Minnesota sells about ½ million deer licenses every year. Hunting In Minnesota Ethics and Rules

What were historical reasons for hunting? Survival Food Shelter Clothing Tools Ceremonial Protection Profitability Marketing Hunting Retail no regulations endangerment of many species was result

What are reasons for hunting today? Food and fiber Manage wildlife populations Monitor the environment Enjoy nature Recreation Family tradition Personal challenge Working with equipment

How does regulated hunting benefit wildlife populations? Population management Habitat preservation Legislation Financial support Economic support

How did the history of hunting affect regulated hunting seasons today? “Market Hunters” profit motivation unlimited resource Endangerment sportsman clubs President Theodore Roosevelt national conservation movement Lacy Act 1900 first wildlife refuge established 1903 Early Sportsman Clubs first to demand laws Boone Crockett formed bag limits established Duck Stamp Act of 1934 Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 Hunting today sportsman club involvement Department of Natural Resources hunting regulations

Deer Hunting Today Minnesota DNR divides the state into many areas for deer hunting to manage the white-tailed deer population Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook has 132 pages in 2012

MN. Deer Hunting Zones

Deer Harvest in Minnesota

Harvest areas compared to population

Know the Rules Trespass Law – Trespass is the most frequent complaint of landowners have against hunters Always ask permission. Any entry onto the private property (including agricultural land) of another without permission is considered trespass. A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of a building or corral(occupied by humans or livestock) Exceptions A person on foot may, without permission, enter land that is not posted to retrieve a wounded animal that was lawfully shot but may not remain on the land after being told to leave. Also to retrieve a hunting dog and must leave immediately after retrieving the dog.

Agricultural Land Definition “Agricultural land” island that: is plowed or tilled; has standing crops or crop residues; is within a maintained fence for enclosing domestic livestock (including horses); is planted to native or introduced grassland or hay land; is planted to short-rotation woody crops(hybrid poplar and other woody plants that are harvested for their fiber within 15 years of planting). Includes CRP; RIM and CREP land

Posting Agricultural lands do not need to be posted to prevent unauthorized trespass However, land that is brush or trees, must be posted or verbal notice given to trespassers for criminal enforcement to occur

Hunting License 2012 Hunting License Fees Resident Licenses DeerFirearms (age 18 or over$26.00 DeerYouth Firearms (ages 12-17)(free license required for age 10-11)$13.00 DeerArchery (age 18 or over)$26.00 DeerYouth Archery (ages 12-17)(free license required for age 10-11)$13.00 DeerMuzzleloader (age 18 or over)$26.00 DeerYouth Muzzleloader (ages 12-17)(free license required for age 10-11)$13.00 DeerBonus Permit Moose(per party of two, three or four)$ Elk(per party of one or two$ Bear$38.00

License Requirements A person may not take, buy, sell, transport, or possess protected wild animals without a license, except as provided in this booklet. All persons including youth under age 16must have a license(including stamp validations)in their possession while hunting or trapping and while traveling from an area where they hunted or trapped..

FIREARMS SAFETY CERTIFICATES Required for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979 who is age 12 or older. A certificate may be issued at age 11, and is valid if the person reaches age 12 during the calendar year. Anyone under age 14must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to possess a firearm. “ Youth age 10 or 11may take big game without a fire arms safety certificate if they are under direct supervision and within immediate reach of a parent or guardian

Apprentice Hunter Validation A resident born after December 31, 1979,who is age 12 or over and has not completed hunter education firearm safety training can purchase for a fee of $3.50 an Apprentice Hunter Validation. This validation allows the individual to hunt small game, wild turkey, and deer without having completed hunter education firearms safety training. The validation is good for two license years in a lifetime, but must be purchased each time. They must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter and hunt within unaided verbal and visual contact of the licensed adult hunter

