Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF2720 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to game and fish; requiring an open season for wolves; amending Minnesota
3	3	1.3 Statutes 2024, sections 97A.451, subdivision 3; 97B.645, subdivision 9; 97B.646;
4	4	1.4 97B.647, subdivision 2.
5	5	1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
6	6	1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.451, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7	7	1.7 Subd. 3.Residents and nonresidents under age 16; small game.(a) A resident or
8	8	1.8nonresident under age 16 may not obtain a small-game license but may take small game by
9	9	1.9firearms or bow and arrow without a license if the resident or nonresident is:
10	10	1.10 (1) age 14 or 15 and possesses a firearms safety certificate;
11	11	1.11 (2) age 13, possesses a firearms safety certificate, and is accompanied by a parent or
12	12	1.12guardian;
13	13	1.13 (3) age 13, 14, or 15, and possesses an apprentice-hunter validation as provided under
14	14	1.14section 97B.022; or
15	15	1.15 (4) age 12 or under and is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
16	16	1.16 (b) A resident under age 16 may take small game, other than wolves, by trapping without
17	17	1.17a small-game license, but a resident 13 years of age or older must have a trapping license.
18	18	1.18A resident under age 13 may trap small game, other than wolves, without a trapping license,
19	19	1.19but may not register fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten unless the resident is at least age
20	20	1.20five. Any fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten taken by a resident under age five must be
21	21	1.21included in the limit of the accompanying parent or guardian.
22	22	1Section 1.
23	23	25-04798 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR CKM/EN
24	24	SENATE
25	25	STATE OF MINNESOTA
26	26	S.F. No. 2720NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
27	27	(SENATE AUTHORS: WESENBERG)
28	28	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
29	29	Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
30	30	Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy 2.1 (c) A resident or nonresident under age 13 must obtain a free turkey license to take
31	31	2.2turkey and may take a turkey without a firearms safety certificate if the resident or
32	32	2.3nonresident is accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety
33	33	2.4certificate.
34	34	2.5 (d) A resident under age 13 may apply for a prairie-chicken license and may take a
35	35	2.6prairie chicken without a firearms safety certificate if the resident is accompanied by an
36	36	2.7adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety certificate.
37	37	2.8 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.645, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
38	38	2.9 Subd. 9.Open season.There shall be no (a) The commissioner must prescribe an annual
39	39	2.10open season for wolves until after under section 97B.647 unless the wolf is delisted listed
40	40	2.11under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. After that time, the commissioner may
41	41	2.12prescribe open seasons and restrictions for taking wolves but must provide opportunity for
42	42	2.13public comment.
43	43	2.14 (b) The commissioner must annually consult with the commissioner of agriculture and
44	44	2.15the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
45	45	2.16before determining the season, restrictions, and other requirements of the open season
46	46	2.17required under this subdivision. The consultation must include a review of available data
47	47	2.18on wolf depredation on livestock and pets and other incidents of human conflict and must
48	48	2.19have a goal of maintaining a population of wolves in this state of between 1,251 and 1,400,
49	49	2.20except as modified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
50	50	2.21 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.646, is amended to read:
51	51	2.22 97B.646 WOLF MANAGEMENT .
52	52	2.23 (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, shall adopt
53	53	2.24a wolf management plan that includes goals to ensure the long-term survival of the wolf in
54	54	2.25Minnesota, to reduce conflicts between wolves and humans, to minimize depredation of
55	55	2.26livestock and domestic pets, and to manage the ecological impact of wolves on prey species
56	56	2.27and other predators. Once the management plan is adopted, the commissioner may amend,
57	57	2.28rescind, or adopt a new plan only when expressly directed to do so by the legislature.
58	58	2.29 (b) The commissioner shall compile a list that is updated quarterly on known wolf deaths,
59	59	2.30based on reporting by conservation officers. The list must specify the date and location of
60	60	2.31each wolf death and must be available on the department website.
61	61	2.32 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
62	62	2Sec. 3.
63	63	25-04798 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR CKM/EN 3.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.647, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
64	64	3.2 Subd. 2.Open seasons.Wolves may be taken with legal firearms, with bow and arrow,
65	65	3.3and by trapping. The open season to take wolves with firearms begins each year on the same
66	66	3.4day as the opening of the firearms deer-hunting season. The commissioner may by rule
67	67	3.5prescribe the open seasons for wolves according to this subdivision is between November
68	68	3.61 and January 31.
69	69	3Sec. 4.
70	70	25-04798 as introduced03/11/25 REVISOR CKM/EN