R Buker
New member
Guys,
Another poster on this thread forwarded this to me a while back. I added and spruced it up a tad bit and I think this is a decent proposal to offer up to our lawmakers in an attempt to get them to at least consider letting us use artificial lights in Minnesota.
I ask you to use this in some form to submit a request to your local rep or senator. Simply copy and past this into a word doc or email and get it off to them.
Encourage your friends!! Let's make some noise!
Randy
USE OF LIGHTS FOR THE TAKING OF PREDATORS IN MINNESOTA
Numerous studies have shown that predators have a significant impact on the population of game birds and waterfowl as well as the newborns of big-game animals. In the 70’s, fox were the major predator in the majority of the State. Populations were kept in check by the simple fact that their hides were worth up to $85 or more which promoted trapping as well as hunting and resulted in a significant reduction in their population every year. Although the price of fur is a fluid number, in recent years you would be hard pressed to get $5 for a fox and the result of this has been a drastic decline in the number of people actively trapping.
The biggest change in Minnesota has been the population explosion of coyotes throughout the State. Though wolves tend to keep them somewhat in check in the northern regions, the rest of the state is experiencing a sudden population explosion to the point where many counties and municipalities are considering placing bounties on them out of desperation based on the predation of wildlife and livestock!
Coyotes are more intelligent than a fox and don’t have the habit of lying out in open fields to sun themselves in the winter like a fox will, which makes spot-and-stalk hunting very difficult. Coyotes are also vastly more nocturnal than the foxes were. Calling at night is the best way to lure a coyote within range.
Minnesota is unique in that it does allow night hunting for predators now with some limitations. The season currently has no time limits regarding time of day or night when they can be hunted. Unfortunately, there are only two options to night hunting at this time. The most common option is to hunt under the light of the full moon over snow-covered fields. Of course this option works only when conditions are just right. That includes a nearly full moon and completely snow-covered fields. These options present themselves approximately 5 nights per month during three months out of the year.
The second method of night hunting in Minnesota is to use expensive night vision equipment. It is perfectly legal to hunt with this equipment as long as an infra-red illuminator is not used. By purchasing very expensive equipment, anyone can hunt predators at any hour of the night during any open season for those animals. The problem with this second method is that it only allows those who can afford up to $6,000.00 or more for the equipment! This option rules out the majority of hunters.
Although Minnesota’s shining regulations definitely need to be looked at and restrictions in the areas that pertain to, and generally result in, the illegal taking of deer need to be addressed, the principle of “one rule fits all” shouldn’t be applied to the entire spectrum of the various forms of shining. The spot lighting of deer for recreational purposes should not affect the use of artificial lights as a useful tool in the effective management of predators that directly cause damage to many other forms of wildlife and live-stock.
When comparing various states both east and west, one surprising finding may be that there doesn’t seem to be an issue in states with higher populations. While the wide open spaces of North Dakota doesn’t allow the use of artificial lights for hunting predators, more densely populated states like Illinois and New York do.
What follows is a list of some of the states that allow the use of artificial while night hunting predators in one form or another.
Wisconsin
Illinois
Wyoming
Nebraska
Washington
Alaska
Idaho
California
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Indiana
New York
Georgia
West Virginia
Virginia
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Michigan
Ohio
California
Maine
Montana
Oregon
Texas
Of course, as to be expected, each state has variations to their laws and regulations on this issue.
While visiting with various DNR employees and lawmakers, some concerns have been voiced should artificial lights become legal in the great state of Minnesota. I would like to take this opportunity to address one of those concerns and offer suggestions or remedies to those supposed problems.
The biggest concern seems to be a line of thinking that this activity would open the doors to more and more poaching of deer. This line of thinking is marginally accurate at best. The current law allows the use of spotlights for recreational viewing of wildlife during specified dates and times. Those interested in poaching deer either completely ignore the current laws or do their poaching at times when their shining lights are least apt to draw attention. (Those times that are currently legal)
While it may be true that some may attempt to take advantage of another perceived loop hole for their illegal activities, with some restrictions in place, it is doubtful that there would be any sort of noticeable increase in poaching.
