1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; providing preference for certain landowners when 
1.3 	conducting deer-hunting lotteries;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 
1.4 	97B.305.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97B.305, is amended to read:
1.7 	97B.305 COMMISSIONER MAY LIMIT NUMBER OF DEER HUNTERS.
1.8 	(a) The commissioner may limit the number of persons that may hunt deer in an 
1.9 	area if it is necessary to prevent an overharvest or improve the distribution of hunters. 
1.10 	The commissioner may, by rule, establish a method, including a drawing, to impartially 
1.11 	select the hunters for an area. The commissioner shall give preference to hunters that 
1.12 	have previously applied and have not been selected and to landowners as provided under 
1.13 	paragraph (b).
1.14 	(b) When applicable, the commissioner must conduct a separate selection for up to 
1.15 	20 percent of the deer licenses to be issued for any area. Only persons who are owners 
1.16 	or tenants of and who live on at least 80 acres of agricultural land, as defined in section 
1.17 	97B.001, in the permit area, and their family members who live on the qualifying land, 
1.18 	are eligible applicants. The qualifying land may be noncontiguous. Persons who are 
1.19 	unsuccessful in a separate selection must be included in the selection for the remaining 
1.20 	licenses. A license issued under this paragraph is restricted to the permit area where the 
1.21 	qualifying land is located. The commissioner may use rules adopted under section 97A.435, 
1.22 	subdivision 4, paragraph (b), for determining eligible family members under this section.