Muskie size limit debate continues at state Capitol
By Joe Albert Associate Editor, MN Outdoor News
April 3, 2014
St. Paul — Game and Fish bills in the state House and Senate continue making progress, and the two bills look relatively similar.
Two items contained in the Senate bill – SF 2227, authored by Sen. Matt Schmit, DFL-Red Wing – are the primary differences: increasing the minimum size limit for muskies in inland waters to 55 inches, and allowing people age 60 and older to use crossbows for deer, bears, turkeys, and rough fish during the respective archery seasons.
Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee, and the author of that body’s Game and Fish Bill – HF 2852 – isn’t so sure about a 55-inch minimum, which muskie advocates are pushing.
He envisions the possibility of the Legislature taking up the matter next year, though the DNR also is working through a process that would result in a 50-inch minimum size limit for muskies as early as 2015.
That process also could result in some lakes having even higher minimum size limits.
Dill, for one, says he needs more information before making a decision.
“Does (a 55-inch minimum size limit) come at the expense of someone else?” he asked. “Honestly, I don’t have time to answer that question, and I haven’t had time to look at it from a public policy perspective.”
The DNR is neutral on the 55-inch legislation, said Bob Meier, the agency’s legislative affairs director.
The agency, likewise, believes the crossbow piece “is more of a social issue,” he said.
Meier said the agency hasn’t heard much about it, though some people believe it’s the first step in allowing anyone to use crossbows during the archery season.
On the other hand, others say allowing crossbow use may help keep older hunters in the field.
“We’re seeing a sharp decline in deer hunters after the age of 50,” Meier said. “That’s kind of frightening.”
Both the House and Senate bills include a program to provide cost-share grants to local recreational shooting clubs. The DNR would administer the program.The Senate bill includes a $2 million appropriation from the Game and Fish Fund for the program. The agency believes that amount may be “premature until we figure out the parameters of the program,” Meier said.
Deer baiting
Legislation that would have reduced deer-baiting penalties for first-time offenders isn’t likely to pass this year. Under the proposal, conservation officers couldn’t seize firearms from hunters who hadn’t been caught hunting over bait previously, and hadn’t shot a deer over bait.
“The bill is dead,” Dill said.
The DNR is working on the issue, Meier said, adding it came up because some people believe COs are being arbitrary in the seizure of firearms.