Minnesota Administrative Rules

CHAPTER 6236, TURKEY HUNTING

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

6236.0100 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

The terms used in this chapter have the meanings given them in this part.

Subp. 2.

Agricultural land or grazing land.

"Agricultural land" or "grazing land" has the meaning given "agricultural land" under Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.001.

Subp. 3.

Bearded turkey.

"Bearded turkey" means a turkey with a visible beard. A beard is a feathered appendage protruding from the breast and generally found only on males.

Subp. 4.

Landowner or tenant.

"Landowner" or "tenant" means a person who is an owner or tenant of and who lives on at least 40 acres of agricultural or grazing land within the zone being applied for.

Subp. 5.

Legal bow and arrow.

"Legal bow and arrow" means a bow that has a pull of no less than 40 pounds, at or before full draw, and that is not drawn, held, or released by a mechanical device. Arrowheads must be of a blunt head design or:

A.

sharp and have a minimum of two metal cutting edges;

B.

of a barbless broadhead design and function, as follows:

(1)

nonretractable arrowheads are barbless if the trailing edge of each blade creates a 90 degree or greater angle with the shaft of the arrow; and

(2)

retractable arrowheads are a barbless design if the trailing edge of each blade creates a 90 degree or greater angle with the shaft when the blades are fully retracted. Retractable arrowheads function in a barbless manner if, when withdrawn from a wild turkey, the blades retract so that the trailing edge of each blade is at a 90 degree or greater angle to the arrow shaft; and

C.

of a diameter of at least seven-eighths of an inch at or after impact with a wild turkey.

Subp. 6.

Legal firearms.

"Legal firearms" means shotguns or muzzleloading shotguns 20 gauge or larger, using fine shot size No. 4 or smaller diameter shot.

Subp. 7.

Wild turkey permit area.

"Wild turkey permit area" means an area of the state comprised of partial, single, or grouped registration blocks where taking wild turkeys is authorized by permit.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711; 97B.723; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

18 SR 83; 19 SR 484; 19 SR 2222; 20 SR 2287; 30 SR 613; 36 SR 1155

Published Electronically:

April 12, 2012

6236.0200 TURKEY LICENSE ELIGIBILITY.

To be eligible for a turkey license, a person must not have any small game hunting privileges revoked within one year prior to purchasing a turkey license.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.435

History:

18 SR 83

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0300 TURKEY HUNT DRAWING.

Subpart 1.

License application drawings.

Applications for all hunts must be made according to this part and according to application instructions provided by the commissioner. Each person must apply at an electronic license system agent or the Department of Natural Resources License Center. Drawings will be conducted by the department to determine persons who will be eligible to purchase licenses for each season. The drawings will be subject to the quotas established by the commissioner. Preference in the respective drawings is given to applicants based upon the number of times they have correctly applied for a license for that hunt but have been unsuccessful. A person selected by the drawings is eligible to purchase a license to hunt turkey. Upon issuance of a turkey license for the spring or fall season, all accumulated preference for that season is lost, except as provided in subpart 6.

Subp. 2.

Participation in application drawings.

Applicants may complete an application for either the spring or fall turkey hunt or both. A person may not apply more than once for a hunt, whether as an individual or as a member of a group. Qualifying individuals may apply for the resident landowner-tenant turkey drawing. All of the information in items A to H must be supplied on the application forms.

A.

A resident applicant 18 years or older must provide the applicant's individual Minnesota driver's license number of 13 characters, a 13-character firearms safety number, or an official state of Minnesota identification number of 13 characters issued by the Department of Public Safety.

B.

A nonresident 18 years or older must provide a driver's license number or other identification number.

C.

A resident or nonresident applicant age 12 to 15 by the opening day of the season may provide one of the above numbers or may participate in the drawing without a number by providing the applicant's full first, middle, and last name and date of birth. Youthful applicants who do not provide a number will be placed into the drawing using a number generated by the department.

D.

Up to four persons desiring to hunt together as a group may apply as a group. Group applications shall either all be selected or none selected. All group members must apply for the same wild turkey permit areas and time periods. The preference rating of applicants who apply as a group shall be determined by the individual in the group with the lowest preference. Group applications may be made up of all general or all landowner-tenant applications, but not both.

E.

A person who applies as a landowner or tenant but does not meet the definition as provided by this part will be ineligible for that season's drawings.

F.

Application deadlines are as follows:

(1)

spring season: the second Friday in January; and

(2)

fall season: the last Friday in July.

G.

Youth age 17 and younger may purchase a wild turkey hunting license to hunt one spring turkey season. A wild turkey hunting license under this item is separate from the normal lottery process and is valid for hunting in any wild turkey permit area during an established time period. The youth hunter must select a time period.

H.

