1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; modifying requirements for certain deer licenses and 
1.3 	permits;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 97A.441, subdivision 7; 
1.4 	97B.301, subdivision 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97A.441, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 7.Owners or tenants of agricultural land. (a) Except as provided in paragraph 
1.8 	(b), the commissioner may issue, without a fee, a license to take an antlerless deer to a 
1.9 	resident who is an owner or tenant, or a nonresident who is an owner, of at least 80 acres 
1.10 	of agricultural land, as defined in section 97B.001, in deer permit areas that allow the taking 
1.11 	of antlerless deer without a lottery application. A person may receive only one license per 
1.12 	year under this subdivision. For properties with co-owners or cotenants, only one co-owner 
1.13 	or cotenant may receive a license under this subdivision per year. The license issued under 
1.14 	this subdivision is restricted to land leased for agricultural purposes or owned by the holder 
1.15 	of the license within the permit area where the qualifying land is located. The holder of the 
1.16 	license may transfer the license to the holder's spouse or dependent. Deer taken under this 
1.17 	subdivision do not count towards the total bag limit for the permit area. Notwithstanding 
1.18 	sections 97A.415, subdivision 1, and 97B.301, subdivision 2, the holder of the license may 
1.19 	purchase additional licenses or permits for taking deer and may take additional deer under 
1.20 	those licenses or permits, provided the holder adheres to the bag limits established for that 
1.21 	permit area.
1.22 	(b) In series 300 deer permit areas, the commissioner must issue, without a fee, up to 
1.23 	five licenses to take an antlerless deer to a resident who is an owner or tenant, or a nonresident 
1.24 	who is an owner, of at least 80 acres of agricultural land as defined in section 97B.001. For 
2.1 	properties with co-owners or cotenants, a combined total of five licenses may be issued per 
2.2 	year to all co-owners or cotenants under this subdivision. A license issued under this 
2.3 	subdivision is restricted to land leased for agricultural purposes or owned by the holder of 
2.4 	the license within the permit area where the qualifying land is located. The holder of the 
2.5 	licenses may transfer the licenses to any Minnesota resident eligible to hunt big game. Deer 
2.6 	taken under this subdivision do not count toward the total bag limit for the permit area. 
2.7 	Notwithstanding sections 97A.415, subdivision 1, and 97B.301, subdivision 2, the holder 
2.8 	of a license issued under this paragraph may purchase additional licenses or permits for 
2.9 	taking deer and may take additional deer under those licenses or permits if the holder adheres 
2.10 	to the bag limits established for that permit area.
2.11 	(c) A person who obtains a license under paragraph (a) or (b) must allow public deer 
2.12 	hunting on their land during that deer-hunting season, with the exception of the first Saturday 
2.13 	and Sunday during the deer-hunting season applicable to the license issued under section 
2.14 	97A.475, subdivision 2, clause (5).

2.15 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 97B.301, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.16 		Subd. 4.Taking more than one deer. (a) The commissioner may, by rule, allow a 
2.17 	person to take more than one deer. The commissioner shall prescribe the conditions for 
2.18 	taking the additional deer including:
2.19 	(1) taking by firearm, muzzleloader, or archery;
2.20 	(2) obtaining additional licenses;
2.21 	(3) payment of a fee not more than the fee for a firearms deer license; and
2.22 	(4) the total number of deer that an individual may take.
2.23 	(b) If the estimated deer count for a deer permit area is at least 20 percent higher than 
2.24 	the 2010 deer management goal for the area, the commissioner must:
2.25 	(1) make available enough bonus deer permits under this section to reduce the number 
2.26 	of deer to the 2010 deer management goal for the deer permit area;
2.27 	(2) suspend antler point restrictions in the deer permit area; and
2.28 	(3) allow hunting as a party, as provided in section 97B.301, subdivision 3, without 
2.29 	additional restrictions in the deer permit area.