Subdivision 1. With implements to take wild animals. Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on a highway, or in a field, woodland, or forest, to spot, locate, or take a wild animal while having in possession, either individually or as one of a group of persons, a firearm, bow, or other implement that could be used to take big game, small game, or unprotected wild animals.
Subd. 2. Without implements to take wild animals. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 3, from two hours after sunset until sunrise, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on a highway, or in a field, woodland, or forest to spot or locate a wild animal.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on fenced, agricultural land.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person may not cast an artificial light onto residential property or building sites from a motor vehicle.
(d) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person may not at any time cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light onto property posted with signs prohibiting the shining of lights onto the property. When signs are posted, the signs shall display letters that are at least two inches in height and state "no shining" or similar terms and shall be placed at intervals of 500 feet or less along the boundary of the property.
Subd. 3. Exceptions. (a) It is not a violation of this section for a person to:
(1) cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light to take raccoons according to section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or tend traps according to section 97B.931;
(2) hunt fox or coyote from January 1 to March 15 while using a handheld artificial light, provided that the person is:
(i) on foot;
(ii) using a shotgun;
(iii) not within a public road right-of-way;
(iv) using a handheld or electronic calling device; and
(v) not within 200 feet of a motor vehicle; or
(3) cast the rays of a handheld artificial light to retrieve wounded or dead big game animals, provided that the person is:
(i) on foot; and
(ii) not in possession of a firearm or bow.
(b) It is not a violation of subdivision 2 for a person to cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light to:
(1) carry out any agricultural, safety, emergency response, normal vehicle operation, or occupation-related activities that do not involve taking wild animals; or
(2) carry out outdoor recreation as defined in section 97B.001 that is not related to spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by the game and fish laws, it is not a violation of this section for a person to use an electronic range finder device from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset while lawfully hunting wild animals.
(d) It is not a violation of this section for a licensed bear hunter to cast the rays of a handheld artificial light to track or retrieve a wounded or dead bear while possessing a firearm:
(1) if the person:
(i) has the person's valid bear-hunting license in possession;
(ii) is on foot; and
(iii) is following the blood trail of a bear that was shot during legal shooting hours; or
(2) as provided in section 97B.207.
(e) It is not a violation of this section for a licensed deer hunter to cast the rays of a handheld artificial light to track or retrieve a wounded deer as provided in section 97B.207.
(f) For purposes of this subdivision, "handheld artificial light" means an artificial light that is carried in the hand or attached to the person.
1986 c 386 art 2 s 17; 1987 c 131 s 1; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 46; 2002 c 351 s 16; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 36; 2009 c 176 art 2 s 43; 2014 c 290 s 40; 1Sp2015 c 4 art 5 s 23; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 3 s 56
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 97 - 102 — Game And Fish
Section 97B.002 — Civil Trespass.
Section 97B.005 — Training Dogs.
Section 97B.011 — Dogs Pursuing Big Game.
Section 97B.015 — Firearms Safety And Wildlife Identification Course.
Section 97B.020 — Firearms Safety Certificate Required.
Section 97B.021 — Possession Of Firearms By Persons Under Age 16.
Section 97B.0215 — Parent Or Guardian Responsibility; Violation.
Section 97B.022 — Apprentice-hunter Validation.
Section 97B.025 — Hunter And Trapper Education.
Section 97B.026 — Trapper Education Certificate; Requirement.
Section 97B.031 — Use And Possession Of Firearms.
Section 97B.035 — Restrictions On Archery Equipment.
Section 97B.036 — Crossbow Hunting During Firearms Season.
Section 97B.037 — Crossbow Hunting; Age 60 Or Over.
Section 97B.041 — Possession Of Firearms And Ammunition Restricted In Deer Zones.
Section 97B.045 — Transporting Firearms.
Section 97B.051 — Transporting Archery Bows.
Section 97B.055 — Discharging Firearms And Bows And Arrows.
Section 97B.063 — Hunter Satisfaction Survey.
Section 97B.065 — Hunting While Under Influence Of Alcohol Or Controlled Substance.
Section 97B.066 — Chemical Testing.
Section 97B.071 — Clothing Requirements; Blaze Orange Or Blaze Pink.
Section 97B.075 — Hunting Restricted Between Evening And Morning.
Section 97B.081 — Using Artificial Lights To Locate Animals.
Section 97B.085 — Using Radios To Take Animals.
Section 97B.086 — Possessing Night Vision Or Thermal Imaging Equipment.
