1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; modifying provisions for taking and feeding wild 
1.3 	animals;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 97A.451, subdivision 
1.4 	6; 97B.035, subdivision 1; 97B.811, subdivision 4a; Minnesota Statutes 2015 
1.5 	Supplement, sections 97B.041; 97B.9251; proposing coding for new law in 
1.6 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.451, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
1.9 		Subd. 6.Nonresidents under age 16 attending camps; fishing. A nonresident 
1.10 	under the age of 16 that is attending a camp conducted by a nonprofit organization may 
1.11 	take fish by angling in adjacent and connected public waters without a license. The 
1.12 	organization must have a certificate from the commissioner that describes the public 
1.13 	waters where the fishing is allowed. The nonresident must possess a document, prescribed 
1.14 	by the commissioner, for identification of the nonresident and the authorized fishing 
1.15 	waters. The written document must be that authorizes angling and that is signed and dated 
1.16 	within the current calendar year by the person in charge of the camp.

1.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97B.035, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.18 		Subdivision 1.Hunting with bows released by mechanical devices. (a) A person 
1.19 	may not hunt with a bow drawn, held, or released by a mechanical device, except:
1.20 	(1) with a disabled hunter permit issued under section 97B.106;
1.21 	(2) as provided in section 97B.037 for persons age 60 or over; or
1.22 	(3) as provided in paragraph (b).
1.23 	(b) A person may use a mechanical device attached to the bowstring if the person's 
1.24 	own strength draws, holds, and releases the bowstring.

2.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 97B.041, is amended to read:
2.2 	97B.041 POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION RESTRICTED 
2.3 	IN DEER ZONES.
2.4 	(a) A person may not possess a firearm or ammunition outdoors during the period 
2.5 	beginning the fifth day before the open firearms season and ending the second day after 
2.6 	the close of the season within an area where deer may be taken by a firearm, except:
2.7 	(1) during the open season and in an area where big game may be taken, a firearm 
2.8 	and ammunition authorized for taking big game in that area may be used to take big game 
2.9 	in that area if the person has a valid big game license in possession;
2.10 	(2) an unloaded firearm that is in a case or in a closed trunk of a motor vehicle;
2.11 	(3) a shotgun and shells containing No. 4 buckshot or smaller diameter lead shot 
2.12 	or steel shot;
2.13 	(4) a handgun or rifle capable of firing only rimfire cartridges of .17 and .22 caliber, 
2.14 	including .22 magnum caliber cartridges;
2.15 	(5) handguns possessed by a person authorized to carry a handgun under sections 
2.16 	624.714 and 624.715 for the purpose authorized; and
2.17 	(6) on a target range operated under a permit from the commissioner.
2.18 	(b) This section does not apply during an open firearms season in an area where deer 
2.19 	may be taken only by muzzleloader, except that muzzle-loading firearms lawful for the 
2.20 	taking of deer may be possessed only by persons with a valid license to take deer by 
2.21 	muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season. While muzzleloader hunting, a person with 
2.22 	a valid license to take deer by muzzleloader may not possess a firearm other than:
2.23 	(1) a muzzleloader that is legal for taking deer under section 97B.031, subdivision 
2.24 	1; and
2.25 	(2) a firearm as described in paragraph (a), clauses (2) to (5).
2.26 	(c) A first violation of paragraph (a) is punishable by a warning if the person is 
2.27 	shooting at an object that has been placed for the sole purpose of target shooting.

2.28 	Sec. 4. [97B.427] FEEDING BEARS.
2.29 	Feeding a bear by hand or other physical contact is prohibited.

2.30 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.31 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97B.811, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
2.32 		Subd. 4a.Restrictions on certain motorized decoys. From the opening day of the 
2.33 	duck season through the Saturday nearest October 8, a person may not use a motorized 
3.1 	decoy, or other motorized device designed to attract migratory waterfowl. During the 
3.2 	remainder of the duck season, The commissioner may, by rule, designate all or any portion 
3.3 	of a wetland or lake closed to the use of motorized decoys or motorized devices designed 
3.4 	to attract migratory waterfowl. On water bodies and lands fully contained within wildlife 
3.5 	management area boundaries, a person may not use motorized decoys or motorized 
3.6 	devices designed to attract migratory waterfowl at any time during the duck season.

3.7 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 97B.9251, is amended to read:
3.8 	97B.9251 BEAVER SEASON.
3.9 	The commissioner may establish open seasons and restrictions for taking beaver 
3.10 	from 9:00 a.m. on the Saturday nearest October 26 in the North Zone and from 9:00 a.m. 
3.11 	on the Saturday nearest October 30 in the South Zone. The seasons shall be open until May 
3.12 	15, except the commissioner may adopt rules to close the South Zone at an earlier date.