Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF687 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; prohibiting taking elk except where causing damage;
3	3	1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 97A.475, subdivision 2; 97A.485,
4	4	1.4 subdivision 6; 97B.515, subdivisions 1, 4; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024,
5	5	1.5 sections 97A.433; 97B.515, subdivision 2; Minnesota Rules, parts 6232.4300;
6	6	1.6 6232.4600.
7	7	1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
8	8	1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9	9	1.9 Subd. 2.Resident hunting.Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents
10	10	1.10only, are:
11	11	1.11 (1) for persons age 18 or over and under age 65 to take small game, $15.50;
12	12	1.12 (2) for persons age 65 or over, $7 to take small game;
13	13	1.13 (3) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $26;
14	14	1.14 (4) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;
15	15	1.15 (5) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms
16	16	1.16season, $34;
17	17	1.17 (6) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $34;
18	18	1.18 (7) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader
19	19	1.19season, $34;
20	20	1.20 (8) to take moose, for a party of not more than six persons, $356;
21	21	1.21 (9) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $44;
22	22	1Section 1.
23	23	25-02270 as introduced01/15/25 REVISOR CKM/HL
24	24	SENATE
25	25	STATE OF MINNESOTA
26	26	S.F. No. 687NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
27	27	(SENATE AUTHORS: WESENBERG)
28	28	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
29	29	Introduction and first reading01/27/2025
30	30	Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy 2.1 (10) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons, $287;
31	31	2.2 (11) (10) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;
32	32	2.3 (12) (11) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;
33	33	2.4 (13) (12) to take prairie chickens, $23;
34	34	2.5 (14) (13) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during
35	35	2.6the regular firearms season, $5;
36	36	2.7 (15) (14) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;
37	37	2.8 (16) (15) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by muzzleloader
38	38	2.9during the muzzleloader season, $5;
39	39	2.10 (17) (16) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee;
40	40	2.11 (18) (17) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take bear, $5;
41	41	2.12 (19) (18) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period
42	42	2.13selected by the licensee, $19, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the
43	43	2.14migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the
44	44	2.15waterfowl habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 2; one-half of
45	45	2.16the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the
46	46	2.17pheasant habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 4; and one-half
47	47	2.18of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited in the wildlife acquisition
48	48	2.19account;
49	49	2.20 (20) (19) for persons age 16 or over and under age 18 to take small game, $5;
50	50	2.21 (21) (20) to take wolf, $30;
51	51	2.22 (22) (21) for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;
52	52	2.23 (23) (22) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;
53	53	2.24 (24) (23) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee; and
54	54	2.25 (25) (24) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during the
55	55	2.26muzzleloader season, no fee.
56	56	2.27 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
57	57	2.28 Subd. 6.Licenses to be sold and issuing fees.(a) Persons authorized to sell licenses
58	58	2.29under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following
59	59	2.30issuing fees:
60	60	2Sec. 2.
61	61	25-02270 as introduced01/15/25 REVISOR CKM/HL 3.1 (1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;
62	62	3.2 (2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;
63	63	3.3 (3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing
64	64	3.4animals, the issuing fee is $1;
65	65	3.5 (4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires
66	66	3.6a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application
67	67	3.7fee;
68	68	3.8 (5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;
69	69	3.9 (6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;
70	70	3.10 (7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;
71	71	3.11 (8) (7) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;
72	72	3.12 (9) (8) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;
73	73	3.13 (10) (9) for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing
74	74	3.14fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;
75	75	3.15 (11) (10) for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;
76	76	3.16 (12) (11) for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section 97A.441,
77	77	3.17subdivisions 1 to 6a, or 97A.465, there is no fee;
78	78	3.18 (13) (12) for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and
79	79	3.19 (14) (13) for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction
80	80	3.20through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an
81	81	3.21issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the
82	82	3.22authorized seller.
83	83	3.23 (b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same
84	84	3.24transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.
85	85	3.25 (c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.
86	86	3.26 (d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.
87	87	3.27 (e) A license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and that the issuing
88	88	3.28fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.
89	89	3.29 (f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:
90	90	3.30 (1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and
91	91	3Sec. 2.
92	92	25-02270 as introduced01/15/25 REVISOR CKM/HL 4.1 (2) for other licenses, 50 cents.
