfowl as well as a number of other topics at an annual public input meeting.

Aside from open-water duck hunting, the DNR is seeking input on the following proposals:

• Allowing Canada goose hunting in August to alleviate depredation of agricultural fields in west central Minnesota.

• Opening the second portion of the state’s 124-day crow season later in the year.

• Opening prairie chicken hunting season earlier in October than the current season.

• Allowing youth age 17 or younger to hunt during all spring turkey seasons with a limit of one.

• Youth would not be required to select a permit area.

A meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, March 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Alexandria Technical and Community College, Alexandria.

A separate public input process to address deer antler point restrictions in southeastern Minnesota is available online at www.mndnr.gov/wildlife/input/sedeer.

People who cannot attend a meeting are urged to complete a questionnaire online at www.mndnr.gov/wildlife/input.

Comments are also welcome via e-mail at wildlife.dnr@state.mn.us.

Written comments may be addressed to Season Comments, DNR Section of Wildlife, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007.

Tags: local news, news, water, hunting