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SF3195 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Minimum age to take big game lowered from ten to eight years of age provision

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to amend existing Minnesota hunting regulations to lower the minimum age requirement for children to hunt big game.

Main Provisions

  • Age Reduction for Big Game Hunting: The bill proposes lowering the minimum age for obtaining a license to hunt big game from ten years old to eight years old. This applies to both residents and nonresidents.
  • Supervision Requirements: Individuals aged eight to eleven are required to hunt under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian who is within immediate reach.
  • License Requirements: New provisions ensure that children aged eight to eleven must obtain a free license to hunt big game such as deer and bear.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • The bill modifies the existing Minnesota Statutes to reflect the new age requirements.
  • Previously, only children aged ten and older could obtain a license to hunt big game, but this bill extends the eligibility to children aged eight and nine.
  • The age adjustments also impact the fees and no-cost licenses available for young hunters as outlined in the bill's amendment to the fee schedules for resident and nonresident hunting licenses.

Relevant Terms

  • Big game
  • Hunting license
  • Supervision
  • Minnesota Statutes
  • Age requirement adjustments

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toEnvironment, Climate, and Legacy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows residents and nonresidents aged 8 to 11 to hunt big game under direct supervision."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies big game hunting age requirements under section 97A.451, subdivision 4.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts age for acquiring a license to hunt big game from 10 to 8 years old."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.451",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Changes are made to the fees for resident hunting licenses under section 97A.475, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "No fee for residents aged 8 to 12 to take certain animals, formerly starting at age 10."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.475",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Changes are made to the fees for nonresident hunting licenses under section 97A.475, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "No fee for nonresidents aged 8 to 12 to take certain animals, formerly starting at age 10."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.475",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

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