**NEWS RELEASE** 2016 agate season

The mille lacs county agate warden has declared the 2016 agate season open. She said to remember to obtain your 2016 agate hunting license before you head out. Licenses can be obtained from mrs puddlepounder, who is the mille lacs county agate warden or online at agatesareus.com There have been a few changes in the law this year. Agate hunting along the shores of lake mille lacs is, find and throw back only. Pictures may be taken but agates must be immediately returned to where they were found. Everywhere else it is open season with possession limits the same as always, once one pocket is filled, start filling the other one up. Agate hunting spots are as coveted as any fishing or morel mushroom spot, so lets all play nice out there.

Are you allowed two handed picking or is it restricted to one hand?

Do the locals get to use shovels and keep all they want as always?

Remember there are plenty of cameras around the lake!

SMH we’ve been trying to get the driftwood open for catch and release for years. Their numbers have come back strong and there is no reason not to at least allow CPR. Studies prove CPR doesn’t affect them. The Department of Arbor Resources is terrible at management.

FYI, Florida not only allows it, and there’s no limit

I’m protesting agate lives matter!!! Should be find and release statewide!

I just hate seeing all the guys running around with their pockets packed spilling live agates everywhere…. you know their taking as many as they can everyday as if its not going to hurt the population because its “legal”.

I’m still reeling from last years size restrictions! Agates that are 1.5″ to 1.75″ across are almost impossible to stumble on.

Ok, might as well be me that says it…

What’s the cost of the sticker?

First walleyes, now agates, double attack!!!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Ok, might as well be me that says it…

What’s the cost of the sticker?

I don’t know, but I will check with the warden and see if she has an idea of cost and when it will be available.

Dutchboy wrote:

Are you allowed two handed picking or is it restricted to one hand?

two handed is allowed

biggill wrote:

Do the locals get to use shovels and keep all they want as always?[/

everybody can use shovels, as long as you buy a shovel stamp

In Wi you can use up to 3 hands but the 3rd hand can only be from a one armed man. But you will have to have a 3rd hand special permit. Plus as I am sure you all Know, the 3rd hand can ONLY be used on weekdays. No more than 2 hands on weekends an only one hand on holiday weekends. … rrr

Well Puddle, if a person can’t keep a fish, might as well start looking for rocks.

Do you think there will be some agates taken home illegally?

Far be it for me to stereotype,but, sounds like a bunch of ‘stoners’ to me?

Yes there will. No collecting of anything in the state park and people do it anyways.

loonswail wrote:

Far be it for me to stereotype,but, sounds like a bunch of ‘stoners’ to me?

no stereotyping at all

If the agates are covered in sand, could that be an invasive specie?

puddlepounder wrote:

The mille lacs county agate warden has declared the 2016 agate season open. She said to remember to obtain your 2016 agate hunting license before you head out. Licenses can be obtained from mrs puddlepounder, who is the mille lacs county agate warden or online at agatesareus.com There have been a few changes in the law this year. Agate hunting along the shores of lake mille lacs is, find and throw back only. Pictures may be taken but agates must be immediately returned to where they were found. Everywhere else it is open season with possession limits the same as always, once one pocket is filled, start filling the other one up. Agate hunting spots are as coveted as any fishing or morel mushroom spot, so lets all play nice out there.

Word around the lake for years has been “Fellegy is nuts!” Seems this gets me off the hook and adds another Fellegy–Cove Bay vintage–…LOL No doubt….it is a very rocky scenario at Lake Mille Las this year! This all said with hope my boat and truck windows don’t get stoned this year…and stay away from “my” agates on the north side shorelines..

30 minutes after sunset until sunrise for the 1st week.
However no articiial light is allowed. Trophy sizes captured over 5 pounds must be returned immediately to the surface or crushed into chips before pocketing.
Alternative 2 is to send me the GPS coordinates of the trophy sized specimens and I will eliminate the temptation for you. Why? because I care!

We were out today. We each found a pocket full. Nothing real big, the biggest was about the size of two golf balls. We were not alone, there were other “stoners” out and about. Other than a little windy today, it was a nice day hunting.

puddlepounder wrote:

We were out today. We each found a pocket full. Nothing real big, the biggest was about the size of two golf balls. We were not alone, there were other “stoners” out and about. Other than a little windy today, it was a nice day hunting.

So–with the southern shorelines iced in, you trespassed on the north shore–again? Say it ain’t so…

My favorite part of the agates are the cheeks! Anybody got any good recipes for agate stew?