The Omnibus Game and Fish bill was heard this week in the Environment and Energy Committee. The bill addresses multiple game, fish, and natural resource management needs proposed by the Department of Natural Resources, and includes several initiatives proposed by individual senators, including:
- Minnesota Veterans home residents would be allowed to take antlerless deer without a permit during the firearm or muzzleloader season.
- Authorizes individuals age 60 or over to use a muzzleloader with a scope to take deer during the muzzleloader season.
- Allows residents age 80 or over to take a deer of either sex.
- Prohibits the setting, placing or operating of a body-gripping trap, except as a waterset, within 50 feet on each side of the center line of a public road or public trail.
- Prohibits the setting or placing of a trap or snare on private property (other than property owned by the individual setting or placing the trap) without written permission of the owner, occupant, or lessee of the property.
- Creates a pilot program in the Series 300 deer permit areas to issue five free antlerless deer licenses to residents or owners of agricultural land who have suffered crop damage from deer.
