Shelter license

[fishrguy]

My uncle told me he heard that a portable shelter license is no longer needed. Can any one verify that? Thanks Ryan

[bassNspear]

hope this helps you out.

Fish house and dark house licensing changes greet ice anglers (November 20, 2007)

Changes to fish house rules during the close of the 2007 Legislative session will greet anglers in Minnesota this ice fishing season, particularly those leaving such structures unattended on the ice overnight. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects the changes to generate some questions since the 2007 Fishing Regulations Handbook does not reflect the new statute language.

Col. Mike Hamm, DNR’s chief conservation officer, said the changes are pretty straightforward. “If you haul a fish house out and leave it unattended on the ice overnight, it needs a fish house license,” Hamm said. The rule change applies to both dark houses and fish houses.

The legal definition for a “fish house” means a structure set on the ice of state waters to provide shelter while taking fish by angling.

For a fish house or a dark house to require a shelter license, it has to be left unattended on the ice overnight and used for taking fish. “Overnight” is defined as the hours between sunset and sunrise outlined in the DNR’s sunrise/sunset tables in the 2007 Fishing Regulations Handbook.

Also under new provisions of the statute, residents and nonresidents are treated the same. This means in most cases a nonresident using a fish house during daylight hours will not need a fish house license. Likewise, if a nonresident angler is found occupying a fish house during the night, no fish house license will be required. However, if a nonresident places a fish house on a lake and leaves it unattended overnight, a nonresident shelter license will be required.

“For the 2007-2008 winter season, residents and nonresidents will need the appropriate fish house license only if the fish house is left unattended on the ice overnight,” Hamm said.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question: Resident or nonresident is angling with a fish house for five hours during the day. Person leaves ice with the fish house. Does angler need a fish house license?

Answer: No. A fish house license is not required in this instance.

Question: Resident or nonresident angler stays overnight in a fish house. Does person need a fish house license?

Answer: No. A fish house license is not required in this instance, as long as the fish house is occupied.

Question: Resident or nonresident angler leaves fish house unoccupied on an area lake overnight in front of the resort angler is staying at. Does the fish house require a fish house license?

Answer: Yes. A fish house license would be required in this instance. Anytime the fish house is left unattended overnight, a fish house license is required.

Question: A group of (resident or nonresident) anglers pulls a fish house on the ice for a weekend of ice fishing. The fish house is designed with a wheel system that allows for easy access and removal from the lake. The anglers stay in the house and never leave it unoccupied during the course of the weekend. Does the fish house require a license?

Answer: No. A fish house license is not required as long as the fish house is attended. This includes daylight, as well as nighttime use.

Question: A group of anglers (resident or nonresident) anglers constructs an 8- by - 8- by 12-foot fish house on a local lake. Regularly the group, or members of the group, will meet at the fish house after work to fish. By 9 p.m. they’ve all left and return the following day at 5 p.m. for more fun. Does this fish house require a license?

Answer: Yes. Depending on who owns the fish house, a resident or a nonresident fish house license would be required.

The following regulations apply to fish houses, dark houses and portable shelters used on all Minnesota waters, unless noted in the 2007 Minnesota Fishing Regulations Handbook.

- A person may not take fish from a dark house or fish house that is left unattended on

the ice overnight unless the house is licensed and has a license tag attached to the

exterior in a readily visible location. The commissioner must issue a tag with a dark

house or fish house license, marked with a number to correspond with the license

and the years of issue. A dark house or fishing house is not required of a resident on

boundary waters where the adjacent state does not charge a fee for the same activity.

- Nonresidents may obtain a license for a fish shelter.

- All shelters (including dark houses, fish houses and portable shelters) placed on the

ice of Minnesota waters must have either the complete name and address, driver’s

license number, or the nine-digit Minnesota DNR number on the license of

the owner plainly and legibly displayed on the outside in letters, and figures at least

two inches in height.

- A tag, furnished with the license, must be attached to the exterior in a readily visible location.

- Dark houses, fish houses and portable shelters must have a door that can be opened from the outside at any time when in use.

- Fish houses left on the ice overnight need to have at least two square inches of

reflective material on each side of the house.

- Fish houses must comply with the identification requirements of the state for which

the angler is licensed.

- No person may erect a dark house, fish house or shelter within 10 feet of an existing

dark house, fish house or shelter.

- Portable dark houses, fish houses and shelters may be used for fishing within the

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), but must be removed from the

ice each night. The structure must be removed from the BWCAW each time the

occupant leaves the BWCAW.

[mike morris]

I too had the same question. It appears the only time you would need a license is if you leave your fish house un-occupied on the lake overnight.

[bassNspear]

that is correct. Hope it all helps you.

