Expansion of Dog-Killing Traps by MN DNR to New Walk-In Access Public Hunting Areas
In the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook the Minnesota DNR specifically published that trapping was not allowed on Walk-In Access (WIA) hunting lands, but beginning in 2014 the DNR is choosing to print that trapping will be allowed by WIA landowners and anyone they give permission to trap these lands. This will allow dog-killing body-grip (Conibear) traps, snares and leg-hold traps to be set on these WIA lands that are leased by the state with willing landowners for public hunting.
Sportsmen Take Action’s President, Kevin Auslund said, “I have served on the DNR-Citizens’ Walk-In Access Work Group for the past 4 years and was shocked when I learned in late October of 2013 that the DNR had decided to print in the 2014 Regulations that trapping will be allowed on these WIA properties!”
He further said, “The DNR never discussed opening these lands up for trapping of any kind to the citizen WIA Work Group and we had to learn about this on our own. I was under the impression that the printed prohibition on trapping that was printed in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 (see p.45) annual Hunting & Trapping Regulations Handbook applied to the public and landowner alike. No trapping exceptions were ever mentioned by the DNR in these regulations, on the DNR website, their flyers, or in the 2011 and 2012 Walk-In Area Atlas.” Snares on WIA will not have to follow the restriction that state law requires on public lands which says that the loops must be half-submerged in water. Instead, on WIA lands these snares could be used as dry-land sets along fence lines, in trails and openings to woodlands and along cattails. There is no doubt that hunting dogs will be caught in these devices and with tragic outcomes.
Please view New: Videos of Dog Killing Traps.
See 2012 law Gov. Dayton signed and DNR is about to break in 2014.Click here to view document.
Time to contact Governor Mark Dayton and let him know how you feel about the DNR’s intention to expand dog-killing Conibears and snares to the Walk-In Access public hunting program.
Gov’s Secretary Phone: Metro: 651-201-3400 (ok to leave message day or night on voice mail)
Outside Metro: 800-657-3717
Fax: 651-797-1850
Gov.’s email form: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
Mailing Address: Office of Governor Dayton
130 State Capitol
St. Paul, MN 55155