Minn. R. agency 158, ch. 6232, BEARS, pt. 6232.2800 - [Effective until 11/16/2026] GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR TAKING BEARS

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Subpart 1. Bag limit.

Except as provided in part 6232.3300, a person may not take more than one bear in quota areas and one bear in no-quota areas during any calendar year whether by firearm or archery. Bears taken may be of either sex or any age except that bear cubs may not be taken.

Subp. 2. Party hunting.

Party hunting for bears is not permitted. A person may not shoot a bear for another person, validate a bear killed by another person, or register a bear shot by another person.

Subp. 3. Dens.

A person may not take or disturb any bear in a den.

Subp. 4. License validation.

At the site of kill, the license of the person who killed the bear must be validated. Validation consists of indicating:

(1) the date of kill;

(2) whether taken by firearms or archery; and

(3) the sex of the bear harvested.

Subp. 5. Skinning and quartering bears.

Bears may be skinned, quartered, or further divided prior to transportation and registration, but all edible meat and all other parts of the bear retained by the hunter must be presented for registration at the same time.

Subp. 6. Registration requirements and sample collection.

A. Every person taking a bear must present it for registration:

(1) at a designated bear registration station or must connect to an online Department of Natural Resources harvest registration system and follow the instructions; or

(2) in the case of a problem bear authorization, to the authorizing wildlife manager or conservation officer.

B. Bear must be registered according to item A:

(1) before the bear is processed either privately or commercially; and

(2) within 48 hours after taking.

C. A person registering bear must obtain a registration confirmation number at a designated bear registration station or by using an online Department of Natural Resources harvest registration system.

D. Registration agents are not required to inspect bear at registration stations.

E. A person may not process a bear unless it has been registered as evidenced by a registration confirmation number.

Subp. 7. Sample collection.

A person taking a bear must submit samples to the department in the envelope provided at bear registration stations according to instructions of the department. It is the responsibility of each person taking a bear to mail the envelope to the department, except in those cases where a bear registration station is collecting the samples.

Subp. 8. White bears protected.

A person may not take a white bear.

Notes

Minn. R. agency 158, ch. 6232, BEARS, pt. 6232.2800

18 SR 83; 22 SR 292; 24 SR 644; 34 SR 621 39 SR 1006; 43 SR 1293; 44 SR 1343; 47 SR 83 eff. 8/2/2022 48 SR 1089 exp. 12/31/2024 (Emergency) 49 SR 1193 49 SR 1239, exp. 11/16/2026 (Emergency)

State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.

Subp. 1. Bag limit.

A person may not take more than one bear in quota areas and two bears in no-quota areas during any calendar year whether by firearm or archery. Bears taken may be of either sex or any age except that bear cubs may not be taken.

Subp. 2. Party hunting.

Party hunting for bears is not permitted. A person may not shoot a bear for another person or tag a bear shot by another person.

Subp. 3. Dens.

A person may not take or disturb any bear in a den.

Subp. 4. Tagging and license validation.

Persons taking a bear must affix a tag and validate their license at the site of kill as provided below:

A. Persons killing a bear must affix to the carcass the site tag provided with their bear hunting license. The tag must be fastened around the bear's sternum (breast bone), through an ear, or around a leg bone or tendon so that the tag cannot be readily removed. A hunter may not possess or use the site tag of another, except when transporting a bear as provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.535.

B. At the time a bear is tagged at the site of kill, the license of the person whose tag is affixed to the bear must be validated. Validation consists of using a knife or similar sharp object to cut out or a pen to indelibly mark the appropriate notches on the registration slip indicating:

(1) the date of kill;

(2) whether taken by firearms or archery; and

(3) the sex of the bear harvested.

Subp. 5. Skinning and quartering bears.

Subp. 6. Registration.

Every person taking a bear must present it for registration at a designated bear registration station or, in the case of a nuisance bear authorization, to the authorizing wildlife manager or officer, within 48 hours after taking and obtain a big game possession tag. Prior to transporting the bear from the registration station, the possession tag must be attached to the bear in the same manner as the site tag provided with the license.

Subp. 7. Sample collection.

Subp. 8. White bears protected.

A person may not take a white bear.

Notes

Minn. R. agency 158, ch. 6232, BEARS, pt. 6232.2800

18 SR 83; 22 SR 292; 24 SR 644; 34 SR 621 39 SR 1006; 43 SR 1293; 44 SR 1343; 47 SR 83 eff. 8/2/2022 48 SR 1089 exp. 12/31/2024 (Emergency)

Statutory Authority: MS s 97A.535; 97B.411