In fact, a simple change to the existing law could actually reduce poaching! Given the fact that on any given night a poacher may be under the observation of a law-abiding predator hunter, poaching would become more difficult.
So in summary, I am not making any specific regulation request at this time but I am asking that the current shining regulations be changed. I think with proper restrictions in place, Minnesota could and should allow the use of lights while calling predators at night and not have it become an open invitation to misuse predator hunting as a means to poach other game. With the wide range of regulations currently on the books in other states, we should be able to pick and choose those that could be easily modified to a final form that will work here in Minnesota.
PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGE
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.081,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. [WITHOUT FIREARMS.] (a) Between the hours of
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from September 1 to December 31, a
person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other
artificial light in a field, woodland, or forest to spot,
locate, or take a wild animal except to take raccoons, under
section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or to tend traps under section
97B.931.
(b) Between one-half hour after sunset until sunrise, a
person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other
artificial light to spot, locate, or take a wild animal on
fenced, agricultural land containing livestock, as defined in
section 17A.03, subdivision 5, or poultry that is marked with
signs prohibiting the shining of lights. The signs must:
(1) display reflectorized letters that are at least two
inches in height and state "no shining" or similar terms; and
(2) be placed at intervals of 1,000 feet or less along the
boundary of the area.
(c) It is not a violation of this subdivision paragraph (a)
or (b) for a person to carry out any agricultural, occupational,
or recreational practice, including snowmobiling that is not
related to spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.
(d) Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a person
may not project a spotlight or hand-held light onto residential
property or building sites from a moving motor vehicle being
operated on land, except for the following purposes:
(1) safety;
(2) emergency response;
(3) normal vehicle operations; or
(4) performing an occupational duty.
(PROPOSED CHANGE) A person may, while on foot and at least 200 feet from a vehicle, use a hand-held artificial light to assist in the hunting of foxes, bobcats, coyotes and raccoons while using hand-held, mouth operated or electronic calling devices.
I ask you to please consider sponsoring a bill that would allow hunting predators with an artificial light and stop punishing law-abiding hunters for fear that it could increase poaching deer. Please consider a law that would help with the management of predators in the great state of Minnesota.
Another poster on this thread forwarded this to me a while back. I added and spruced it up a tad bit and I think this is a decent proposal to offer up to our lawmakers in an attempt to get them to at least consider letting us use artificial lights in Minnesota.
I ask you to use this in some form to submit a request to your local rep or senator. Simply copy and past this into a word doc or email and get it off to them.
Encourage your friends!! Let's make some noise!
Randy
USE OF LIGHTS FOR THE TAKING OF PREDATORS IN MINNESOTA
Numerous studies have shown that predators have a significant impact on the population of game birds and waterfowl as well as the newborns of big-game animals. In the 70’s, fox were the major predator in the majority of the State. Populations were kept in check by the simple fact that their hides were worth up to $85 or more which promoted trapping as well as hunting and resulted in a significant reduction in their population every year. Although the price of fur is a fluid number, in recent years you would be hard pressed to get $5 for a fox and the result of this has been a drastic decline in the number of people actively trapping.
The biggest change in Minnesota has been the population explosion of coyotes throughout the State. Though wolves tend to keep them somewhat in check in the northern regions, the rest of the state is experiencing a sudden population explosion to the point where many counties and municipalities are considering placing bounties on them out of desperation based on the predation of wildlife and livestock!
Coyotes are more intelligent than a fox and don’t have the habit of lying out in open fields to sun themselves in the winter like a fox will, which makes spot-and-stalk hunting very difficult. Coyotes are also vastly more nocturnal than the foxes were. Calling at night is the best way to lure a coyote within range.
Minnesota is unique in that it does allow night hunting for predators now with some limitations. The season currently has no time limits regarding time of day or night when they can be hunted. Unfortunately, there are only two options to night hunting at this time. The most common option is to hunt under the light of the full moon over snow-covered fields. Of course this option works only when conditions are just right. That includes a nearly full moon and completely snow-covered fields. These options present themselves approximately 5 nights per month during three months out of the year.