Enforcement DNR conservation officers and other peace officers may arrest, without a warrant, any person detected in the actual violation of wildlife, fish, or water laws and may enter any lands to carry out these duties. No person may hinder, resist, or obstruct an enforcement officer or authorized DNR agent in the performance of official duties. A person must allow inspection in the field of firearms, licenses, wild animals, motor vehicles, boats, or other conveyances used while taking or transporting wild animals

Top 10 Minnesota Hunter Violations 1. License not in possession 2. Transporting an uncased/loaded firearm 3. No license 4. Hunting over bait 5. Unplugged shotgun 6. No blaze orange 7. Untagged deer 8. Failure to have HIP certification on license 9. Failure to register deer 10. Treaspassing

Legal Firearms for Big Game It is at least.220 caliber and has center fire ignition; It is loaded only with single projectile ammunition; The projectile used has a soft point or is an expanding bullet type; The muzzleloader (long gun or handgun) used cannot be loaded at the breech (muzzleloading revolvers are not legal for taking big game); The smooth-bore muzzleloader used is at least.45 caliber and The rifled muzzleloader used is at least.40 caliber; Muzzleloaders with scopes are legal during the regular firearms deer seasons, but are not allowed during the muzzleloader season except by special permit for hunters with a medically certified visual impairment.

It is at least.220 caliber and has center fire ignition; It is loaded only with single projectile ammunition; The projectile used has a soft point or is an expanding bullet type;* The muzzleloader (long gun or handgun) used cannot be loaded at the breech (muzzleloading revolvers are not legal for taking big game); The smooth-bore muzzleloader used is at least.45 caliber and The rifled muzzleloader used is at least.40 caliber; Muzzleloaders with scopes are legal during the regular firearms deer seasons, but are not allowed during the muzzleloader season except by special permit for hunters with a medically certified visual impairment.

LEGAL BOWS AND ARROWS FOR BIG GAME Bows must have a pull no less than 30 pounds at or before full draw. Arrowheads used for taking big game must be sharp, have a minimum of two metal cutting edges, be of barbless broadhead design, and have a diameter of at least ⅞ inch. “Expandable” broadheads may be used to take big game if they meet the requirements above and: 1) are at least ⅞ inch in width and no more than 2 inches in width at or after impact; and 2) are of a barbless design and function in a barbless manner. No person may hunt with a bow drawn, held, or released by a mechanical device, except disabled hunters who have a crossbow permit.

Hours and Possession Rules SHOOTING HOURS Shooting hours for big game are one-half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. POSSESSION OF BIG GAME Any person who takes a big game animal must retain the license, site tag, permit, and possession (registration) tag for as long as any part of the meat is in possession.

Deer Carcass Disposal Hunters who process their own deer may not dispose of carcasses on public land, including wildlife management areas, state forests, road rights of way or in any water body. Deer carcasses may be disposed of in the following ways: On private land with the permission of the landowner. Through your refuse hauler after checking on how to properly bag the carcass. At a local landfill.

Chronic Wasting Disease Typical signs of the disease include drooping head or ears, poor body condition, tremors, stumbling, increased salivation, difficulty swallowing, or excessive thirst or urination To help prevent the spread of CWD, hunters cannot bring whole cervid (deer, elk, moose, caribou) carcasses into Minnesota from areas of other states or provinces where CWD has been found in wild deer or elk

Firearms/Bow Transportation A person may not transport a firearm, including a handgun, in or on a motor vehicle unless the firearm is: unloaded and in a case made expressly for that purpose; unloaded and in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle; or carried under a valid permit to carry a pistol or handgun. No person may transport an archery bow or crossbow in a motor vehicle unless the bow is not armed with a bolt or arrow

Radios and Other Wireless Devices Using walkie talkies, cell phones, remote control or other radio equipment to take big game or small game is unlawful.

Blaze Orange Deer Season: Also, you may not hunt or trap during any open season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons, and muzzleloader) unless the visible portion of your cap and outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, is blaze orange. Red is not a legal color, except for those who qualify under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at least 50 percent blaze orange wit square within each square foot.