Section 97B.091 — Using Motor Vehicles To Chase Wild Animals Prohibited.
Section 97B.095 — Disturbing And Taking From Burrows And Dens.
Section 97B.099 — Prohibited Hunting Methods.
Section 97B.101 — Hunting With Ferrets Prohibited.
Section 97B.105 — Hunting By Falconry.
Section 97B.1055 — Hunting By Persons With A Permanent Physical Or Developmental Disability.
Section 97B.106 — Crossbow Permits For Hunting And Fishing.
Section 97B.111 — Special Firearm Hunting Seasons For Physically Disabled.
Section 97B.112 — Special Hunts.
Section 97B.115 — Computer-assisted Remote Hunting Prohibited.
Section 97B.201 — No Open Season For Caribou Or Antelope.
Section 97B.205 — Using Dogs And Horses To Take Big Game Prohibited.
Section 97B.207 — Using Dogs To Locate Wounded Deer Or Bear.
Section 97B.211 — Hunting Big Game By Archery.
Section 97B.22 — Collecting Antler Sheds.
Section 97B.301 — Deer Licenses And Limits.
Section 97B.303 — Venison Donations.
Section 97B.305 — Commissioner May Limit Number Of Deer Hunters.
Section 97B.311 — Deer Seasons And Restrictions.
Section 97B.318 — Arms Use Areas And Restrictions; Regular Firearms Season.
Section 97B.321 — Snares, Traps, Set Guns, And Swivel Guns Prohibited.
Section 97B.325 — Deer Stand Restrictions.
Section 97B.326 — Stands And Blinds On Public Lands.
Section 97B.327 — Report; Deer Other Than White-tailed Or Mule.
Section 97B.328 — Baiting Prohibited.
Section 97B.401 — Bear License Required; Application.
Section 97B.405 — Commissioner May Limit Number Of Bear Hunters.
Section 97B.411 — Bear Season And Restrictions.
Section 97B.415 — Taking Bear To Protect Property.
Section 97B.421 — Permit Required To Snare Bears.
Section 97B.425 — Baiting Bears.
Section 97B.426 — Baiting Bear; Use Of Drum.
Section 97B.431 — Bear-hunting Outfitters.
Section 97B.501 — Moose License Required.
Section 97B.505 — Moose Season And Restrictions.
Section 97B.516 — Plan For Elk Management.
Section 97B.601 — Small-game Licenses.
Section 97B.603 — Taking Small Game By Party.
Section 97B.605 — Commissioner May Restrict Taking Small Game Animals.
Section 97B.641 — Cougar, Lynx, And Wolverine.
Section 97B.646 — Wolf Management.
Section 97B.647 — Taking Wolves.
Section 97B.648 — Wolves; Unlawful Taking; Penalty.
Section 97B.651 — Unprotected Mammals And Birds.
Section 97B.655 — Taking Animals Causing Damage.
Section 97B.657 — Taking Wild Animals To Protect Public Safety.
Section 97B.661 — Removing Beaver From State Lands.
Section 97B.665 — Beaver Dams; Threats To Safety Or Property.
Section 97B.668 — Game Birds Causing Damage.
Section 97B.671 — Predator-control Program.
Section 97B.701 — Protected Birds.
Section 97B.705 — Restrictions On Trapping Birds.
Section 97B.716 — Prairie Chickens.
Section 97B.721 — License Required To Take Turkey; Tagging And Registration Requirements.
Section 97B.722 — Possessing Firearms; Hunting Turkey.
Section 97B.723 — Commissioner May Limit Number Of Turkey Hunters.
Section 97B.725 — Guiding Hunters.
Section 97B.731 — Migratory Birds.
Section 97B.801 — Minnesota Migratory-waterfowl Stamp Required.
Section 97B.802 — Special Canada-goose Season; License Required.
Section 97B.805 — Restrictions On Method Of Taking Waterfowl On Water.
Section 97B.811 — Decoys And Blinds On Public Lands And Waters.
Section 97B.901 — Registration And Tagging Fur-bearing Animals.
Section 97B.903 — Use Of Body-gripping Traps.
Section 97B.905 — Fur Dealer's Licenses.
Section 97B.9251 — Beaver Season.
Section 97B.926 — Pine Marten And Fisher Zone.
Section 97B.928 — Identifying Traps And Snares.
Section 97B.931 — Tending Traps.
Section 97B.941 — Tampering With Traps.
Section 97B.945 — Setting Traps Near Water Restricted.
Section 97B.951 — Use Of Snares To Take Unprotected Mammals.