93	93	4.2 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.515, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
94	94	4.3 Subdivision 1.License required.A person may not take an elk without an elk license
95	95	4.4except as provided in subdivision 4.
96	96	4.5 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.515, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
97	97	4.6 Subd. 4.Taking elk causing damage or nuisance.The commissioner may authorize
98	98	4.7licensed hunters to take elk that are causing damage or nuisance from August 15 to March
99	99	4.81 under rules prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may issue licenses to
100	100	4.9hunters impartially selected from a list of elk hunt applicants who indicated on their
101	101	4.10application that they would be interested and available to respond to an elk damage or
102	102	4.11nuisance situation. Notwithstanding section 97A.433, subdivision 2, clause (2), a person
103	103	4.12receiving a license to hunt elk under this subdivision does not lose eligibility for future elk
104	104	4.13hunts.
105	105	4.14 Sec. 5. REPEALER.
106	106	4.15 (a) Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 97A.433; and 97B.515, subdivision 2, are repealed.
107	107	4.16 (b) Minnesota Rules, parts 6232.4300; and 6232.4600, are repealed.
108	108	4Sec. 5.
109	109	25-02270 as introduced01/15/25 REVISOR CKM/HL 97A.433 ELK LICENSES.
110	110	Subdivision 1.Number of licenses; party size.The commissioner shall include in a rule setting
111	111	the dates for an elk season:
112	112	(1) the number of licenses to be issued; and
113	113	(2) the size of an elk-hunting party, not to exceed two persons.
114	114	Subd. 2.Eligibility.Persons eligible for an elk license shall be determined under this section
115	115	and commissioner's rule. A person is eligible for an elk license only if the person:
116	116	(1) is a resident; and
117	117	(2) has never been issued an elk license.
118	118	Subd. 3.Application for license.An application for an elk license must be on a form provided
119	119	by the commissioner and accompanied by a $4 nonrefundable application fee per person. A person
120	120	may not make more than one application for each season. If a person makes more than one
121	121	application, the person is ineligible for a license for that season after determination by the
122	122	commissioner, without a hearing.
123	123	Subd. 4.Discretionary separate selection; eligibility.(a) The commissioner may conduct a
124	124	separate selection for up to 20 percent of the elk licenses to be issued for an area. Only owners of,
125	125	and tenants living on, at least 160 acres of agricultural or grazing land in the area, and their family
126	126	members, are eligible for the separate selection. Persons that are unsuccessful in a separate selection
127	127	must be included in the selection for the remaining licenses. Persons who obtain an elk license in
128	128	a separate selection may sell their license to any Minnesota resident eligible to hunt big game for
129	129	no more than the original cost of the license.
130	130	(b) The commissioner may by rule establish criteria for determining eligible family members
131	131	under this subdivision.
132	132	Subd. 5.Mandatory separate selection.The commissioner must conduct a separate selection
133	133	for 20 percent of the elk licenses to be issued each year. Only individuals who have applied at least
134	134	ten times for an elk license and who have never received a license are eligible for this separate
135	135	selection. A person who is unsuccessful in a separate selection under this subdivision must be
136	136	included in the selection for the remaining licenses.
137	137	97B.515 TAKING ELK.
138	138	Subd. 2.Season and restrictions.The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe the open season
139	139	and the areas and conditions for the taking of elk when the precalving population exceeds 20 animals.
140	140	1R
141	141	APPENDIX
142	142	Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-02270 6232.4300SEASONS AND OPEN AREAS FOR TAKING ELK.
143	143	Subpart 1.Taking elk.Elk may be taken by a licensed hunter using a legal firearm
144	144	or a legal bow and arrow during seasons authorized by the commissioner.
145	145	Subp. 2.Open areas.
146	146	A.A license for the Grygla elk zones is valid for taking elk within the Primary
147	147	Grygla Elk Zone prescribed in part 6232.4600, subpart 1, and the Secondary Grygla Elk
148	148	Zone as described in part 6232.4600, subpart 2.
149	149	B.A license for the Kittson County Central Elk Zone is valid for taking elk within
150	150	the elk zone prescribed in part 6232.4600, subpart 3.
151	151	6232.4600ELK ZONES.
