HF 1735

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/11/2015 11:54am

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; establishing a pilot program in southeastern Minnesota
for issuing additional deer licenses to landowners with deer damage; requiring a
Web site for connecting landowners suffering deer damage with deer hunters.

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

Section 1. new text begin PILOT PROGRAM; SERIES 300 DEER PERMIT AREAS.
new text end

new text begin (a) In the Series 300 deer permit areas, the commissioner of natural resources shall
establish a pilot program to issue, without a fee, five licenses to take antlerless deer to a
resident who is an owner or tenant of at least 80 acres of agricultural land, as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.001, when the resident has suffered crop damage from
deer of at least $....... during the previous 12-month period. The licenses issued under this
paragraph are restricted to the land of the owner or tenant and are in addition to licenses
issued under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.441, subdivision 7. The holder of the license
may transfer the license to another person. The owner or tenant of the land must record
any licenses transferred under this paragraph, including the name and license number of
the transferee. Deer taken under this section do not count towards the total bag limit for
the permit area. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 97A.415, subdivision 1,
and 97B.301, subdivision 2, the holder of the license may purchase additional licenses
or permits for taking deer and may take additional deer under those licenses or permits,
provided the holder adheres to the bag limits established for that permit area.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person who obtains a license under paragraph (a) must allow public deer
hunting on their land during that deer hunting season, with the exception of the first
Saturday and Sunday during the deer hunting season applicable to the license issued under
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, clause (5).
new text end

new text begin (c) In Series 300 deer permit areas, the commissioner of natural resources shall
establish a pilot program to provide a Web site for farmers experiencing damage from deer
who are willing to open their farms to licensed deer hunters. The Web site must allow
hunters to contact the owner or tenant of the agricultural land online. Only licensed deer
hunters with advanced hunter education certification are eligible for the program.
new text end

new text begin (d) This section expires February 28, 2020.
new text end