A person who has not applied for a wild turkey license through the lottery or who applied for a license and was unsuccessful in the lottery may purchase a wild turkey hunting license to hunt the spring turkey season during either the seventh or eighth time period. A wild turkey hunting license under this item is separate from the normal lottery process.

(1)

Turkey lottery preference points shall not be reduced for a person purchasing a license under this item.

(2)

A person may take only one bearded turkey in a spring turkey season regardless of whether the hunter purchased a license through the lottery system or as provided in this item.

Subp. 3.

Landowner-tenant drawing.

A landowner-tenant license application drawing will be held subject to the restrictions in items A to F.

A.

An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements and must provide a complete and accurate description of the qualifying land.

B.

An applicant must be a landowner, tenant, or a member of the landowner's or tenant's immediate family. Family members include those related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

C.

For each wild turkey permit area and time period, no more than 20 percent of the successful participants will be drawn from the special landowner-tenant applications.

D.

An individual participant in the landowner-tenant drawing may submit only one application and only for the turkey wild turkey permit area in which the participant resides.

E.

Applicants unsuccessful in the landowner-tenant drawing will be included in the general drawing.

F.

Landowner-tenant licensees must allow turkey hunting as provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.435, and the commissioner will make descriptions of these lands available to licensed turkey hunters.

Subp. 4.

Modification of quota numbers for group applications.

The quota of licenses or permits for a drawing may be increased to accommodate group members if the last applicant to be selected is a member of a group.

Subp. 5.

Drawing application fee.

An applicant must pay a fee as provided by statute at the time of application at the electronic license system-point of sale (ELS-POS) agent. Any check that is returned to the department for nonpayment will invalidate the application and the check will be destroyed. Refunds of application fees will not be made for any reason.

Subp. 6.

Undersubscribed wild turkey permit areas.

In permit areas and time periods with fewer applicants than available licenses, the remaining available licenses may be first offered to unsuccessful applicants for other permit areas or time periods on a first-come, first-served basis. An eligible person must apply individually and in person at an ELS-POS (point-of-sale) agent location or individually through the ELS-Internet or ELS-Telephone system to obtain a remaining available license. Any remaining available licenses not purchased by unsuccessful applicants may then be issued to any eligible person on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals who purchase these remaining available licenses retain their accumulated preference.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.435; 97B.711; 97B.723

History:

18 SR 83; 20 SR 2287; 30 SR 613; 35 SR 2014

Published Electronically:

July 5, 2011

6236.0400 OBTAINING LICENSE.

The following provisions apply to persons who have applied for a turkey license:

A.

Only successful applicants will be notified.

B.

Successful applicants will receive a license application with instructions for obtaining their licenses. Persons who do not return the license application and the fee according to the provisions specified on the license application or who do not provide all the requested information will be disqualified.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711; 97B.723

History:

18 SR 83

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0500 TURKEY HUNT LICENSE RESTRICTIONS.

Turkey hunters licensed for the same wild turkey permit area and time period may assist other licensed turkey hunters but each hunter may not shoot or tag a turkey for another hunter.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711; 97B.723

History:

18 SR 83; 20 SR 2287

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0550 FIREARM AND BOW AND ARROW RESTRICTIONS.

While afield hunting turkeys, licensees may not have in possession or control any firearm or bow and arrow except those defined as legal as provided by part 6236.0100.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

19 SR 484

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0600 SPRING TURKEY SEASON.

Subpart 1.

Open dates.

The spring turkey season opens the Wednesday nearest April 15 and consists of six consecutive five-day periods followed by two consecutive seven-day periods.

Subp. 2.

Shooting hours.

Shooting hours for turkeys during the spring season are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Subp. 3.

Bag limit.

The bag limit for the spring season is one bearded turkey.

Subp. 4.

Open areas.

Wild turkey permit areas are open for the spring turkey season as prescribed by the commissioner. Turkey licenses are valid for taking turkeys only in the wild turkey permit area specified on the license, except for archery-only licenses issued under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.435, subdivision 5, paragraph (a).

Subp. 5.

Registration.

Turkeys must be registered within 24 hours after being taken during the spring turkey season.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.388; 97A.435; 97B.711; 97B.721; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

18 SR 83; 19 SR 484; 20 SR 2287; 30 SR 613; 31 SR 745

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0700 FALL TURKEY SEASON.

Subpart 1.

Open dates.

The fall turkey season consists of one 30-day period beginning on the Saturday nearest October 1.

Subp. 2.

Shooting hours.

Shooting hours for turkeys during the fall season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Subp. 3.

Bag limit.

The bag limit for the fall season is one turkey of either sex or any age.

Subp. 4.

Open areas.

Wild turkey permit areas are open for the fall turkey season as prescribed by the commissioner. Turkey licenses are valid for taking turkeys only in the wild turkey permit area specified on the license.

