2007 Minnesota Statutes

97A.401 SPECIAL PERMITS.
    Subdivision 1. Commissioner's authority. The commissioner may issue special permits for
the activities in this section.
    Subd. 2. Zoological specimen collecting. Special permits may be issued without a fee to
municipalities, incorporated natural history societies, high schools, colleges, and universities
that maintain a zoological collection, to collect specimens of eggs, nests, and wild animals for
scientific or exhibition purposes.
    Subd. 3. Taking, possessing, and transporting wild animals for certain purposes. (a)
Except as provided in paragraph (b), special permits may be issued without a fee to take, possess,
and transport wild animals as pets and for scientific, educational, rehabilitative, wildlife disease
prevention and control, and exhibition purposes. The commissioner shall prescribe the conditions
for taking, possessing, transporting, and disposing of the wild animals.
(b) A special permit may not be issued to take or possess wild or native deer for exhibition,
propagation, or as pets.
    Subd. 4. Taking wild animals from game refuges, wildlife management, and other areas.
Special permits may be issued, with or without a fee, to take a wild animal from game refuges,
wildlife management areas, state parks, controlled hunting zones, and other areas of the state that
the commissioner may open for the taking of a wild animal during a special season or subject to
special restrictions. In addition, an application fee may be charged for a special permit. Local
units of government may charge an administrative fee in connection with special hunts under their
jurisdiction. Fees to be collected shall be based upon the estimated cost of conducting the special
season or administering the special restrictions.
    Subd. 5. Wild animals damaging property. Special permits may be issued with or without
a fee to take protected wild animals or to remove or destroy their dens, nests, eggs, houses, or
dams for the purpose of preventing or reducing damage or injury to people, property, agricultural
crops, or other interests. The commissioner may prescribe rules for taking Canada geese and their
nests and eggs, with or without a permit, consistent with federal regulations.
    Subd. 6. Endangered muskrats. Special permits may be issued with or without a fee to
take muskrats in danger of freezing out or starving in the winter.
    Subd. 7. Raptors. The commissioner shall prescribe conditions and may issue permits for
persons to breed, propagate, and sell raptors.
History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 53; 1986 c 450 s 2; 1989 c 287 s 2; 1993 c 231 s 17; 1Sp1995 c
1 s 21; 1996 c 410 s 24; 2003 c 128 art 1 s 55; 2005 c 146 s 9; 2007 c 131 art 1 s 21