ice house removal deadline

I saw on Kare 11 last night that the ice house removal deadline is approaching very quickly. The deadline is Monday, March 4 for the southern portion of the state. I guess there are a TON of houses still out there. The penalty for leaving it out there past the deadline can include fines and impoundment. Holy cow I’d hate to go out there on Tuesday and see my $15,000 ice castle gone.

I have a feeling the DNR isn’t going to rush to remove/fine people. I watched several guys struggle for hours last weekend trying to remove their houses. Unless you’ve got a V-plow or someone is maintaining a road to your shack, it’s going to be a struggle.

Angler II wrote:

I have a feeling the DNR isn’t going to rush to remove/fine people. I watched several guys struggle for hours last weekend trying to remove their houses. Unless you’ve got a V-plow or someone is maintaining a road to your shack, it’s going to be a struggle.

These guys must not be bright. To leave your shack and not have a plow or equipment to pull it off. That’s not bright.
I should post a add. I’ll bring a tracked skid loader and straps for 500 bucks

People know what the deadline is for months in advance on this. There’s no reason to wait until the very last day or weekend to remove it.

gimruis wrote:

People know what the deadline is for months in advance on this. There’s no reason to wait until the very last day or weekend to remove it.

But every year we see the same thing, shacks left on the ice.
Can’t fix stupid!

gimruis wrote:

People know what the deadline is for months in advance on this. There’s no reason to wait until the very last day or weekend to remove it.

I can think of a 100 reasons… in fact that’s the number of crappies my boy iced just the other weekend. Why cut the season short for a silly rule? Enjoy life instead of worrying about a deadline.

I’m not sure why the guberment needs to tell us when the ice isn’t safe for houses anyhow. It’s an outdated law from a time when people had junk houses and just decided to leave em out there. No one is going to leave a 20k house to sink…

There is actually no hurry to get a house off the lake as long as you occupy it overnight. Heck you could technically just wait for the snow to melt and then pull it off… this is the option my boy would prefer.

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I believe there was a time that they would not fine people if the house was on the ice after the removal date – They would burn the house if I remember correctly. This was probably back in the 70’s or early 80’s I believe.

I’m not saying I agreed with the deadline. But there’s been years where the lakes are ice-free by mid March too. Do I think the DNR is going to confiscate it if you leave it out there past the deadline on Monday? Probably not. But I still wouldn’t leave it out there if I valued it. And telling the DNR that “it was too hard to remove it” might not be a viable excuse either.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Angler II wrote:</div>
I have a feeling the DNR isn’t going to rush to remove/fine people. I watched several guys struggle for hours last weekend trying to remove their houses. Unless you’ve got a V-plow or someone is maintaining a road to your shack, it’s going to be a struggle.

These guys must not be bright. To leave your shack and not have a plow or equipment to pull it off. That’s not bright.
I should post a add. I’ll bring a tracked skid loader and straps for 500 bucks

I had a plow, two atvs, two snowmobiles and a snow blower going for 2 days. Am I an idiot…probably, but I wanted to use my house all winter. I knew what I was getting into. Even with all that equipment, it’s going to be a struggle to take off…but I did.

gimruis wrote:

Do I think the DNR is going to confiscate it if you leave it out there past the deadline on Monday? Probably not. But I still wouldn’t leave it out there if I valued it. And telling the DNR that “it was too hard to remove it” might not be a viable excuse either.

Here’s a funny story. My brother growing up had his house on our local lake and we fished everyday but we clearly didn’t think about the deadline. We were kids after all. Well my brother is laying in bed and wakes up at around 12:00 and says oh crap! He wakes up Dad and they go down to the lake to get it. Guess what the house was gone.

They called the DNR the next day and yup, they had it. I guess in the end it was good for a young kid to learn there is no messing with the law. (dumb law or not…don’t mess with it is what we learned) The CO was nice and offered my Brother a deal. If he made 10 wood duck houses he could have his house back. It was a win win in the end. We just couldn’t believe they got the house 10 min after 12:00.

ClownColor wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Angler II wrote:</div>
I have a feeling the DNR isn’t going to rush to remove/fine people. I watched several guys struggle for hours last weekend trying to remove their houses. Unless you’ve got a V-plow or someone is maintaining a road to your shack, it’s going to be a struggle.

These guys must not be bright. To leave your shack and not have a plow or equipment to pull it off. That’s not bright.
I should post a add. I’ll bring a tracked skid loader and straps for 500 bucks

I had a plow, two atvs, two snowmobiles and a snow blower going for 2 days. Am I an idiot…probably, but I wanted to use my house all winter. I knew what I was getting into. Even with all that equipment, it’s going to be a struggle to take off…but I did.

Hmmmm…500 bucks might have been cheaper and lot less work.

every year is different. personally i only have collapisbiles so no removal issues.

i would hope to think that due do the circimstances this winter has brought the DNR would be giving some leeway, extra time, like through march 10th to remove houses. not like the ice is going anywhere soon!!!

glenn57 wrote:

i would hope to think that due do the circimstances this winter has brought the DNR would be giving some leeway, extra time,

A CO said on the news last night that there is absolutely no way to do this without a change of the law. I figured they could just do what they wanted but I guess not based on that CO.

