Minn. R., Part 6234.2400 - [Effective until 9/27/2024] SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF SNARES

Subpart 1. Scope.

The provisions of parts 6234.2300 and 6234.2400 apply to the use of snares capable of taking a wild animal protected under provisions of Minnesota Statutes, sections 97B.601 to 97B.671 or 97B.901 to 97B.945.

Subp. 2. Farmland Furbearer Zone restrictions.

In the Farmland Furbearer Zone, a person may use snares as follows:

A. from April 1 to November 30, a person may not set, place, or operate any snare except as a waterset;

B. from December 1 to March 31, a person may not set, place, or operate any snare on public lands, including the surface of frozen water within public lands, on road rights-of-way, or in fencelines along road rights-of-way, except as a waterset.

Subp. 3. Snaring in culverts.

A person may not set, place, or operate a snare in a culvert, except as a completely submerged waterset.

Subp. 4. Removal of snares.

A snare set for a protected mammal may not be left in place after the close of the applicable trapping season.

Subp. 5. Prohibition on snares placed in deer trails.

Snares, including wolf snares, may not be set in deer, elk, or moose trails.

Subp. 6. Use of spring poles.

Snares may not be used with spring poles or other devices where an animal caught in the snare will be wholly or partly lifted from the ground.

Subp. 7. Snare height.

A snare may not be set so that the top of the loop is more than 20 inches above the first surface beneath the bottom of the set snare loop. During the wolf season, licensed wolf trappers may use wolf snares but a wolf snare may not be set so that the bottom of the loop is more than 18 inches above the first surface beneath the bottom of the set snare loop.

Subp. 8. Snare loop diameter.

The diameter of a snare loop may not exceed ten inches. In the Lynx Management Zone, the diameter of a snare loop must be at least eight inches when set on land.

Subp. 9. Snare cable diameter.

Snare cable or wire may not exceed one-eighth inch in diameter. In the Lynx Management Zone, snare cable or wire must be at least 5/64 inch in diameter when set on land.

Subp. 10. Tending snares.

All snares not capable of drowning the captured animal must be tended at least once each calendar day and any animal captured must be removed from the snare.

Subp. 11. Snare separation.

Licensed wolf trappers shall set wolf snares for wolves no closer than 500 feet to another wolf snare set by the same licensed wolf trapper.

Subp. 12. Snare breakaway devices.

Snares capable of taking a wild animal must include a breakaway device that causes the snare loop to disassemble at 350 pounds pull or less as measured by a static load test, except for:

A. wolf snares as defined in part 6234.0900, subpart 6;

B. snares set by licensed wolf trappers in possession of a valid wolf tag during a legal wolf trapping season; and C. snares set under ice.

Subp. 13. Snares in Lynx Management Zone.

In the Lynx Management Zone, the following restrictions apply to snares that are not set as water sets:

A. A snare must be equipped with:

(1) a minimum loop stop that prevents the snare loop from closing to a diameter less than 3-A1/4 inches; and

(2) a one-piece snare lock that contains no moving parts, has no integrated or attached compression springs, and has a side that contacts the animal that is a minimum of A1/2 inch in width.

B. A snare may not be attached or anchored to a fence or tree and may not be set in a location where, when fully extended, it can reach any part of a fence or any rooted vegetation greater than A1/2 inch in diameter.

C. Except when used by a licensed wolf trapper as a wolf snare as defined in part 6234.0900, subpart 6, a snare may not exceed seven feet in length from the anchor point to the end of the snare when fully extended.

Notes

Minn. R., Part 6234.2400

47 SR 139 47 SR 921