1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to game and fish; reserving first weekend of 
  1.3             special deer hunt seasons for hunters under age 16; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 97B.311. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 97B.311, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      97B.311 [DEER SEASONS AND RESTRICTIONS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [RESTRICTIONS AND SPECIAL SEASONS.] (a) The 
  1.10  commissioner may, by rule, prescribe restrictions and designate 
  1.11  areas where deer may be taken, including hunter selection 
  1.12  criteria for special hunts established under section 97A.401, 
  1.13  subdivision 4.  The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe the 
  1.14  open seasons for deer within the following periods: 
  1.15     (1) taking with firearms, other than muzzle-loading 
  1.16  firearms, between November 1 and December 15; 
  1.17     (2) taking with muzzle-loading firearms between September 1 
  1.18  and December 31; and 
  1.19     (3) taking by archery between September 1 and December 31. 
  1.20     (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner may 
  1.21  establish special seasons within designated areas between 
  1.22  September 1 and January 15. 
  1.23     Subd. 2.  [YOUTH HUNTING DURING SPECIAL SEASONS.] When a 
  1.24  special season is established by the commissioner under 
  1.25  subdivision 1, the first weekend of the special season is 
  2.1   reserved for hunters under the age of 16 who are accompanied by 
  2.2   a nonhunting adult.  Eligible hunters under this subdivision may 
  2.3   hunt doe only, must have passed a firearms safety course, and 
  2.4   must possess a valid firearms safety certificate.