1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to game and fish; prohibiting open season for taking wolves; increasing
1.3 criminal penalties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 84.027, subdivision
1.4 20; 97A.075, subdivision 7; 97A.451, subdivision 3; 97A.473, subdivisions 3, 5,
1.5 5a; 97A.475, subdivisions 2, 3, 20; 97A.485, subdivision 6; 97B.031, subdivisions
1.6 1, 2; 97B.035, subdivision 1a; 97B.075; 97B.601, subdivisions 3a, 4; 97B.603;
1.7 97B.605; 97B.645, subdivision 9; 97B.648; 97B.901; repealing Minnesota Statutes
1.8 2024, section 97B.647.
1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.027, subdivision 20, is amended to read:
1.11 Subd. 20.Hunting licenses to critically ill persons.The commissioner may allow
1.12critically ill persons to purchase, once in a lifetime, hunting licenses otherwise limited by
1.13a lottery drawing, which licenses allow for taking game within established hunting seasons
1.14or season frameworks. The commissioner may provide the licenses to persons who are
1.15participating in a program for critically ill hunters sponsored by a nonprofit organization
1.16with expertise in providing hunting opportunities to hunters who are gravely ill or have
1.17physical disabilities. The commissioner may provide licenses or permits otherwise limited
1.18by drawings, including wild turkey, deer, bear, and prairie chicken, and wolf. The
1.19commissioner may not allow the purchase of moose and elk licenses under this subdivision.
1.20Deer licenses authorized by the commissioner under this subdivision may be for deer of
1.21either sex.
1Section 1.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 943NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KUNESH)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/03/2025
Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.075, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 7.Wolf licenses; management and monitoring account established.(a) For
2.3purposes of this subdivision, "wolf license" means a license or permit issued under section
2.497A.475, subdivision 2, clause (22); 3, paragraph (a), clause (18); or 20, paragraph (b).
2.5 (b) A wolf management and monitoring account is created in the game and fish fund.
2.6Revenue from wolf licenses must be credited to Money in the wolf management and
2.7monitoring account and is appropriated to the commissioner only for wolf management,
2.8research, damage control, enforcement, and education. Notwithstanding any other law to
2.9the contrary, money credited to the account may not be used to pay indirect costs or agency
2.10shared services.
2.11 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.451, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.12 Subd. 3.Residents and nonresidents under age 16; small game.(a) A resident or
2.13nonresident under age 16 may not obtain a small-game license but may take small game by
2.14firearms or bow and arrow without a license if the resident or nonresident is:
2.15 (1) age 14 or 15 and possesses a firearms safety certificate;
2.16 (2) age 13, possesses a firearms safety certificate, and is accompanied by a parent or
2.17guardian;
2.18 (3) age 13, 14, or 15, and possesses an apprentice-hunter validation as provided under
2.19section 97B.022; or
2.20 (4) age 12 or under and is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
2.21 (b) A resident under age 16 may take small game, other than wolves, by trapping without
2.22a small-game license, but a resident 13 years of age or older must have a trapping license.
2.23A resident under age 13 may trap small game, other than wolves, without a trapping license,
2.24but may not register fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten unless the resident is at least age
2.25five. Any fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten taken by a resident under age five must be
2.26included in the limit of the accompanying parent or guardian.
2.27 (c) A resident or nonresident under age 13 must obtain a free turkey license to take
2.28turkey and may take a turkey without a firearms safety certificate if the resident or
2.29nonresident is accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety
2.30certificate.
2Sec. 3.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 3.1 (d) A resident under age 13 may apply for a prairie-chicken license and may take a
3.2prairie chicken without a firearms safety certificate if the resident is accompanied by an
3.3adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety certificate.
3.4 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
3.5 Subd. 3.Lifetime small-game-hunting license; fee.(a) A resident lifetime
3.6small-game-hunting license authorizes a person to hunt and trap small game, other than
3.7wolves, in the state. The license authorizes those hunting and trapping activities authorized
3.8by the annual resident small-game-hunting license and the trapping license for fur-bearing
3.9animals other than wolves. The license does not include any hunting stamps required by
3.10law.
3.11 (b) The fees for a resident lifetime small-game-hunting license are:
3.12 (1) age 3 and under, $223;
3.13 (2) age 4 to age 15, $301;
3.14 (3) age 16 to age 50, $430; and
3.15 (4) age 51 and over, $274.
