Recent warm weather has deteriorated many public water accesses in the central and southern parts of Minnesota and prompted thin-ice warnings for some bodies of water. As a result, many fish house owners have already removed their shelters from the ice. For those who haven’t, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to start planning for bringing them off the ice in advance of approaching removal deadlines.
The upcoming statutory removal deadlines are:
11:59 p.m. on March 2 for inland waters in the southern two-thirds of the state.
11:59 p.m. on March 16 for inland waters in the northern one-third of the state.
11:59 p.m. on March 31 for Minnesota-Canada border waters, including Lake of the Woods.
In addition to the deadlines for Minnesota-Canada border waters, other removal deadlines include Minnesota-South and North Dakota border waters (March 5); Minnesota-Wisconsin border waters (March 1); and Minnesota-Iowa border waters (Feb. 20).
Anglers may still fish after removal deadlines, but shelters on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise must be attended or occupied. Also, shelters may not be left at public access sites.
The DNR also wants to remind all fish house owners to pick up and properly dispose of any trash as part of removing their shelter from the ice. This includes wooden blocking materials, which must be removed, even if they are frozen into the ice.
“It’s been a good, long season for many anglers,” said Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki, assistant director of the DNR Enforcement Division. “We’d like to see that continue and have this part of the season end on a high note, which means shelters off by the deadlines and the ice free of litter.”
If shelters aren’t removed by the statutory deadlines, owners may be prosecuted, and structures left behind may be confiscated and removed or destroyed by a conservation officer.
A final reminder from the DNR’s Enforcement Division: When venturing out on the ice always keep in mind that ice conditions can vary widely and change quickly. Ice is never 100% safe, and everyone should check the ice thickness for themselves.
For additional information, including delineations of which areas are subject to which removal deadline, visit the DNR’s ice shelter webpage (mndnr.gov/fishing/shelter.html).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-