I just spoke with Kevin from the DNR. Here is the law as it is written:
97B.085 Use of radios to take animals.
Subdivision 1. Radio use in taking game prohibited.
A person may not use radio equipment to take big game or small game.
Subd. 2. Taking unprotected wild animals; permit
required. A person may not use radio equipment to take
unprotected wild animals without a permit. The commissioner may issue a permit to take unprotected animals with radio equipment. The commissioner shall cancel the permit upon receiving a valid complaint of misconduct regarding the permittee's hunting activities.
Subd. 3. Communication excepted. This section does
not prohibit the use of one-way radio communication between a handler and a dog.
HIST: 1986 c 386 art 2 s 18; 1991 c 166 s 1; 1992 c 479 s 1
Copyright 2005 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota
If you notice in this law, they are eluding to the use of radios for communication, and not for controlling other devices. Many of these laws were written to prevent people from communicating with one another via radios. They even go further to state that one way communication between a handler and a dog is ok (remote digital game callers are one way communication). Alot of these laws are left open for interpretation, as we have found true in many other states. I will be contacting a legislative authority in MN to try and get an amendment that will leave no grey areas, and ok the use of remote control game callers for predators. For all you folks in MN, you may also want to contact your local state representative, and ask them about getting it changed as well. It may be a bad time now, however, with election time upon us!
Also, if you take a look in the hunting guide on page 26, it states that a coyote (as well as weasels, gophers, porcupines, striped skunks, and all other mammals with no closed season) is listed as an unprotected mammal, and may be taken by any means, except with the use of artificial light, motor vehicle, or poison. My interpretaion of that is that a remote caller is legal for coyotes, as they are not seasoned, and do not fall under the big and small game seasoned regulations. I will try and get this verified.
Mike Dillon
FOXPRO, Inc.
"The Caller of the Wild"
The True Leader.
Often imitated, never equaled!