Youths age10 to 15 are eligible to hunt in a special deer season that runs from Oct. 21 Oct. 24 in 12 permit areas of southeastern and 15 deer permit areas of northwestern Minnesota.
The Department of Natural Resources said they can hunt in permit areas 338, 339, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 601, 101, 105, 111, 114, 201, 203, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 263, 264, 267 and 268.
Young hunters must meet all firearms safety requirements, purchase a license and use the appropriate firearm for the permit area in which they are hunting. Youth may take a deer of either sex. An adult mentor must accompany the youth, but may not hunt or carry a firearm.
Hunting in the special hunt when most students are out of school doesn't stop them from participating in the regular firearms deer season but any deer harvested do count against the youth’s season bag limit.
LOOSER LIMITS ON MILLE LACS WALLEYE:As of today, anglers fishing the hallowed waters of Mille Lacs Lake must release walleye from 20 to 28 inches. Before that, the slot was 18-28 inches, according to the DNR. The limit remains four and only one can top 28 inches.
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The DNR relaxed the slot because anglers have only caught half the state's allocation of 411,500 pounds.
OLMSTED COUNTY SURVEY: Olmsted County is looking for your opinion about how much open space the county needs as part of its work on a draft open space plan.
For purposes of this plan, "open space" is defined as an area that is managed in its natural state or used for outdoor recreation and is free from intensive development for residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional use.
The survey was supposed to end Friday but it's been extended to the end of this month.
To take it, go to www.co.olmsted.mn.us. The survey link is on the front page.
FISHING GRANT:The National Eagle Center in Wabasha has received a $5,000 Take Me Fishing grant to help youths ages 6 through 15 to learn to fish.
Money comes from the National Recreation and Park Association and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. It tries to get children to reconnect with the outdoors, provide education about conservation and highlight benefits of fishing and boating.
Programs funded by the grant will begin this fall.
