WHAT’S A WATERSHED? AND WHY CARE? { hint: you’re sitting in it! }
P
icture 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!
2022-2023 FISHING & HUNTING SEASONS DEER EARLY INLAND TROUT Archery and Crossbow
(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
Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 8, 2023 Archery and Crossbow *Metro Sub-units only* Sept. 17, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 Gun hunt for hunters with disabilities: 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
With every Farm Table experience, you’re helping build a healthier food system and vibrant local food culture.
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.
*Dates are subject to change please contact your local DNR office for specific fishing zones and dates and hunting and trapping zone regulations. For general information on firearm safety training call: 1 (888) 936-7463.
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