Invasive Species Decal

[LMITOUT]

DNR will have booths at Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis

(Released March 26, 2012)

Outdoor enthusiasts can learn about fishing, hunting, hiking trails, water safety and much more by visiting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) booths at the 80th Annual Northwest Sportshow, which runs March 28-April 1 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

DNR specialists will be available to answer questions at the main DNR booth located in Lobby D. The DNR License Center will be selling state parks stickers, and fishing and hunting licenses.

Attendees can also visit the DNR’s invasive species information booth in Lobby C to pick up educational materials and talk with invasive species staff and conservation officers specializing in invasive species issues. The new aquatic invasive species rules decal, which is required for all boats, will be available for free at the booth.

[jwmiller33]

You must have a better idea, so lets hear it.

[birchbranch]

I'm confused. Placing a sticker on your boat or trailer is going to help,,, how?

[birchbranch]

Harvey:

I think that most people know they need to drain their livewells, pull the drain plug on the boat, and check for weeds on their trailers. A sticker means absolutely nothing!! Either you do what you know needs to be done when leaving a lake, or you don't. This is complete bullsmit! I don't need to be treated like a 3rd grader by our government,,, who by the way, hasn't dealt with the core of this problem. So, why don't we all take the classic American knee-jerk response to an issue,,, without really addressing anything of consequence.

[Grum]

Just out of curiosity, do these stickers need to be applied to all watercraft? Duckboats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats/boards, ect..?

[mnvikingsfreak]

You guys are acting like putting these stickers on your boat and trailer is the end of the world! Just follow the DNR rules and quit whining. I don't like wearing my seat belt but it's the law so I deal with it. Remember people it's just a sticker.

[harvey lee]

I do not understand why some are against this. Will it hurt you to comply as you simply do not like to do what others suggest? I know that is true for Lmitout and Dtro in this case. Very hard to empty a livewell.

NO, the decal itself will not slow the spread of AIS. But it will open the eyes of some who either do not care or choose to be blind.

I agree this decal will not totally stop the spread of anything but it surely could and more than likely will slow it down until they can find a program to stop this.

For those who believe taking 5 minutes at the landing to do a few things is too much, what ideas do you have to help stop this??

Why should we not try to save our lakes? Yes, it may be late but doing nothing will not solve a thing. The idea I do not want to do it sounds like the kindergarten class whining.

[harvey lee]

Harvey:

I think that most people know they need to drain their livewells, pull the drain plug on the boat, and check for weeds on their trailers. A sticker means absolutely nothing!! Either you do what you know needs to be done when leaving a lake, or you don't. This is complete bullsmit! I don't need to be treated like a 3rd grader by our government,,, who by the way, hasn't dealt with the core of this problem. So, why don't we all take the classic American knee-jerk response to an issue,,, without really addressing anything of consequence.

Maybe if some of the whiners would have done a few things a few years back this could have helped, maybe not, who knows.

I am sure the decal will be placed on ALL watercraft so when one is stopped they cannoyt play dumb and say they did not know about AIS. Then no problems with giving them a ticket.

When you have so many people who refuse to help with this issue, this is what you get, treated like a 3rd grader.

Last year, one was supopose to be pulling thier plugs yet I could pull into a gas station on Mille Lacs and see all 10 of the boats at the station with no plugs out. Then you wonder why we now have new law3s and declas, c'mon, either one tries his best or it will be forced on you.

Why is it so hard to place 2 little declas on ones boat and trailer and one can even place them anywhere they choose?

[harvey lee]

Just out of curiosity, do these stickers need to be applied to all watercraft? Duckboats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats/boards, ect..?

I have not asked the DNR this but my guess would be all watercraft yes.

To verify this before you need to look for declas, one can call ST Paul and they can verify this for you.

[harvey lee]

I just seen a new product by digger anchor that is an automatic drain you don't have to remove the plug. Even endorsed and approved by the MNDNR (or so they say).

Why don't they just give those to everyone????

Why does it have to be free. That will cost alot of money and they are already short funds and then we will hear all the complaining about the DNR giving something out for free.

Geez, just pull the plug, it is that darn hard.

[DTro]

You totally missed the point.

What is the cost/effect ratio of a sticker. Is it worth the cost? How about these self draining plugs would it help? Maybe...

is it too much too ask that if we are required to do something then there is data to show the effects?

We are throwing darts here.

[harvey lee]

If we leave water in the boat from an infested lake and then go to another, I might guess we are adding to the issue of the spread of AIS. I know it is very hard to pull the plug when one is done fishing, it does take 1 minute at the most.

The self draining plugs will not help at all if you pull your plug so why should the state buy it for you? How could a self draining plug help if everyone was to follow the law and pull thier plug?

It's not that it is hard to pull the plug, just seems many would rather fight it and then when the issue gets worse, then it's why did they not do something sooner.

I question why the DNR needs to show data about the spread of the IS when we all know the lakes are one by one getting it.

Again DTro, why should the state have to give you a self draining plug for your boat? Doesn't it have one?

[DTro]

You totally missed the point.

What is the cost/effect ratio of a sticker. Is it worth the cost? How about these self draining plugs would it help? Maybe...

is it too much too ask that if we are required to do something then there is data to show the effects?

We are throwing darts here.

[harvey lee]

Was the point you wanted a free boat plug as that surely is what it seemed you were looking for. This self draining plug sounds to be a great idea but when everyone already pulls thier plug, I do not see it helping to do anything.

I cannot believe anyone who uses the lakes and rivers in this state does not know that we have issues with the AIS in our system.

