Deadline to remove ice fishing shelters from Minnesota lakes approaches

(KMSP) - The end of ice fishing season quickly approaches in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota where all structures must be taken off of lakes by the end of the day on Monday, March 5. 

The deadline for the northern third of the state is the end of the day Monday, March 19. 

According to the Department of Natural Resources, if owners do not remove shelters by the deadline, they will be prosecuted and structures may be confiscated or destroyed. 

Anyone who ventures out onto a frozen lake should keep in mind that the thickness of the ice may vary from one area to another and that ice is never 100 percent safe, the DNR said.