Subdivision 1. Reserves. The commissioner may designate and reserve public waters of the state to propagate and protect wild animals.
Subd. 2. Management designation. (a) The commissioner may designate, reserve, and manage public waters for wildlife after giving notice and holding a public hearing. The hearing must be held in the county where the major portion of the waters is located. Notice of the hearing must be published in a legal newspaper within each county where the waters are located at least seven days before the hearing. The designation by the commissioner shall be by written order published in the State Register. Designations are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
(b) The commissioner may contract with riparian owners for water projects under section 103G.121, subdivision 3, and may acquire land, accept local funding, and construct, maintain, and operate structures to control water levels under section 103G.505 to manage designated waters.
Subd. 3. Fishing may not be restricted. Seasons or methods of taking fish other than minnows may not be restricted under this section.
Subd. 4. Restrictions on airboats, watercraft, and recreational vehicles. (a) The use of airboats is prohibited at all times on lakes designated for wildlife management purposes under this section unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner may restrict the use of motorized watercraft and recreational vehicles on lakes designated for wildlife management purposes by posting all public access points on the designated lake. To minimize disturbance to wildlife or to protect wildlife habitat, the commissioner may restrict the type of allowable motorized watercraft or recreational vehicle, horsepower or thrust of motor, speed of operation, and season or area of use. Designation of areas, times, and types of restrictions to be posted shall be by written order published in the State Register. Posting of the restrictions is not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
(c) Before the commissioner establishes perpetual restrictions under paragraph (b), public comment must be received and a public meeting must be held in the county where the largest portion of the lake is located. Notice of the meeting must be published in a news release issued by the commissioner and in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the waters are located. The notice must be published at least once between 30 and 60 days before the public meeting and at least once between seven and 30 days before the meeting. The notices required in this paragraph must summarize the proposed action, invite public comment, and specify a deadline for the receipt of public comments. The commissioner shall mail a copy of each required notice to persons who have registered their names with the commissioner for this purpose. The commissioner shall consider any public comments received in making a final decision. This paragraph does not apply to temporary restrictions that expire within 90 days of the effective date of the restrictions.
1986 c 386 art 1 s 19; 1990 c 391 art 8 s 23; 1991 c 199 art 1 s 13; 1997 c 226 s 18; 2004 c 221 s 37; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 21; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 22
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.