3.16 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.17 Subd. 5.Lifetime sporting license; fee.(a) A resident lifetime sporting license authorizes
3.18a person to take fish by angling and hunt and trap small game, other than wolves, in the
3.19state. The license authorizes those activities authorized by the annual resident angling and
3.20resident small-game-hunting licenses and the resident trapping license for fur-bearing
3.21animals other than wolves. The license does not include a trout-and-salmon stamp validation,
3.22a walleye stamp validation, or any other stamps required by law.
3.23 (b) The fees for a resident lifetime sporting license are:
3.24 (1) age 3 and under, $522;
3.25 (2) age 4 to age 15, $710;
3.26 (3) age 16 to age 50, $927; and
3.27 (4) age 51 and over, $603.
3Sec. 5.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 4.1 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
4.2 Subd. 5a.Lifetime sporting with spearing option license; fee.(a) A resident lifetime
4.3sporting with spearing option license authorizes a person to take fish by angling or spearing
4.4and hunt and trap small game, other than wolves, in the state. The license authorizes those
4.5activities authorized by the annual resident angling, spearing, and resident
4.6small-game-hunting licenses and the resident trapping license for fur-bearing animals other
4.7than wolves. The license does not include a trout-and-salmon stamp validation, a walleye
4.8stamp validation, or any other stamps required by law.
4.9 (b) The fees for a resident lifetime sporting with spearing option license are:
4.10 (1) age 3 and under, $612;
4.11 (2) age 4 to age 15, $833;
4.12 (3) age 16 to age 50, $1,046; and
4.13 (4) age 51 and over, $666.
4.14 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
4.15 Subd. 2.Resident hunting.Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents
4.16only, are:
4.17 (1) for persons age 18 or over and under age 65 to take small game, $15.50;
4.18 (2) for persons age 65 or over, $7 to take small game;
4.19 (3) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $26;
4.20 (4) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;
4.21 (5) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms
4.22season, $34;
4.23 (6) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $34;
4.24 (7) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader
4.25season, $34;
4.26 (8) to take moose, for a party of not more than six persons, $356;
4.27 (9) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $44;
4.28 (10) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons, $287;
4.29 (11) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;
4Sec. 7.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 5.1 (12) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;
5.2 (13) to take prairie chickens, $23;
5.3 (14) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the
5.4regular firearms season, $5;
5.5 (15) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;
5.6 (16) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by muzzleloader during
5.7the muzzleloader season, $5;
5.8 (17) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee;
5.9 (18) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take bear, $5;
5.10 (19) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period
5.11selected by the licensee, $19, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the
5.12migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the
5.13waterfowl habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 2; one-half of
5.14the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the
5.15pheasant habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 4; and one-half
5.16of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited in the wildlife acquisition
5.17account;
5.18 (20) for persons age 16 or over and under age 18 to take small game, $5;
5.19 (21) to take wolf, $30;
5.20 (22) (21) for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;
5.21 (23) (22) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;
5.22 (24) (23) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee; and
5.23 (25) (24) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during the
5.24muzzleloader season, no fee.
5.25 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.26 Subd. 3.Nonresident hunting.(a) Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to
5.27nonresidents, are:
5.28 (1) for persons age 18 or over to take small game, $90.50;
5.29 (2) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms
5.30season, $180;
5Sec. 8.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 6.1 (3) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $180;
6.2 (4) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader
6.3season, $180;
6.4 (5) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $225;
6.5 (6) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $91;
6.6 (7) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;
6.7 (8) to take raccoon or bobcat, $178;
6.8 (9) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;
6.9 (10) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;
6.10 (11) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the
6.11regular firearms season in any open season option or time period, $5;
6.12 (12) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;
6.13 (13) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer during the muzzleloader
6.14season, $5;
6.15 (14) for persons age 13 or over and under 18 to take bear, $5;
6.16 (15) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period
6.17selected by the licensee, $75, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the
6.18migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the
6.19waterfowl habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 2; one-half of
6.20the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the
6.21pheasant habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 4; and one-half
6.22of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited into the wildlife
6.23acquisition account;
6.24 (16) for persons age 16 or 17 to take small game, $5;
6.25 (17) to take wolf, $250;
6.26 (18) (17) for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;
6.27 (19) (18) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;
6.28 (20) (19) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee;
6.29 (21) (20) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during the
6.30muzzleloader season, no fee; and
6Sec. 8.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 7.1 (22) (21) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee.
7.2 (b) A $5 surcharge shall be added to nonresident hunting licenses issued under paragraph
7.3(a), clauses (1) to (6) and (8). An additional commission may not be assessed on this
7.4surcharge.
7.5 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 20, is amended to read:
7.6 Subd. 20.Trapping licenses.(a) The fee for a license to trap fur-bearing animals, other
7.7than wolves, is:
7.8 (1) for residents over age 13 and under age 18, $5;
7.9 (2) for residents age 18 or over and under age 65, $23;
7.10 (3) for residents age 65 or over, $11.50; and
7.11 (4) for nonresidents, $84.
7.12 (b) The fee for a license to trap wolves is $30, to be issued to residents only.
7.13 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
7.14 Subd. 6.Licenses to be sold and issuing fees.(a) Persons authorized to sell licenses
7.15under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following
7.16issuing fees:
7.17 (1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;
7.18 (2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;
7.19 (3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing
7.20animals, the issuing fee is $1;
7.21 (4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires
7.22a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application
7.23fee;
7.24 (5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;
7.25 (6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;
7.26 (7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;
7.27 (8) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;
7.28 (9) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;
7Sec. 10.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 8.1 (10) (9) for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing
8.2fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;
8.3 (11) (10) for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;
8.4 (12) (11) for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section 97A.441,
8.5subdivisions 1 to 6a, or 97A.465, there is no fee;
8.6 (13) (12) for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and
8.7 (14) (13) for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction
8.8through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an
8.9issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the
8.10authorized seller.
8.11 (b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same
8.12transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.
8.13 (c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.
8.14 (d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.
8.15 (e) A license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and that the issuing
8.16fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.
8.17 (f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:
8.18 (1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and
8.19 (2) for other licenses, 50 cents.
8.20 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.031, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.21 Subdivision 1.Permissible firearms and ammunition; big game and wolves.A person
8.22may take big game and wolves with a firearm only if:
8.23 (1) any rifle, shotgun, or handgun used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has centerfire
8.24ignition;
8.25 (2) the firearm is loaded only with single projectile ammunition;
8.26 (3) a projectile used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has a soft point or is an
8.27expanding bullet type;
8.28 (4) any muzzleloader used has the projectile loaded only at the muzzle;
8.29 (5) any smooth-bore muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .45 inches; and
8Sec. 11.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 9.1 (6) any rifled muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .40 inches.
9.2 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.031, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
9.3 Subd. 2.Handguns for small game.A person may take small game with a handgun of
9.4any caliber in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, except that wolves may only be
9.5taken by hunting with the calibers specified in subdivision 1.
9.6 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.035, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
9.7 Subd. 1a.Minimum draw weight.A bow used to take big game, or turkey, or wolves
9.8must have a pull that meets or exceeds 30 pounds at or before full draw.
9.9 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.075, is amended to read:
9.10 97B.075 HUNTING RESTRICTED BETWEEN EVENING AND MORNING.
9.11 (a) A person may not take protected wild animals, except raccoon and fox, with a firearm
9.12between the evening and morning times established by commissioner's rule, except as
9.13provided in this section.
9.14 (b) Big game and wolves may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half
9.15hour after sunset.
9.16 (c) Except as otherwise prescribed by the commissioner on or before the Saturday nearest
9.17October 8, waterfowl may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset during
9.18the entire season prescribed by the commissioner.
9.19 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.601, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
9.20 Subd. 3a.Nonresidents; trapping small game.A nonresident may take small game,
9.21except wolves, by trapping only on land owned by the nonresident, if the nonresident
9.22possesses a trapping license for fur-bearing animals other than wolves and a small-game
9.23license.
9.24 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.601, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
9.25 Subd. 4.Exception to license requirements.(a) A resident under age 16 may take small
9.26game, other than wolves, without a small-game license, and a resident under age 13 may
9.27trap small game and fur-bearing animals, other than wolves, without a trapping license, as
9.28provided in section 97A.451, subdivision 3.
9Sec. 16.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 10.1 (b) A person may take small game, other than wolves, without a small-game license on
10.2land occupied by the person as a principal residence.
10.3 (c) An owner or occupant may take certain small game causing damage without a
10.4small-game or trapping license as provided in section 97B.655.
10.5 (d) A person may use dogs to pursue and tree raccoons under section 97B.621, subdivision
10.62, during the closed season without a license.
10.7 (e) A person may take a wolf, turkey, or prairie chicken without a small-game license.
10.8 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.603, is amended to read:
10.9 97B.603 TAKING SMALL GAME BY PARTY.
10.10 (a) While two or more persons are taking small game as a party and maintaining unaided
10.11visual and vocal contact, a member of the party may take and possess more than one limit
10.12of small game, but the total number of small game taken and possessed by the party may
10.13not exceed the limit of the number of persons in the party that may take and possess small
10.14game.
