How to Dispose of Fish Guts in the Boundary Waters

This is a picture of how not to dispose of fish guts in the Boundary Waters and Minnesota. You don’t just leave them on the ground at a campsite for birds and animals to get into. We found this pile on Saturday. It wasn’t really a pile. The skins and guts were scattered by animals all over the campsite, which caused the campsite to smell like dead fish. It was unpleasantness incarnate. I piled up everything for the picture. So, how to dispose of fish guts in the Boundary Waters and Minnesota?

If you don’t want to read everything, skip to the end.

The Best Way: Pack them Out

The easiest and best way is to pack a odor proof plastic bag and pack them out with you. Most people won’t like this option of carrying out fish entrails. But it really is the best practice. If you do pack them out with you, make sure to hang them at night. Hang them with the rest of your food so that it keeps them safe from critters and bears.

What does the US Forest Service Say?

When in the Boundary Waters and you need to dispose of fish guts, the USFS says on page 6 of their BWCAW guide, “Dispose of fish remains by traveling at least 200 feet* away from campsites, trails, portages and shorelines.”

One of the reasons (other than state law (see below)) is that, “Leaving fish remains along shore can alter natural behaviors, expose animals to predators, cause stress, and even cause unnatural fluctuations in numbers, as with increased gulls in some areas. Scatter remains back in the woods at least 200 feet away from the shore or camping areas.”

In part 3 of the visitor videos, the USFS recommends covering the remains with leaf debris.

Also, the Superior National Forest FAQ, the USFS states, “Bury or scatter fish remains well away from campsites, trails, portages and shorelines. STATE LAW PROHIBITS PUTTING FISH REMAINS INTO THE WATERS, LAKES, STREAMS OR RIVERS.”

*200 feet is approximately 70 big steps for adults and 120 for kids!

What is Minnesota’s Law?

In Minnesota and in the Boundary Waters, it is against the law to dispose of fish guts in the water or along the steam or lake shores. On page 37, the 2020 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet states, “You can’t dispose of any rubbish (including parts of fish, fish guts or other animal)…into public waters, onto ice, or onto lake and stream shores.“

Also, Pay Attention

In addition to disposing of the fish guts properly, consider cleaning the fish outside of the campsite. This will help keep the smell of fresh fish guts away from your campsite. You can bring a lightweight and portable plastic cutting board with you to help with this chore. The USFS recommends killing and gutting them immediately and keeping them on ice.

You are also prohibited from “Moving fish from lake to lake by releasing fish off of stringers (Many common species, such as walleye and smallmouth bass are themselves not native to large areas of the BWCAW).” Releasing unused live bait is prohibited as well.

To Sum This Up

The best way to dispose of fish guts in the Boundary Waters is to pack them out. If you aren’t willing to do the best practice, then dispose of fish remains by traveling at least 200 feet away from campsites, trails, portages and shorelines. It is illegal in Minnesota and the Boundary Waters to dispose of the fish guts into the water or along the lake or stream shores.

Enjoy your fish and dispose of the guts properly so someone else won’t experience your fish in a disgusting way.