1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; modifying critical habitat private sector matching 
1.3 	account provisions; providing definitions; providing for and modifying 
1.4 	disposition of certain revenue; modifying restrictions on motorized watercraft 
1.5 	and recreational vehicles in wildlife management areas; providing for inspection 
1.6 	of equipment used to take wild animals; modifying certain penalty and fee 
1.7 	amounts; modifying certain game and fish license provisions; modifying firearms 
1.8 	possession provisions for persons under 16; providing for collecting antler 
1.9 	sheds; modifying certain provisions for taking and possessing game and fish; 
1.10 	modifying provisions for fishing contests; providing for a moratorium on use 
1.11 	of public waters for aquaculture;amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 
1.12 	84.943, subdivision 3; 97A.015, by adding a subdivision; 97A.055, subdivision 
1.13 	2; 97A.065, subdivision 2; 97A.075, subdivision 1; 97A.101, subdivision 4; 
1.14 	97A.251, subdivision 1; 97A.321; 97A.445, subdivision 3; 97A.475, subdivision 
1.15 	2; 97B.021, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 97B.301, subdivision 7; 
1.16 	97C.081, subdivisions 4, 6, 8, 9; 97C.205; 97C.355, subdivision 7; 97C.371, 
1.17 	subdivision 4; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, sections 97A.405, 
1.18 	subdivision 4; 97A.475, subdivision 3; 97A.551, subdivision 6; proposing coding 
1.19 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
1.20 	2004, section 97C.355, subdivision 6.
1.21 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.22 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 84.943, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subd. 3.Appropriations must be matched by private funds. Appropriations 
1.24 	transferred to the critical habitat private sector matching account and money credited to 
1.25 	the account under section  168.1296, subdivision 5, may be expended only to the extent 
1.26 	that they are matched equally with contributions to the account from private sources 
1.27 	or by funds contributed to the nongame wildlife management account. The private 
1.28 	contributions may be made in cash or in contributions of, property, land or interests in 
1.29 	land that are designated by the commissioner of natural resources as program acquisitions. 
1.30 	Appropriations transferred to the account that are not matched within three years from the 
2.1 	date of the appropriation shall cancel to the source of the appropriation. For the purposes 
2.2 	of this section, the private contributions of property, land, or interests in land that are 
2.3 	retained by the commissioner shall be valued in accordance with their appraised value. 

2.4 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.015, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.5 	to read:
2.6 		Subd. 14a.Deer. "Deer" means white-tailed or mule deer.

2.7 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.055, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.8 		Subd. 2.Receipts. The commissioner of finance shall credit to the game and fish 
2.9 	fund all money received under the game and fish laws and all income from lands acquired 
2.10 	by the state for game or fish purposes by purchase or gift, including receipts from:
2.11 	(1) licenses and permits issued;
2.12 	(2) fines and forfeited bail;
2.13 	(3) sales of contraband, wild animals, and other property under the control of the 
2.14 	division;
2.15 	(4) fees from advanced education courses for hunters and trappers;
2.16 	(5) reimbursements of expenditures by the division;
2.17 	(6) contributions to the division; and
2.18 	(7) revenue credited to the game and fish fund under section  297A.94, paragraph 
2.19 	(e), clause (1). 

