Some trapping to be banned on federal lands!??

[lichen fox]

I was just checking out the public comment area on the Mn DNR HSOforum....I noticed that under new proposed rules...that the following wording will all be "deleted"....does anyone know if this means that these federal lands will no longer allow any trapping for beaver & otter period or if there is new wording somewhere to replace the existing provisions? I did emal jason abraham with this same question and my comments if that is the case....ALL of the following wording will be deleted!

6234.2100 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR TAKING BEAVER AND OTTER.

Subp. 5. Taking in federal waterfowl production areas. Waterfowl production areas are open to the trapping of beaver and otter during established seasons.

Proposed Rule Package No. 2

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

8/28/2009

Subp. 6. Taking in national wildlife refuges. Within the Agassiz, Minnesota Valley,Rice Lake, Sherburne, Tamarac, and Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuges,beaver may be taken by licensed trappers by permit issued by the appropriate refuge manager. All other national wildlife refuges are closed to beaver trapping. All national wildlife refuges are closed to otter trapping, except that otter may be taken on the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge by permit issued by the appropriate refuge manager.

Got the answer from Jason...Here it is...Whew!!

Thanks for your e-mail. I can assure you that the federal government is not pressuring the DNR into changing its administrative rules. We are simply cleaning up rules that duplicate federal code or eliminating state rules that are actually more restrictive than federal code.

The DNR is proposing to repeal 6234.2100 subpart 5 because the provisions of this rule duplicate U.S. Code 16, section 718d subsection C, which states that land acquired as a waterfowl production area is not subject to inviolate sanctuary provisions of the migratory bird act and therefore is open to public hunting and trapping. Moreover, federal code is generally takes precedence over administrative rules of the state in cases concerning federally managed lands.

We are also proposing to repeal 6234.2100 subpart 6 which closes certain national wildlife refuges in Minnesota to the taking of beaver. Without the repeal all but six of the state’s national wildlife refuges would be closed to the taking of beaver. Beaver, as you know are abundant in Minnesota and do not need protection in addition to the existing season structure and provisions in rule and statute. Beaver harvest may still be regulated on individual units of national wildlife refuges under federal regulations as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deems necessary.

Hope this answers your questions.

Jason