Protect Keystone Woods
A few members of a dog hunting club at Keystone Woods WMA firing at ducks
DNR allows private club use of public lands
Issue: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is charged with protecting wildlife and habitats, but the new 1820-acre acquisition in Washington County is being leased to a coalition of over 40 private clubs to train hunting dogs . There are woodlands, wetlands and prairies, some of which have been left virtually untouched and where rare plants and wildlife live such as trumpeter swans, short-eared owls, American white pelicans, Blanding’s turtles, rusty patched bumble bee, meadowlarks and eagles. The neighbors and visitors to this area are keenly aware that this land has special ecological significance.
The mission of the DNR is to work with Minnesotans to conserve and manage the state's natural resources. The DNR is directed to protect wild animals: “The commissioner shall do all things the commissioner determines are necessary to preserve, protect, and propagate desirable species of wild animals.” Unfortunately, the DNR chose to act prematurely and leased these special natural areas to private interests.
As part of the DNR’s lease to the Federation of Field Trial Clubs, Inc., these private clubs are allowed to hunt outside of hunting season, drive ATV’s and trucks across these sensitive lands, mow and remove vegetation for dog trialing and hunting activities including shoreline vegetation. These clubs have 1,000’s of members with activities and events scheduled weekdays and weekends accessed through locked gates to 466 acres. Visitors and neighbors to the WMA are subjected to gunfire all week long and all year long. Wildlife and nesting birds have abandoned the WMA due to these high impact activities. The private clubs charge a fee to their members to participate in activities and trailing dogs on the public land at Keystone WMA. Dog owners compete certification and ranking so the dogs become more valuable to breed and sell. The clubs raise ducks, pheasants and chukars in captivity in pens similar to CAFO’s and then release them at Keystone WMA where they are shot or escape and mix with wild birds potentially exposing wild bird populations to bird flu.
At a time when our federal government is leasing and selling off public lands and park lands, it’s more important than ever to protect public lands at home for future generations and for at-risk wildlife.
We need the DNR to do their job, follow their mission, protect wildlife and habitat, AND stop leasing our public lands to private clubs.
Petition to protect Keystone Woods from private dog hunting clubs
Dog hunting club map of private access gates and hunting areas