02-24-2004, 03:07 AM
Ice fishing shelter removal dates approaching; conservation officers ask anglers to police up litter
Minnesota's ice fishing shelter removal dates are fast approaching. Dark houses, fish houses and shelters must be off the ice of inland waters no later than midnight on Feb. 29 in the southern two-thirds of the state and March 15 in the northern third.
The Feb. 29 deadline applies to waters south of a line starting at the Minnesota-North Dakota border near Moorhead along U.S. Highway 10, then east along Highway 34 to Minnesota Highway 200, east along Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 2, and east along Highway 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border near Duluth. The March 15 deadline applies to waters north of that line.
For border waters, the ice shelter removal deadlines are:
- Minnesota - Iowa, Feb. 20
- Minnesota - Wisconsin, March 1
- Minnesota - North Dakota and South Dakota, March 5
- Minnesota - Canada, March 31.
If houses or shelters are not removed, owners will be prosecuted and the structure may be confiscated, and removed or destroyed by a conservation officer. Contents of the structure may be seized and held for 60 days; if not claimed by the owner within that time, the items become property of the State of Minnesota.
After the date when ice or fish houses or shelters must be removed, portable shelters may be placed on the ice and used from one hour before sunrise to midnight, but only if there is an open fishing season on the lake. Storing or leaving fish houses or dark houses on a public access is prohibited.
Anglers are encouraged to monitor ice conditions on lakes and make arrangements to remove their houses before travel on the ice is dangerous. The Department of Natural Resources recommends a minimum of 4 inches of good solid ice for ice fishing; at least 5 inches for snowmobiles or ATVs; 8 to 12 inches for a car or small pickup; and 12-15 inches for a medium truck.
Ice conditions can vary greatly, so anglers should know about the different types and characteristics of ice. Slush shows weakening of ice and should be considered a danger sign. If ice at the shoreline is cracked or soft, people should stay off. People should not go on the ice during thaws and should avoid honeycombed ice and dark ice. Ice is generally weaker where there is moving water, such as near inlets and outlets, bridge abutments, islands and objects that protrude through the ice.
Conservation officers remind anglers to keep waterways clean. Litter on lakes tarnishes nature's beauty, destroys wildlife habitats and ruins many opportunities for recreation. Litter is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000.
Conservation officers on Lake Mille Lacs utilize a blaze orange "notice" door tag with a label pasted on the back that asks people to take their litter and blocking materials with them. Officers place the tag on fish houses, especially those that have litter around them. The tag also mentions the statute and potential penalty for violating the law.
"Officers will be documenting houses that have litter around them or look like they may be abandoned," said Lt. Rita Frenzel, Lake Mille Lacs district supervisor. "Given the size of Mille Lacs and the number of houses, this may be somewhat hit and miss, but we will be diligent in pursuing litter cases."
Frenzel noted that officers will talk to resort owners about removing blocking material and remnants of ice bridges discarded on lakes.
The Minnesota DNR has the following advice to keep waterways clean:
- set an example for others, especially children, by not littering
- properly dispose of tangled fishing line to prevent wildlife from becoming trapped and injured
- do not dispose of ice fishing shacks anywhere in the state
- litter is a costly problem that ends up costing taxpayers to keep roadways, parks and waterways clean; littering can also causes harm to the environment
- keep a litter bag or trash container in the fish house, dark house or shelter to discard of materials
- secure trash container covers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter
- cover and secure any vehicle, truck or trailer carrying refuse
- make certain, when visiting recreation areas, to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy.
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Minnesota's ice fishing shelter removal dates are fast approaching. Dark houses, fish houses and shelters must be off the ice of inland waters no later than midnight on Feb. 29 in the southern two-thirds of the state and March 15 in the northern third.
The Feb. 29 deadline applies to waters south of a line starting at the Minnesota-North Dakota border near Moorhead along U.S. Highway 10, then east along Highway 34 to Minnesota Highway 200, east along Highway 200 to U.S. Highway 2, and east along Highway 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border near Duluth. The March 15 deadline applies to waters north of that line.
For border waters, the ice shelter removal deadlines are:
- Minnesota - Iowa, Feb. 20
- Minnesota - Wisconsin, March 1
- Minnesota - North Dakota and South Dakota, March 5
- Minnesota - Canada, March 31.
If houses or shelters are not removed, owners will be prosecuted and the structure may be confiscated, and removed or destroyed by a conservation officer. Contents of the structure may be seized and held for 60 days; if not claimed by the owner within that time, the items become property of the State of Minnesota.
After the date when ice or fish houses or shelters must be removed, portable shelters may be placed on the ice and used from one hour before sunrise to midnight, but only if there is an open fishing season on the lake. Storing or leaving fish houses or dark houses on a public access is prohibited.
Anglers are encouraged to monitor ice conditions on lakes and make arrangements to remove their houses before travel on the ice is dangerous. The Department of Natural Resources recommends a minimum of 4 inches of good solid ice for ice fishing; at least 5 inches for snowmobiles or ATVs; 8 to 12 inches for a car or small pickup; and 12-15 inches for a medium truck.
Ice conditions can vary greatly, so anglers should know about the different types and characteristics of ice. Slush shows weakening of ice and should be considered a danger sign. If ice at the shoreline is cracked or soft, people should stay off. People should not go on the ice during thaws and should avoid honeycombed ice and dark ice. Ice is generally weaker where there is moving water, such as near inlets and outlets, bridge abutments, islands and objects that protrude through the ice.
Conservation officers remind anglers to keep waterways clean. Litter on lakes tarnishes nature's beauty, destroys wildlife habitats and ruins many opportunities for recreation. Litter is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000.
Conservation officers on Lake Mille Lacs utilize a blaze orange "notice" door tag with a label pasted on the back that asks people to take their litter and blocking materials with them. Officers place the tag on fish houses, especially those that have litter around them. The tag also mentions the statute and potential penalty for violating the law.
"Officers will be documenting houses that have litter around them or look like they may be abandoned," said Lt. Rita Frenzel, Lake Mille Lacs district supervisor. "Given the size of Mille Lacs and the number of houses, this may be somewhat hit and miss, but we will be diligent in pursuing litter cases."
Frenzel noted that officers will talk to resort owners about removing blocking material and remnants of ice bridges discarded on lakes.
The Minnesota DNR has the following advice to keep waterways clean:
- set an example for others, especially children, by not littering
- properly dispose of tangled fishing line to prevent wildlife from becoming trapped and injured
- do not dispose of ice fishing shacks anywhere in the state
- litter is a costly problem that ends up costing taxpayers to keep roadways, parks and waterways clean; littering can also causes harm to the environment
- keep a litter bag or trash container in the fish house, dark house or shelter to discard of materials
- secure trash container covers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter
- cover and secure any vehicle, truck or trailer carrying refuse
- make certain, when visiting recreation areas, to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy.
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