Title Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota Statutes

97A.201 ENFORCEMENT. § Subdivision 1.Enforcement by commissioner. The commissioner shall execute and enforce the laws relating to wild animals. The commissioner may delegate execution and enforcement of the wild animal laws to the director and enforcement officers. § Subd. 2.Duty…

97A.205 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; POWERS. (a) An enforcement officer is authorized to: (1) execute and serve court issued warrants and processes relating to wild animals, wild rice, public waters, water pollution, conservation, and use of water, in the same manner as a sheriff; (2) en…

97A.211 ARREST PROCEDURES. § Subdivision 1.Notice to appear in court. (a) A person must be given notice to appear in court for a misdemeanor violation of the game and fish laws; chapter 84, 84D, 103E, or 103G; sections 103F.201 to 103F.221; or section 103F.601 or 609.68 if: (1) t…

97A.215 INSPECTIONS. § Subdivision 1.Storing wild animals. (a) When an enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that wild animals possessed or stored in violation of the game and fish laws are present, the enforcement officer may enter and inspect any commercial cold sto…

97A.221 SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY. § Subdivision 1.Property subject to seizure and confiscation. (a) An enforcement officer may seize: (1) wild animals, wild rice, and other aquatic vegetation taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed in violation of the game and …

97A.223 SEIZURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FORFEITURE OF CERTAIN FIREARMS AND ABANDONED PROPERTY. § Subdivision 1.Property subject to seizure and forfeiture. (a) An enforcement officer must seize: (1) firearms possessed in violation of state or federal law or court order; (2) property de…

97A.225 SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS. § Subdivision 1.Seizure. (a) An enforcement officer must seize all motor vehicles used to: (1) shine wild animals in violation of section 97B.081, subdivision 1; (2) transport big game animals illegally taken or fur-be…

97A.231 SEARCH WARRANTS. Upon complaint establishing that the complainant has probable cause to believe that a wild animal taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed in violation of the game and fish laws, or contraband, is concealed or illegally kept in a place, a judge, aut…

97A.235 JURISDICTION OVER BOUNDARY WATERS. Courts in counties having jurisdiction adjacent to boundary waters and enforcement officers have jurisdiction over the entire boundary waters. The courts and enforcement officers of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michig…

97A.241 RECIPROCITY WITH OTHER STATES IN APPOINTING OFFICERS. § Subdivision 1.Officers of other jurisdictions as special conservation officers. With approval of the proper authority of another state or the United States, the commissioner may appoint any salaried and bonded office…

97A.245 REWARDS. The commissioner may pay rewards for information leading to the conviction of a person that has violated a provision of laws relating to wild animals or threatened or endangered species of wildlife. A reward may not exceed $500, except a reward for information re…

97A.251 OBSTRUCTING OFFICERS. § Subdivision 1.Unlawful conduct. A person may not: (1) intentionally hinder, resist, or obstruct an enforcement officer, agent, or employee of the division in the performance of official duties; (2) refuse to submit to inspection of equipment used t…

97A.255 PROSECUTIONS. § Subdivision 1.Statute of limitations. A prosecution under the game and fish laws may not be brought more than three years after commission of the offense. § Subd. 2.Burden of proof. (a) In a prosecution that alleges animals have been taken, bought, sold, t…

97A.301 GENERAL PENALTY PROVISIONS. § Subdivision 1.Misdemeanor. Unless a different penalty is prescribed, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor if that person: (1) violates the game and fish laws; (2) aids or assists in committing the violation; (3) knowingly shares in the proceed…

97A.305 IMPERSONATING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. A person that purports to be acting in an official capacity and causes another to be injured or defrauded while falsely impersonating an enforcement officer or other officer acting under authority of the game and fish laws, or falsely cl…

97A.311 LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Altering license. A person that alters a license in a material manner is guilty of a misdemeanor. § Subd. 2.False statement. A person that knowingly makes a false statement related to an application for a license, a license, or certificate, requi…

97A.315 TRESPASS. § Subdivision 1.Criminal penalties. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a person that violates a provision of section 97B.001, relating to trespass is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person: (1) knowingly disreg…

97A.321 DOGS PURSUING, WOUNDING, OR KILLING BIG GAME. § Subdivision 1.Owner responsibility; penalty amount. (a) The owner of a dog that pursues but does not kill or mortally wound a big game animal is subject to a civil penalty of $100 for each violation. The owner of a dog that …

97A.325 PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFULLY BUYING OR SELLING WILD ANIMALS. § Subdivision 1.Gross misdemeanor for sales of $300 or more. (a) A person that buys or sells protected wild animals in violation of the game and fish laws where the sales total $300 or more is guilty of a gross misd…

97A.331 PENALTIES RELATED TO HUNTING. § Subdivision 1.Hunting while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. A person that violates the provision of section 97B.065 relating to hunting while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is guilty of a …

97A.335 PENALTIES RELATED TO FISHING. § Subdivision 1.Taking fish with illegal devices or substances. A person that takes fish with devices, chemicals or substances in violation of section 97C.325, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. § Subd. 2.Illegally taking or possessing muskell…

97A.338 GROSS OVERLIMITS OF WILD ANIMALS; PENALTY. (a) A person who takes, possesses, or transports wild animals over the legal limit, in closed season, or without a valid license, when the restitution value of the wild animals is over $1,000 is guilty of a gross overlimit violat…

97A.341 RESTITUTION FOR WILD ANIMALS ILLEGALLY TAKEN. § Subdivision 1.Liability for restitution. A person who kills, injures, or possesses a wild animal in violation of the game and fish laws or section 343.21 is liable to the state for the value of the wild animal as provided in…