2.20 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.065, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.21 		Subd. 2.Fines and forfeited bail. (a) Fines and forfeited bail collected from 
2.22 	prosecutions of violations of: the game and fish laws or rules adopted thereunder; sections  
2.23 	84.091 to  84.15 or rules adopted thereunder; sections  84.81 to  84.91 or rules adopted 
2.24 	thereunder; section  169A.20, when the violation involved an off-road recreational vehicle 
2.25 	as defined in section  169A.03, subdivision 16; chapter 348; and any other law relating 
2.26 	to wild animals or aquatic vegetation, must be paid to the treasurer of the county where 
2.27 	the violation is prosecuted. The county treasurer shall submit one-half of the receipts to 
2.28 	the commissioner and credit the balance to the county general revenue fund except as 
2.29 	provided in paragraphs (b), and (c), and (d). In a county in a judicial district under section  
2.30 	480.181, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), the share that would otherwise go to the county 
2.31 	under this paragraph must be submitted to the commissioner of finance for deposit in the 
2.32 	state treasury and credited to the general fund. 
3.1 	(b) The commissioner may reimburse a county, from the game and fish fund, for the 
3.2 	cost of keeping prisoners prosecuted for violations of the game and fish laws under this 
3.3 	section if the county board, by resolution, directs: (1) the county treasurer to submit all 
3.4 	game and fish fines and forfeited bail to the commissioner; and (2) the county auditor to 
3.5 	certify and submit monthly itemized statements to the commissioner.
3.6 	(c)(b) The county treasurer shall submit one-half of the receipts collected under 
3.7 	paragraph (a) from prosecutions of violations of sections  84.81 to  84.91 or rules adopted 
3.8 	thereunder, and  169A.20, except receipts that are surcharges imposed under section  
3.9 	357.021, subdivision 6, to the commissioner and credit the balance to the county 
3.10 	general fund. The commissioner shall credit these receipts to the snowmobile trails and 
3.11 	enforcement account in the natural resources fund. 
3.12 	(d) (c) The county treasurer shall indicate the amount of the receipts that are 
3.13 	surcharges imposed under section  357.021, subdivision 6, and shall submit all of those 
3.14 	receipts to the commissioner of finance. 

3.15 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.075, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.16 		Subdivision 1.Deer, bear, and lifetime licenses. (a) For purposes of this 
3.17 	subdivision, "deer license" means a license issued under section  97A.475, subdivisions 
3.18 	2, clauses (4), (5), (9), (11), (13), and (14), and 3, clauses (2), (3), and (7), and licenses 
3.19 	issued under section  97B.301, subdivision 4. 
3.20 	(b) At least $2 from each annual deer license and $2 annually from the lifetime fish 
3.21 	and wildlife trust fund, established in section  97A.4742, for each license issued under 
3.22 	section  97A.473, subdivision 4,  shall be credited to the deer management account and 
3.23 	shall be used for deer habitat improvement or deer management programs. 
3.24 	(c) At least $1 from each annual deer license and each bear license and $1 annually 
3.25 	from the lifetime fish and wildlife trust fund, established in section  97A.4742, for each 
3.26 	license issued under section  97A.473, subdivision 4, shall be credited to the deer and bear 
3.27 	management account and shall be used for deer and bear management programs, including 
3.28 	a computerized licensing system. 
3.29 	(d) Fifty cents from each deer license is credited to the emergency deer feeding 
3.30 	and wild cervidae health management account and is appropriated for emergency deer 
3.31 	feeding and wild cervidae health management. Money appropriated for emergency 
3.32 	deer feeding and wild cervidae health management is available until expended. When 
3.33 	the unencumbered balance in the appropriation for emergency deer feeding and wild 
3.34 	cervidae health management at the end of a fiscal year exceeds $2,500,000 for the first 
3.35 	time, $750,000 is canceled to the unappropriated balance of the game and fish fund. 
4.1 	The commissioner must inform the legislative chairs of the natural resources finance 
4.2 	committees every two years on how the money for emergency deer feeding and wild 
4.3 	cervidae health management has been spent. 
4.4 	Thereafter, when the unencumbered balance in the appropriation for emergency deer 
4.5 	feeding and wild cervidae health management exceeds $2,500,000 at the end of a fiscal 
4.6 	year, the unencumbered balance in excess of $2,500,000 is canceled and available for deer 
4.7 	and bear management programs and computerized licensing.

4.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2007.

4.9 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.101, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
4.10 		Subd. 4.Restrictions on airboats, watercraft, and recreational vehicles. (a) The 
4.11 	use of airboats is prohibited at all times on lakes designated for wildlife management 
4.12 	purposes under this section unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner.
4.13 	(b) The commissioner may restrict the use of motorized watercraft and recreational 
4.14 	vehicles on lakes designated for wildlife management purposes by posting all public 
4.15 	access points on the designated lake. Restrictions may include prohibitions or limitations 
4.16 	on the type of allowable motorized watercraft or recreational vehicle, horsepower or 
4.17 	thrust of motor, speed of operation, season or area of use, or other restrictions that the 
4.18 	commissioner determines are necessary to minimize disturbances to wildlife or to protect 
4.19 	wildlife habitat. Designation of areas, times, and types of restrictions to be posted shall be 
4.20 	by written order published in the State Register. Posting of the restrictions is not subject to 
4.21 	the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.