The second method of night hunting in Minnesota is to use expensive night vision equipment. It is perfectly legal to hunt with this equipment as long as an infra-red illuminator is not used. By purchasing very expensive equipment, anyone can hunt predators at any hour of the night during any open season for those animals. The problem with this second method is that it only allows those who can afford up to $6,000.00 or more for the equipment! This option rules out the majority of hunters.
Although Minnesota’s shining regulations definitely need to be looked at and restrictions in the areas that pertain to, and generally result in, the illegal taking of deer need to be addressed, the principle of “one rule fits all” shouldn’t be applied to the entire spectrum of the various forms of shining. The spot lighting of deer for recreational purposes should not affect the use of artificial lights as a useful tool in the effective management of predators that directly cause damage to many other forms of wildlife and live-stock.
When comparing various states both east and west, one surprising finding may be that there doesn’t seem to be an issue in states with higher populations. While the wide open spaces of North Dakota doesn’t allow the use of artificial lights for hunting predators, more densely populated states like Illinois and New York do.
What follows is a list of some of the states that allow the use of artificial while night hunting predators in one form or another.
Wisconsin
Illinois
Wyoming
Nebraska
Washington
Alaska
Idaho
California
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Indiana
New York
Georgia
West Virginia
Virginia
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Michigan
Ohio
California
Maine
Montana
Oregon
Texas
Of course, as to be expected, each state has variations to their laws and regulations on this issue.
While visiting with various DNR employees and lawmakers, some concerns have been voiced should artificial lights become legal in the great state of Minnesota. I would like to take this opportunity to address one of those concerns and offer suggestions or remedies to those supposed problems.
The biggest concern seems to be a line of thinking that this activity would open the doors to more and more poaching of deer. This line of thinking is marginally accurate at best. The current law allows the use of spotlights for recreational viewing of wildlife during specified dates and times. Those interested in poaching deer either completely ignore the current laws or do their poaching at times when their shining lights are least apt to draw attention. (Those times that are currently legal)
While it may be true that some may attempt to take advantage of another perceived loop hole for their illegal activities, with some restrictions in place, it is doubtful that there would be any sort of noticeable increase in poaching.
In fact, a simple change to the existing law could actually reduce poaching! Given the fact that on any given night a poacher may be under the observation of a law-abiding predator hunter, poaching would become more difficult.
So in summary, I am not making any specific regulation request at this time but I am asking that the current shining regulations be changed. I think with proper restrictions in place, Minnesota could and should allow the use of lights while calling predators at night and not have it become an open invitation to misuse predator hunting as a means to poach other game. With the wide range of regulations currently on the books in other states, we should be able to pick and choose those that could be easily modified to a final form that will work here in Minnesota.
PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGE
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.081,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. [WITHOUT FIREARMS.] (a) Between the hours of
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. from September 1 to December 31, a
person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other
artificial light in a field, woodland, or forest to spot,
locate, or take a wild animal except to take raccoons, under
section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or to tend traps under section
97B.931.
(b) Between one-half hour after sunset until sunrise, a
person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other
artificial light to spot, locate, or take a wild animal on
fenced, agricultural land containing livestock, as defined in
section 17A.03, subdivision 5, or poultry that is marked with
signs prohibiting the shining of lights. The signs must:
(1) display reflectorized letters that are at least two
inches in height and state "no shining" or similar terms; and
(2) be placed at intervals of 1,000 feet or less along the
boundary of the area.
(c) It is not a violation of this subdivision paragraph (a)
or (b) for a person to carry out any agricultural, occupational,
or recreational practice, including snowmobiling that is not
related to spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.
(d) Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a person
may not project a spotlight or hand-held light onto residential
property or building sites from a moving motor vehicle being
operated on land, except for the following purposes:
(1) safety;
(2) emergency response;
(3) normal vehicle operations; or
(4) performing an occupational duty.
(PROPOSED CHANGE) A person may, while on foot and at least 200 feet from a vehicle, use a hand-held artificial light to assist in the hunting of foxes, bobcats, coyotes and raccoons while using hand-held, mouth operated or electronic calling devices.
I ask you to please consider sponsoring a bill that would allow hunting predators with an artificial light and stop punishing law-abiding hunters for fear that it could increase poaching deer. Please consider a law that would help with the management of predators in the great state of Minnesota.
