Hunters in Minnesota should be aware of a number of law changes that will take effect July 1 as a result of legislation passed this year.

The new hunting rules are:

·Modify the electric motor restriction while in waterfowl feeding and resting areas from one with 30 pounds of thrust or less to one that is 12 volts or less.

·Allow a person with a valid bear license, prior to the Saturday on or nearest to Sept. 16, to leave a portable stand in a wildlife management area within 100 yards of a legally tagged and registered bear bait site.

They also require a person leaving such a stand to affix their name and address to the stand so that it can be seen from the ground.

·Allow free deer licenses to be issued to residents with qualifying military service. The licenses allow the taking of deer of either sex.

·Remove the restriction on possessing crossbows outdoors, and
removes casing requirements in a motor vehicle during open seasons for game.

Establish new gun casing exceptions that apply when hunting and transporting a firearm; removes casing requirements for bows provided they are not armed.

·Allow the commissioner to issue permits to disabled persons to hunt from a vehicle that is valid for the life of the person, if the disability is irreversible.

·Modify the definition of bait for the purposes of restrictions
while hunting deer.
·Extend the hours for placing decoys when hunting waterfowl to two hours before lawful shooting (it is one hour currently).

Hunters may not leave decoys unattended during shooting hours for more than three hours.