July 1 is always an important date in Minnesota.
For one thing, it marks the beginning of a new fiscal year. For another, it’s also the date when many new laws go into effect.
This year, several of them will affect Minnesota outdoors enthusiasts. Among the outdoor-related laws that went into effect July 1 include:
• A new move-over-law that requires boaters to slow to no-wake speed within 150 feet of a law enforcement watercraft with its emergency lights activated. To give law enforcement a little elbow room to safely do their duty might take simple common sense but one only has to travel to Lake Minnetonka to get an idea of what likely inspired the new statute.
• Minnesota residents now can fish without a license while wading or shorefishing in waters within state park boundaries. They also can do so from a boat, so long as the lake is entirely surrounded by state park property. The exception is that on waters where a trout stamp is required, a license still will be required.
• Night bowfishing now is allowed statewide from May 1 to the last day of February. There are noise and distance limitations to minimize disturbance of lakeshore residents.
• Residents age 90 or older no longer need a fishing license, something we all can look forward to.
• There are new rules for fishing tournaments. Among them, the number of boats entered to require a permit has been decreased from 30 to 25.
Specifics on the above changes can be viewed at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.state.mn.us and viewing the updated 2009 fishing regulations booklet.
While the hunting seasons are still weeks away, several laws affecting that activity also went into effect. The changes will be part of the 2009 Hunting Regulations booklet to be printed next month. Among them are:
• Electric trolling motors used on waterfowl resting and feeding areas can be used if they utilize only one 12-volt battery. The amount of thrust the motor produces no longer matters.
• Hunters with a valid bear license now can leave a portable stand in a wildlife management area within 100 yards of a legally tagged bear bait site prior to the Saturday nearest to or on Sept. 16. They must have the name and address of the owner attached so it can be read from the ground.
• Residents with qualifying military service can get a free either-sex deer license.
• It is now legal to have an uncased crossbow outdoors or in vehicles during open hunting seasons.
• Waterfowl decoys will be able to be placed two hours before legal shooting time and may not be left unattended during shooting hours for more than three hours.
• The definition of baiting has been changed. No more hunting deer over that “bird feeder.”
• Cases will no longer be required to transport unloaded firearms or bows in motor vehicles.
Finally, most important to anyone who loves Minnesota’s outdoor heritage, July 1 was the day the state sales tax increased by 3/8ths of 1 percent, the result of voters approving the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Outdoor Heritage Amendment last fall.
It is expected that some $300 million will be raised annually for the next 25 years, with 33 percent going to fish and game issues, 33 percent going to clean water issues, about 14 percent to parks and about 19 percent to culture and the arts.
Allowing that my math sometimes is a little fuzzy, I did some figuring.
And I figure that the case of beer I bought the other day for a Fourth of July picnic set me back less than a nickel more than it would have prior to July 1.
All in all, a pretty small price to pay to ensure the future of our outdoor treasures.