See ya on the ice

[ice_it_06]

A fish house license is not required as long as the fish house is attended. This includes daylight, as well as nighttime use.

Unattended Daylight or Nighttime it needs a license !!

[fishrguy]

Thanks a lot guys!

[jtillman]

Do you still need to display your DNR License number on a shelter or not?

[Orlip]

Quote:

---

Do you still need to display your DNR License number on a shelter or not?

---

- Fish houses must comply with the identification requirements of the state for which

the angler is licensed.

[TMF89]

To clarify that, yes you do, in 2" high letters.

[TylerS]

All I can say is

FINALLY!!!!!!

[fishrguy]

So the DNR numbers are your MDNR#, and they must be 2" high, do you know if they can be written in say magic marker?

[Sergeant Slabber]

Ofcourse they can there fishrguy. Just erase my old #'s with some nail polish remover and write yours on there. Be careful what you remove it with so it doesn't take apart that fine tarp material

[Maverick]

Ice It 06,

You have that a little wrong. You can absolutely leave a house unattended during daylight hours and even into the evening without a license. The law says that it can't be left out unattended overnight and further defines overnight as that time between sunset and sunrise. I realize that the press release from DNR made a confusing statement in their question and answers regarding daylight attendance, but I contacted them and they clarified that a house can be left unattended as long as it is not unattended overnight.

Here is there response to my question: The law scopes the language to the "overnight" time frame. The intent that is that the traditional houses, made of construction materials would still be placed and some point left overnight unattended on state waters. That is the requirement for needing the license. "What you describe, setting up a house, leaving unattended for a short window of time, and removing when your done fishing, would not require a license."

Believe it or not, the DNR actually created a law that makes alot of sense and it is quite simple. We need to be careful to not read to much into it and confuse other folks.

Best of luck fishing, I am heading to OT area December 10th and my hopes are running high.

[BobT]

Why do you suppose the reason for requiring the license if left overnight vs. during the day? What's the difference? It doesn't appear that they want houses removed off the ice for any particular time frame because if you're in it, near it, or have it licensed then it seems okay to have it out there.

I just don't quite understand the reasoning behind bothering with the license at all now.

Bob

[puddleduck]

Sure would be nice to have a definition of "unattended." Lines down a hole while you are outside relieving yourself are "unattended." I would assume that if you are in your house after dark, leave heat and lights on, go next door to visit your neighbor, no lines down, that you have left it unattended. I see lots of controversy over the definition of "unattended." I think I will buy the license for the meager amount and be safe.

[grasshopper]

If u leave it out 1 nite, it probably going to stay out there the whole time until season's end. Maybe u who don't understand the new law should call DNR to get the right understanding of the law. I get it, but I also called them.

[Blainebob]

FYI- i use the reflective address letters and numbers-more flash,just to be safer

[ice_it_06]

Maverick1951:

The requirements explained to me by the DNR and local CO reflect that of the release notice.

Houses left out unattended (very near vicinity) anytime without a license creates a "baby sitting" scenario for the CO. I was asked are we to "assume" all these houses will daily vanish by dark ? Meaning houses on the lake not licensed or occupied ? The chances of most people departing and then coming back to remove the house are slim and none. History and habits dictate that very well.

Unattended is rather self explanatory. Either you are there

in attendance to the houses close proximity, or you are inside occupying it, or its classified unattended.

Each can do as he pleases and use what ever information source or explanation as well. I just forwarded what I read and what was confirmed to me by the DNR. Not the first time or the last that conflicting explanation will come from the source itself.

My houses will all be licensed, not worth the chance or hassle to avoid a few bucks for a license, or to remove the darn things daily.

Caution on the side of safety and logic IMHO.

[BobT]

I understand the law and how to apply it. I just don't understand why they went only so far and then stopped.

I guess this forces you to do one of three things. Live in it, move it at least once a day, or license it.

Bob

[grasshopper]

What's moving it once a day going to do? It would have to come off the lake at nite if no one is in it. I've got three house that stay on the lakes all the time. There fore 3 licenses. I won't pull them off alll the time. If I had 1 on wheels then I might.

[sikasoman]

Read the article in Outdoor News this week. It will answer your questions.

[puddleduck]

The letter of the law reads, "A person may not take fish from a dark house or fish house that is left unattended on the ice overnight unless the house is licensed and has a license tag attached to the exterior in a reaily visible location." It seems that it is not a simple law as I read it.

[BobT]

Sorry, meant move it off the lake.

Bob

[grasshopper]

Go to DNR site and read Nov. 20 update. They change the law and the book came out before the law change.

[puddleduck]

What I meant by my previous post is that is exactly what Minnesota Statute 97C.355 Subd. 2 as amended by the 2007 legislative session reads. I still believe it is vague and ambiguous at best. I am getting the license.