Minnesota 1/2 bag limit conservation fishing license

[ottertailguy]

Went up north to get ready for the opener and the last thing I did was get a license. Thought I would read the DNR regulation since it's been a few years. I was surprised there was the 1/2 bag limit conservation fishing license choice for a few less dollars vs a regular license. I can see a lot of people getting one because they don't keep many or don't caught a full limit very often.

I'm also wondering how long the DNR have been selling them and if anyone has purchased one?

[20lbSloughShark]

I think it came out 3 years ago. I bought one last year and this year. I like it. I don't keep fish often, and I like the cheaper price. When I want to keep fish, I bring lots of other people and we have a fish fry.

[laker1]

Either way a license is cheap. It would only mount to a few gallons of gas or about the amount it will cost to go on one fishing trip in gas if your lucky.

[Fowlmouth]

Not a bad idea. But if it's half the limit of a regular license it should also cost half the price as a regular license as well. Also how does it work for fish like northern with a normal limit of 3? Can you only keep 1 northern or 2 with the conservation license??

[GeluNumber1]

Fowlmouth, with odd-numbered limits, you have to forfeit one fish (ex: 1 northern instead of 3, 12 bluegills instead of 25, etc).

[Fowlmouth]

Gotcha Gelu, thanks.

[Search Function]

If it sells licences to those who would otherwise not get one and not fish I'm Ok with it. However, if you are just buying it to save a few bucks I think your a cheap skate and a poor example of a conservationist.

[20lbSloughShark]

Sheesh, some of us cant afford a license at all times. I needed both a fishing license and a trout stamp the day I bought mine this year. I didn't have enough for the full version. Sure I could have waited 2 weeks till next payday, but why when the 1/2 license will do?

[NKLCOLT1911]

i buy one every year purely cause i dont eat fish.

[nofishfisherman]

I like the idea personally. Believe it or not there are fisherman you either don't keep or eat fish so its great for them. There are also fisherman who don't have a lot of money and every dollar matters, saving a few bucks on a license in exchange for keeping less fish is a good trade off if money for hobbies is in short supply.

[CAMAN]

Not a bad idea. But if it's half the limit of a regular license it should also cost half the price as a regular license as well.

Problem with that is the administrative fees to file it don't go down by half as well. You probably are paying for half of a license, but there are usually taxes and fees included in the license that can't be cut down.

[solbes]

I usually buy a conservation license and then pay for the walleye stamp. Those extra $5 go towards walleye stocking. I would guess the general liscense sales can go towards all sorts of costs.

Which I guess seems kind of odd. I keep maybe 10-15 walleyes for our family a year, but just a couple at a time. But its nice knowing that $5 of walleye fingerlings are going back in...somewhere.

[Luke_M]

I don't keep fish very often and I would buy 2 fishing licenses and keep a 1/2 bag limit if I could fish 2 lines.

[fishnowworknever]

I have a lifetime license and like to keep fish when I want to. If I want to keep 1 fish out of a 6 fish limit I will, if I want to keep 3 I will, or 6 if I want to.

It was a easy choice for me to pick one up, 1/2 bag conservation limit is a great idea for those who don't keep fish or only 1 or 2 here and there...or for those that don't fish much or every year.

[EBass]

I like to eat fish. I just hate cleaning them and hack them all up.

[fishnowworknever]

I like to eat fish. I just hate cleaning them and hack them all up.

Yeah I've heard the worms in bass really dull up the knife...

Joking of course