SF2247

This Minnesota Senate bill (S.F. No. 2247) proposes two key changes related to wildlife management in the state:

1. Wolf Hunting Season Regulations:

   • Amends existing law to state that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must prescribe an annual wolf hunting season only if the wolf is no longer listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
   • Requires the DNR commissioner to consult with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service before setting regulations for the wolf hunting season. This consultation must include a review of data on wolf depredation of livestock and pets as well as other human-wolf conflicts.

2. Northeast Deer Management Task Force:

   • Directs the DNR commissioner to establish a Northeast Deer Management Task Force by October 1, 2025, to develop recommendations for increasing deer populations in northeastern Minnesota.
   • The task force will include hunters, wildlife managers, tribal representatives, a member of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and other interested stakeholders.
   • Requires the task force to meet at least three times per year and allows it to make recommendations to the DNR and legislature at any time.
   • A final report with recommendations must be submitted by August 1, 2027.
   • The task force will expire upon submission of the final report or on August 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This bill aims to balance wolf management with livestock protection and to address concerns about declining deer populations in northeastern Minnesota.