Gov’t Shutdown Could Shut Down MN’s New Walk-in Program

Minnesota's new Walk In Access Program is slated to open up to 10,000 acres of private land land to pheasant hunting access. Photo by Anthony Hauck / Pheasants Forever

Minnesota’s closed government needs to reopen so pheasant hunters can purchase hunting licenses for the upcoming season, but even so, the state’s shutdown could further impact pheasant hunters. Minnesota planned to have up to 10,000 acres enrolled in its new walk-in hunting program this fall, access primarily aimed at pheasant hunters in the southwest part of the state. But the new program is in limbo thanks to gridlock over a budget deal at the state capitol.

From Dennis Anderson’s Star Tribune Club Outdoors article:

Minnesota’s first-ever hunter walk-in program could fall victim to the state’s government shutdown if it continues for a prolonged period.

Department of Natural Resources seasonal workers were scheduled next week to begin posting signs on southwestern Minnesota properties enrolled in the new $2.7 million effort, funded by the federal farm program.

Signs on voluntarily enrolled lands were scheduled to be erected by Sept. 15, but that deadline might be missed.

The postings are one of many projects on wildlife lands affected by the budget impasse between Republican legislators and (Democratic) Gov. Mark Dayton.

“This is crunch time out here, and we need to be getting things done,” said Dave Trauba, manager at the 31,000-acre Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area in western Minnesota.

Field Notes are written and compiled by Anthony Hauck Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauck.

Tags: Dennis Anderson, Minnesota Walk In Access Program, Minnesota walk in hunting, Star Tribune Club Outdoors

This entry was posted on Monday, July 11th, 2011 and is filed under Hunting, Pheasants, Pheasants Forever. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.