Are remote callers illegal in MN ?

Valv

New member
Wireless remote control callers.
I noted a post on another forum a person mentioned he talked with his CO and he says they are illegal. Says its part of taking animals with use of radio. Also said is OK to be remote just cant be wireless!

I cannot believe a Foxpro or Minaska can be called illegal since remote is not part of the caller, it's just a control for the machine, but if this issue is true it will have to be checked out from DNR or local CO.
 
Valv, remote callers are not illegal in MN. For big game such as deer, moose, elk and also waterfowl, YES, it is illegal. But for fox, coyote and bobcat it is OK to use. Does not matter if its wireless or not.
 
BZZZZZ.. Wrong answer MNhowler. Remote callers ARE NOT LEGAL in Minnesota. Most folks don't know that but it's true!

It's the same law that makes it illegal to use a remote control, motorized spinning wing decoy for duck hunting.

I don't know if any CO's would enforce this or not. But, it's certainly true that they are NOT legal.

Someone should take this to the legislature and get it changed!!!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Wow, I never thought of that. SO even my cheapo Cass Creek Predator is not legal in MN. But I bought it at Cabelas.....
I guess I will have to inform many people about it.

Thanks guys, and I DO AGREE we have to do something with the legislators to have it changed. I think the law cannot keep up with technology.
 
Gee Val, imagine seeing you here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif,

You beat me to it, I was going to PM Randy and see what his interpretation on the electronic caller was as well.

I have emailed my local CO and the state about this issue, since it does not specifically state word for word about the use of an electronic caller for predators is illegal. In fact, in one part is says by any means possible for coyotes except using cars to round them up.

It also stated that using a radio for an unprotected animal would need a special DNR permit and I know last year, the person at the state, and my local CO had no idea what I was talking about as far as a permit for a radio for taking unprotected animals. Hard to believe in the state of license fees and taxes that no one would know the answer to a question about their own permits. I will post the DNR responses I get here as well.

Val, did you get that Panther broken in yet? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Try a pumpkin, filled with water, and a ballistic tipped bullet..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
Yes Sir, I've got it broken in by the manual, but I have to re-sight it again since I changed scope mount.
I do love the gun, a lot, in fact I am looking for a short cheap upper just to do some plinking.

Sorry if I spoiled the weekend with this thread, but I knew somebody with knowledge was going to check it out with DNR.
 
didn't spoil my weekend at all, my wife had done that with the honey do list, and leaving for a business trip to chicago.....what kind of mount did you go with Val? cheaper upper huh? search on gun broker or even in the classifieds on this site, deals are out there.....I wouldn't mind a kick around upper, but I am buying a new shotgun on tuesday....
 
No response from the DNR or the Local CO yet, I just sent my second email to the local CO. If I don't hear soon, I will have to call him, last time I did that, it still took a week for him to return my call.
 
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!
 
Man, this is crazy! I talked to another enforcement officer, and he stated that this was brought up before, and the outcome was that remote units would be legal if they got a "special" permit. I then was given the number for someone else, whom I have left a message with. I will try and keep you up to date. If anyone has contact info for any MN State Representatives, please pm them to me. Thanks.


Mike Dillon

FOXPRO, Inc.
"The Caller of the Wild"

The True Leader.
Often imitated, never equaled!
 
well I hate to say this, but Welcome to Minnesota, the land of taxes and fee's. We get nickled and dimed to death every where we turn. I will be calling the commisioner to apply for my permit tomorrow.....That should waste about 2 to 3 hours of my time.........

Yes we will need to change this, I will also call my represenative, or new one after tonight...

Here is the phone number for the state commish: Gene Merriam (651)259-5555 fax # (651)296-4799, and the deputy Commish: Mark Holsten (651)259-5022. I will start at the top tomorrow morning, and get pushed down the line undoubtedly
 
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Mike,

Will you call me on Wednesday? I've got info for you and I need to talk to you on another issue. 218-338-4868.

But, on this matter, it's the same law that limits the use of remote controls for motorized, spinning wing decoys. This was a huge issue a few years back and enforcement left no room for grey areas. This IS illegal.

I've got a ton of contacts for you. Some of them are very good folks that I worked with on getting our light law changed. This one can be changed easy enough if someone is willing to push it.

