The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.405, to allow for the accumulation of bear hunter preference points for youth who are not yet old enough to hunt. This change enables young individuals to earn preference points that will benefit them when they reach the legal hunting age, thereby increasing their chances of being selected in future bear hunting permits.

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing provisions that allow the commissioner to limit the number of bear hunters in an area to prevent overharvesting and improve hunter distribution. It also stipulates that the commissioner must reserve one permit for a resident of a Minnesota veterans home and outlines the process for purchasing licenses following a drawing.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 97B.405