Subdivision 1. Hunting and fishing. Wildlife management areas are open to hunting and fishing unless closed by rule of the commissioner or by posting under subdivision 2.
Subd. 2. Closing designated areas. The commissioner may, by posting in accordance with section 97B.001, subdivision 4, designate areas within wildlife management areas that are closed to entry for the purpose of providing areas where disturbance of wildlife can be minimized. A person may not enter an area posted under this subdivision except as authorized by rule or a permit issued by the commissioner.
Subd. 3. Use of motorized vehicles by disabled hunters. The commissioner may issue a special permit, without a fee, authorizing a hunter with a permanent physical disability to use a snowmobile, highway-licensed vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, or motor boat in wildlife management areas. To qualify for a permit under this subdivision, the disabled person must possess:
(1) the required hunting licenses; and
(2) a permit to shoot from a stationary vehicle under section 97B.055, subdivision 3.
Subd. 4. Exemption from certain local ordinances. (a) Wildlife management areas that are established according to section 86A.05, subdivision 8; designated under section 97A.133 or 97A.145; and 160 contiguous acres or larger are exempt from local ordinances that limit the taking of game and fish or vegetation management in the unit as authorized by state law.
(b) Wildlife management areas that are established according to section 86A.05, subdivision 8; designated under section 97A.133 or 97A.145; and at least 40 contiguous acres and less than 160 contiguous acres are exempt from local ordinances that:
(1) restrict trapping;
(2) restrict the discharge of archery equipment;
(3) restrict the discharge of shotguns with shot sizes of F or .22 inch diameter or smaller shot;
(4) restrict noise;
(5) require dogs on a leash; or
(6) would in any manner restrict the management of vegetation in the unit as authorized by state law.
Subd. 5. Portable stands. (a) Prior to the Saturday on or nearest September 16, a portable stand may be left overnight in a wildlife management area by a person with a valid bear license who is hunting within 100 yards of a bear bait site that is legally tagged and registered as prescribed under section 97B.425. Any person leaving a portable stand overnight under this subdivision must affix a tag with: (1) the person's name and address; (2) the licensee's driver's license number; or (3) the "MDNR#" license identification number issued to the licensee. The tag must be affixed to the stand in a manner that it can be read from the ground.
(b) From November 1 through December 31, a portable stand may be left overnight by a person possessing a license to take deer in a wildlife management area located in whole or in part north and west of a line described as follows:
State Trunk Highway 1 from the west boundary of the state to State Trunk Highway 89; then north along State Trunk Highway 89 to Fourtown; then north on County State-Aid Highway 44, Beltrami County, to County Road 704, Beltrami County; then north on County Road 704 to Dick's Parkway State Forest Road; then north on Dick's Parkway to County State-Aid Highway 5, Roseau County; then north on County State-Aid Highway 5 to Warroad; then north on State Trunk Highway 11 to State Trunk Highway 313; then north on State Trunk Highway 313 to the north boundary of the state.
A person leaving a portable stand overnight under this paragraph must affix a tag with: (1) the person's name and address; (2) the licensee's driver's license number; or (3) the "MDNR#" license identification number issued to the licensee. The tag must be affixed to the stand so that it can be read from the ground and must be made of a material sufficient to withstand weather conditions. A person leaving a portable stand overnight in a wildlife management area under this paragraph may not leave more than two portable stands in any one wildlife management area. Unoccupied portable stands left overnight under this paragraph may be used by any member of the public. This paragraph expires December 31, 2019.
Subd. 6. Crossing state lands. (a) The commissioner may grant a permit to cross state lands within wildlife management areas for temporary right-of-way access to federal, county-managed, or privately owned lands for resource management purposes. A permit for crossing state lands within wildlife management areas is revocable at any time subject to conditions identified in the permit.
(b) The commissioner may grant a permit to a private landowner or leaseholder to cross state lands within wildlife management areas by motorized vehicle for temporary right-of-way access to a permit applicant's land, when it is the only reasonable access and is consistent with the maintenance and management of wildlife lands.
1991 c 259 s 18; 1993 c 231 s 15; 2000 c 265 s 1; 2009 c 176 art 2 s 15,16; 2012 c 277 art 1 s 28; 2014 c 290 s 17,18; 2017 c 93 art 2 s 71
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.