4.22 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.251, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.23 		Subdivision 1.Unlawful conduct. A person may not:
4.24 	(1) intentionally hinder, resist, or obstruct an enforcement officer, agent, or employee 
4.25 	of the division in the performance of official duties;
4.26 	(2) refuse to submit to inspection of firearms licenses, wild animals, or equipment 
4.27 	used to take wild animals while in the field, licenses, or wild animals; or
4.28 	(3) refuse to allow inspection of a motor vehicle, boat, or other conveyance used 
4.29 	while taking or transporting wild animals.

4.30 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.321, is amended to read:
4.31 	97A.321 DOGS PURSUING OR KILLING BIG GAME.
5.1 	The owner of a dog that kills or pursues a big game animal is guilty of a petty 
5.2 	misdemeanor and is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for each violation.

5.3 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 97A.405, subdivision 4, is 
5.4 	amended to read:
5.5 		Subd. 4.Replacement licenses. (a) The commissioner may permit licensed deer 
5.6 	hunters to change zone, license, or season options. The commissioner may issue a 
5.7 	replacement license if the applicant submits the original deer license and unused tags that 
5.8 	are being replaced and the applicant pays any increase in cost between the original and 
5.9 	the replacement license. When a person submits both an archery and a firearms license 
5.10 	for replacement, the commissioner may apply the value of both licenses towards the 
5.11 	replacement license fee.
5.12 	(b) A replacement license may be issued only if the applicant has not used any tag 
5.13 	from the original license and meets the conditions of paragraph (c). The original license 
5.14 	and all unused tags for that license must be submitted to the issuing agent at the time 
5.15 	the replacement license is issued.
5.16 	(c) A replacement license may be issued under the following conditions, or as 
5.17 	otherwise prescribed by rule of the commissioner:
5.18 	(1) when the season for the license being surrendered has not yet opened; or
5.19 	(2) when the person is upgrading from a regular firearms or archery deer license to a 
5.20 	multizone or all season deer license that is valid in multiple zones.
5.21 	(d) Notwithstanding section 97A.411, subdivision 3, a replacement license is valid 
5.22 	immediately upon issuance if the license being surrendered is valid at that time.

5.23 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.445, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
5.24 		Subd. 3.Angling and spearing; disabled railroad and postal retirees. A license 
5.25 	is not required to take fish by angling or spearing for a resident that is:
5.26 	(1) a former railroad employee receiving aid disability pay under the federal Railroad 
5.27 	Retirement Act of 1937, United States Code, title 45, section 228b(a)5 231a(a)(1)(v); or
5.28 	(2) a former employee of the United States Postal Service receiving disability pay 
5.29 	under United States Code, title 5, section 8337.

5.30 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97A.475, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.31 		Subd. 2.Resident hunting. Fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents 
5.32 	only, are:
5.33 	(1) for persons age 18 or over and under age 65 to take small game, $12.50;
6.1 	(2) for persons ages 16 and 17 and age 65 or over, $6 to take small game;
6.2 	(3) to take turkey, $18;
6.3 	(4) for persons age 18 or over to take deer with firearms, $26;
6.4 	(5) for persons age 18 or over to take deer by archery, $26;
6.5 	(6) to take moose, for a party of not more than six persons, $310;
6.6 	(7) to take bear, $38;
6.7 	(8) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons, $250;
6.8 	(9) multizone license to take antlered deer in more than one zone, $52;
6.9 	(10) to take Canada geese during a special season, $4;
6.10 	(11) all season license to take two deer throughout the state in any open deer season, 
6.11 	except as restricted under section  97B.305, $78; 
6.12 	(12) to take prairie chickens, $20;
6.13 	(13) for persons at least age 12 and under age 18 to take deer with firearms during 
6.14 	the regular firearms season in any open zone or time period, $13; and
6.15 	(14) for persons at least age 12 and under age 18 to take deer by archery, $13.

