Besides raising hunting and fishing license fees and setting the state's first wolf-hunting season, a large game and fish bill expected to be signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton this week contains numerous other provisions affecting hunters and anglers.
It also:
• Clarifies the laws prohibiting baiting of deer and tightens penalties: A person convicted of hunting deer with bait would lose their license for one year -- or two years if the deer scored more than 170.
• Adds a $4 application fee for bear hunting licenses.
• Allows motorized waterfowl and dove decoys to be used with wireless remote controls.
• Allows the DNR to provide areas -- probably large lakes -- where waterfowl hunters wouldn't have to be concealed in vegetation, meaning they could use layout boats. Minnesota is one of the few states that hasn't allowed open-water waterfowl hunting.
• Removes a requirement that all portable ice shelters must have the name of the owner displayed, as long as anglers are either in or within 200 feet of it.
• Requires hunting and fishing licenses to be sold even if the state government is shut down.
• Adds two weeks of winter fishing for stream trout within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
• Directs the DNR to launch activities to recruit new outdoor recreational participants, including youth, women and minorities.
• Prohibits the DNR from using revenue from game and fish licenses and permits, excluding stamps, to acquire land.
• Requires the DNR to conduct hunter-satisfaction surveys.
• Allows landowners donating land to the DNR to stipulate in the deed that it can't later be sold.
• Allows archery deer hunters in a stationary location to take small game without complying with the blaze-orange clothing requirement.
• Prohibits the importation of minnows to feed fish at private hatcheries or fish farms beginning July 1, 2012, to prevent the spread of Asian carp.