HF 3002

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/01/2016 10:17am

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; providing preference for certain landowners when
conducting deer-hunting lotteries; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section
97B.305.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97B.305, is amended to read:

97B.305 COMMISSIONER MAY LIMIT NUMBER OF DEER HUNTERS.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner may limit the number of persons that may hunt deer in an
area if it is necessary to prevent an overharvest or improve the distribution of hunters.
The commissioner may, by rule, establish 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 and to landowners as provided under
paragraph (b) new text end .

new text begin (b) When applicable, the commissioner must conduct a separate selection for up to
20 percent of the deer licenses to be issued for any area. Only persons who are owners
or tenants of and who live on at least 80 acres of agricultural land, as defined in section
97B.001, in the permit area, and their family members who live on the qualifying land,
are eligible applicants. The qualifying land may be noncontiguous. Persons who are
unsuccessful in a separate selection must be included in the selection for the remaining
licenses. A license issued under this paragraph is restricted to the permit area where the
qualifying land is located. The commissioner may use rules adopted under section 97A.435,
subdivision 4, paragraph (b), for determining eligible family members under this section.
new text end