6.16 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 97A.475, subdivision 3, is 
6.17 	amended to read:
6.18 		Subd. 3.Nonresident hunting. Fees for the following licenses, to be issued 
6.19 	to nonresidents, are:
6.20 	(1) to take small game, $73;
6.21 	(2) to take deer with firearms, $135;
6.22 	(3) to take deer by archery, the greater of:
6.23 	(i) an amount equal to the total amount of license fees and surcharges charged to a 
6.24 	Minnesota resident to take deer by archery in the person's state or province of residence; or
6.25 	(ii) $135;
6.26 	(4) to take bear, $195;
6.27 	(5) to take turkey, $73;
6.28 	(6) to take raccoon, bobcat, fox, or coyote, $155;
6.29 	(7) multizone license to take antlered deer in more than one zone, $270; and
6.30 	(8) to take Canada geese during a special season, $4.

6.31 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 97A.551, subdivision 6, is 
6.32 	amended to read:
6.33 		Subd. 6.Tagging and registration. The commissioner may, by rule, require 
6.34 	persons taking, possessing, and transporting certain species of fish to tag the fish with 
7.1 	a special fish management tag and may require registration of tagged fish. A person 
7.2 	may not possess or transport a fish species taken in the state for which a special fish 
7.3 	management tag is required unless a tag is attached to the fish in a manner prescribed by 
7.4 	the commissioner. The commissioner shall prescribe the manner of issuance and the 
7.5 	type of tag as authorized under section 97C.087. The tag must be attached to the fish as 
7.6 	prescribed by the commissioner immediately upon reducing the fish to possession and 
7.7 	must remain attached to the fish until the fish is processed or consumed. Species for 
7.8 	which a special fish management tag is required must be transported undressed, except as 
7.9 	otherwise prescribed by the commissioner.

7.10 	Sec. 14. [97B.0001] DEFINITIONS.
7.11 		Subdivision 1.Applicability. The terms defined in this section apply to this chapter.
7.12 		Subd. 2.Bonus permit. "Bonus permit" means a license to take and tag deer by 
7.13 	archery or firearms, in addition to deer authorized to be taken under regular firearms 
7.14 	or archery licenses.
7.15 		Subd. 3.Intensive deer area. "Intensive deer area" means an area of the state where 
7.16 	taking a deer of either sex is allowed and where multiple bonus permits are authorized.
7.17 		Subd. 4.Lottery deer area. "Lottery deer area" means an area of the state where 
7.18 	taking antlerless deer is allowed only by either-sex permit and no bonus permits are 
7.19 	authorized.
7.20 		Subd. 5.Managed deer area. "Managed deer area" means an area of the state 
7.21 	where taking a deer of either sex is allowed and where one bonus permit is authorized.
7.22 		Subd. 6.Muzzleloader season. "Muzzleloader season" means the firearms 
7.23 	deer season option open only for legal muzzleloading firearms, as prescribed by the 
7.24 	commissioner.
7.25 		Subd. 7.Regular firearms season. "Regular firearms season" means any of the 
7.26 	firearms deer season options prescribed by the commissioner that begin in November, 
7.27 	exclusive of the muzzleloader season.

7.28 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.29 		Subdivision 1.Restrictions. (a) Except as provided in this subdivision, a person 
7.30 	under the age of 16 may not possess a firearm, unless accompanied by without maintaining 
7.31 	unaided visual and vocal contact with a parent or guardian.
7.32 	(b) A person under age 16 may possess a firearm without being accompanied by
7.33 	maintaining unaided visual and vocal contact with a parent or guardian:
8.1 	(1) on land owned by, or occupied as the principal residence of, the person or the 
8.2 	person's parent or guardian;
8.3 	(2) while participating in an organized target shooting program with adult 
8.4 	supervision;
8.5 	(3) while the person is participating in a firearms safety program or traveling to 
8.6 	and from class; or
8.7 	(4) if the person is age 14 or 15 and has a firearms safety certificate.

8.8 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97B.021, is amended by adding a 
8.9 	subdivision to read:
8.10 		Subd. 1a.Parent or guardian duties. A parent or guardian may not knowingly 
8.11 	direct, allow, or permit a person under the age of 16 to possess a firearm in violation 
8.12 	of this section.

