2006 Minnesota Statutes

97B.081 USING ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS TO LOCATE ANIMALS.
    Subdivision 1. With firearms and bows. (a) A person may not cast the rays of a spotlight,
headlight, or other artificial light on a highway, or in a field, woodland, or forest, to spot, locate, or
take a wild animal, except while taking raccoons in accordance with section 97B.621, subdivision
3 , or tending traps in accordance with section 97B.931, while having in possession, either
individually or as one of a group of persons, a firearm, bow, or other implement that could be
used to kill big game.
(b) This subdivision does not apply to a firearm that is:
(1) unloaded;
(2) in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm that fully encloses the firearm by
being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened without any portion of the firearm
exposed; and
(3) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
(c) This subdivision does not apply to a bow that is:
(1) completely encased or unstrung; and
(2) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
(d) If the motor vehicle under paragraph (b) or (c) does not have a trunk, the firearm or bow
must be placed in the rearmost location of the vehicle.
(e) This subdivision does not apply to persons taking raccoons under section 97B.621,
subdivision 3 .
(f) This subdivision does not apply to a person hunting fox or coyote from January 1 to
March 15 while using a hand-held artificial light, provided that the person:
(1) is on foot;
(2) is using a shotgun;
(3) is not within a public road right-of-way;
(4) is using a hand-held or electronic calling device; and
(5) is not within 200 feet of a motor vehicle.
    Subd. 2. Without firearms. (a) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from
September 1 to December 31, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other
artificial light in a field, woodland, or forest to spot, locate, or take a wild animal except to take
raccoons under section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or to tend traps under section 97B.931.
(b) Between one-half hour after sunset until sunrise, a person may not cast the rays of a
spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light to spot, locate, or take a wild animal on fenced,
agricultural land containing livestock, as defined in section 17A.03, subdivision 5, or poultry that
is marked with signs prohibiting the shining of lights. The signs must:
(1) display reflectorized letters that are at least two inches in height and state "no shining"
or similar terms; and
(2) be placed at intervals of 1,000 feet or less along the boundary of the area.
(c) It is not a violation of paragraph (a) or (b) for a person to carry out any agricultural,
occupational, or recreational practice, including snowmobiling that is not related to spotting,
locating, or taking a wild animal.
(d) Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a person may not project a spotlight or
hand-held light onto residential property or building sites from a moving motor vehicle being
operated on land, except for the following purposes:
(1) safety;
(2) emergency response;
(3) normal vehicle operations; or
(4) performing an occupational duty.
History: 1986 c 386 art 2 s 17; 1987 c 131 s 1; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 46; 2002 c 351 s 16;
2006 c 281 art 2 s 36