Minnesota is well known for its deer hunting and offers some great opportunities for hunters to get out in the field. However, it is important to know the law to avoid a violation while deer hunting.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, these were the top 3 deer hunting violations in 2010 (numbers are totals for the state):
Fail to validate tag: 180 citationsHunt over bait: 150 citationsUntagged: 131 citations
During the excitement of the hunt, it can be possible that a hunter forgets to take care of tagging the deer correctly. This could prove to be a costly mistake.
Number one on the list was "failure to validate a deer tag". This is a misdemeanor, which could involve a fine up to $1000. If the hunter ends up with two or more violations, he or she can lose their Minnesota hunting privileges for three years. Not only that, the state of Minnesota is part of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. This means that hunters with multiple violations can lose their hunting privileges in 36 other states, including the nearby states of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Clearly, hunters must be observant and take all of the necessary legal steps to properly tag the deer that they hunt. Additionally, if the hunter is convicted, he or she may also lose their rifle or shotgun and other hunting gear.
The 2nd most common Minnesota deer hunting violation in 2010 was "hunting over bait". The obvious example of this is the hunter who dumps a bushel of corn next to their deer stand and waits for a deer to come to eat it. The problem is often the unclear definition of "baiting." Minnesota is a state where there are a million acres of corn and other grains that deer love. When is a hunter "baiting" the deer? As you can see this offense can involve a lot of interpretations by the game warden. While everyone will agree that the "slob hunter" should be penalized, it is also possible for an innocent hunter to be caught in the warden's net.
The 3rd most common Minnesota deer hunting violation in 2010 was possessing "untagged" deer. This happens when a hunter takes a deer, but does not apply a tag to the animal. It's possible that some hunters will take a deer without having applied for and received a deer tag, which is an obvious violation. It is also possible however that the hunter has a tag but forgot to attach the tag to the animal after shooting it. This simple oversight could also cost the hunter a $1,000 fine, possible jail and loss of his gun.
If you find yourself being charged with a hunting violation in the state of Minnesota, it is important to know your rights.
Bill Peterson is a Minnesota Wildlife Attorney with over 40 years of experience as a lawyer. His firm, Peterson Law Office, defends sportsmen's rights. For more information, please visit http://www.mnwildlifelaw.com/ or call toll free at 1-888-910-5297.
The contents of this article are for information only and is not to be interpreted as legal advice. For personal legal advice you should consult with an attorney who is experienced in probate law or estate planning.
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