8.13 	Sec. 17. [97B.22] COLLECTING ANTLER SHEDS.
8.14 	(a) A person may take and possess naturally shed antlers without a license.
8.15 	(b) A person may not use equipment intended to artificially pull, sever, or otherwise 
8.16 	cause antlers of live deer, moose, elk, or caribou to be shed or removed.

8.17 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97B.301, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
8.18 		Subd. 7.All season deer license. (a) A resident may obtain an all season deer 
8.19 	license. This license that authorizes the resident to take one buck by firearm or archery
8.20 	hunt during any season statewide. In addition, a resident obtaining this license may take 
8.21 	one antlerless deer: the archery, regular firearms, and muzzleloader seasons. The all 
8.22 	season license is valid for taking two deer, no more than one of which may be a legal buck.
8.23 	(1) by firearms in the regular firearms season if the resident first obtains an antlerless 
8.24 	deer permit or if the resident takes the antlerless deer in an area where the commissioner 
8.25 	has authorized taking a deer of either sex without an antlerless permit;
8.26 	(2) by archery in the archery season; or
8.27 	(3) by muzzleloader in the muzzleloader season.
8.28 	(b) The all season deer license is valid for taking antlerless deer as follows:
8.29 	(1) up to two antlerless deer may be taken during the archery or muzzleloader 
8.30 	seasons in any open area or during the regular firearms season in managed or intensive 
8.31 	deer areas; and
8.32 	(2) one antlerless deer may be taken during the regular firearms season in a lottery 
8.33 	deer area, only with an either-sex permit or statutory exemption from an either-sex permit.
9.1 	(c) The commissioner shall issue one tag for a buck and one tag for an antlerless 
9.2 	deer two tags when issuing a license under this subdivision.

9.3 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.081, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
9.4 		Subd. 4.Restrictions. The commissioner may by rule establish restrictions on 
9.5 	fishing contests to protect fish and fish habitat, to minimize user conflicts, and for the 
9.6 	safety of contest participants.

9.7 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.081, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
9.8 		Subd. 6.Permit application process. (a) Beginning September August 1 each 
9.9 	year, the commissioner shall accept permit applications for fishing contests to be held in 
9.10 	the following year.
9.11 	(b)  If the number of permit applications received by the commissioner from 
9.12 	September August 1 through the last Friday in October September exceeds the limits 
9.13 	specified in subdivisions 7 and 8, the commissioner shall notify the affected applicants 
9.14 	that their requested locations and time period are subject to a drawing. After notification, 
9.15 	the commissioner shall allow the affected applicants a minimum of seven days to change 
9.16 	the location or time period requested on their applications, provided that the change is 
9.17 	not to a location or time period for which applications are already at or above the limits 
9.18 	specified in subdivisions 7 and 8.
9.19 	(c) After the applicants have been given at least seven days to change their 
9.20 	applications, the commissioner shall conduct a drawing for all locations and time periods 
9.21 	for which applications exceed limits. First preference in the drawings shall be given 
9.22 	to applicants for established or traditional fishing contests, and second preference to 
9.23 	applicants for contests that are not established as traditional fishing contests based on the 
9.24 	number of times they have been unsuccessful in previous drawings. Except for applicants 
9.25 	of established or traditional fishing contests, an applicant who is successful in a drawing 
9.26 	loses all accumulated preference. "Established or traditional fishing contest" means a 
9.27 	fishing contest that was issued permits in 1999 and 2000 or was issued permits four out of 
9.28 	five years from 1996 to 2000 for the same lake and time period. Beginning with 2001, 
9.29 	established or traditional fishing contests must continue to be conducted at least four out 
9.30 	of five years for the same lake and time period to remain established or traditional.
9.31 	(d)  The commissioner has until December November 7 to approve or deny permit 
9.32 	applications that are submitted by 4:30 p.m. on the last Friday in October September. The 
9.33 	commissioner may approve a permit application that is received after 4:30 p.m. on the last 
10.1 	Friday in October September if approving the application would not result in exceeding 
10.2 	the limits in subdivisions 7 and 8.

