As more hunting seasons open up in Minnesota during the coming weeks, multiple new opportunities will exist on the 23,065-acre Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located west of Mentor, MN. A new hunt plan was recently approved for the Refuge, which officially opens a total of 16,963 acres to upland game and deer hunting and 9,140 acres to migratory bird hunting. This new hunt plan also allows for newly acquired tracts of Refuge to be opened to hunting as they are acquired, in the future. Unlike private land or most state wildlife management areas, national wildlife refuges are closed to all hunting, until they are opened – on a species by species basis – through a federal environmental assessment process. New species that the Refuge is now open to include wild turkey, ruffed grouse, gray (Hungarian) partridge, ring-necked pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits. These are in addition to a suite of migratory bird species (e.g., ducks, geese, doves, woodcock), prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse (by State permit only), and deer, that the Refuge was already open to. Additionally, new rules promote better hunting access, such as the ability to now hunt migratory birds from non-motorized watercraft (e.g., canoes). Previously, the Refuge prohibited the use of all watercraft.
Please contact Refuge Manager, Gregg Knutsen at 218-687-2229 x16 or email gregg_knutsen@fws.gov for new Refuge hunting maps and regulations, or access them on the Glacial Ridge NWR website at www.fws.gov/refuge/glacial_ridge/.
The initial lottery for Rydell NWR’s Mentored Youth Deer Hunt only netted eight hunters. Therefore, seven spots remain for any youth (ages 12-15) interested in this special hunting opportunity. This year’s hunt will take place on October 27-28 at Rydell NWR. Participating youth will be required to hunt with a parent, guardian, or mentor. They will be allowed to harvest one deer of either sex on the Refuge. A “bonus tag” can be used to harvest an antlerless deer on the Refuge, during this hunt. One requirement for youth hunt participants is that they attend a mandatory orientation session. This will be held at Rydell NWR on Sunday, October 21, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Anyone interested in registering a youth for this hunt should contact Gregg Knutsen, Refuge Manager, at 218-687-2229 x16 / gregg_knutsen@fws.gov, no later than Friday, October 5.
