Minnesota Administrative Rules

CHAPTER 6237, PRAIRIE CHICKENS

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

6237.0100 PRAIRIE CHICKEN LICENSE ELIGIBILITY.

To be eligible for a prairie chicken license, a person must not have any small game hunting privileges revoked.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.434; 97B.711

History:

30 SR 613

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6237.0200 PRAIRIE CHICKEN HUNT DRAWING.

Subpart 1.

License application drawings.

Applications for all hunts must be made according to this part and according to application instructions provided by the commissioner. Each person must apply at an electronic license system agent or the Department of Natural Resources License Center. Drawings shall be conducted by the department to determine persons who are eligible to purchase licenses for the season. The drawings are subject to the quotas established by the commissioner. Preference in the respective drawings is given to applicants based upon the number of times they have correctly applied for a license for the hunt but have been unsuccessful. A person selected by the drawings is eligible to purchase a license to hunt prairie chicken. Upon issuance of a prairie chicken license, all accumulated preference for prairie chicken hunting is lost.

Subp. 2.

Participation in application drawings.

A.

Applicants must complete an application for the prairie chicken hunt. A person may not apply more than once as an individual or as a member of a group. Qualifying individuals may apply for the resident landowner-tenant prairie chicken drawing.

B.

A resident applicant must provide the applicant's individual Minnesota driver's license number of 13 characters, a 13-character firearm safety number, or an official state identification number of 13 characters issued by the Department of Public Safety.

C.

An applicant must choose one of the prairie chicken permit areas and one of the time periods.

D.

Up to four persons desiring to hunt together as a group may apply as a group. Group applications shall either be all selected or none selected. Applications by a group must all be for the same prairie chicken permit area and time period. The preference rating of applicants who apply as a group shall be based on the individual in the group with the lowest preference. Group applications must be made up of either all general or all landowner-tenant applications.

E.

A person who applies as a landowner or tenant but does not meet the definition as provided in this chapter is ineligible for that season's drawings.

F.

The application deadline is the Friday nearest August 17.

Subp. 3.

Landowner-tenant drawing.

A.

For purposes of this chapter, "landowner or tenant" means a person who is an owner or tenant of at least 40 acres of prairie or grassland within the zone being applied for. A landowner-tenant license application drawing shall be held subject to the restrictions in items B to G.

B.

An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements and must provide a complete and accurate description of the qualifying land.

C.

An applicant must be a landowner or tenant or a member of the landowner's or tenant's immediate family. Family members include those related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

D.

For each prairie chicken permit area and time period, no more than 20 percent of the successful participants shall be drawn from the special landowner-tenant applications.

E.

An individual participant in the landowner-tenant drawing may submit only one application and only for the prairie chicken permit area in which the participant's qualifying property is located.

F.

Landowners or tenants unsuccessful in the landowner-tenant drawing shall be included in the general drawing.

G.

Landowner-tenant licensees must allow public prairie chicken hunting on their land during that prairie chicken season and the commissioner shall provide descriptions of these lands to licensed prairie chicken hunters.

Subp. 4.

Modification of quota numbers for group applications.

The quota of licenses or permits for a drawing may be increased to accommodate group members if the last applicant to be selected is a member of a group.

Subp. 5.

Drawing application fee.

An applicant must pay a fee as prescribed by statute at time of application at the electronic license system-point of sale (ELS-POS). Refunds of application fees shall not be made for any reason.

Subp. 6.

Undersubscribed prairie chicken permit areas.

In permit areas with fewer applicants than available licenses, the remaining available licenses may be first offered to unsuccessful applicants for other permit areas on a first-come, first-served basis. An eligible person must apply individually and in person at an ELS-POS agent location or individually through the ELS-Internet or ELS-Telephone system to obtain a remaining available license. Any remaining available licenses not purchased by unsuccessful applicants may then be issued as prescribed by the commissioner to any eligible person on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals who purchase these remaining available licenses retain their accumulated preference.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.434; 97B.711; 97B.716

History:

30 SR 613; 39 SR 1006

Published Electronically:

January 12, 2015

6237.0300 OBTAINING A LICENSE.

Subpart 1.

Notification.

Only successful applicants shall be notified.

Subp. 2.

Obtaining licenses.

Successful applicants shall receive instructions from the commissioner on how to obtain their license through the electronic license system.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.434; 97B.711; 97B.716

History:

30 SR 613

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6237.0400 TAKING PRAIRIE CHICKENS.

Subpart 1.

Open season and methods.

Prairie chickens may be taken during the five-day period beginning on the Saturday nearest October 20.

Subp. 2.

Arms restrictions.

