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DNR BRIEFS New 'move-over' law for boaters in effect
A new Minnesota law requiring boaters to stay clear of enforcement watercraft with their emergency lights flashing went into effect Wednesday.
The move-over law is intended to provide the same protection for watercraft enforcement officers as similar laws do for police, State Patrol and other emergency response personnel.
The new law states, "When approaching and passing a law enforcement watercraft with its emergency lights activated, the operator of a watercraft must safely move the watercraft away from the law enforcement watercraft and maintain a slow/no wake speed while within 150 feet of the law enforcement watercraft."
Free fishing at many state parks
As of Wednesday, Minnesota residents may fish without a license in most state parks.
The new program is the latest lure in the DNR's tackle box of ideas to sustain the state's storied fishing tradition.
Under Minnesota law, anyone age 16 or older is required to have a state fishing license unless fishing during the free Take A Kid Fishing weekends or some other exemption, including the state park fishing exemption.
The state parks fishing license exemption allows park visitors to take fish without a license when shore fishing or wading on state-owned land within a state park. All limits and special regulations in effect for the body of water being fished apply. When angling from a boat or float, the law applies only to those water bodies that are completely encompassed within the statutory boundary of the state park.
Anglers must possess a valid license when fishing in Minnesota's six state recreation areas, on waters where a trout stamp is required and when fishing in any city, county, regional or federal park.
For a list of Minnesota state parks and the water bodies in which the new law applies, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fishing.html.
13 special youth deer hunts offered
More than 500 young hunters will have access to high-quality deer hunting this fall at six state parks, one state recreation area, two military reservations, two refuges and a nature preserve.
The DNR is offering 13 special youth deer hunts in 2009 at locations with high deer populations that need to be managed. Last year, the DNR offered 11 special youth deer hunts.
Applications for the special youth deer hunts were accepted starting Wednesday at any DNR Electronic License System vendor or at the DNR License Center in St. Paul. The deadline for applications is Friday, Aug. 14. Successful applicants will be notified in early September.
There is no fee to apply, although successful applicants must purchase the appropriate deer-hunting license prior to their hunt. The youth individual firearms and youth individual archery licenses are $13 each and are available to residents ages 12 to 17.
For more information and specific details about the hunts, go to mndnr.gov/youthhunts.
Fishing, hunting law changes
Hunters and anglers should be aware of a number of law changes that went into effect Wednesday - as opposed to the usual Aug. 1 date - as a result of legislation passed this year.
Changes to fishing regulations are listed online at mndnr.gov/fishregs. Changes to hunting regulations will be listed in the 2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet, which will be available in August.
Among the new fishing rules:
• Night bowfishing is allowed statewide from May 1 to the last Sunday in February, with limitations on noise and distance from structures.
• Residents age 90 or older may take fish without a license.
• Multiple changes to fishing contest rules (see above Web site).
Among the new hunting rules:
• Allow free deer licenses to be issued to residents with qualifying military service. The licenses allow the taking of deer of either sex.
• Remove the restriction on possessing crossbows outdoors, and removes casing requirements in a motor vehicle during open seasons for game.
• Establish new gun casing exceptions that apply when hunting and transporting a firearm; removes casing requirements for bows provided they are not armed.
• Allow the commissioner to issue permits to disabled persons to hunt from a vehicle that is valid for the life of the person, if the disability is irreversible.
• Modify the definition of bait for the purposes of restrictions while hunting deer.
• Extend the hours for placing decoys when hunting waterfowl to two hours before lawful shooting (from one hour).
• Also, a person may harvest ripe wild rice on or after Aug. 15 (was July 15) to Sept. 30.
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