Outdoors notes
Hunting season was safe in Minnesota
Nobody died during the 2004 hunting seasons in Minnesota, the DNR reports, marking the second time in the past six year there were no fatalities.
A dozen non-fatal hunting-related accidents occurred, which was a 50 percent reduction compared with last year. The number of hunting accidents has decreased considerably since firearm safety training was mandated in 1955. In the 1960s, for example, Minnesota averaged 14 hunting fatalities per year and 110 non-fatal accidents. In the past 10 years, hunting accidents dropped to two fatalities and 35 non-fatal accidents annually.
More than 500,000 hunting licenses were sold this year.
Public comment period extended on Leech Lake walleye proposals
The public comment period on proposals to place experimental regulations on walleye fishing on Leech Lake has been extended due to high local interest, the DNR said.
Hours at the open house in Walker on Dec. 16 are 5:30-9 p.m. The open house is at the Walker school at 301 S. Fourth St. DNR staff and other stakeholders will have booths in the commons area of the school.
A second open house is scheduled for Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DNR headquarters in St. Paul.
Comments will be accepted by mail, phone or e-mail until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. Write: Walker Area Fisheries Supervisor, 07316 State Highway 371 N.W., Walker, MN 56484; phone (218) 547-1683; e-mail harlan.fierstine@dnr.state.mn.us.