Prairie chickens may be taken by shotgun or bow and arrow. A person may not take prairie chickens with a rifle or handgun.

Subp. 3.

Bag limit.

A person may not take more than two prairie chickens per season or possess more than two prairie chickens.

Subp. 4.

Open areas.

Prairie chicken permit areas are open for the prairie chicken season as prescribed by the commissioner. Prairie chicken licenses are valid only in the prairie chicken permit area specified on the license.

Subp. 5.

Game refuges open to taking prairie chickens.

The Clay County Game Refuge in Clay County is open for the taking of prairie chickens during open prairie chicken seasons in the zone in which it is located.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711

History:

30 SR 613

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6237.0500

[Repealed, 33 SR 1967]

Published Electronically:

June 10, 2009

6237.0550 PRAIRIE CHICKEN PERMIT AREA DESCRIPTION.

Subpart 1.

Area 801A.

Prairie chicken permit area 801A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 1 and STH 32; thence along STH 32 to Pennington County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 3 to Polk CSAH 21; thence along Polk CSAH 21 to United States Highway (U.S.) 75; thence along U.S. 75 to STH 1; thence along STH 1 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 2.

Area 802A.

Prairie chicken permit area 802A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of Pennington County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 3 and State Trunk Highway (STH) 32; thence along STH 32 to United States Highway (U.S.) 2; thence along U.S. 2 to U.S. 75; thence along U.S. 75 to Polk CSAH 21; thence along Polk CSAH 21 to Pennington CSAH 3; thence along Pennington CSAH 3 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 3.

Area 803A.

Prairie chicken permit area 803A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of United States Highway (U.S.) 59 and State Trunk Highway (STH) 32; thence along U.S. 59 to U.S. 2; thence along U.S. 2 to STH 32; thence along STH 32 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 4.

Area 804A.

Prairie chicken permit area 804A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of United States Highway (U.S.) 2 and U.S. 59; thence along U.S. 59 to Polk County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 1; thence along Polk CSAH 1 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32; thence along STH 32 to U.S. 2; thence along U.S. 2 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 5.

Area 805A.

Prairie chicken permit area 805A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of United States Highway (U.S.) 2 and State Trunk Highway (STH) 9; thence along U.S. 2 to STH 32; thence along STH 32 to STH 102; thence along STH 102 to STH 9; thence along STH 9 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 6.

Area 806A.

Prairie chicken permit area 806A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 9 and STH 102; thence along STH 102 to STH 32; thence along STH 32 to STH 200; thence along STH 200 to STH 9; thence along STH 9 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 7.

Area 807A.

Prairie chicken permit area 807A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 9 and STH 200; thence along STH 200 to STH 32; thence along STH 32 to County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 34, Clay County; thence along CSAH 34 to STH 9; thence along STH 9 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 8.

Area 808A.

Prairie chicken permit area 808A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of State Trunk Highway (STH) 9 and County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 34, Clay County; thence along CSAH 34 to STH 32; thence along STH 32 to United States Highway (U.S.) 10; thence along U.S. 10 to STH 9; thence along STH 9 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 9.

Area 809A.

Prairie chicken permit area 809A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of Clay County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 11 and United States Highway (U.S.) 10; thence along U.S. 10 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 32; thence along STH 32 to STH 34; thence along STH 34 to Clay CSAH 2; thence along Clay CSAH 2 to Clay CSAH 11; thence along Clay CSAH 11 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 10.

Area 810A.

Prairie chicken permit area 810A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of Clay County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 2 and Interstate Highway 94 (I-94); thence along I-94 to Otter Tail CSAH 24; thence along Otter Tail CSAH 24 to Wilkin CSAH 26; thence along Wilkin CSAH 26 to Wilkin CSAH 3; thence along Wilkin CSAH 3 to the point of beginning.

Subp. 11.

Area 811A.

Prairie chicken permit area 811A consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary:

Beginning at the intersection of Otter Tail County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 24 and Interstate Highway 94 (I-94); thence along I-94 to State Trunk Highway (STH) 210; thence along STH 210 to United States Highway (U.S.) 75; thence along U.S. 75 to Wilkin CSAH 3; thence along Wilkin CSAH 3 to Wilkin CSAH 26; thence along Wilkin CSAH 26 to Otter Tail CSAH 24; thence along Otter Tail CSAH 24 to the point of beginning.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711

History:

33 SR 215

Published Electronically:

October 3, 2013

6237.0600

[Repealed, 34 SR 621]

Published Electronically:

November 19, 2009

6237.0700

[Repealed, 34 SR 621]

Published Electronically:

November 19, 2009