Temporary hunting rules to become permanent (February 12, 2008)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on a number of hunting regulations, including many already set forth as temporary rules, that will be permanently added to state regulations in this year.

Written public comments will be accepted on the proposed rules through March 20. The proposals cover a variety of areas pertaining to deer registration; deer, bear elk and moose hunter selection; and deer, elk, wild turkey and prairie chicken area designation.

“The majority of these temporary rules fhave been in effect or the past several hunting seasons,” said Jason Abraham, DNR season setting specialist. “We are completing the process to make these rules permanent.”

One new rule included in this package would allow bear hunters to accumulate preference points during years they don’t wish to hunt by applying for a “preference only” zone.

A copy of the proposed rules will be published in the State Register and available online after Feb. 19. A copy of the proposed rules is also available on the DNR Web site mndnr.gov.

Among the rules that will be made permanent are:
· registration of deer
· seasons and zones for taking deer by archery
· zone descriptions
· arms use areas and restrictions
· taking deer using disease management permits
· bear permit procedures
· application procedures for a moose license
· moose zones
· general regulations for taking elk
· elk license application procedure
· elk zones
· registration blocks
· wild turkey permit area descriptions
· prairie chicken permit area descriptions
· taking geese and brant in the west goose zone.

The DNR will accept written comments supporting or opposing the rule changes through 4:30 p.m. on March 20. Submit comments to: Jason Abraham, Box 20, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020 or by e-mail at Jason.Abraham@dnr.state.mn.us.