152	152	Subpart 1.Primary Grygla Elk Zone.The Primary Grygla Elk Zone consists of that
153	153	portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:
154	154	Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 89 and Marshall County
155	155	Road (CR) 145; thence along CR 145 to County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 6, Marshall
156	156	County; thence along CSAH 6 to the northwest corner of Section 16, Township 157
157	157	North, Range 39 West; thence north along the west line of Sections 9 and 4 (360th Ave
158	158	NE), Township 157 North, Range 39 West, to the Moose River; thence along the
159	159	southerly shore of said river to Moose River Road NW, Beltrami County; thence along
160	160	Moose River Road NW to its intersection with the Moose River impoundment dike;
161	161	thence generally south along the Moose River impoundment dike to the intersection
162	162	with STH 89; thence west along STH 89 to the intersection with CSAH 54, Marshall
163	163	County; thence north along CSAH 54 to the southeast corner of Section 2, Township
164	164	156 North, Range 39 West; thence west along the south boundary of Section 2, Township
165	165	156 North, Range 39 West; thence along an unnumbered township road (330th St NE),
166	166	Marshall County, that coincides with the south boundaries of Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6,
167	167	Township 156 North, Range 39 West; thence along an unnumbered township road
168	168	(330th St NE), Marshall County, that coincides with the south boundary of Section 1,
169	169	Township 156 North, Range 40 West, to STH 89; thence along STH 89 to the point of
170	170	beginning.
171	171	Subp. 2.Secondary Grygla Elk Zone.The Secondary Grygla Elk Zone consists of
172	172	all of Marshall County east of State Trunk Highway (STH) 89 and that portion of Beltrami
173	173	County lying within Northwood and Benville Townships (Township 157 North, Range 38
174	174	West, and Township 156 North, Range 38 West) and may be opened in addition to the
175	175	primary zone by written notification from the commissioner. Notification, if made, will be
176	176	at the elk hunter orientation sessions at the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area.
177	177	Subp. 3.Kittson County Central Elk Zone.The Kittson County Central Elk Zone
178	178	consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:
179	179	Beginning at the intersection of County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 and State Trunk
180	180	Highway (STH) 175; thence north along CSAH 1 to 380th Street; thence east to 250th
181	181	Avenue; thence north along 250th Avenue to the section line between Sections 29 and
182	182	30, Township 164 North, Range 48 West; thence north on the section line between
183	183	Sections 29 and 30, Township 164 North, Range 48 West, to the United States/Canadian
184	184	border; thence east long the United States/Canadian border to the northeast corner of
185	185	Section 30, Township 164 North, Range 46 West; thence south along the east section
186	186	line of Section 30, Township 164 North, Range 46 West, to 370th Avenue; thence south
187	187	along 370th Avenue to County Road (CR) 51; thence south along CR 51 to CSAH 4;
188	188	thence west along CSAH 4 to State Ditch 85 (330th Street); thence east along State
189	189	Ditch 85 to State Ditch 72 (310th Street); thence east along State Ditch 72 to 480th
190	190	Avenue (county line); thence south along 480th Avenue to 220th Street; thence west
191	191	along 220th Street to CSAH 10; thence west along CSAH 10 to U.S. Highway 59;
192	192	2R
193	193	APPENDIX
194	194	Repealed Minnesota Rules: 25-02270 thence north along U.S. Highway 59 to STH 175; thence west along STH 175 to the
195	195	point of beginning.
196	196	Subp. 4.Kittson County Northeast Elk Zone.The Kittson County Northeast Elk
197	197	Zone consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:
198	198	Beginning at the intersection of County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 4 and County
199	199	Road (CR) 51; thence north along CR 51 to 370th Avenue; thence north along 370th
200	200	Avenue to the west section line of Section 29, Township 164 North, Range 46 West;
201	201	thence north along the west section of Section 29, Township 164 North, Range 46 West,
202	202	to the United States/Canadian border; thence east along the United States/Canadian
203	203	border to the northeast corner of Section 25, Township 164 North, Range 45 West;
204	204	thence south along the eastern section line of Section 25, Township 164 North, Range
205	205	45 West to 480th Avenue; thence south along 480th Avenue to State Ditch 72 (310th
206	206	Street); thence west along State Ditch 72 to State Ditch 85 (330th Street); thence west
207	207	along State Ditch 85 to CSAH 4; thence north along CSAH 4 to the point of beginning.
208	208	3R
209	209	APPENDIX
210	210	Repealed Minnesota Rules: 25-02270