Open season for taking wolves prohibited, and criminal penalties increased.

A bill for an act

relating to game and fish; prohibiting open season for taking wolves; increasing

criminal penalties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 84.027, subdivision

20; 97A.451, subdivision 3; 97A.473, subdivisions 3, 5, 5a; 97A.475, subdivisions

3, 20; 97A.485, subdivision 6; 97B.031, subdivisions 1, 2; 97B.035, subdivision

1a; 97B.075; 97B.601, subdivisions 3a, 4; 97B.603; 97B.605; 97B.645, subdivision

9; 97B.648; 97B.901; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, sections 97A.075,

subdivision 7; 97A.475, subdivision 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section

97B.647.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.027, subdivision 20, is amended to read:

Subd. 20.

Hunting licenses to critically ill persons.

The commissioner may allow

critically ill persons to purchase, once in a lifetime, hunting licenses otherwise limited by

a lottery drawing, which licenses allow for taking game within established hunting seasons

or season frameworks. The commissioner may provide the licenses to persons who are

participating in a program for critically ill hunters sponsored by a nonprofit organization

with expertise in providing hunting opportunities to hunters who are gravely ill or have

physical disabilities. The commissioner may provide licenses or permits otherwise limited

by drawings, including wild turkey, deer, bear,
new text begin
and
new text end
prairie chicken
deleted text begin
, and wolf
deleted text end
. The

commissioner may not allow the purchase of moose and elk licenses under this subdivision.

Deer licenses authorized by the commissioner under this subdivision may be for deer of

either sex.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 97A.075, subdivision 7, is amended

to read:

Subd. 7.

Wolf
deleted text begin
licenses;
deleted text end
new text begin
management and monitoring
new text end
account established.

deleted text begin

(a) For

purposes of this subdivision, "wolf license" means a license or permit issued under section

97A.475, subdivision 2
, clause (21); 3, paragraph (a), clause (17); or 20, paragraph (b).

deleted text end

deleted text begin

(b)
deleted text end
A wolf management and monitoring account is created in the game and fish fund.
deleted text begin

Revenue from wolf licenses must be credited to
deleted text end
new text begin
Money in
new text end
the wolf management and

monitoring account and is appropriated to the commissioner only for wolf management,

research, damage control, enforcement, and education. Notwithstanding any other law to

the contrary, money credited to the account may not be used to pay indirect costs or agency

shared services.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.451, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Residents and nonresidents under age 16; small game.

(a) A resident or

nonresident under age 16 may not obtain a small-game license but may take small game by

firearms or bow and arrow without a license if the resident or nonresident is:

(1) age 14 or 15 and possesses a firearms safety certificate;

(2) age 13, possesses a firearms safety certificate, and is accompanied by a parent or

guardian;

(3) age 13, 14, or 15, and possesses an apprentice-hunter validation as provided under

section
97B.022
; or

(4) age 12 or under and is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

(b) A resident under age 16 may take small game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
by trapping without

a small-game license, but a resident 13 years of age or older must have a trapping license.

A resident under age 13 may trap small game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
without a trapping license,

but may not register fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten unless the resident is at least age

five. Any fisher, otter, bobcat, or pine marten taken by a resident under age five must be

included in the limit of the accompanying parent or guardian.

(c) A resident or nonresident under age 13 must obtain a free turkey license to take

turkey and may take a turkey without a firearms safety certificate if the resident or

nonresident is accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety

certificate.

(d) A resident under age 13 may apply for a prairie-chicken license and may take a

prairie chicken without a firearms safety certificate if the resident is accompanied by an

adult parent or guardian who has a firearms safety certificate.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Lifetime small-game-hunting license; fee.

(a) A resident lifetime

small-game-hunting license authorizes a person to hunt and trap small game
deleted text begin
, other than

wolves,
deleted text end
in the state. The license authorizes those hunting and trapping activities authorized

by the annual resident small-game-hunting license and the trapping license for fur-bearing

animals
deleted text begin
other than wolves
deleted text end
. The license does not include any hunting stamps required by

law.

(b) The fees for a resident lifetime small-game-hunting license are:

(1) age 3 and under, $223;

(2) age 4 to age 15, $301;

(3) age 16 to age 50, $430; and

(4) age 51 and over, $274.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Lifetime sporting license; fee.

(a) A resident lifetime sporting license authorizes

a person to take fish by angling and hunt and trap small game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
in the

state. The license authorizes those activities authorized by the annual resident angling and

resident small-game-hunting licenses and the resident trapping license for fur-bearing

animals
deleted text begin
other than wolves
deleted text end
. The license does not include a trout-and-salmon stamp validation,

a walleye stamp validation, or any other stamps required by law.

