DON’T LET THE EMBARRRASMENT OF AN ARREST KEEP YOU FROM FIGHTING BACK!
Criminal charges are more frequently issued than in the past. What’s more, the typical fine and jail time imposed have increased. Besides the blot of a criminal violation on your record, you can also face the “double fine” of having to pay restitution for injuring state wildlife which the DNR says it owns.
Criminal charges can come with heavy fines and loss of privileges.
Added to that are later penalties such as confiscation of your game, firearm, vehicle or other property which are discussed elsewhere on this website. The law has also been broadened to forfeit the hunter or fisherman’s right to hunt or fish for two to five years after certain violations. A DNR ticket can cause a lot more pain and inconvenience for a sportsman than it did a few years ago.
Recently other states have established “reciprocity” so that if you get conviction for a game or fish violation in Minnesota, you may find that you can’t hunt or fish in the Dakotas, Montana or other states and in Canada.
A sportsman who has two violations within three years forfeits the license for the balance of the hunting or fishing season.
For other game and fish violations including commercial licenses, the revocation period for that license is at least one year after the violation.
A hunter who knowingly trespasses on land posted against hunting is prohibited from obtaining a hunting license for two years after conviction.
A person who illegally buys or sells wild animals over $300 in value is prohibited from obtaining a hunting or fishing license for three years.
A hunter of big game is ineligible for a big game license for three years if he is convicted of a gross misdemeanor violation of the big game laws or receives a second conviction of a lesser offense within three years of a previous offense.
A hunter who is convicted of hunting while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is not eligible for a hunting license for five years.
Nearly half of all Minnesotans hunt or fish. To many, these are the most important recreational activities they have.
Usually it is some months after the violation has occurred when the sportsman gets the notice from DNR that he will not be allowed to hunt or fish for one, two, three or five years. The time to inquire about what the full consequences of the alleged violation is before you enter a guilty plea. Trying to do something afterwards is sometimes possible but much more difficult.
Criminal charges can lead to serious consequences – some you may not even anticipate. Know your rights and the penalties before you take a step you may regret.
