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The Department of Natural Resources says ice fishing houses must be off of lakes in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota 

 Anglers in the northern third of the state have until the 

If structures aren't removed by the deadline, owners will be prosecuted and structures may be confiscated and destroyed. 

Dates of removal are determined by a west-to-east line formed by U.S. Highway 10 starting at the Minnesota-North Dakota border, 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. 

Now that it's time to start packing up, the DNR is also asking people to 

"Minnesota's lakes are among the best in the nation and it's up to each one of us to do our part to keep them clean," said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division.

The DNR says anyone headed out on a frozen lake should be mindful of the ice thickness.

Environmental News

Nancy Yang

Author

Ice fishing houses must be off of lakes in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota by midnight Monday, while anglers up north have until the end of March 19. Packing up? The DNR asks that you take your trash with you.

Time to clean up and remove ice houses from Minnesota lakes

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