Subdivision 1. Hunting and possession of firearms. Except as provided in subdivision 2, a person may not take a wild animal, except fish, within a state game refuge. A person may not carry within a refuge:
(1) a firearm unless the firearm is unloaded and contained in a case, or unloaded and broken down; or
(2) an uncased bow.
Subd. 2. When hunting allowed. (a) The commissioner may allow hunting of a protected wild animal species within any portion of a state game refuge, including a state park. Hunting may be allowed under this paragraph only if the commissioner finds:
(1) the population of the species exceeds the refuge's carrying capacity;
(2) the species is causing substantial damage to agricultural or forest crops in the vicinity;
(3) the species or other protected wild animals are threatened by the species population; or
(4) a harvestable surplus of the species exists.
(b) The commissioner may allow hunting of unprotected wild animals in a game refuge.
(c) The commissioner may prescribe rules for any hunting allowed within a refuge.
(d) In any selection process for permits to take deer within a game refuge, the commissioner may designate a certain number of permits that are available only to applicants who are age 70 or over or are qualified for a special permit under section 97B.055, subdivision 3, or 97B.106.
Subd. 3. Trap or target shooting. The commissioner may issue special permits, without fee, to the owner or lessee of privately owned land within the boundaries of a state game refuge for trap or target shooting.
1986 c 386 art 1 s 17; 1993 c 231 s 8,9; 1994 c 561 s 13
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 97 - 102 — Game And Fish
Section 97A.015 — Definitions.
Section 97A.021 — Construction.
Section 97A.025 — Ownership Of Wild Animals.
Section 97A.028 — Crop Protection Assistance.
Section 97A.031 — Wanton Waste.
Section 97A.035 — Removing Signs Prohibited.
Section 97A.037 — Hunter, Trapper, And Angler Harassment Prohibited.
Section 97A.041 — Exhibition Of Wildlife.
Section 97A.043 — Fish Consumption Advisories.
Section 97A.045 — Commissioner; General Powers And Duties.
Section 97A.0451 — Authority For Using Emergency Rules Procedure; Expiration Of Authority.
Section 97A.0452 — Notice Of Proposed Adoption Of Emergency Rule.
Section 97A.0453 — Notice To Committees For Fees Fixed By Rule.
Section 97A.0454 — Modifying Proposed Emergency Rule.
Section 97A.0455 — Submitting Proposed Emergency Rule To Attorney General.
Section 97A.0456 — Effective Date Of Emergency Rule.
Section 97A.0457 — Publishing Approval.
Section 97A.0458 — Effective Period Of Emergency Rule.
Section 97A.0459 — Approving Form Of Emergency Rule.
Section 97A.051 — Publishing Rules And Laws.
Section 97A.052 — Peace Officer Training Account.
Section 97A.055 — Game And Fish Fund.
Section 97A.056 — Outdoor Heritage Fund; Lessard-sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Section 97A.057 — Federal Law Compliance; Restriction On License Revenue.
Section 97A.065 — Dedication Of Certain Receipts.
Section 97A.071 — Wildlife Acquisition Account.
Section 97A.075 — Use Of License Revenues.
Section 97A.085 — Game Refuges.
Section 97A.091 — Hunting On Game Refuges.
Section 97A.092 — Controlled Hunting Zones.
Section 97A.093 — Hunting, Trapping, And Fishing In Scientific And Natural Areas.
Section 97A.095 — Waterfowl Protected Areas.
Section 97A.098 — Trespass On Federal Lands.
Section 97A.101 — Public Water Reserves And Management Designation.
Section 97A.105 — Game And Fur Farms.
Section 97A.115 — Shooting Preserves.
Section 97A.121 — Hunting In Private Shooting Preserves.
Section 97A.125 — Wildlife Habitat On Private Land.
Section 97A.126 — Walk-in Access Program.
Section 97A.127 — Financing Waterfowl Development.
Section 97A.133 — State Wildlife Management Areas.
Section 97A.134 — Adopt-a-wma Program.
Section 97A.135 — Acquiring Wildlife Lands.
Section 97A.137 — Hunting, Fishing, And Trespassing In Wildlife Management Areas.
Section 97A.141 — Public-water Access Sites.
Section 97A.145 — Wetlands For Wildlife.