10.15 (b) This section does not apply to hunting wolves, migratory game birds, or turkeys,
10.16except that a licensed turkey hunter may assist another licensed turkey hunter and a licensed
10.17wolf hunter may assist another licensed wolf hunter for the same zone and time period as
10.18long as the hunter does not shoot or register a turkey or wolf for the other hunter.
10.19Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.605, is amended to read:
10.20 97B.605 COMMISSIONER MAY RESTRICT TAKING SMALL GAME
10.21ANIMALS.
10.22 The commissioner may by rule set open seasons for, prescribe limits and restrictions
10.23on, and designate areas where small game as defined in section 97A.015, excluding wolves,
10.24may be taken and possessed.
10.25Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.645, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
10.26 Subd. 9.No open season.There shall be is no open season for wolves until after the
10.27wolf is delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. After that time, the
10.28commissioner may prescribe open seasons and restrictions for taking wolves but must
10.29provide opportunity for public comment.
10Sec. 19.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 11.1 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.648, is amended to read:
11.2 97B.648 WOLVES; UNLAWFUL TAKING; PENALTY.
11.3 A person who unlawfully takes, transports, or possesses a wolf in violation of the game
11.4and fish laws, and has one or more prior convictions involving the taking of wolves is guilty
11.5of a gross misdemeanor and, in addition to the penalties prescribed in section 97A.301,
11.6subdivision 2, is liable for a civil penalty equal to the restitution value for the wolf.
11.7 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.901, is amended to read:
11.8 97B.901 REGISTRATION AND TAGGING FUR-BEARING ANIMALS.
11.9 (a) The commissioner may, by rule, require persons taking, possessing, and transporting
11.10fur-bearing animals to tag the animals. The commissioner shall prescribe the manner of
11.11issuance and the type of tag, which must show the year of issuance. The commissioner shall
11.12issue the tag, without a fee, upon request.
11.13 (b) The pelt of each bobcat, fisher, pine marten, and otter, and wolf must be presented,
11.14by the person taking it, to a state wildlife manager designee for registration before the pelt
11.15is sold and before the pelt is transported out of the state, but in no event more than 48 hours
11.16after the season closes for the species.
11.17 (c) The whole carcass of each wolf, with the pelt removed, must be presented by the
11.18person taking it to a state wildlife manager designee for registration before the pelt is sold
11.19and before the pelt is transported out of the state, but in no event more than 48 hours after
11.20the season closes. The commissioner may require that the entire carcass or samples from
11.21the carcass be surrendered to the state wildlife manager designee.
11.22Sec. 22. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
11.23 The revisor of statutes must correct cross-references wherever they occur in statute
11.24consistent with the renumbering in this act.
11.25Sec. 23. REPEALER.
11.26 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.647, is repealed.
11Sec. 23.
25-02504 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR CKM/KR 97B.647 TAKING WOLVES.
Subdivision 1.License required.Except as provided under section 97B.645 or 97B.671, a
person may not take a wolf without a wolf-hunting or wolf-trapping license.
Subd. 2.Open seasons.Wolves may be taken with legal firearms, with bow and arrow, and by
trapping. The open season to take wolves with firearms begins each year on the same day as the
opening of the firearms deer-hunting season. The commissioner may by rule prescribe the open
seasons for wolves according to this subdivision.
Subd. 3.Open areas.The commissioner may by rule designate areas where wolves may be
taken.
Subd. 4.Daily and possession limits.The commissioner may establish by rule the daily and
possession limits for wolves.
Subd. 5.Limit on number of hunters and trappers.The commissioner may by rule limit the
number of persons that may hunt or trap wolves in an area, if it is necessary to prevent an overharvest
or improve the distribution of hunters and trappers. The commissioner shall establish a method,
including a drawing, to impartially select the hunters and trappers for an area.
Subd. 6.Application for license.An application for a wolf-hunting or wolf-trapping license
must be made in a manner provided by the commissioner and accompanied by a $4 application fee
and proof that the applicant holds a current or previous year hunting license. The $4 application
fee shall be credited to the wolf management and monitoring account and appropriated to the
commissioner to pay for costs associated with conducting the wolf license drawing and wolf
management. A person may not make more than one application for each season as prescribed by
the commissioner. If a person makes more than one application, the person is ineligible for a license
for that season after determination by the commissioner, without a hearing.
Subd. 7.Quotas.The commissioner may by rule set an annual quota for the number of wolves
that can be taken by hunting and trapping. The commissioner may establish a method to monitor
harvest and close the season when the quota is reached. The commissioner shall reserve a portion
of the annual quota for the trapping season.
1R
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-02504