10-22-2010, 05:10 PM
When hunting in Minnesota state forests this fall, hunters may encounter signs the identify the site as an "Area with Limitations."
The big game hunter/trapper all-terrain vehicle (ATV) exceptions allow cross-country travel off roads and trails in state forests classified as "limited," and off roads, trails and access routes in state forests classified as "managed" under the following conditions:<br />
 To retrieve big game (September through December).<br />
 Hunt for big game and construct stands (October through December).<br />
 Trap during the open season for protected furbearers.<br />
 Trap for minnows under certain conditions.<br />
To qualify for the big game hunter/trapper exception, the ATV user must have a valid hunting, trapping or commercial trapping license in possession, and the ATV used must be a Class 1 vehicle (weighs less than 1,000 pounds).<br />
Areas with limitations have been set aside to provide a non-motorized hunting experience as well as to protect some sensitive or threatened sites of outstanding biodiversity. For those reasons, the hunter/trapper exception does not apply to these specified areas.<br />
Hunters must know the local regulations for the state forest and wildlife management areas in which they are hunting. The Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook provides detailed information. It is also available online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting.<br />
Additional information that is available online at http://www.findthetrails.com/ lists roads and trails that may have been closed due to rain or flooding.
The big game hunter/trapper all-terrain vehicle (ATV) exceptions allow cross-country travel off roads and trails in state forests classified as "limited," and off roads, trails and access routes in state forests classified as "managed" under the following conditions:<br />
 To retrieve big game (September through December).<br />
 Hunt for big game and construct stands (October through December).<br />
 Trap during the open season for protected furbearers.<br />
 Trap for minnows under certain conditions.<br />
To qualify for the big game hunter/trapper exception, the ATV user must have a valid hunting, trapping or commercial trapping license in possession, and the ATV used must be a Class 1 vehicle (weighs less than 1,000 pounds).<br />
Areas with limitations have been set aside to provide a non-motorized hunting experience as well as to protect some sensitive or threatened sites of outstanding biodiversity. For those reasons, the hunter/trapper exception does not apply to these specified areas.<br />
Hunters must know the local regulations for the state forest and wildlife management areas in which they are hunting. The Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook provides detailed information. It is also available online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting.<br />
Additional information that is available online at http://www.findthetrails.com/ lists roads and trails that may have been closed due to rain or flooding.