Subdivision 1. Protected wild animals. Unless allowed under the game and fish laws, a person may not take, buy, sell, transport, or possess protected wild animals of this state without a license.
Subd. 2. Personal possession. (a) A person acting under a license or traveling from an area where a licensed activity was performed must have in personal possession either: (1) the proper license, if the license has been issued to and received by the person; (2) a driver's license or Minnesota identification card that bears a valid designation of the proper lifetime license, as provided under section 171.07, subdivision 19; or (3) the proper license identification number or stamp validation, if the license has been sold to the person by electronic means but the actual license has not been issued and received.
(b) If possession of a license or a license identification number is required, a person must exhibit, as requested by a conservation officer or peace officer, either: (1) the proper license if the license has been issued to and received by the person; (2) a driver's license or Minnesota identification card that bears a valid designation of the proper lifetime license, as provided under section 171.07, subdivision 19; or (3) the proper license identification number or stamp validation and a valid state driver's license, state identification card, or other form of identification provided by the commissioner, if the license has been sold to the person by electronic means but the actual license has not been issued and received. A person charged with violating the license possession requirement shall not be convicted if the person produces in court or the office of the arresting officer, the actual license previously issued to that person, which was valid at the time of arrest, or satisfactory proof that at the time of the arrest the person was validly licensed. Upon request of a conservation officer or peace officer, a licensee shall write the licensee's name in the presence of the officer to determine the identity of the licensee.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (a), clause (2), if the actual license has been issued and received, a receipt for license fees, a copy of a license, or evidence showing the issuance of a license, including the license identification number or stamp validation, does not entitle a licensee to exercise the rights or privileges conferred by a license.
(d) A license issued electronically and not immediately provided to the licensee shall be mailed to the licensee within 30 days of purchase of the license. A pictorial migratory waterfowl, pheasant, trout and salmon, or walleye stamp shall be provided to the licensee after purchase of a stamp validation only if the licensee pays an additional fee that covers the costs of producing and mailing a pictorial stamp. A pictorial turkey stamp may be purchased for a fee that covers the costs of producing and mailing the pictorial stamp. Notwithstanding section 16A.1283, the commissioner may, by written order published in the State Register, establish fees for providing the pictorial stamps. The fees must be set in an amount that does not recover significantly more or less than the cost of producing and mailing the stamps. The fees are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
Subd. 3. Duplicate licenses. The commissioner shall prescribe rules for issuing duplicate licenses to persons whose licenses are lost or destroyed. A duplicate license may not be issued unless the applicant takes an oath covering the facts of loss or destruction of the license.
Subd. 4. Replacement deer licenses. (a) The commissioner may permit licensed deer hunters to change zone, license, or season options. The commissioner may issue a replacement deer license if the applicant submits the original deer license and unused tags that are being replaced and the applicant pays any increase in cost between the original and the replacement deer license. A refund of the difference in fees may be issued when a person changes from a regular deer license to a youth deer license.
(b) A replacement deer license may be issued only if the applicant has not used any tag from the original deer license or licenses and meets the conditions of paragraph (c). The original deer license or licenses and all unused tags for the deer licenses being replaced must be submitted to the issuing agent at the time the replacement deer license is issued.
(c) A replacement deer license may be issued under the following conditions, or as otherwise prescribed by rule of the commissioner:
(1) when the season for the deer license being surrendered has not yet opened; or
(2) when the person is changing from a regular deer license to a youth deer license.
(d) Notwithstanding section 97A.411, subdivision 3, a replacement deer license is valid immediately upon issuance if the deer license being surrendered is valid at that time.
Subd. 4a. Replacement turkey licenses. (a) The commissioner may permit licensed turkey hunters to change permit areas, licenses, or time periods within the fall turkey season, or within the spring turkey season. The commissioner may issue a replacement turkey license if the applicant submits the original turkey license and unused tags that are being replaced, and the applicant pays the fee for a replacement license under section 97A.475, subdivision 44.
(b) A replacement turkey license may be issued only if the applicant has not used the tag from the original turkey license and meets the requirements of paragraph (c). The original turkey licenses and all unused tags for the turkey licenses being replaced must be submitted to the issuing agent at the time the replacement turkey license is issued.
(c) A turkey replacement license may be issued under the following conditions, or as otherwise prescribed by rule of the commissioner:
(1) when the permit area or time period for the turkey license being surrendered has not yet opened; and
(2) licenses are available for the replacement turkey license permit area or time period for (i) areas that are not lottery areas, (ii) lottery areas that have remaining licenses, or (iii) the applicant is a youth hunter age 17 or younger.
Subd. 5. Resident licenses. To obtain a resident license, a resident 21 years of age or older must:
(1) possess a current Minnesota driver's license;
(2) possess a current identification card issued by the commissioner of public safety; or
(3) present evidence showing proof of residency in cases when clause (1) or (2) would violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Public Law 103-141.
Subd. 6. Application deadline. When an application deadline is specified, including an application deadline for determining the fee based on age for a lifetime license, an application must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of the deadline or, if mailed, an application must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.
1986 c 386 art 1 s 54; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 25; 1997 c 216 s 81; 2000 c 495 s 31; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 106; 2005 c 146 s 10,11; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 28; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 84; 2007 c 131 art 1 s 22,23; 2008 c 368 art 2 s 20; 2009 c 176 art 2 s 18; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 26; 2012 c 277 art 1 s 29,30; 2014 c 290 s 21; 2016 c 189 art 3 s 37; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 3 s 50
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.