(b) The fees for a resident lifetime sporting license are:

(1) age 3 and under, $522;

(2) age 4 to age 15, $710;

(3) age 16 to age 50, $927; and

(4) age 51 and over, $603.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.473, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

Subd. 5a.

Lifetime sporting with spearing option license; fee.

(a) A resident lifetime

sporting with spearing option license authorizes a person to take fish by angling or spearing

and hunt and trap small game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
in the state. The license authorizes those

activities authorized by the annual resident angling, spearing, and resident

small-game-hunting licenses and the resident trapping license
deleted text begin
for fur-bearing animals other

than wolves
deleted text end
. The license does not include a trout-and-salmon stamp validation, a walleye

stamp validation, or any other stamps required by law.

(b) The fees for a resident lifetime sporting with spearing option license are:

(1) age 3 and under, $612;

(2) age 4 to age 15, $833;

(3) age 16 to age 50, $1,046; and

(4) age 51 and over, $666.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, is amended

to read:

Subd. 2.

Resident hunting.

Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents

only, are:

(1) for persons age 18 or over and under age 65 to take small game, $15.50;

(2) for persons age 65 or over, $7 to take small game;

(3) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $26;

(4) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;

(5) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms

season, $34;

(6) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $34;

(7) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader

season, $34;

(8) to take moose, for a party of not more than six persons, $356;

(9) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $44;

(10) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons, $287;

(11) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;

(12) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;

(13) to take prairie chickens, $23;

(14) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the

regular firearms season, $5;

(15) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;

(16) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by muzzleloader during

the muzzleloader season, $5;

(17) for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee;

(18) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take bear, $5;

(19) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period

selected by the licensee, $19, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the

migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the

waterfowl habitat improvement account under section
97A.075, subdivision 2
; one-half of

the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the

pheasant habitat improvement account under section
97A.075, subdivision 4
; and one-half

of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited in the wildlife acquisition

account;

(20) for persons age 16 or over and under age 18 to take small game, $5;

deleted text begin

(21) to take wolf, $30;

deleted text end

deleted text begin

(22)
deleted text end
new text begin
(21)
new text end
for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;

deleted text begin

(23)
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new text begin
(22)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;

deleted text begin

(24)
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new text begin
(23)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee;

deleted text begin

(25)
deleted text end
new text begin
(24)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during the

muzzleloader season, no fee; and

deleted text begin

(26)
deleted text end
new text begin
(25)
new text end
for disabled veterans to take deer or small game under section
97A.465,

subdivision
9, $5.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Nonresident hunting.

(a) Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to

nonresidents, are:

(1) for persons age 18 or over to take small game, $90.50;

(2) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms during the regular firearms

season, $180;

(3) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $180;

(4) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by muzzleloader during the muzzleloader

season, $180;

(5) for persons age 18 or over to take bear, $225;

(6) for persons age 18 or over to take turkey, $91;

(7) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take turkey, $5;

(8) to take raccoon or bobcat, $178;

(9) to take light geese during the light goose conservation order, $2.50;

(10) to take sandhill crane during the sandhill crane season, $3;

(11) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during the

regular firearms season in any open season option or time period, $5;

(12) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $5;

(13) for persons age 13 or over and under age 18 to take deer during the muzzleloader

season, $5;

(14) for persons age 13 or over and under 18 to take bear, $5;

(15) for persons age 18 or over to take small game for a consecutive 72-hour period

selected by the licensee, $75, of which an amount equal to one-half of the fee for the

migratory-waterfowl stamp under subdivision 5, clause (1), shall be deposited in the

waterfowl habitat improvement account under section
97A.075, subdivision 2
; one-half of

the fee for the pheasant stamp under subdivision 5, clause (2), shall be deposited in the

pheasant habitat improvement account under section
97A.075, subdivision 4
; and one-half

of the small-game surcharge under subdivision 4, shall be deposited into the wildlife

acquisition account;

(16) for persons age 16 or 17 to take small game, $5;

deleted text begin

(17) to take wolf, $250;

deleted text end

deleted text begin

(18)
deleted text end
new text begin
(17)
new text end
for persons age 12 and under to take turkey, no fee;

deleted text begin

(19)
deleted text end
new text begin
(18)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by firearm, no fee;

deleted text begin

(20)
deleted text end
new text begin
(19)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by archery, no fee;

deleted text begin

(21)
deleted text end
new text begin
(20)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take deer by muzzleloader during the

muzzleloader season, no fee; and

deleted text begin

(22)
deleted text end
new text begin
(21)
new text end
for persons age 10, 11, or 12 to take bear, no fee.

