The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering $100,000 in shooting range grants as part of an effort to increase opportunities for people to have safe places to practice shooting sports.
The open-ended application period begins March 16. Grants from $2,500 to $25,000 are available. The grants require a 1:1 match and may be used for five-stand, pistol, rifle, skeet or trap ranges. Grantees must allow members of the public to shoot at reasonable times and affordable fees.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer these grants to help people have safer and better places to shoot across Minnesota,” said Chuck Niska, DNR Enforcement shooting range program coordinator.
In the current application period, the DNR will focus on providing funds to new grantees from outstate areas. There will be a particular emphasis on providing grants to groups whose projects reduce travel distances for students and others who currently drive an hour or more to participate in shooting sports activities.
The DNR intends to make available another $100,000 in shooting range grants later this year. Minnesota has seen a surge in interest in the shooting sports in recent years, thanks in large part to the growth of the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League, in which about 12,000 students compete.
DNR UPDATES
2020 FISHING REGULATIONS
The 2020 Minnesota fishing regulations are available online and anywhere Minnesota fishing licenses are sold.
Find all the changes for 2020 by checking page 7, including changes to special regulations that apply to individual lakes, rivers or streams. You can find a list of all the special regulations starting on page 38.
TIME TO BUY YOUR FISHING LICENSE
It’s the time of year when anglers and hunters need to buy new fishing and hunting licenses. Minnesota fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for 2019 expired Feb. 29. Licenses for 2020 are now available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236. Is this your first license? Anyone who wants to start fishing or hunting can visit the DNR’s learn to fish and learn to hunt pages.
MOOSE POPULATION REMAINS STABLE
For the ninth year in a row, Minnesota’s moose population remains relatively stable, but reproductive success – one of the factors that has the greatest impact on moose survival over time – remains low. Read more about the population estimate and find the survey on the DNR website.