If the DNR was to do more studies for you in regards to the cost/effectiviness of this program, you would be stating they are wasting more money.

lets face it, you and I both know our lakes have issues with the AIS so why is it so hard to do a few simple things to help slow the spread of this until someone can find a cure to kill it all without harminmg our lakes?

I personally would rather do what I can to hopefully stop this AIS issue rather than just sit back and say no, I will not comply with any of this because I do not like it.

Maybe we should ask the DNR to just do nothing and then it will all go away. Sure this is going to cost some money but it beats just turning our heads.

Our next issue will be the silver carp and that also will cost many dollars and that I am sure people will scream about. Other side is, let them multply and see what happens.

[TruthWalleyes]

Auto drain plug ain't goin on my boat...will be in the way of SI.

[IcePro]

"Fishing Minnesota" members are educated and do not need a sticker to remind them to follow the rules or they say.

We need to look at the much bigger picture. How many boaters, fisherman, jet skiers, shore fisherman, etc. do not visit websites and are not up to date on new regulations and invasive species.

Will this sticker stop the spread, "No" but it will assist in slowing down the spread and will help more people become educated on Invasive Species that are spreading into the lakes.

[GrizzlyAdams]

This is the reason for the sticker. If they pull you over for having weeds on the trailer or your plug in or water in the livewell, etc then you can not play stupid and say you didn't know. Makes it much easier for them to make the fine stick if you have no excuses other than laziness.

So no the sticker is not going to stop the spread it will just take away the "I didn't know that" scenarios that the DNR sees all the time.

[TruthWalleyes]

IMO, ignorance is no excuse.

You buy a license, you agree to the terms.

You go fishing without a license...ignorance does not forgive a ticket.

No sticker on my car to obey the speed limit. Not seeing the speed limit sign is no excuse to speed either.

You click "Agree to the terms" whether you read them or not, you are held responsible to those terms.

I'd be surprised if CO's let people walk with weeds on their trailers...if they are, shame on them to supporting ignorance.

I do however think the sticker will enlighten some people who otherwise make no attempt to read the regulations...but a ticket should teach them to read the regulations before assuming that the laws haven't changed in the 20 years they have been fishing.

[DTro]

There is a huge pile of straw on the proverbial camel’s back and each one of these new regs is just another piece of straw being tossed on top. Each one individually is nothing at all, but add them all up and pretty soon that camel is going to collapse.

[DTro]

There is a huge pile of straw on the proverbial camel’s back and each one of these new regs is just another piece of straw being tossed on top. Each one individually is nothing at all, but add them all up and pretty soon that camel is going to collapse.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

I do however think the sticker will enlighten some people who otherwise make no attempt to read the regulations

I agree...

Not everbody "all 1,000,000 MN boaters" is on HSO, just most of them.

[jwmiller33]

LMIT, your silence is deafening

[JakeJ_Mn]

Today, I purchased new license tags for my small boat, 2 kayaks, and 2 canoes. I was given invasive stickers to be placed on all of them. The lower tag goes on the trailer and the rest in the boat. If no trailer, the entire sticker goes on the watercraft according the the DMV.

I also tranfered another canoe I purchased used into my name and was charged an additional $5 exotic invasive fee. Anything to help keep this stuff under control is ok with me.

[St_Croix_Banks]

"Fishing Minnesota" members are educated and do not need a sticker to remind them to follow the rules or they say.

We need to look at the much bigger picture. How many boaters, fisherman, jet skiers, shore fisherman, etc. do not visit websites and are not up to date on new regulations and invasive species.

Will this sticker stop the spread, "No" but it will assist in slowing down the spread and will help more people become educated on Invasive Species that are spreading into the lakes.

Exactly the point! The intention of the sticker is to create awareness and create discussion for many that maybe do not often launch their boats in multiple locations several times per week. This thread is already 9 pages long so I'd say its working!

[RumRiverRat]

So doing nothing is better?

Doing Nothing is better than a lame sticker.

[RumRiverRat]

I would imagine if you do not stop or do not allow them to wash your boat you will have even larger issues for sure.

The DNR will have larger issues.

These checkpoints are illegal and any pressure washing of my property is vandalism.

Making people that are towing boats stop for a checkpoint is profiling.

Last time I checked the 4th Amendment trumps any laws regulating AIS.

[TruthWalleyes]

So did these stickers start peeling in half yet?

[Pat K]

"Fishing Minnesota" members are educated and do not need a sticker to remind them to follow the rules or they say.

We need to look at the much bigger picture. How many boaters, fisherman, jet skiers, shore fisherman, etc. do not visit websites and are not up to date on new regulations and invasive species.

Will this sticker stop the spread, "No" but it will assist in slowing down the spread and will help more people become educated on Invasive Species that are spreading into the lakes.

I don't know if FM members don't need a reminder to follow the rules.

In Dec. of 2010 I was fishing on Prior Lake. Walking out I stopped and talked to 3 guys fishing together. All were fishing minnesota members, one who posts quite often. Walking off the lake I picked up a 5 gallon bucket full trash they had left behind. They were pretty belligerent when I confronted them by their truck. I told them if I ever saw them leaving garbage on the ice again I would out them here on FM.

I think a lot us can talk the talk but don't walk the walk.

[ranger5333]

I don't get it. Where does it say that the top portion has to be placed anywhere?

[Ice_Fishin07]

CALM DOWN boys! I just called DNR Invasive Species department. The lady told me the sticker needs to be on boat by AUGUST 1st 2014. So we got plenty of time. She said sit back and enjoy the boat ride just check the boat when you get out of the water. So guys we have little more than 2 years to put One sticker on the boat.

I am sure I'll find the right sticker before that date.