In an effort to combat CWD (Chronic wasting disease) the Minnesota DNR enacted excessive restrictions importing deer, elk, moose, and caribou into Minnesota in September of 2016.  This law was set to expire in March of 2018, but in a bureaucratic overreach of power the law was extended for an additional 18 months in February 2018.

 The law only allows for a hunter to bring in a completely skinned hide, antlers with the "skull plate", or a finished mount.  European or skull mounts have thus become illegal and hides must be skinned of the skull for shoulder mounts.  The amnesty period has also passed meaning future enforcement will mean citations and possible confiscation of the animal.  Additionally, the DNR is asking taxidermist to be their informant if we come across any violations.

We feel this law will only make the problem of carcasses being dumped into the environment worse as hunters have few legal options to bring their trophy home to a licensed taxidermist.  We also feel that being the DNR recently admitted their current law will be hard to enforce (Outdoor news article in August 9, 2018 edition) that more hunters will be encourage to smuggle their out of state carcasses into Minnesota for hidden and private processing.

We propose that the law be revised as follows to give hunters with an out of state trophy a legal way to bring their trophy home as well as help prevent the spread of CWD.

1. Allow for a 72 hour period for a hunter to bring their trophy home to a licensed taxidermist or meat locker.

2. Establish a tracking/registration system with the DNR where as hunter reports their trophy via phone or email.

Note: We are open and willing to accept other/additional proposals that both prevent the spread of CWD and allow hunters to bring their deer, elk, moose, and caribou to Minnesota taxidermists.