NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 1, 2012 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT BILL PETERSON AT (952)921-5818
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FUR TRAPPERS SUE DNR
OVER NONRESIDENT TRAPPING BAN

Five fur trappers from other states have recently filed a lawsuit to require the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to allow them to trap beaver, muskrats and other fur bearers on the same terms and conditions as Minnesota residents.

The Minnesota law prohibits non-Minnesotans from engaging in trapping except on land owned by the trapper.

“We just want to be treated like any other trapper – whether he is from Minnesota or any other state,” said Robert Waddell, a plaintiff in the case. “It isn’t fair that only Minnesota residents should be able to trap.”

“The Minnesota law is doubly unconstitutional,” said Bill Peterson, a Bloomington attorney who has successfully challenged unconstitutional DNR law in the past. “The statute requires nonresidents to trap only on land they own and bars nonresidents who don’t own land from trapping. The law does not have a property ownership requirement for Minnesota trappers.”

The case has been filed in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul. It is a declaratory judgment lawsuit which means that the trappers are asking the judge to find the law unconstitutional and void.

In addition, there are several Minnesota trappers who are plaintiffs who allege that because of the Minnesota law, they have not been allowed to trap in neighboring states including South Dakota and Iowa.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the Minnesota law is an unlawful restriction of interstate commerce, that the law denies them the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States and that the law denies them equal protection of the law.

“Our lawsuit does not dispute the right of Minnesota or any other state to reasonably manage their wildlife resources,” says Waddell. “Our argument is that trappers from other states should not be treated differently from Minnesota trappers.”

Attorney Peterson expects a court decision on the constitutional challenge later this year or in 2013.

Let em in! I would like to trap in another state but can't because of the no non resident law!

WOW , there might be a way around things after all , not to start a weeing match but I wonder if they could do that to change the SD nonres law ?

Technicaly any resident OWNS any/all state land. Don't know why they insist on doing it that way, but, it's their state, and they can run it as they please. Just look at El-Annoy, and all the goofy crap THEY do, including having their last 2 Gov's go to prison.

Im all for it. Ive helped out Minnesotans on traplines here. Actually can't think of a better cause to donate too right now.

I am all for suing south dakota also.

2x Would be fair to make the seasons all the same!! IMO

Holy Golden Gophers,Batman! Robert Waddell has somehow managed to do it ,again.

So in theory if they changed the law, the DNR could still be a bunch of douches and have the non res trapping fee at $5000 or something, in effect getting the same result.

Just add a fair and reasonable fee to the lawsuit!!

technically, one could sue over non-access to federal lands in states that allow residents access but bar non-residents from access to federal ground. The only reason such suits haven't happened before was nobody wanted to foot any legal bills for such, and no attorneys stepped forward to work pro bono just because

add my name to any class-action suit, for sure. start a petition and pass it around for MN, SD and any other state currently pondering non-resident nonsense deals

I read somewhere else that South Dakota has already been served papers from the same lawyer.

...and the plot thickens....

More details to come guys.

Not to take away from robert waddell but there are a couple guys in MN that are the driving force behind this and robert and a few other NR's agreed to take the place of lead outstate plaintiffs.

Eventually the instate guys names will be out(like probably in the next day or two) but I'm not gonna be the one to spill the beans.

Austin you coming to the NTA?

We do however allow "non resident" trapping,but you can just stay on your side of the river!.....B....

IMHO this is a HUGE step forward for MN, and the national trapping community. The guys that have made this happen thus far have my utmost respect for standing up and doing the right thing for all trappers.




MN already has a Non Resident Trapping and Small Game Liscence (which are the same liscences a resident must have to trap). $73 and $84.50 respectively, so there are already quite reasonable fees associated with NR trapping.

Nobody knows what permit fee is!! The Ill book shows 2 prices and NOBOdY can tell me which one apply's.

Donations to help fund this project will be accepted at the Minnesota Muskrat Mafia booth at the NTA !

I'd love to go to Minnesota to trap but you guys have to be ignorant if you want to go against states rights. Go ahead and open the door... you will have Jim, John, and Joe all sueing because they can kill 8 deer in Alabama and they cant in Ohio. We shouldn't look at "ways around things" We should change within.