Subp. 5.

Registration.

Turkeys must be registered within 24 hours after being taken during the fall turkey season.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711; 97B.721; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

18 SR 83; 19 SR 484; 20 SR 2287; 30 SR 613; 36 SR 1155

Published Electronically:

April 12, 2012

6236.0800

[Repealed, 20 SR 2287]

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.0810 WILD TURKEY PERMIT AREA DESCRIPTIONS.

Wild turkey permit areas are comprised of registration blocks with the same numbers, as established in part 6232.4700, except as follows:

A.

wild turkey permit area 425 consists of Registration Blocks 425 and 435;

B.

wild turkey permit area 451 consists of Registration Blocks 451, 452, and 453; and

C.

wild turkey permit area 454 consists of Registration Blocks 454 and 455.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.711

History:

20 SR 2287; 24 SR 644; 30 SR 613; 33 SR 215

Published Electronically:

October 3, 2013

6236.0900 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR TAKING TURKEYS.

Subpart 1.

Use of dogs.

A person may not be accompanied by a dog or dogs while taking turkeys.

Subp. 2.

Electronic devices.

Turkeys may not be taken with the aid of any electronic device, except that a hearing aid or other device designed to enhance hearing may be used and except that electronic sights that self-illuminate but that do not cast rays of light may be used.

Subp. 3.

Live decoys.

The use of live decoys is prohibited while taking turkeys.

Subp. 4.

Game refuges open to taking turkeys.

The Lost Lake Refuge in Fillmore County, the Whitewater State Game Refuge in Winona County, the Albert Lea and Moscow State Game Refuges in Freeborn County, the Linn Lake State Game Refuge in Chisago County, the Rochester State Game Refuge in Olmsted County, the Stearns County State Game Refuge in Stearns County, the Claremont State Game Refuge in Dodge County, the Nerstrand State Game Refuge in Dodge County, and the St. Croix River and Stillwater Game Refuges in Washington County are open for the taking of turkeys during open wild turkey seasons in the zones in which they are located.

Subp. 5.

Wildlife management areas open to taking turkeys.

Those portions of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area posted with "Wildlife Sanctuary Do Not Trespass" signs that lie within an open turkey zone are open for the taking of turkeys during the spring turkey season.

Subp. 6.

Hunting with aid of bait or feed prohibited.

A.

A person may not hunt turkey:

(1)

with the aid or use of bait or feed; or

(2)

in the vicinity of bait or feed if the person knows or has reason to know that bait or feed is present.

B.

An area is considered baited for ten days after the complete removal of all bait or feed.

C.

For purposes of this subpart, "bait or feed" includes grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing turkey and that has been placed by a person. Food that has not been placed by a person and resulting from normal or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or other similar land management activities is not bait or feed.

D.

A person otherwise in compliance with this subpart who is hunting on private or public property that is adjacent to property where bait or feed is present is not in violation of this subpart if the person has not participated in, been involved with, or agreed to baiting or feeding wildlife on the adjacent property.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97A.091; 97B.711; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

18 SR 83; 19 SR 484; 24 SR 644; 30 SR 613; 34 SR 621

Published Electronically:

November 19, 2009

6236.0950 TAGGING TURKEYS.

Immediately after taking a turkey, the hunter must punch date of kill, sign, and attach the tag provided with the license to the turkey as specified on the tag. This tag must remain attached to the turkey during transit.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.721; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

19 SR 484

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.1000 TURKEY REGISTRATION.

A person taking a turkey must register the turkey at a designated registration station within the time specified for that season. The feathers, head, and feet must remain on the turkey until it is registered. An unregistered turkey may not be possessed outside the wild turkey permit area where taken unless it is being transported in a direct route to a registration station. Registration stations will be listed in materials provided to all licensees.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.721; and others at 19 SR 6

History:

19 SR 484; 20 SR 2287

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.1070 YOUTH WILD TURKEY SPECIAL HUNTS.

Subpart 1.

Requirements.

Persons participating in youth wild turkey hunts must be at least 12 years of age and under 18 years of age by the beginning hunt date. A valid wild turkey license and firearms safety certificate must be obtained prior to being issued a permit. All participants must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is at least 18 years of age. The accompanying parent or guardian may not hunt, but may assist during the hunt. All participants and their accompanying parent or guardian must attend a prehunt orientation offered by the hunt sponsors. Participating youth hunters must be sponsored and selected by a sponsoring nonprofit or selected by lottery.

Subp. 2.

Open areas.

Youth hunt permittees may hunt in open areas and special seasons as designated by the commissioner.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97B.112; 97B.711

History:

30 SR 613

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.1100

[Repealed, L 2005 c 146 s 52]

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008

6236.1300

[Repealed, L 2005 c 146 s 52]

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008