Bill HF4639, SF4533

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to game and fish; authorizing baiting of deer;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.3          2022, section 97B.328.
1.4          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5          Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97B.328, is amended to read:
1.6          97B.328 BAITING PROHIBITED USE OF BAIT.
1.7                          Subdivision 1.Hunting with aid of bait prohibited. (a) A person may not take deer
1.8          with the aid or use of bait except as authorized in this section. A person who owns land or
1.9          has otherwise been authorized to place bait on real property may place bait in one or more
1.10       piles totaling no more than three gallons of bait per 40 acres of land.
1.11       (b) A person may not place bait:
1.12       (1) within 100 yards of another baiting site;
1.13       (2) within 50 yards of any trail, road, or campsite used by the public;
1.14       (3) within 100 yards of a roadway having a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or
1.15       more; or
1.16       (4) during the closed season, except beginning at 12 a.m. the day before the archery deer
1.17       season opener.
1.18       (c) A person may not:
1.19       (1) hunt within 100 yards of more than three gallons of bait on the same parcel of land;
1.20       or
2.1          (2) hunt using bait during the closed season.
2.2                          Subd. 2.Removal of bait. An area is considered baited for ten days after the complete
2.3          removal of all bait.
2.4                          Subd. 3.Definition. (a) For purposes of this section, "bait" includes grains, fruits,
2.5          vegetables, nuts, hay, or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing deer and that has
2.6          been placed by a person. "Baiting" means placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or
2.7          scattering bait that is capable of attracting or enticing deer.
2.8          (b) Liquid scents, salt, and minerals, and mineral blocks are not bait if they do not contain
2.9          liquid or solid food ingredients.
2.10       (c) Agricultural crops from normal or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife
2.11       food plantings, orchard management, or other similar land management activities are not
2.12       bait. This exclusion does not apply to agricultural crops that have been reintroduced and
2.13       concentrated where a person is hunting.
2.14                       Subd. 4.Exception for bait or feed on adjacent land.  A person otherwise in compliance
2.15       with this section who is hunting on private or public property that is adjacent to property
2.16       where bait or food is present is not in violation of this section if the person has not
2.17       participated in, been involved with, or agreed to baiting or feeding wildlife on the adjacent
2.18       property.