Non-Resident youth fishing license

[Nathansdad]

Was looking at the DNR HSOforum and noticed I need to purchase a non resident youth license for my 2 year old. The law states all children under the age of 16 need to purchase this $17 license. I have no problem paying it but does a 2 year old really need a license? Sounds like the DNR has set up a great program here to get kids involved in fishing. I feel for the kids who don't fish because their parents refuse to purchase the license.

[SapperACE]

Are you sure you were not looking at the lifetime licenses? I would have to check the regs to be sure, but I'm pretty sure a child does not need to buy a license until 16. It has always been that way.

[jwmiller33]

per page 7 of the regs:

Quote:

Nonresidents

All nonresidents age 16 and older are required to have an appropriate fishing license while angling. Nonresidents under age 16 do not need a license if the parent or guardian is licensed. Children of an adult who has a Minnesota nonresident family license may possess their own limit of fish. However, if the adult has an individual license, the child’s fish are included in the adult’s limit. Nonresidents under age 16 may purchase a nonresident license and possess their own limit of fish.

[SapperACE]

You may be right! I just clicked on the youth non-resident license tab on the DNR HSOforum, and it said... "Non-resident youth under the age of 16 may purchase an angling license at the resident fee and take their own limit of fish." They make it seem like thats such a good deal or something.

Who knows when this changed? I can't believe that either. That seems sneaky. If I were a non resident i'd just say my kids were my neices and nephews from Minnesota. No way they could prove it. Wow!

[SapperACE]

Thank you for clearing that up. I see now. I didn't think that seemed right.

[Juneau4]

You may be right! I just clicked on the youth non-resident license tab on the DNR HSOforum, and it said... "Non-resident youth under the age of 16 may purchase an angling license at the resident fee and take their own limit of fish." They make it seem like thats such a good deal or something.

Who knows when this changed? I can't believe that either. That seems sneaky. If I were a non resident i'd just say my kids were my neices and nephews from Minnesota. No way they could prove it. Wow!

It's been that way for years and more years.

[reddog]

Does your two year old want to keep a limit of fish? If so, then he needs a individual license, or you need a family license.

If he/she doesnt want to keep a limit, then you're good to go.

[walleye 4 me]

just to be clear, if I have a family license, my wife, 2 kids and I can all keep a limit for each of us???

[Brad B]

just to be clear, if I have a family license, my wife, 2 kids and I can all keep a limit for each of us???

you are correct. with a non resident family license you all would be allowed a limit. now if you or your wife had a individual license then the fish caught by your kids would be counted towards the limit on the individual license of the person that had is. the part in the regs that allows a kid under 16 to buy the license is word "MAY BUY" it doesn't mean they have to it all depends on if they want to be able to keep a limit them self. in the long run the family license is the best value for non resident families that want to come here to fish. the other issue is if you are from a bordering state to minnesota and hold a license from your home state then you could fish on that license as long as you stay on border water and don't go inland. so in your case for instant you and your family could fish the red river on your ND license but you couldn't come into minnesota and fish a lake on it.

[Nathansdad]

This is the answer I got directly from the DNR.....

Children under 16 who are going to fish don’t need a license if the parent or guardian has a license. If so and you have an individual nonresident fishing license his fish would count under your limit. If you have a family license then he could get his own limit. (page 7 of the fishing regulations.) If you are not fishing and helping him in any way then you need a license. The nonresident youth fishing license for under 16 would be if he could fish without help. So unless your son is going to fish, he does not need a license.

I think I'll just bite the bullet and get him the non resident lifetime fishing license before he turns 3. Then were covered for anything.