Motors on WMA's?

[Finlander]

If a WMA is bordering only one side of the open water and you can only access the water thru the WMA, is it legal to run a motor on this water?

[skee0025]

I was reading the regs and the only reference I could find stated that use was prohibited on waters within the boundries of most WMA's. Seeing how the WMA borders only 1 side, your should be good to run a motor. But as with all questions posed, call the local CO so you dont run into trouble.

[jentz]

There is a WMA across the road from a friend near Willmar'We been busted for motor while duck hunting.One side is private farm land the other is WMA.We had permission to launch on the private side. Got the ticket went in front of a judge explained with written proff of private access and the ticket was dismissed.The CO thought we were bluffing him so he wrote the ticket!!!

[TylerS]

Yup, I'd get real comfortable with the local CO before doing it, just in case. That's one of those gray areas that you might be completely legal about, but the CO might not see that way. Tough call. Get some professional advice before firing up the Johnson.

[rbs]

I know a guy that got busted on a wma for a motor...not a real bright guy I might add but the same CO told me I can use robo's on that body of water....hmmmmm Does that sound fishy to you? At least I know I won't get busted once Oct comes around and I stick the Robo out...lol

[BrdHunter01]

Almost all the WMA's I hunt allow motors....

[dan z]

most wma's will allow motors, its the ones with resting areas that prohibite motors. its usually posted clearly at the parking lots.

[Finlander]

Pelican Lake has WMA's and WPA's on the lake and they allow motors there!

How does that work?

[booger]

I thought there were no motors at all on waters that are encompassed by WMAs... ok looks like there are a few exceptions on the main regs.

[BartmanMN]

Pelican Lake has WMA's and WPA's on the lake and they allow motors there!

How does that work?

Not sure on that. The lake access is not within a WMA and the lake is not surronded by WMA.

[Finlander]

The access is in the Waterfowl Production Area property with public access sign on the road. The law states that motor restictions apply to water within the WMA, so any water that is not surrounded by WMA is open to motor use! There are alot of WMA's in the state like that. So I guess it's up to the warden wether or not you get a ticket and have to go to court to show the judge that the water your running a motor is not within a WMA!

Another Minnesota "Lets confuse the public law"!

[BrdHunter01]

The access is in the Waterfowl Production Area property with public access sign on the road. The law states that motor restictions apply to water within the WMA, so any water that is not surrounded by WMA is open to motor use! There are alot of WMA's in the state like that. So I guess it's up to the warden wether or not you get a ticket and have to go to court to show the judge that the water your running a motor is not within a WMA!

Another Minnesota "Lets confuse the public law"!

Its Minnesota.... CO 1 law, CO 2 law, CO 3 law.

I got ripped for this a month or so ago. "just ask your local CO to be safe" thats simply B*S! I should not have to contact every CO in the state to see how they will inturpret the law! Will they contact me when that CO changes regions or is replaced? How will the new CO inturpret the law? Its asinine!