FISHING & HUNTING SEASONS

WHAT’S A WATERSHED? AND WHY CARE?

{ hint: you’re sitting in it! }

Picture a river running through a valley. Now, imagine a steady rain falling on the hills that rise from the valley floor. Some of the water soaks into the soil, but most flows down to the river. That’s a watershed.

We’re in the Lower St. Croix River Watershed. The rain and snow that falls on fields and woods, streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers feed the St. Croix River. These waters are used in homes, farms, industry, wildlife, and for recreation. Farm Table purchases ingredients from sustainable and regenerative farms that keep fertilizers and pesticides out of the watershed, build soil, manage livestock humanely, and grow delicious and highly nutritious foods. They also work to sequester carbon in the soil and out of the atmosphere!

With every Farm Table experience, you’re helping build a healthier food system and vibrant local food culture.

2022-2023 FISHING & HUNTING SEASONS

EARLY INLAND TROUT

(Catch And Release) Jan. 1 (5 A.m.) - May 6

GENERAL INLAND TROUT

May 7 (5 AM) - Oct. 15

GENERAL INLAND FISHING

May 7 - March 5, 2023 LARGEMOUTH BASS

Northern Zone Harvest May 7 - March 5, 2023 SMALLMOUTH BASS

Northern Zone Harvest June 18 - March 5, 2023

LARGE AND SMALLMOUTH BASS

Southern Zone Harvest May 7-March 25, 2023

MUSKY

Northern Zone Harvest May 28 - Dec. 31 Southern Zone Harvest May 7 - Dec. 31

NORTHERN PIKE

May 7 - March 5, 2023

WALLEYE

May 7 -March 5, 2023 LAKE STURGEON

Feb. 12 - Feb. 27 (spearing) Sept. 3 - Sept. 30 (hook-and-line)

FREE FISHING WEEKENDS

June 4 - 5, 2022 Jan. 15 - 16, 2022 Jan. 21 - 22, 2023

DEER

Archery and Crossbow

Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 8, 2023

Archery and Crossbow

*Metro Sub-units only* Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

Gun hunt for hunters with disabili-

ties: This is not a statewide season. Oct. 1-9, 2022 Youth Deer Hunt – Oct. 8-9, 2022 Gun – Nov. 19 - 27, 2022 Muzzleloader – Nov. 28 - Dec. 7, 2022

December 4-day antlerless hunt

Dec. 8 - 11, 2022

Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt

Dec. 24 -Jan. 1, 2023 *Only in valid farmland units. Please see deer regulations booklet for valid units.

BEAR

Zones A, 8, D:

where dogs are permitted Oct. 5 - 11, 2022 with aid of dogs only Sept. 14 - 0ct. 4, 2022 with aid of dogs with aid of bait with all other legal methods Sept. 7-13, 2022 with aid of bait only with all other legal methods not using dogs Zones C, E, F: where dogs are not permitted. Sept. 7 - Oct. 11, 2022 with aid of bait with all other legal methods not using dogs

SMALL MAMMALS

Cottontail Rabbit

Northern Zone – Sept. 17 - Feb. 28, 2023 Southern Zone – Oct. 15 (9 AM) - Feb. 28, 2023 Squirrels (gray and fox) Statewide – Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023

GAME BIRDS

Crow

Statewide – Sept. 17 - Nov. 17, 2022 Jan. 18, 2023 - Mar. 20, 2023

Pheasant

Statewide – Oct. 15, 2022 (9 AM) - Jan. 8, 2023

Bobwhite Quail

Statewide – Oct. 15 (9 AM) - Dec. 7, 2022

Ruffed Grouse

Zone A – Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 8, 2023 Zone B – Oct. 15 - Dec. 8, 2022 Sharp-Tailed Grouse – Season is under review.

Hungarian Partridge

Statewide – Oct. 15, 2022 (9 AM) - Jan. 8, 2023 (closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties)

WILD TURKEY

2022 Youth turkey hunt – April 16 - 17, 2022 Spring 2022 Period A – April 20 - 26, 2022 Period B – April 27 - May 3, 2022 Period C – May 4 - 10, 2022 Period D – May 11 - 17, 2022 Period E – May 18 - 24, 2022 Period F – May 25 - 31, 2022 Fall 2021 Zones 1 - 5 – Sept. 18 - Jan. 9, 2022 Zones 6 - 7 – Sept. 18 - Nov. 19, 2021

FURBEARERS

Coyote

Hunting – Continuous open season Trapping – Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2023

Fox, red and gray

Hunting – Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2023 Trapping – Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2023

Beaver

Trapping Zone A (northwest) Nov. 5 - April 30, 2023 Zone B (northeast) Nov. 5 - April 30, 2023 Zone C (south) Nov. 5 - March 31, 2023 Zone D (Mississippi River) – Day after duck season closes to March 15, 2023

Mink & Muskrat

Statewide – Oct. 22 - March 5, 2023 Mississippi River zone – Day a closes to March 5, 2023

Bobcat

Hunting Period 1 – Oct. 15 - Dec. 25, 2023 Period 2 – Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2023

Fisher

Trapping North and South Zones Oct. 15 - Jan. 7, 2023

Otter

Trapping North Zone – Nov. 6 - April 30, 2022 South Zone – Nov. 6 - March 31, 2022 North Zone – Nov. 6 - April 30, 2023 South Zone – Nov. 6 - March 31, 2023

Raccoon

Trapping Resident – Oct. 15 - Feb. 15, 2023 Non-resident – Oct. 29 - Feb. 15, 2023

Opossum, Skunk, Weasel, Snowshoe

Hare, and Woodchuck – No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required.