Game and Fish Amendments - May 16, 2016

The "repeal the wolf hunt" amendment failed in the MN house May 16, 2016 with 53 yeas to 73 Nays. The wolf  had good advocacy by several house members. Rep.Paul Rosenthal(D) did not back down and countered Rep. Hackbarth's(R) absurd assertion that wolf hunting is needed to "manage" the wolf population. Rep. Jason Isaakson(D) came thru with a very strong repudiation of the overall bill (HF2844) author (Rep. Hackbarth's(R)) drivel about wolf numbers.  It was good to have state lawmakers debate repealing the wolf hunt on the house floor. HFW will follow the MN state Senate and whether the senate takes up the their version of this bill (SF2758). The senate's version of the Game and Fish bill already has within the bill the provision requiring written permission before trapping on private lands. The session ends May 23, 2016.

HFW supported Game and Fish amendments:
·       A31 (Kahn) Prohibits DNR from authorizing open seasons on endangered species failed 41 – 85
·       A29 (Rosenthal) Repeals wolf hunt failed 53 – 73
·       A28 (Dehn) limits 1 mulligan/3 years for killing endangered species failed 39 – 86
·       A26 (Fischer) permission to trap on private lands failed 56 - 69

HF2844, Game and Fish bill, third reading, adopted 85 - 42

See the amendments wording and individual votes below.

May 17, 2016

1.1 .................... moves to amend H.F. No. 2844, the third engrossment, as follows:
1.2 Page 13, after line 35, insert:

"1.3    Sec. 24. [97B.033] RULES AUTHORIZING OPEN SEASONS FOR
1.4 ENDANGERED SPECIES PROHIBITED.
1.5 The commissioner of natural resources shall not adopt rules authorizing open seasons
1.6 for taking wild animals currently listed under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.
1.7 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
1.8 and applies to rules adopted on or after that date.
"1.9 Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
1.10 Amend the title accordingly