Subdivision 1. Using dogs and horses prohibited; using guard animals. Except as provided in this subdivision, a person may not use a dog or horse to take a wolf. A person may use a guard animal to harass, repel, or destroy wolves to protect a person's livestock, domestic animals, or pets. A person whose guard animal destroys a wolf under this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after the wolf is destroyed.
Subd. 2. [Repealed, 2012 c 277 art 1 s 91]
Subd. 3. Destroying wolves in defense of human life. A person may, at any time and without a permit, take a wolf in defense of the person's own life or the life of another. A person who destroys a wolf under this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after the wolf is destroyed.
Subd. 4. Harassing wolves. To discourage wolves from contact or association with people and domestic animals, a person may, at any time and without a permit, harass a wolf that is within 500 yards of people, buildings, dogs, livestock, or other domestic pets and animals. A wolf may not be purposely attracted, tracked, or searched out for the purpose of harassment. Harassment that results in physical injury to a wolf is prohibited.
Subd. 5. Destroying wolves threatening livestock, guard animals, or domestic animals. An owner of livestock, guard animals, or domestic animals, and the owner's agents may, at any time and without a permit, shoot or destroy a wolf when the wolf is posing an immediate threat to livestock, a guard animal, or a domestic animal located on property owned, leased, or occupied by the owner of the livestock, guard animal, or domestic animal. A person who destroys a wolf under this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after the wolf is destroyed.
Subd. 6. Destroying wolves threatening domestic pets. An owner of a domestic pet may, at any time and without a permit, shoot or destroy a wolf when the wolf is posing an immediate threat to a domestic pet under the supervision of the owner. A person who destroys a wolf under this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after the wolf is destroyed.
Subd. 7. Investigating reported wolf takings. (a) In response to a reported wolf taking under subdivision 3, 5, or 6, the commissioner shall:
(1) investigate the reported taking;
(2) collect appropriate written and photographic documentation of the circumstances and site of the taking, including, but not limited to, documentation of animal husbandry practices;
(3) confiscate salvageable remains of the wolf killed; and
(4) dispose of any salvageable wolf remains confiscated under this subdivision by sale or donation for educational purposes.
(b) The commissioner shall produce monthly reports of activities under this subdivision.
(c) In response to a reported wolf taking under subdivision 5, the commissioner must notify the county extension agent. The county extension agent must recommend what, if any, cost-conscious livestock best management practices and nonlethal wolf depredation controls are needed to prevent future wolf depredation. Any best management practices recommended by the county extension agent must be consistent with the best management practices developed by the commissioner of agriculture under section 3.737, subdivision 5.
Subd. 8. Shooting or trapping wolves to protect livestock, domestic animals, or pets in zone B. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1 and 4 to 7, and season and time of day restrictions in the game and fish laws, but subject to the remaining provisions of the game and fish laws, in zone B, a person may:
(1) shoot a wolf on land owned, leased, or managed by the person at any time to protect the person's livestock, domestic animals, or pets; or
(2) employ a predator controller certified under section 97B.671 to trap a wolf on land owned, leased, or managed by the person or on land within one mile of the land owned, leased, or managed by the person to protect the person's livestock, domestic animals, or pets.
(b) The person must report the wolf shot or trapped under this subdivision to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after the wolf was shot or trapped. The wolf must be disposed of as prescribed by the commissioner.
Subd. 9. Open season. There shall be no open season for wolves until after the wolf is delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. After that time, the commissioner may prescribe open seasons and restrictions for taking wolves but must provide opportunity for public comment.
Subd. 10. Release of wolf-dog hybrids and captive wolves. A person may not release a wolf-dog hybrid. A person may not release a captive wolf without a permit from the commissioner.
Subd. 11. Federal law. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person may not take, harass, buy, sell, possess, transport, or ship wolves in violation of federal law.
Subd. 12. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms used have the meanings given.
(b) "Guard animal" means a donkey, llama, dog, or other domestic animal specifically bred, trained, and used to protect livestock, domestic animals, or pets from wolf depredation.
(c) "Immediate threat" means the observed behavior of a wolf in the act of stalking, attacking, or killing livestock, a guard animal, or a domestic pet under the supervision of the owner. If a wolf is not observed stalking or attacking, the presence of a wolf feeding on an already dead animal whose death was not caused by wolves is not an immediate threat.
(d) "Zone B" means all that part of Minnesota south and west of a line beginning on state Trunk Highway No. 48 at the eastern boundary of the state; thence westerly along state Trunk Highway No. 48 to Interstate Highway No. 35; thence northerly on Interstate Highway No. 35 to state Highway No. 23; thence west one-half mile on state Highway No. 23 to state Trunk Highway No. 18; thence westerly along state Trunk Highway No. 18 to state Trunk Highway No. 65; thence northerly on state Trunk Highway No. 65 to state Trunk Highway No. 210; thence westerly along state Trunk Highway No. 210 to state Trunk Highway No. 6; thence northerly on state Trunk Highway No. 6 to Emily; thence westerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 1, Crow Wing County, to County State-Aid Highway No. 2, Cass County; thence westerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 2 to Pine River; thence northwesterly along state Trunk Highway No. 371 to Backus; thence westerly along state Trunk Highway No. 87 to U.S. Highway No. 71; thence northerly along U.S. Highway No. 71 to state Trunk Highway No. 200; thence northwesterly along state Trunk Highway No. 200 to County State-Aid Highway No. 2, Clearwater County; thence northerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 2 to Shevlin; thence along U.S. Highway No. 2 to Bagley; thence northerly along state Trunk Highway No. 92 to Gully; thence northerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 2, Polk County, to County State-Aid Highway No. 27, Pennington County; thence along County State-Aid Highway No. 27 to state Trunk Highway No. 1; thence easterly along state Trunk Highway No. 1 to County State-Aid Highway No. 28, Pennington County; thence northerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 28 to County State-Aid Highway No. 54, Marshall County; thence northerly along County State-Aid Highway No. 54 to Grygla; thence west and northerly along state Highway No. 89 to Roseau; thence northerly along state Trunk Highway No. 310 to the Canadian border.
1986 c 386 art 2 s 51; 2000 c 463 s 15; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 51; 2012 c 277 art 1 s 64,90
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.