1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to game and fish; allowing the use of dogs to 
  1.3             hunt bear; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
  1.4             97A.321; 97B.011; and 97B.205.  
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.321, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      97A.321 [DOGS PURSUING OR KILLING BIG GAME.] 
  1.9      Except as provided in section 97B.205, the owner of a dog 
  1.10  that kills or pursues a big game animal is guilty of a petty 
  1.11  misdemeanor and is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for 
  1.12  each violation.  
  1.13     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.011, is 
  1.14  amended to read: 
  1.15     97B.011 [DOGS PURSUING BIG GAME.] 
  1.16     Except when a dog is used to hunt under section 97B.205, a 
  1.17  person who observes a dog wounding, killing, or pursuing in a 
  1.18  manner that endangers big game may kill the dog: 
  1.19     (1) at any time, if the person is a peace officer or 
  1.20  conservation officer; or 
  1.21     (2) between January 1 and July 14, if the person is not a 
  1.22  peace officer or conservation officer and the discharge of 
  1.23  firearms is allowed.  
  1.24     The officer or person is not liable for damages for killing 
  1.25  the dog. 
  2.1      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.205, is 
  2.2   amended to read: 
  2.3      97B.205 [USE OF DOGS AND HORSES TO TAKE BIG GAME 
  2.4   ~~PROHIBITED~~.] 
  2.5      A person may not use a dog or horse to take big game, 
  2.6   except that dogs may be used for taking bear under rules adopted 
  2.7   by the commissioner.