One of Minnesota's shortest legislative sessions in recent memory is under way in St. Paul, but there's no scarcity of issues for hunters, anglers, trail users, state park-goers and other outdoors enthusiasts. For overarching impact, nothing is more important than Gov. Mark Dayton's bonding request supporting $72.5 million for the DNR. About one-third of the governor's request ties in with the agency's emphasis on fixing assets it already controls: buildings, roads, bridges, trails and water-control structures. The next-largest sum is $9.5 million to support the state's pheasant action plan. Two other projects supported in the bonding request are a renovation of Itasca State Park and the construction of the first fisheries management station on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake. What follows is a summary of four other game and fish topics likely to draw attention from lawmakers over the next 10 weeks.
Northern pike regulations
State would be divided into three zones
Improving the size structure and density of northern pike in Minnesota is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. The DNR wants legislative approval for a plan that would implement different sets of regulations in the northeast, north-central zone and the south. Each zone would have size limits customized to meet specific management objectives for that zone.
In north-central Minnesota, for instance, "hammer-handle" northerns are overabundant and are killing walleye fry and forage fish needed for walleye to thrive. The competition between the hammer-handles themselves slows their growth rate, compounding the problem. The DNR wants to increase the harvest of those smaller pike by greatly loosening the bag limit for them.
Meanwhile, up in the Arrowhead, harvest restrictions would be customized to grow more trophy northerns.
Felony poaching
State would raise stakes for egregious theft of wildlife
Minnesota would raise the stakes for blatantly offensive poaching by making it a felony, including penalties of steep restitution and substantially longer game and fish license revocations. The tougher poaching sanctions, pushed by Gov. Mark Dayton, would come into play only in severe cases. Examples: Poaching 40 or more ducks, 67 or more walleyes, five or more bears or turkeys, four or more deer or two or more trophy deer.
Violators would face new restitution sanctions based on values per animal already provided under law. The rationale is that extreme poachers are stealing wildlife and opportunities from all Minnesotans.
Nontoxic ammunition
Minnesota still resisting movement away from lead shot
Last year's slate of projects proposed by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) included a plan by the Raptor Center to show hunters the benefits of copper ammunition. The education initiative, which some opponents viewed as government overreach and/or anti-hunting, was left unfunded by the Legislature.
This year, outside the Legislature, the DNR will decide on a proposed new rule that would ban hunters from using lead when they are shotgunning small game and upland birds on most state-owned wildlife management areas. The Raptor Center and DNR continue to preach that lead ammo inadvertently poisons loons, eagles, ravens, trumpeter swans and other wildlife. There are also health concerns for those who eat wild game shot with lead. Powerful proponents of the status quo include Anoka-based Federal Premium Ammunition.
Body-grip traps
Trapping fur-bearers and catching hunting dogs by mistake
Changing trapping regulations to reduce inadvertent deaths to hunting dogs and other pets isn't a high priority for the DNR in the 2016 Legislature. But a Minnesota citizens group, Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping, once again will ask for permanent changes in the use of "body-grip'' style traps popular for killing raccoons, beavers, bobcats and other fur-bearers. Among changes sought are modified enclosures to keep canines away from the lethal traps.
John Reynolds, president of the citizens group, said he's hoping for Senate passage of a bill that stalled last year after passing three committees. A much bigger hurdle is in the House, where changes to existing trapping laws have not been welcomed by key committee chairmen. "We're not going away,'' Reynolds said.
Tony Kennedy • 612-673-4213
