1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; authorizing taking feral swine causing damage;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 97A.56, subdivision 2; 97B.655, subdivision 
1.4 	1.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97A.56, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Prohibited actions; penalty. (a) A person may not possess or release feral 
1.8 	swine or swine that were feral during any part of the swine's lifetime or allow feral swine 
1.9 	to run at large.
1.10 	(b) A person may not hunt or trap feral swine, except as authorized under section 97B.655 
1.11 	or as authorized by the commissioner for feral swine control or eradication. It is not a 
1.12 	violation of this section if a person shoots a feral swine and reports the taking to the 
1.13 	commissioner within 24 hours. All swine taken in this manner must be surrendered to the 
1.14 	commissioner.
1.15 	(c) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor.

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97B.655, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.17 		Subdivision 1.Owners and occupants may take certain animals. (a) A person or the 
1.18 	person's agent may take bats, snakes, salamanders, lizards, weasel, mink, squirrel, rabbit, 
1.19 	hare, raccoon, bobcat, fox, opossum, muskrat, feral swine as defined in section 97A.56, or 
1.20 	beaver on land owned or occupied by the person where the animal is causing damage. The 
1.21 	person or the person's agent may take the animal without a license and in any manner except 
2.1 	by artificial lights in the closed season or by poison. Raccoons may be taken under this 
2.2 	subdivision with artificial lights during open season.
2.3 	(b) Any traps used under this subdivision must be tagged as required under section 
2.4 	97B.928 if placed by an agent of the landowner or occupant.
2.5 	(c) A person or the person's agent who kills mink, raccoon, bobcat, fox, opossum, 
2.6 	muskrat, or beaver under this subdivision must notify a conservation officer or employee 
2.7 	of the Fish and Wildlife Division within 24 hours after the animal is killed. A person or the 
2.8 	person's agent who kills feral swine under this subdivision must notify a conservation officer 
2.9 	or employee of the Fish and Wildlife Division within 48 hours after the animal is killed but 
2.10 	is not required to surrender the swine to the commissioner.