DNR reminds Lake County anglers to remove ice shelters by March deadlines

As many shelters came off area lakes after a spell of warm weather, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminded Lake County anglers that statutory removal deadlines govern nonportable ice houses statewide. The DNR press release dated Feb. 23, 2026 noted that recent warm weather "has deteriorated many public water accesses in the central and southern parts of Minnesota and prompted thin‑ice warnings for some bodies of water," and urged owners to plan removal before the deadlines.

State law sets specific deadlines: all nonportable ice houses must be off the ice by 11:59 p.m. on March 2 for the southern two‑thirds of the state, by March 16 for the northern one‑third, and by March 31 for Minnesota–Canada border waters, including Lake of the Woods. Additional border‑water dates listed by the DNR include Minnesota–Iowa on Feb. 20, Minnesota–Wisconsin on March 1, and Minnesota–South Dakota and Minnesota–North Dakota on March 5.

After each statutory deadline, shelters may still remain on the ice only if they are occupied or attended between midnight and one hour before sunrise. The DNR’s guidance mirrors local reporting: "After the deadline, fish houses can still be out on the ice, but must be occupied if the houses are out between midnight and one hour before sunrise." The agency also reminds owners that shelters cannot be stored at public access points, a rule intended to keep boat launches and ramps clear for other users.

Enforcement will be active if shelters are abandoned. Owners who fail to remove structures risk prosecution, and conservation officers have authority to confiscate, remove, or destroy abandoned ice houses. Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki, assistant director of the DNR Enforcement Division, framed the enforcement message in the season’s context: "It’s been a good, long season for many anglers. We’d like to see that continue and have this part of the season end on a high note, which means shelters off by the deadlines and the ice free of litter."

The DNR spelled out removal and cleanup responsibilities: owners must dispose of all trash and remove materials brought onto the ice, including wooden blocking materials even if they have frozen into the ice. As one local report put it, "If you brought something onto the ice, it is your responsibility to bring it off." Those requirements aim to prevent hazards to spring boaters and reduce the chance of conservation officers having to remove embedded debris.

Lake County anglers who fish inland lakes or border waters should consult the DNR ice shelter webpage and the statutory delineation maps to determine which deadline applies to specific lakes. The DNR and local conservation officers continue to emphasize ice safety as conditions shift: "Ice is never 100% safe, and everyone should check the ice thickness for themselves.