SF 3195

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/02/2025 10:22 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; lowering the minimum age to take big game from ten
to eight years of age; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 97A.451,
subdivision 4; 97A.475, subdivisions 2, 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.451, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Residents and nonresidents under age 16; big game.

(a) A resident or
nonresident age 12, 13, 14, or 15 may not obtain a license to take big game unless the person
possesses a firearms safety certificate or an apprentice-hunter validation as provided under
section 97B.022. A nonresident age 12 or 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
to hunt big game.

(b) A resident or nonresident age new text begin eight, nine, new text end ten new text begin , new text end or 11 must obtain a license under
paragraph (c) and may take big game, provided the person is under the direct supervision
of a parent or guardian where the parent or guardian is within immediate reach.

(c) A resident or nonresident age new text begin eight, nine, new text end ten, 11, or 12 must obtain a license to take
big game under section 97A.475, subdivision 2 or 3.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Resident hunting.

Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents
only, are:

(1) for persons age 18 or over and under age 65 to take small game, $15.50;

(2) for persons age 65 or over, $7 to take small game;

(3) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $26;

(4) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;

(5) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms
season, $34;

(6) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $34;

(7) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader
season, $34;

(8) to take moose, for a party of not more than six persons, $356;

(9) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $44;

(10) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons, $287;

(11) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;

(12) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;

(13) to take prairie chickens, $23;

(14) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the
regular firearms season, $5;

(15) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;

(16) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by muzzleloader during
the muzzleloader season, $5;

(17) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee;

(18) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take bear, $5;

(19) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period
selected by the licensee, $19, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the
migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the
waterfowl habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 2; one-half of
the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the
pheasant habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 4; and one-half
of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited in the wildlife acquisition
account;

(20) for persons age 16 or over and under age 18 to take small game, $5;

(21) to take wolf, $30;

(22) for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;

(23) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;

(24) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee; and

(25) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during
the muzzleloader season, no fee.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Nonresident hunting.

(a) Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to
nonresidents, are:

(1) for persons age 18 or over to take small game, $90.50;

(2) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms
season, $180;

(3) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $180;

(4) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader
season, $180;

(5) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $225;

(6) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $91;

(7) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;

(8) to take raccoon or bobcat, $178;

(9) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;

(10) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;

(11) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the
regular firearms season in any open season option or time period, $5;

(12) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;

(13) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer during the muzzleloader
season, $5;

(14) for persons age 13 or over and under 18 to take bear, $5;

(15) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period
selected by the licensee, $75, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the
migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the
waterfowl habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 2; one-half of
the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the
pheasant habitat improvement account under section 97A.075, subdivision 4; and one-half
of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited into the wildlife
acquisition account;

(16) for persons age 16 or 17 to take small game, $5;

(17) to take wolf, $250;

(18) for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;

(19) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;

(20) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee;

(21) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during
the muzzleloader season, no fee; and

(22) for persons age deleted text begin 10 deleted text end new text begin eight, nine, ten new text end , 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee.

(b) A $5 surcharge shall be added to nonresident hunting licenses issued under paragraph
(a), clauses (1) to (6) and (8). An additional commission may not be assessed on this
surcharge.