Wolf, owl and muskie issues get aired on the House Floor

Wolves, owls and muskies were subjects of debate on Monday as the House passed the omnibus game and fish bill.

Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake)

Sponsored by Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake), the chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee, the House passed HF2852 on a 130-0 vote and sent it to the Senate where Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing) is the sponsor.

Rep. Jason Isaacson (DFL-Shoreview) successfully offered two amendments related to wolf hunting that were noncontroversial despite the heated nature of the issue at the Capitol. One amendment would require the Department of Natural Resources to double the restitution value for wolves in cases where the guilty party has prior convictions for violating wolf hunting laws. The restitution value for wolves in Minnesota Rules is $500. The other amendment would require the DNR to compile quarterly reports of known wolf deaths.

Isaacson unsuccessfully offered an amendment to increase the muskie limit from 48 inches to 55 inches. Isaacson said his proposal was intended to keep healthy muskie DNA in Minnesota lakes.

Dill opposed the amendment, noting that muskie fishermen practice catch-and-release. “If they catch a 30-inch muskie, they turn it back so that next year they might catch a 32-inch muskie. …The muskie fishermen police themselves quite well.” The amendment failed 113-18.

Rep. Joe McDonald (R-Delano) successfully offered an amendment that stripped a section from the bill that prohibited luring or feeding owls. The owl luring ban was added to the bill last month by Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) to address traffic safety concerns that have arisen from photographers that put mice in aquariums to attract and photograph owls. Huntley said the owl provision had proved more controversial that he initially anticipated.