10.3 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.081, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
10.4 		Subd. 8.Limits on number of fishing contests. (a) The number of permitted 
10.5 	fishing contests allowed each month on a water body shall not exceed the following limits:
10.6 	(1) Lakes:

10.7
10.8
10.9		Maximum number 
of permitted fishing 
contests
	Maximum number 
of large permitted 
fishing contests
	Maximum number 
of permitted fishing 
contest days
	
10.10	Size/acres
				
10.11	less than 2,000
	2
	0
	4
	
10.12	2,000-4,999
	3
	1
	6
	
10.13	5,000-14,999
	4
	2
	8
	
10.14	15,000-55,000
	5
	3
	10
	
10.15	more than 55,000
	no limit
	no limit
	no limit
	
10.16 	(b) For boundary waters water lakes, the limits on the number of permitted fishing 
10.17 	contests shall be determined based on the Minnesota acreage.
10.18 	(2) Rivers:

10.19
10.20
10.21		Maximum number 
of permitted fishing 
contests
	Maximum number 
of large permitted 
fishing contests
	Maximum number 
of permitted fishing 
contest days
	
10.22
10.23
10.24	Mississippi River: 
Pool 1, 2, 3, 5, 5A, 
6, 7, 8, 9
	4 (each pool)
	2 (each pool)
	8 (each pool)
	
10.25	Pool 4
	5
	3
	10

10.26	St. Croix River
	2
	1
	4
	
10.27	Lake St. Croix
	4
	2
	8
	
10.28 	Contest waters identified in the permit for Mississippi River pools are limited to 
10.29 	no more than one lockage upstream and one lockage downstream from the pool where 
10.30 	the contest access and weigh-in is located.
11.1 	Contest waters for Lake St. Croix are bounded by the U.S. Highway 10 bridge at 
11.2 	Prescott upstream to the Arcola Bar. Contest waters for the St. Croix River are bounded 
11.3 	by the Arcola Bar upstream to the Wisconsin state line.
11.4 	For all other rivers, no more than two contest permits, not to exceed four days 
11.5 	combined, may be issued for any continuous segment of a river per month. Of the two 
11.6 	contests permitted, only one shall be a large permitted fishing contest. Permits issued by 
11.7 	the commissioner shall not exceed 60 continuous river miles.

11.8 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.081, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
11.9 		Subd. 9.Permit restrictions. (a) The commissioner may require fishing contest 
11.10 	permittees to limit prefishing to week days only as a condition of a fishing contest permit. 
11.11 	The commissioner may require proof from permittees that prefishing restrictions on the 
11.12 	permit are communicated to fishing contest participants and enforced.
11.13 	(b) The commissioner may require permit restrictions on the hours that a permitted 
11.14 	fishing contest is conducted, including, but not limited to, starting and ending times.
11.15 	(c) The commissioner may require permit restrictions on the number of parking 
11.16 	spaces that may be used on a state-owned public water access site. The commissioner may 
11.17 	require proof from permittees that parking restrictions on the permit are communicated to 
11.18 	fishing contest participants and enforced.
11.19 	(d) To prevent undue loss mortality of released fish, the commissioner may require 
11.20 	restrictions for off-site weigh-ins and live releases on a fishing contest permit or may deny 
11.21 	permits requesting an off-site weigh-in or live release.
11.22 	(e) A person may not transfer a fishing contest permit to another person.
11.23 	(f) Failure to comply with fishing contest permit restrictions may be considered 
11.24 	grounds for denial of future permit applications.

11.25 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.205, is amended to read:
11.26 	97C.205 RULES FOR TRANSPORTING AND STOCKING FISH.
11.27 	(a) Except on the water body where taken, a person may not transport a live fish in a 
11.28 	quantity of water sufficient to keep the fish alive, unless the fish:
11.29 	(1) is being transported under an aquaculture license as authorized under sections 
11.30 	17.4985 and 17.4986;
11.31 	(2) is being transported for a fishing contest weigh-in under section 97C.081;
11.32 	(3) is a minnow being transported under section 97C.515;
11.33 	(4) is being transported by a commercial fishing license holder under section 
11.34 	97C.821; or
12.1 	(5) is being transported as otherwise authorized in this section.
12.2 	(b) The commissioner may adopt rules to allow and regulate:
12.3 	(1) the transportation of fish and fish eggs from one body of water to another; and
12.4 	(2) the stocking of waters with fish or fish eggs.
12.5 	(b) (c) The commissioner shall prescribe rules designed to encourage local sporting 
12.6 	organizations to propagate game fish by using rearing ponds. The rules must:
12.7 	(1) prescribe methods to acquire brood stock for the ponds by seining public waters;
12.8 	(2) allow the sporting organizations to own and use seines and other necessary 
12.9 	equipment; and
12.10 	(3) prescribe methods for stocking the fish in public waters that give priority to the 
12.11 	needs of the community where the fish are reared and the desires of the organization 
12.12 	operating the rearing pond.
12.13 	(c) (d) A person age 16 or under may, for purposes of display in a home aquarium, 
12.14 	transport largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, black crappie, 
12.15 	white crappie, bluegill pumpkinseed, green sunfish, orange spotted sunfish, and black, 
12.16 	yellow, and brown bullheads taken by angling. No more than four of each species may 
12.17 	be transported at any one time, and any individual fish can be no longer than ten inches 
12.18 	in total length.

