SF 4509

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/22/2022 10:28am

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; allowing accumulation of bear hunter preference points
for youth; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 97B.405.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 97B.405, is amended to read:

97B.405 COMMISSIONER MAY LIMIT NUMBER OF BEAR HUNTERS.

(a) The commissioner may limit the number of persons that may hunt bear in an area,
if it is necessary to prevent an overharvest or improve the distribution of hunters. The
commissioner may establish, by rule, a method, including a drawing, to impartially select
the hunters for an area. The commissioner shall give preference to hunters that have
previously applied and have not been selected. new text begin Additionally, the commissioner may award
points toward a preference under this section to a person who is too young to be a bear
hunter so that by the time the person is old enough to be a bear hunter the person has
accumulated a number of preference points.
new text end

(b) If the commissioner limits the number of persons that may hunt bear in an area under
paragraph (a), the commissioner must reserve one permit and give first preference for that
permit to a resident of a Minnesota veterans home.

(c) A person selected through a drawing must purchase a license by August 1. Any
remaining available licenses not purchased shall be issued to any eligible person as prescribed
by the commissioner on a first-come, first-served basis beginning three business days after
August 1.