Randy
 
Quote:
Here is the phone number for the state commish: Gene Merriam (651)259-5555 fax # (651)296-4799, and the deputy Commish: Mark Holsten (651)259-5022. I will start at the top tomorrow morning, and get pushed down the line undoubtedly



Just an FYI. Thats the wrong place to start in Minnesota. These guys don't get into the making or amending of laws in Minnesota. This stuff has to be done through the state legislature. The place to start is the house and senate committees on environment and natural resources.

Randy
 
I agree with you Randy, but if the Commish is the only person to grant the permit for using a "radio" for unprotected species hunting, then you need to start there right? Let me know who to contact and where to start when it comes to getting the legislation changed. I am behind this 100%.............
 
Nope, the commisioner is not the person who would issue you the permit. You need to talk to your local CO. It's completely up to him or her if you get that permit. And then, keep in mind that it would only be good for hunting coyotes. To hunt foxes or bobcats or coons you'd be out of compliance because they are all listed as game animals or furbearers. The permit is only good for non game animals.

The law that states radio equipment can't be used needs to be amended to read "except that remote controlled, electronic callers are allowed to be used in all situations where a non remote, electronic caller can be used."

To get this changed, you will have to go through the legislative process. The first place to start is with your own Senator and your own Representative. Get one of them to agree to sponsor either a bill or an amendment to a bill that will get this changed.

I'd be happy to walk anyone intested in this topic through the process. I certainly know it well enough after that entire light law change. I also know that I don't have the energy to do this one too.

But, feel free to call me at 218-338-4868 if any of you really have the drive to make this change happen. Just be aware that if you want to get this changed, it's going to be more than just a phone call or two.

Randy
 
Randy, I will call you but this week is really hectic, heading to Iowa for some pheasant and predator calling. I fully intend on letting fox go, I am interested in thinning out the coyote population. If we run into an area over run by fox, we will switch to hand calls


Just got off the phone with MN DNR, and they gave me the number from the wildlife manager in my area, she is the one to grant me the permit, the lady I spoke with had no idea there was such a permit.

Of course, that made me call the Iowa DNR and they informed me that wireless remote control callers are illegal there as well. SO I guess I will have to dust off the hand calls for this weekend.............

If i can't get a permit for Minnesota, I might be tempted to sell my caller....this is nuts..........
 
Here is the response I received from Adam Block, our local Consevation Officer:

"Hello Tom, I never got your first e-mail. It could have possibly been
routed through out SPAM filtering system. At times, e-mails from the
public end up there as the sender is unknown to them. Regardless, to
answer your question there is no permit required to operate the wireless
call for COYOTES. They are legal for COYOTES.

Adam Block
Conservation Officer
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Enforcement"

I sent a response telling him the response I received from Headquarters, and then asked if he knew of a friendly legislator to help us this winter to get this changed in the official DNR handbook. One of the guys who is going to help me (a FX3 owner) claims to have an inside track to Governor Pawlenty......Randy, maybe we should organize a Governor's Coyote Hunt? Like the Governor's Deer Opener or Walleye Opener....That would interesting wouldn't it.

When I hear more I will continue to post it. Still haven't heard from the person who is supposed to grant me the permit, but it is deer season up here right now, so they get stretched pretty thin.
 
Tom,

I believe Officer Block is wrong. They are not legal for coyotes without that permit and he's the guy that can give you the permit, not the wildlife manager.

But, there's no point asking the CO about a legislator that might be willing to help bring about a change. The CO's aren't in the business of helping change laws. They are there to enforce laws that are on the books.

If you want to make the change to the law, this is the order it HAS to go in.

1. Find the exact statute that says you can't use radio equipment to help take animals.

2. Write down what you'd like to see the change be.

3. CALL (don't write) your own state senator AND your state representative and ask them to put an amendment into the game of fish bill that includes your wording.

4. Be prepared to answer ALL questions with good, logical, non-emotional answers. Be sure you can answer anything that comes at you.

Push them until you either get a refusal or an agreement to do it.

From there you need to be willing to contact everyone on the environment and natural resources committee in both the house and senate and attempt to explain your stance and why you think the change should happen. Sway them to your side.

Finally, be ready to go to the committee meetings to testify as to why you want this.

Tom, if you keep trying to get somewhere by talking to CO's or an inside track to Pawlenty, you'll just be spinning your wheels. Follow the above recipe. If you run into snags, call me.

Randy
 


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