I had a plow, two atvs, two snowmobiles and a snow blower going for 2 days. Am I an idiot…probably, but I wanted to use my house all winter. I knew what I was getting into. Even with all that equipment, it’s going to be a struggle to take off…but I did.

[/quote]

That’s directed at the fellow fisherman who left it out through this with out the means of removal. ( kinda figured that was a given) not to the guys with the means of removal. Which obviously you were prepared.

Well Bearcat89, Cursing Facebook this morning and people are charging about $250 – $300 for removal of houses with skidloaders.

Charles wrote:

Well Bearcat89, Cursing Facebook this morning and people are charging about $250 – $300 for removal of houses with skidloaders.

That’s why I’m not doing it. I would put a price point of I dont want to do it, but i will for this set price. 250 is hardly worth the time and travel unless there is multiple shacks per 1 lake visit

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
i would hope to think that due do the circimstances this winter has brought the DNR would be giving some leeway, extra time,

A CO said on the <nobr style=”font-size: inherit”>news</nobr> last night that there is absolutely no way to do this without a change of the law. I figured they could just do what they wanted but I guess not based on that CO.

i think he may say that to be politically correct, i could be wrong, but i’d believe some would find other things to do for an additional week!!!!!

i have no skin in this game……they gotta do what they gotta do. i’m just saying the conditions are way above the norm.

glenn57 wrote:

i’m just saying the conditions are way above the norm.

I agree but last year we found ourselves in the same situation. We were driving trucks and wheel houses on the ice in mid April. I wish we were allowed to think for ourselves…

haleysgold wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Angler II wrote:</div>
I have a feeling the DNR isn’t going to rush to remove/fine people. I watched several guys struggle for hours last weekend trying to remove their houses. Unless you’ve got a V-plow or someone is maintaining a road to your shack, it’s going to be a struggle.

These guys must not be bright. To leave your shack and not have a plow or equipment to pull it off. That’s not bright.
I should post a add. I’ll bring a tracked skid loader and straps for 500 bucks

I had a plow, two atvs, two snowmobiles and a snow blower going for 2 days. Am I an idiot…probably, but I wanted to use my house all winter. I knew what I was getting into. Even with all that equipment, it’s going to be a struggle to take off…but I did.

Hmmmm…500 bucks might have been cheaper and lot less work.

$500 isn’t cheaper but sure would have been a lot less work!

Interesting how some view deadlines as a suggestion.

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
i’m just saying the conditions are way above the norm.

I agree but last year we found ourselves in the same situation. We were driving trucks and wheel houses on the ice in mid April.

With the current snow and slush on most of the lakes, it may be Mid April before we are driving trucks and wheel houses on the ice again this year.

Dutchboy wrote:

Interesting how some view deadlines as a suggestion.

i can see how you can assume my opinions view the deadline as a suggestion but i can tell you its not. its been a whole lotta years since i’ve seen snow and slush this awefully bad.
if guys with these houses and maybe some of the equipment cant get there houses off, hows the DNR gonna get them off. i know they’ll get the ticket and fine in the mail/

like i said i have no skin in this, but………..just saying a bit of lieniency here wouldnt be a bad thing.

It wasn’t a specific reply to you Glenn, just a general observation. I understand conditions are worse than normal but people also have all weekend to work on it. I can understand leniency but only if the CO can see a effort is being made to comply. I think “assuming” that the deadline will be extended or ignored might result in a citation. I would think if the DNR intended to make any exceptions they would have announced it by now.

Good story about the house Joe. I hope it doesn’t happen again!

gimruis wrote:

Good story about the house Joe. I hope it doesn’t happen again!

Ha! Nope we learned our lesson many years ago.

Relatively archaic and unintelligent law, IMHO. The lakes are our public resources to use, having a house out there should not be an issue. If the DNR feels it needs a deadline, it should be variable to adjust for the variable ice conditions from year to year. Another in a long line of laws that stemmed from decent ideas, but were executed exceptionally poorly.

That being said, if you are someone who left a wheel house on the lake w/o means to get it off….. Have fun

Dutchboy wrote:

Interesting how some view deadlines as a suggestion.

X2 cause the next thing you know, someone could say “the possession limit for this or that lake is wrong cause I know better and I’m just gonna use that part of the regs as a suggestion too..”

dexknows wrote:

The lakes are our public resources to use, having a house out there should not be an issue.

Oh good, so just like anyone is free to use a permanent stand they find on public hunting grounds, I can use your fish house with no problem, too? Sweet thanks!

C’mon guys, you can’t have it both ways with this one. If you don’t like the rules, talk to you state rep and state senator to get them changed. Otherwise, tough bounce.

For those around Osakis.

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I would guess the dnr is giddy with excitement for all the fines they can collect…

Here in SD, the gf&p lifted the deadline of Feb 28th to have houses off was extended due to the snow and drifting conditions. A new date has not been set yet as far as I have heard. This is the 2nd time they have done this in the past 5-10 years that I can remember. Have they never done this in MN?