Section 97A.151 — Leech Lake Indian Reservation Agreement.
Section 97A.155 — Amendments To Leech Lake Indian Reservation Agreement.
Section 97A.157 — 1854 Treaty Area Agreement.
Section 97A.161 — Agreement With White Earth Indians.
Section 97A.165 — Source Of Payments For Indian Agreement.
Section 97A.201 — Enforcement.
Section 97A.205 — Enforcement Officer; Powers.
Section 97A.211 — Arrest Procedures.
Section 97A.215 — Inspections.
Section 97A.221 — Seizure And Confiscation Of Property.
Section 97A.223 — Seizure And Administrative Forfeiture Of Certain Firearms And Abandoned Property.
Section 97A.225 — Seizure And Confiscation Of Motor Vehicles And Boats.
Section 97A.231 — Search Warrants.
Section 97A.235 — Jurisdiction Over Boundary Waters.
Section 97A.241 — Reciprocity With Other States In Appointing Officers.
Section 97A.251 — Obstructing Officers.
Section 97A.255 — Prosecutions.
Section 97A.301 — General Penalty Provisions.
Section 97A.305 — Impersonating Enforcement Officer.
Section 97A.321 — Dogs Pursuing, Wounding, Or Killing Big Game.
Section 97A.325 — Penalties For Unlawfully Buying Or Selling Wild Animals.
Section 97A.331 — Penalties Related To Hunting.
Section 97A.335 — Penalties Related To Fishing.
Section 97A.338 — Gross Overlimits Of Wild Animals; Penalty.
Section 97A.341 — Restitution For Wild Animals Illegally Taken.
Section 97A.345 — Restitution Value Of Wild Animals.
Section 97A.401 — Special Permits.
Section 97A.405 — License Requirements.
Section 97A.408 — Anatomical Gift Option; Education.
Section 97A.411 — Validity Of Licenses.
Section 97A.415 — License Restrictions.
Section 97A.418 — Permit Rules.
Section 97A.420 — Seizure Of Licenses.
Section 97A.421 — Validity And Issuance Of Licenses After Conviction.
Section 97A.425 — Record And Reporting Requirements For Dealers, Tanners, And Taxidermists.
Section 97A.431 — Moose Licenses.
Section 97A.433 — Elk Licenses.
Section 97A.434 — Prairie-chicken Licenses.
Section 97A.435 — Turkey Licenses; Application And Eligibility.
Section 97A.438 — Releasing Wild Turkeys; Permit Required.
Section 97A.441 — Licenses Issued Without Fee.
Section 97A.445 — Exemptions From License Requirement.
Section 97A.451 — License Requirements And Exemptions Relating To Age.
Section 97A.455 — Nonresident Students; Fishing, Small Game, And Big Game.
Section 97A.461 — Nonresident Licenses For Boundary Water Hunting Or Fishing.
Section 97A.465 — Military Personnel; Fishing And Hunting.
Section 97A.471 — Nonresident Courtesy Licenses.
Section 97A.472 — Place Of Sale Of Nonresident Licenses; Restriction.
Section 97A.473 — Resident Lifetime Licenses.
Section 97A.474 — Nonresident Lifetime Licenses.
Section 97A.4742 — Lifetime Fish And Wildlife Trust Fund.
Section 97A.475 — License Fees.
Section 97A.481 — License Applications; Penalty.
Section 97A.482 — License Applications; Collecting Social Security Numbers.
Section 97A.485 — Issuance Of Licenses.
Section 97A.501 — Wild Animals; General Restrictions.
Section 97A.502 — Deer Killed By Motor Vehicles.
Section 97A.505 — Possessing Wild Animals.
Section 97A.510 — Game For Consumption At Fundraising Events.
Section 97A.511 — Fur-bearing Animals.
Section 97A.515 — Pelts, Skins, And Hides Taken On Indian Reservations.
Section 97A.521 — Transporting Wild Animals; Generally.
Section 97A.525 — Transporting Wild Animals By Common Carrier.
Section 97A.531 — Shipping Wild Animals Taken In Canada.
Section 97A.535 — Possessing And Transporting Deer, Bear, Elk, And Moose.
Section 97A.545 — Transporting Game Birds.