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Chapter 97A

Section 97A.451

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97A.451 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS RELATING TO AGE.

Subdivision 1.

[Repealed, 1988 c 437 s 6]

Subd. 2.Residents under age 16; fishing.

A resident under the age of 16 years may take fish without a license.

Subd. 3.Residents under age 16; small game.

(a) A resident under age 16 must obtain a small game license in order to take small game by firearms or bow and arrow without paying the applicable fees under section 97A.475, subdivisions 2, 4, and 5, if the resident is:

(1) age 14 or 15 and possesses a firearms safety certificate;

(2) age 13, possesses a firearms safety certificate, and is accompanied by a parent or guardian;

(3) age 13, 14, or 15, possesses an apprentice hunter validation, and is accompanied by a parent or guardian who possesses a small game license that was not obtained using an apprentice hunter validation; or

(4) age 12 or under and is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

(b) A resident under age 16 may take small game by trapping without a small game license, but a resident 13 years of age or older must have a trapping license. A resident under age 13 may trap without a trapping license, but may not register fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten unless the resident is at least age five. Any fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten taken by a resident under age five must be included in the limit of the accompanying parent or guardian.

(c) A resident under age 12 may apply for a turkey license and may take a turkey without a firearms safety certificate if the resident is accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety certificate.

(d) A resident under age 12 may apply for a prairie chicken license and may take a prairie chicken without a firearms safety certificate if the resident is accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety certificate.

Subd. 3a.Nonresidents under age 18; small game.

(a) A nonresident under age 18 may obtain a small game license at the resident fee under section 97A.475, subdivision 2, clause (2), if the nonresident:

(1) possesses a firearms safety certificate; or

(2) if age 13 or under, is accompanied by a parent or guardian when purchasing the license.

(b) A nonresident age 13 or under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to take small game. A nonresident age 12 or under is not required to possess a firearms safety certificate under section 97B.020 to take small game.

Subd. 4.Persons under age 16; big game.

(a) A person age 12, 13, 14, or 15 may not obtain a license to take big game unless the person possesses a firearms safety certificate. A person age 12 or 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to hunt big game.

(b) A person age 10 or 11 may take big game provided the person is under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian where the parent or guardian is within immediate reach. Until March 1, 2009, a person age 10 or 11 may take big game under a parent or guardian's license. Beginning March 1, 2009, a person age 10 or 11 must obtain a license in order to take big game and may obtain the license without paying the fee required under section 97A.475, subdivision 2.

Subd. 5.Nonresidents under age 16.

(a) A nonresident under the age of 16 may take fish by angling without a license if a parent or guardian has a fishing license. Fish taken by a nonresident under the age of 16 without a license must be included in the limit of the parent or guardian.

(b) A nonresident under age 16 may purchase a fishing license at the resident fee or be included under a nonresident family license, take fish by angling, and possess a limit of fish.

Subd. 6.Nonresidents under age 16 attending camps; fishing.

A nonresident under the age of 16 that is attending a camp conducted by a nonprofit organization may take fish by angling in adjacent and connected public waters without a license. The organization must have a certificate from the commissioner that describes the public waters where the fishing is allowed. The nonresident must possess a document, prescribed by the commissioner, for identification of the nonresident and the authorized fishing waters. The document must be signed and dated within the current calendar year by the person in charge of the camp.

Subd. 7.Residents over age 65; spearing.

A resident age 65 or over may take fish by spearing without a spearing license if the resident has an angling license.

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 3, paragraph (a), by Laws 2008, chapter 368, article 2, section 25, is effective March 1, 2009. Laws 2008, chapter 368, article 2, section 25, the effective date.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes