1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to game and fish; allowing the use of dogs to 
  1.3             take bear; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.4             97B.205; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes, chapter 97B. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.205, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      97B.205 [USE OF DOGS AND HORSES TO TAKE BIG GAME 
  1.10  PROHIBITED.] 
  1.11     A person may not use a dog or horse to take big game, 
  1.12  except as provided in section 97B.426. 
  1.13     Sec. 2.  [97B.426] [TAKING BEAR WITH DOGS.] 
  1.14     Subdivision 1.  [SEASON.] Dogs may be used by licensed 
  1.15  hunters to pursue and take bears beginning the 15th day of the 
  1.16  bear season to the end of the bear season, as prescribed by the 
  1.17  commissioner. 
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS.] Dogs used to pursue 
  1.19  bears must have a collar with a metal tag that states the 
  1.20  owner's: 
  1.21     (a) driver's license number and state; or 
  1.22     (b) name and mailing address. 
  1.23     Subd. 3.  [NUMBER OF DOGS RESTRICTED.] A person, or persons 
  1.24  afield together, may not release more than six dogs at a time to 
  1.25  pursue bears.  
  2.1      Subd. 4.  [TRAINING BEAR DOGS.] A person may release dogs 
  2.2   to pursue bears without killing or capturing the bears from July 
  2.3   15 to August 10.