97A.345 RESTITUTION VALUE OF WILD ANIMALS. (a) The commissioner may, by rules adopted under chapter 14, prescribe the dollar value to the state of species of wild animals. The value may reflect the value to other persons to legally take the wild animal, the replacement cost, or t…

97A.401 SPECIAL PERMITS. § Subdivision 1.Commissioner's authority. The commissioner may issue special permits for the activities in this section. A special permit may be issued in the form of a general permit to a governmental subdivision or to the general public to conduct one o…

97A.405 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS. § Subdivision 1.Protected wild animals. Unless allowed under the game and fish laws, a person may not take, buy, sell, transport, or possess protected wild animals of this state without a license. § Subd. 2.Personal possession. (a) A person acting un…

97A.408 ANATOMICAL GIFT OPTION; EDUCATION. (a) Applications through the Department of Natural Resources' online sales system for a resident license to hunt or fish that is required under this chapter or chapter 97B must allow the applicant to indicate a desire to make an anatomic…

97A.411 VALIDITY OF LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.License period. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (d), (e), and (f), a license is valid during the lawful time within the license year that the licensed activity may be performed. Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (f), …

97A.415 LICENSE RESTRICTIONS. § Subdivision 1.One license per person. Only one trapping and big-game license of each kind may be issued to a person in a license year unless authorized by commissioner's rule. § Subd. 2.Transfer. A person may not lend, transfer, borrow, or solicit …

97A.418 PERMIT RULES. Wherever the game and fish laws specifically provide for the issuance of a permit by the commissioner, the commissioner may do the following in accordance with criteria and procedures established in rules adopted by the commissioner: (1) issue a permit with …

97A.420 SEIZURE OR INVALIDATION OF LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Seizure or invalidation. (a) An enforcement officer shall immediately seize or invalidate the license of a person who unlawfully takes, transports, or possesses wild animals when the restitution value of the wild animal…

97A.421 VALIDITY AND ISSUANCE OF LICENSES AFTER CONVICTION. § Subdivision 1.General. (a) The annual license of a person convicted of a violation of the game and fish laws relating to the license or wild animals covered by the license is void when: (1) a second conviction occurs w…

97A.425 RECORD AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEALERS, TANNERS, AND TAXIDERMISTS. § Subdivision 1.License and record requirements. (a) A person must have the required license under the game and fish laws to buy or sell wild animals, to tan animal hides or dress raw furs, or to mo…

97A.431 MOOSE LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Number of licenses; party size. The commissioner shall include in a rule setting the dates for a moose season: (1) the number of licenses to be issued; and (2) the size of a moose hunting party, not to exceed six persons. § Subd. 2.Eligibil…

97A.433 ELK LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Number of licenses; party size. The commissioner shall include in a rule setting the dates for an elk season: (1) the number of licenses to be issued; and (2) the size of an elk-hunting party, not to exceed two persons. § Subd. 2.Eligibility.…

97A.434 PRAIRIE-CHICKEN LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Number of licenses to be issued. If the commissioner establishes an open season for prairie chickens, the commissioner shall also determine, by rule, the number of licenses to be issued. § Subd. 2.Eligibility. Eligibility for a pr…

97A.435 TURKEY LICENSES; APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY. § Subdivision 1.License issuance. The commissioner shall include in rules setting turkey seasons the methods for issuing licenses for those seasons. § Subd. 2.Eligibility. Persons eligible for a turkey license shall be determi…

97A.438 RELEASING WILD TURKEYS; PERMIT REQUIRED. A person may not release a wild turkey or wild-turkey hybrid without a permit from the commissioner. History: 1993 c 231 s 25

97A.441 LICENSES ISSUED WITHOUT FEE. § Subdivision 1.Angling and spearing; disabled residents. (a) A person authorized to issue licenses must issue, without a fee, licenses to take fish by angling or spearing to a resident who is: (1) blind; (2) a recipient of Supplemental Securi…

97A.445 EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSE REQUIREMENT. § Subdivision 1.Angling; Take a Kid Fishing Weekends. (a) A resident age 16 years or older may take fish by angling without an angling license and may take fish by spearing from a dark house without a spearing license and without a fis…

97A.451 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS RELATING TO AGE. § Subdivision 1. [Repealed, 1988 c 437 s 6] § Subd. 2.Residents under age 16; fishing. (a) A resident under the age of 16 years may take fish without a license. (b) A resident under the age of 16 may net ciscoes and whi…

97A.455 NONRESIDENT STUDENTS; FISHING, SMALL GAME, AND BIG GAME. (a) A nonresident that is a full-time student at an educational institution in the state and resides in the state during the school year may obtain a resident license to take fish, small game, or big game, except mo…

97A.461 NONRESIDENT LICENSES FOR BOUNDARY WATER HUNTING OR FISHING. Licenses to take fish or small game in or on boundary waters may be granted to nonresidents upon the same terms and conditions as licenses granted by the adjacent state or province to nonresidents of the adjacent…

97A.465 MILITARY PERSONNEL; FISHING AND HUNTING. § Subdivision 1.Residents on leave. A resident that is in the armed forces of the United States, stationed outside of the state, and in the state on leave, may hunt and fish without a license if the resident possesses official mili…

97A.471 NONRESIDENT COURTESY LICENSES. § Subdivision 1.Game and fish officers of other jurisdictions. The commissioner may issue a courtesy nonresident license to take game or fish without charge to a game and fish or conservation employee of another state or of the United States…

97A.472 PLACE OF SALE OF NONRESIDENT LICENSES; RESTRICTION. The commissioner shall not sell or issue in any place outside this state a nonresident license to take fish in this state. History: 1987 c 404 s 121