(b) A $5 surcharge shall be added to nonresident hunting licenses issued under paragraph

(a), clauses (1) to (6) and (8). An additional commission may not be assessed on this

surcharge.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 20, is amended to read:

Subd. 20.

Trapping licenses.

deleted text begin
(a)
deleted text end
The fee for a license to trap fur-bearing animals
deleted text begin
, other

than wolves,
deleted text end
is:

(1) for residents over age 13 and under age 18, $5;

(2) for residents age 18 or over and under age 65, $23;

(3) for residents age 65 or over, $11.50; and

(4) for nonresidents, $84.

deleted text begin

(b) The fee for a license to trap wolves is $30, to be issued to residents only.

deleted text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Licenses to be sold and issuing fees.

(a) Persons authorized to sell licenses

under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following

issuing fees:

(1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;

(2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;

(3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing

animals, the issuing fee is $1;

(4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires

a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application

fee;

(5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;

(6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;

(7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;

(8) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;

deleted text begin

(9) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;

deleted text end

deleted text begin

(10)
deleted text end
new text begin
(9)
new text end
for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing

fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;

deleted text begin

(11)
deleted text end
new text begin
(10)
new text end
for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;

deleted text begin

(12)
deleted text end
new text begin
(11)
new text end
for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section
97A.441,

subdivisions 1
to 6a, or
97A.465
, there is no fee;

deleted text begin

(13)
deleted text end
new text begin
(12)
new text end
for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and

deleted text begin

(14)
deleted text end
new text begin
(13)
new text end
for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction

through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an

issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the

authorized seller.

(b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same

transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.

(c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.

(d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.

(e) A license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and that the issuing

fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.

(f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:

(1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and

(2) for other licenses, 50 cents.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.031, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Permissible firearms and ammunition; big game
deleted text begin
and wolves
deleted text end
.

A person

may take big game
deleted text begin
and wolves
deleted text end
with a firearm only if:

(1) any rifle, shotgun, or handgun used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has centerfire

ignition;

(2) the firearm is loaded only with single projectile ammunition;

(3) a projectile used is a caliber of at least .22 inches and has a soft point or is an

expanding bullet type;

(4) any muzzleloader used has the projectile loaded only at the muzzle;

(5) any smooth-bore muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .45 inches; and

(6) any rifled muzzleloader used is a caliber of at least .40 inches.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.031, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Handguns for small game.

A person may take small game with a handgun of

any caliber in a manner prescribed by the commissioner
deleted text begin
, except that wolves may only be

taken by hunting with the calibers specified in subdivision 1
deleted text end
.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.035, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Minimum draw weight.

A bow used to take big game
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
new text begin
or
new text end
turkey
deleted text begin
, or wolves
deleted text end

must have a pull that meets or exceeds 30 pounds at or before full draw.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.075, is amended to read:

97B.075 HUNTING RESTRICTED BETWEEN EVENING AND MORNING.

(a) A person may not take protected wild animals, except raccoon and fox, with a firearm

between the evening and morning times established by commissioner's rule, except as

provided in this section.

(b) Big game
deleted text begin
and wolves
deleted text end
may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half

hour after sunset.

(c) Except as otherwise prescribed by the commissioner on or before the Saturday nearest

October 8, waterfowl may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset during

the entire season prescribed by the commissioner.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.601, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Nonresidents; trapping small game.

A nonresident may take small game
deleted text begin
,

except wolves,
deleted text end
by trapping only on land owned by the nonresident, if the nonresident

possesses a trapping license for fur-bearing animals
deleted text begin
other than wolves
deleted text end
and a small-game

license.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.601, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Exception to license requirements.

(a) A resident under age 16 may take small

game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
without a small-game license, and a resident under age 13 may

trap small game and fur-bearing animals
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
without a trapping license, as

provided in section
97A.451, subdivision 3
.

(b) A person may take small game
deleted text begin
, other than wolves,
deleted text end
without a small-game license on

land occupied by the person as a principal residence.

(c) An owner or occupant may take certain small game causing damage without a

small-game or trapping license as provided in section
97B.655
.

(d) A person may use dogs to pursue and tree raccoons under section
97B.621, subdivision

2
, during the closed season without a license.

(e) A person may take a
deleted text begin
wolf,
deleted text end
turkey
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
or prairie chicken without a small-game license.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.603, is amended to read:

97B.603 TAKING SMALL GAME BY PARTY.

(a) While two or more persons are taking small game as a party and maintaining unaided

visual and vocal contact, a member of the party may take and possess more than one limit

of small game, but the total number of small game taken and possessed by the party may

not exceed the limit of the number of persons in the party that may take and possess small

game.

