Anyone else find this confusing?

[Grum]

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota authorities remind anglers that their 2014 fish, game and trapping licenses expire Saturday.

While some hunting and fishing seasons continue past Saturday, the Department of Natural Resources says new licenses are required.

While many lakes remain frozen, the DNR says that doesn’t guarantee the ice is safe. The agency recommends contacting a bait shop to check on local ice conditions before venturing out.

All 2015 fishing licenses become effective Sunday, but ice shelter permits for 2014 remain effective through April 30.

So if you want to fish the whole winter trout season in a year, you need to buy two seasons of licenses and stamps?

What about panfish? is that good from March 1st - Feb 28 the following year? I always thought it went from game fish opener and ended the day before the next years game fish opener in May.

[BartmanMN]

Thanks for the reminder. I always forget they expire on 2/28 now. The April expiration date made so much more sense to me.

[hayseed]

If you go fishing on the 1st of March or later, you need a 2015 license and any stamps that you need. So yes you need two licenses to fish an entire season.

[CaptainMusky]

If you go fishing on the 1st of March or later, you need a 2015 license and any stamps that you need. So yes you need two licenses to fish an entire season.

Yes, regardless of whether or not a species is still open beyond 2/28, after that you need a new license.

Its such a cluster. Why on earth do we have our boat registration expire in the winter, yet our licenses expire at some other arbitrary date? I wish they would either go with good for a year from purchase. Regardless of when you buy it, its good for 1 full year. You buy a license in September 1st, its good until the end of August the following year. OR go with Calendar year starting Jan 1st each year and its only good for that calendar year. This is probably the cheapest and easiest route to accomplish, but as it is now its dumb.

[ClownColor]

someone presented this question at work. His father was coming from out of town and wanted to fish this Friday and Sat. The kid, who lives in MN wanted to take his dad out. If he bought a liscense this thursday, would it only be good for 2 days? OR would his 2015 liscense cover him from date of purchase to Feb. 28th, 2016???

[CaptainMusky]

ClownColor, that is a GREAT question. I thought I read somewhere that once the new year licenses are available for sale, they cover what's remaining of the current year. BUT, I haven't read that in print recently and couldn't find it now when I looked.

[Hoey]

There is an effective date on the license. My current one states 03/01/14, so I assume the same for this year. Maybe consider a two day license?

[ClownColor]

There is an effective date on the license. My current one states 03/01/14, so I assume the same for this year. Maybe consider a two day license?

I think that's the route he took. These weird dates work okay with avid fisherman like probably most on here but for the few that go a handfull of times,or maybe a few times every other year, I could see it a pain and extra expense.

It would just make sense to make it from opener to opener (that being walleye/pike...) and bass being only a few weeks away would not affect them much.

[Pat K]

someone presented this question at work. His father was coming from out of town and wanted to fish this Friday and Sat. The kid, who lives in MN wanted to take his dad out. If he bought a liscense this thursday, would it only be good for 2 days? OR would his 2015 liscense cover him from date of purchase to Feb. 28th, 2016???

Unless the law has changed recently the 2014 license purchased on Thursday would be good until midnight on Saturday the 28th. The new 2015 license would not cover the 2 days in Feb no matter when it was purchased but would be needed to fish on Sunday March 1st.

So your friends father could fish Saturday but not Sunday on the 2014 license.

I've discussed this with CO's several times over the years with all the different expiration dates they've used and have always been told that the new license doesn't become effective until the previous season is over.

[PierBridge]

I actually like that they went BACK to the way they did it in years past.

Read license, buy license when it or slightly before it expires.

Not to difficult imo..

[ClownColor]

I actually like that they went BACK to the way they did it in years past.

Read license, buy license when it or slightly before it expires.

Not to difficult imo..

You're right, its not to difficult for you and I who buy licenses every year and probably well before they're needed...but not everyone is like that.

I'm a May to May vote! Lol.

[DTro]

Its completely silly that if a guy wants to fish the winter trout season in MN (Jan 1- March 31) that he needs to buy 2 licenses and 2 stamps.

[mainbutter]

Some other states make it really easy. You buy a license whenever, and it is good for exactly 365 days. Renew when it is up. Then we don't have to worry about any particular set of angler specialists thinking that THEIR season is the one getting the short straw and having a renew date come right in the middle of it.

My preference is for the above, or all licenses end on the last day of the year.. of course that is what this thread is all about, renewals during ice fishing season being a problem.

[Great Outdoors]

If you purchase a 2014 license, it is only good until midnight of February 28th.

2015 licenses activate on March 1st, and are NOT GOOD if you buy them early.

To the question of having someone buying a license on February 28th, and fishing another day or two, the short term license will work.

They are good for either 24 to 72 consecutive hours from date and time of purchase.

[Great Outdoors]

PS-The short term licenses allow you to fish and keep trout without purchasing a trout stamp.

[PierBridge]

Some other states make it really easy. You buy a license whenever, and it is good for exactly 365 days. Renew when it is up. Then we don't have to worry about any particular set of angler specialists thinking that THEIR season is the one getting the short straw and having a renew date come right in the middle of it.

My preference is for the above, or all licenses end on the last day of the year.. of course that is what this thread is all about, renewals during ice fishing season being a problem.

Bad idea to have the season change right at the peak of icefishing season on jan 1. Thats not even an option in Minnesota.

The calendar year idea will never fly as that hurts revenue.

I really like going back to this time frame that has worked for decades.

As far as the trout guys Walleye guys like myself can handle buying next years license for the last 6 weeks we have left to fish so can they.

[Grum]

The idea of the license being good for one year from date of purchase would make to much common sense. Can you imagine if the Mn DMV ran their license plate tabs in the same manner as the Mn DNR?

I often wonder if the DNR models itself after a Winston Churchill quote and doesn't want to see him proved wrong.

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."

Winston Churchill

[stjoeguy]

Yes, it is confusing. I vote for renewing annually on January 1. A 2015 license is good for all of 2015. Period. What's the difference if you have to renew it in the middle of a season. Everything is in the middle of some season or another. It's easier to remember than when is the license renewal is due this year. If the DNR wants to spread out the work, make the license 365 days and have the DNR send out license renewals like auto license tab renewals. The only way I know the car tabs are due is when I get the renewal in the mail. Then I send them a check and I'm good for another 365 days.

[ClownColor]

It would also be great if the Deer season tag expired Nov. 10th...

Actually, I'm now on board of one year from purchase date...you could sort of "pick" your season dates...but I'd still buy mine May 1st!

[eyeguy 54]

I like the jan first deal or the 365 day deal. but until it changes I will buy my new one late feb. good old mn

[grasshopper]

Don't get it. Renewal 1 year after purchase or Feb 28. People would still be confused. Must be short on brains.

[bturck]

Having staggered purchase dates effective for one year from the date of purchase would make sense. Not all licenses coming due at the same time ie: March 1st. License renewal/purchase is handled in TN if you purchase on- line

[PierBridge]

Its not ever going to be 1 year from purchase.

Its not ever going to be Jan1st in Minnesota.

No this is not nor should it be confusing in the least bit

Understand?...lol

[nofishfisherman]

I don't really care if its Feb 28th or April 30th. As long as its one consistent date that no longer changes then its not hard to remember nor is it confusing.

Having a license good for 1 year from date of purchase is likely going to be much harder for people to remember. It seems some people can't remember one date that doesn't change how will they remember a date that changes every year?

The Jan 1 thing will never happen. Splitting trout into 2 licenses is one thing but splitting the heart of ice fishing season into two seasons is something totally different and will never happen.