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WASHINGTON 鈥� The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has denied a request from sportsmen鈥檚 groups to remove gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes region from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act and downlist West Coast wolves to 鈥渢hreatened鈥� status.

The Sportsmen鈥檚 Alliance Foundation, along with the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, the Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen Association and the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association filed two separate petitions with the FWS in June 2023 seeking to delist the Western Great Lakes distinct population segment (DPS) of gray wolves and downlist the West Coast wolf population segment, arguing that wolves had surpassed federal recovery goals.

The Western Great Lakes DPS includes wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

鈥淏ased on our review, we find that the petitions do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petition actions may be warranted,鈥� the FWS wrote in its ruling.

The federal ruling drew praise from wolf advocacy groups and criticism from the Sportsmen鈥檚 Alliance.

鈥淭he petitions ignored the best available science, which really demonstrates that wolves must be federally protected,鈥� Amanda Wight, senior program manager of wildlife protection for the Humane Society of the United States, told Wisconsin Public Radio. 鈥淚f federal Endangered Species Act protections are taken away, states will almost certainly move to open trophy hunting and recreational trapping seasons.鈥�

Todd Adkins, senior vice vice president at the Sportsmen鈥檚 Alliance, accused the Biden Administration of playing politics in its ruling.

鈥淭hese denials couldn鈥檛 provide a clearer representation of what every day Americans have come to loathe from a federal government that plays politics instead of addressing their needs,鈥� Adkins said in a statement. 鈥淥ur petition to delist Great Lakes wolves is bulletproof, and the agency recognizes that. Yet, the administration couldn鈥檛 stomach making the correct decision, so they used smoke and mirrors to carry on the illusion that gray wolves still need ESA protections.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 over, not by a long shot,鈥� he added.

Minnesota has an estimated population of 2,919 wolves, based on results from the most recent survey during the winter of 2022-2023. Wolves are listed as 鈥渢hreatened鈥� in Minnesota and 鈥渆ndangered鈥� in Wisconsin and Michigan.

ST. PAUL 鈥� The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a webinar for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, to provide information and take input on the midpoint review of its white-tailed deer management plan, which took effect in 2018 and continues through 2028.

The DNR is conducting the midpoint review to assess progress on goals, objectives and strategies put forth in the 10-year plan, which includes 15 performance metrics and associated targets.

The DNR鈥檚 deer management to date 鈥渟hows numerous accomplishments and work that remains before some goals and metrics are met,鈥� the department said in a news release.

鈥淭his is a good opportunity to assess our progress toward the eight goals in the deer plan, identify what is going well and where more work is needed,鈥� Barb Keller, DNR big game program leader, said in a statement. 鈥淭his midpoint is also a great time to decide what work we should focus on over the next phase of the plan implementation.鈥�

Among the achievements identified in the review, the DNR revised deer population goals in all deer permit areas through a four-year process, expanded the youth deer season statewide, established a public deer advisory committee, sampled more than 70,000 deer for chronic wasting disease, acquired 28,000 acres of public land dedicated to hunting and managed a total of nearly 370,000 acres of public land to benefit deer habitat.

Metrics not yet met include having deer populations in 75% of deer permit areas within deer population goal range, achieving an annual target of 200,000 deer harvested each season, communicating about the deer hunting regulations significantly earlier in the year and eliminating core areas of disease in the wild deer population.

鈥淎s we consider what鈥檚 accomplished so far, we are hoping people will review our recommendations for the next phase of the plan and share their thoughts on how they think the midpoint assessment has characterized deer management since 2018,鈥� Keller said. 鈥淚mportantly, the plan also contains a look at what鈥檚 changed in deer management since the plan was adopted, and we will need public awareness and participation on those issues as well.鈥�

The documents and a link to the webinar are available on at . Public comments may be submitted online, emailed to Big.Game.Program.DNR@state.mn.us or sent by mail to Minnesota DNR/Barb Keller, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN, 55155.

WASHINGTON 鈥� President Biden on Saturday, Jan. 4, signed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a comprehensive package of outdoor recreation legislation that includes several components, such as the Every Kid Outdoors program, Outdoors for All Act, Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act and Military Veterans in Parks Act.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in April, and the Senate passed the bill Dec. 19, setting the stage for Biden鈥檚 signature.

The legislation:

• Extends the popular free park pass program for fourth grade students and their families.   
• Expands opportunities for outfitters and guides to take people out on public lands and waters.   
• Respects tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribal nations to directly apply for federal conservation funding.  
• Eases financial burdens to local organizations seeking federal conservation grants.  
• Makes permanent a federal grant program that establishes and improves parks and green space in communities that have no or limited access to outdoor recreation.  

鈥淭he EXPLORE Act is a milestone achievement to ensuring that outdoor recreation 鈥� a major driver of the U.S. economy 鈥� is accessible, inclusive and representative of all people,鈥� Paul Sanford, director for Equitable Access Policy at The Wilderness Society, said in a statement.

BISMARCK 鈥� The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department encourages people to join the on the OuterSpatial app and explore North Dakota鈥檚 trails throughout the year.

Every hike people enter on the app qualifies for an end-of-year gift card drawing. Participants also should watch for pop-up challenges tied to holidays and special hiking events.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be adding more trails in communities across the state as the year goes on, so there鈥檚 always something new to explore,鈥� the department said in a news release.

锘縋articipants can begin the challenge at any time. Simply download the app, join the challenge and check in to trails. The app allows users to track their progress, connect with fellow hikers and compete for a spot at the top of the leaderboard, earning digital badges as they go.

The OuterSpatial app also offers info on state park locations, events and points of interest. Find more 2,200 miles of trails mapped and ready to explore across North Dakota.

parkrec.nd.gov.

• Turkey hunters have through Friday, Feb. 21, to apply for turkey hunting permits for the A spring hunting season in Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas, the Minnesota DNR said in a news release. There will be 30 permits available for Carlos Avery WMA and 150 permits for Whitewater WMA. While a license is required for all seasons, hunters do not need a permit to hunt Carlos Avery or Whitewater WMAs during the B, C, D, E or F seasons. In addition, this year a permit will no longer be required for firearms hunters during any season to hunt Mille Lacs WMA, but a license is still required. Turkey licenses will go on sale in early March for several hunting seasons from mid-April to the end of May, with the A season kicking off on Wednesday, April 16. Info: .

Contributed / Minnesota DNR

• The 2025 Minnesota state park vehicle permit sticker and collectable mug features George H. Crosby Manitou State Park in northeast Minnesota. The park also celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025. The year-round permit, which is applied to a vehicle windshield, is valid for all 73 state parks and recreation areas in Minnesota. The permit costs $35 and is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Permits can be purchased online at or in person at state park ranger stations during open office hours. Visitors should check individual at for office hours.
• The DNR State Forest Nursery is seeking individuals to collect black spruce and jack pine cones this winter. The seeds are vital for reforesting thousands of acres each year, but the number of collectors has declined in recent seasons, creating a need for new participants. Cone collectors will receive payment for high-quality cones. Currently, a bushel (about 9 gallons) of healthy, viable black spruce cones fetches $100 and jack pine cones are worth $30 per bushel. Drop-off stations accepting jack pine and black spruce cones include Baudette, Bemidji, Cloquet, Deer River, Hibbing, Littlefork, Orr, Tower, Two Harbors, Warroad and the State Forest Nursery near Akeley. More info: .