(b) This section does not apply to hunting
deleted text begin
wolves,
deleted text end
migratory game birds
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
or turkeys,

except that a licensed turkey hunter may assist another licensed turkey hunter
deleted text begin
and a licensed

wolf hunter may assist another licensed wolf hunter
deleted text end
for the same zone and time period as

long as the hunter does not shoot or register a turkey
deleted text begin
or wolf
deleted text end
for the other hunter.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.605, is amended to read:

97B.605 COMMISSIONER MAY RESTRICT TAKING SMALL GAME

ANIMALS.

The commissioner may by rule set open seasons for, prescribe limits and restrictions

on, and designate areas where small game as defined in section
97A.015
new text begin
, excluding wolves,
new text end

may be taken and possessed.

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.645, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

new text begin
No
new text end
open season.

There
deleted text begin
shall be
deleted text end
new text begin
is
new text end
no open season for wolves
deleted text begin
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
deleted text end
.

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.648, is amended to read:

97B.648 WOLVES; UNLAWFUL TAKING; PENALTY.

A person who unlawfully takes, transports, or possesses a wolf in violation of the game

and fish laws
deleted text begin
, and has one or more prior convictions involving the taking of wolves
deleted text end
new text begin
is guilty

of a gross misdemeanor and, in addition to the penalties prescribed in section 97A.301,

subdivision 2
new text end
, is liable for a civil penalty equal to the restitution value for the wolf.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.901, is amended to read:

97B.901 REGISTRATION AND TAGGING FUR-BEARING ANIMALS.

(a) The commissioner may, by rule, require persons taking, possessing, and transporting

fur-bearing animals to tag the animals. The commissioner shall prescribe the manner of

issuance and the type of tag, which must show the year of issuance. The commissioner shall

issue the tag, without a fee, upon request.

(b) The pelt of each bobcat, fisher, pine marten,
new text begin
and
new text end
otter
deleted text begin
, and wolf
deleted text end
must be presented,

by the person taking it, to a state wildlife manager designee for registration before the pelt

is sold and before the pelt is transported out of the state, but in no event more than 48 hours

after the season closes for the species.

deleted text begin

(c) The whole carcass of each wolf, with the pelt removed, must be presented by the

person taking it to a state wildlife manager designee for registration before the pelt is sold

and before the pelt is transported out of the state, but in no event more than 48 hours after

the season closes. The commissioner may require that the entire carcass or samples from

the carcass be surrendered to the state wildlife manager designee.

deleted text end

Sec. 22.
new text begin
REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin

The revisor of statutes must correct cross-references wherever they occur in statute

consistent with the renumbering in this act.

new text end

Sec. 23.
new text begin
REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.647,

new text end

new text begin

is repealed.

new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-08194

97B.647 TAKING WOLVES.

Subdivision 1.

License required.

Except as provided under section
97B.645
or
97B.671
, a person may not take a wolf without a wolf-hunting or wolf-trapping license.

Subd. 2.

Open seasons.

Wolves may be taken with legal firearms, with bow and arrow, and by trapping. The open season to take wolves with firearms begins each year on the same day as the opening of the firearms deer-hunting season. The commissioner may by rule prescribe the open seasons for wolves according to this subdivision.

Subd. 3.

Open areas.

The commissioner may by rule designate areas where wolves may be taken.

Subd. 4.

Daily and possession limits.

The commissioner may establish by rule the daily and possession limits for wolves.

Subd. 5.

Limit on number of hunters and trappers.

The commissioner may by rule limit the number of persons that may hunt or trap wolves in an area, if it is necessary to prevent an overharvest or improve the distribution of hunters and trappers. The commissioner shall establish a method, including a drawing, to impartially select the hunters and trappers for an area.

Subd. 6.

Application for license.

An application for a wolf-hunting or wolf-trapping license must be made in a manner provided by the commissioner and accompanied by a $4 application fee and proof that the applicant holds a current or previous year hunting license. The $4 application fee shall be credited to the wolf management and monitoring account and appropriated to the commissioner to pay for costs associated with conducting the wolf license drawing and wolf management. A person may not make more than one application for each season as prescribed by the commissioner. If a person makes more than one application, the person is ineligible for a license for that season after determination by the commissioner, without a hearing.

Subd. 7.

Quotas.

The commissioner may by rule set an annual quota for the number of wolves that can be taken by hunting and trapping. The commissioner may establish a method to monitor harvest and close the season when the quota is reached. The commissioner shall reserve a portion of the annual quota for the trapping season.