12.19 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.355, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
12.20 		Subd. 7.Dates and times houses may remain on ice. (a) Except as provided 
12.21 	in paragraph (d), a shelter, including a fish house or dark house, may not be on the ice 
12.22 	between 12:00 a.m. and one hour before sunrise after the following dates:
12.23 	(1) the last day of February, for state waters south of a line starting at the 
12.24 	Minnesota-North Dakota border and formed by rights-of-way of U.S. Route No. 10, then 
12.25 	east along U.S. Route No. 10 to Trunk Highway No. 34, then east along Trunk Highway 
12.26 	No. 34 to Trunk Highway No. 200, then east along Trunk Highway No. 200 to U.S. Route 
12.27 	No. 2, then east along U.S. Route No. 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border; and
12.28 	(2) March 15, for other state waters.
12.29 	A shelter, including a fish house or dark house, on the ice in violation of this 
12.30 	subdivision is subject to the enforcement provisions of paragraph (b). The commissioner 
12.31 	may, by rule, change the dates in this paragraph for any part of state waters. Copies of 
12.32 	the rule must be conspicuously posted on the shores of the waters as prescribed by the 
12.33 	commissioner.
12.34 	(b) A conservation officer must confiscate a fish house or, dark house, or shelter in 
12.35 	violation of paragraph (a). The officer may remove, burn, or destroy the house or shelter. 
13.1 	The officer shall seize the contents of the house or shelter and hold them for 60 days. If the 
13.2 	seized articles have not been claimed by the owner, they may be retained for the use of the 
13.3 	division or sold at the highest price obtainable in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
13.4 	(c) When the last day of February, under paragraph (a), clause (1), or March 15, 
13.5 	under paragraph (a), clause (2), falls on a Saturday, a shelter, including a fish house or 
13.6 	dark house, may be on the ice between 12:00 a.m. and one hour before sunrise until 
13.7 	12:00 a.m. the following Monday.
13.8 	(d) A person may have a shelter, including a fish house or dark house, on the ice 
13.9 	between 12:00 a.m. and one hour before sunrise on waters within the area prescribed in 
13.10 	paragraph (a), clause (2), but the house or shelter may not be unattended during those 
13.11 	hours.

13.12 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.371, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
13.13 		Subd. 4.Open season. The open season for spearing through the ice is December 1 
13.14 	to the thirdlast Sunday in February.

13.15 	Sec. 26. MORATORIUM ON LICENSING OR USE OF NEW PUBLIC WATERS 
13.16 	FOR AQUACULTURE.
 13.17 	(a) The commissioner of natural resources may not license or use public waters, as 
13.18 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15, for aquaculture or the 
13.19 	raising of fish that were not licensed by the commissioner of natural resources or used for 
13.20 	that purpose by the commissioner of natural resources during the five-year period prior to 
13.21 	April 1, 2006, except as provided in paragraph (b).
13.22 	(b) The commissioner of natural resources may annually authorize fish rearing in 
13.23 	new public waters prior to December 31, 2007, if the fish rearing is conducted as part of a 
13.24 	wetland improvement plan approved by the commissioner.
13.25 	(c) This section expires December 31, 2007.

13.26 	Sec. 27.  REPEALER.
 13.27 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97C.355, subdivision 6, is repealed.