1997 Minnesota Statutes

     97B.071 Blaze orange requirements. 

    (a) Except as provided in rules adopted under paragraph 
 (c), a person may not hunt or trap during the open season where 
 deer may be taken by firearms under applicable laws and 
 ordinances, unless the visible portion of the person's cap and 
 outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, is 
 blaze orange.  Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at 
 least 50 percent blaze orange within each foot square.  This 
 section does not apply to migratory waterfowl hunters on waters 
 of this state or in a stationary shooting location. 

    (b) Except as provided in rules adopted under paragraph 
 (c), and in addition to the requirement in paragraph (a), a 
 person may not take small game other than turkey, migratory 
 birds, raccoons, and predators, except when hunting with 
 nontoxic shot, unless a visible portion of at least one article 
 of the person's clothing above the waist is blaze orange. 

    (c) The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe an alternative 
 color in cases where paragraph (a) or (b) would violate the 
 Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Public Law Number 
 103-141. 

    (d) A violation of paragraph (b) shall not result in a 
 penalty, but is punishable only by a safety warning. 

    HIST: 1986 c 386 art 2 s 15; 1993 c 196 s 1; 1993 c 269 s 13; 
 1994 c 623 art 1 s 30; 1994 c 632 art 2 s 26; 1996 c 410 s 39