DO YOU HAVE A WILDLIFE BUSINESS?
Centuries before agriculture and manufacturing came to Minnesota, wildlife businesses ruled the Northland wilderness. Fur trapping, hunting and fishing were critical businesses for the Minnesota Territory. Even today, these businesses are key industries in many Minnesota counties.
Wildlife provide an important source of income for some Minnesotans.
Besides wildlife businesses operating “in the wild”, many operations involve ponds or pens where wildlife is farmed.
In these settings particularly, the game or fish should be regarded like cattle or hogs or any other livestock. (Occasionally DNR enforcement staff will claim that DNR “owns” the wildlife but that is not legally correct.) Unfortunately, there seems to be a noticeable bias among some DNR staff and private groups against private businesses earning a living from the game and fish of Minnesota.
Commercial trappers, fisherman guides, taxidermists and others who depend on game and fish activity from their livelihoods have seen increased regulations and DNR enforcement activity. Sportsmen and sports business persons need to be aware of the new rules.
Wildlife businessmen need fair and predictable laws on the books as well as reasonable enforcement by the Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. When in doubt about the meaning of a statute or rule or when faced with a possible enforcement action, the commercial operator is well advised to get the help of an attorney experienced in game and fish laws as soon as possible.
