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Game and fish agreement contains wolf, crossbow provisions

Provisions related to wolf hunting passed the House on Wednesday in the omnibus game-and-fish bill. Sponsored by Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake), the conference report for HF2852*/SF2227 passed 129-1. It now goes to the Senate where Sen. Matt Schmit (DFL-Red Wing) is the sponsor.

The federal government in 2012 removed the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes area from the endangered species list and the Department of Natural Resources established a wolf hunt. This year’s game-and-fish bill wouldn’t stop the hunt, as activists have urged. But it has two wolf-related provisions: A person with multiple convictions for unlawfully killing wolves is liable for a civil penalty equal to the restitution value of the wolf, and the DNR must update a quarterly list on known wolf deaths.

The bill would allow a person aged 60 or older to hunt deer, bear, turkey or rough fish with a crossbow during the archery season. Crossbow hunting is currently only allowed during the regular firearms seasons.

Other provisions in the game-and-fish bill would:

  • forbid snowmobiles on state forest lands, except designated forest roads, during the firearms deer hunting season in areas where rifles are permitted. The bill would make an exception for licensed deer hunters before or after legal shooting hours;
  • change the weight in the definition of class 1 and class 2 all-terrain vehicles;
  • direct the DNR to administer a program to make grants to local recreational trap shooting clubs;
  • make it illegal to hunt with thermal imaging equipment;
  • require annual aquatic invasive species training for minnow dealers;
  • establish timeframes for when it’s illegal to disturb the den of a wild animal without a permit;
  • direct the DNR to amend its rules regarding the minimum size limits for muskie; and
  • direct the DNR to study the feasibility of restoring Minnesota’s wild quail population.

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