If you are interested in testifying in person (either for or against), you’ll need to contact Amy Rudolph at (651) 296-1774. She is the committee administrator.
Here is a list of email addresses you should include:
Denny McNamara (R)
E-mail: rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn
Duane Quam (R)
E-mail: rep.duane.quam@house.mn
David Hancock (R)
rep.david.hancock@house.mn
Feel free to copy the rest of the committee in on this:
Paul Torkelson (R)
E-mail: rep.paul.torkelson@house.mn
Jean Wagenius (DFL)
E-mail: rep.jean.wagenius@house.mn
Bill Hilty (DFL)
E-mail: rep.bill.hilty@house.mn
Paul Anderson (R)
E-mail: rep.paul.anderson@house.mn
Michael Beard (R)
E-mail: rep.mike.beard@house.mn
David Dill (DFL)
E-mail: rep.david.dill@house.mn
Steve Drazkowski (R)
E-mail: rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn
Dan Fabian (R)
E-mail: rep.dan.fabian@house.mn
Andrew Falk (DFL)
E-mail: rep.andrew.falk@house.mn
Tom Hackbarth (R)
E-mail: rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn
David Hancock (R)
E-mail: rep.david.hancock@house.mn
Rick Hansen (DFL)
E-mail: rep.rick.hansen@house.mn
Kate Knuth (DFL)
E-mail: rep.kate.knuth@house.mn
John Persell (DFL)
E-mail: rep.john.persell@house.mn
Peggy Scott (R)
E-mail: rep.peggy.scott@house.mn
Here is a Letter that was sent:
Dear Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee Member,
I DO NOT SUPPORT the following language in the amendment to H.F. No. 984:
25.29 Sec. 62. DEER HUNTING RULES.
25.30 (a) The commissioner of natural resources shall not adopt a rule applicable for the
25.31 Series 300 deer permit areas that:
(1) imposes an antler point restriction for taking antlered 26.1 deer other than that
26.2 imposed under Minnesota Rules, part 6232.0200, subpart 6; or
26.3 (2) prohibits party hunting for antlered deer according to Minnesota Statutes, section
26.4 97B.301, subdivision 3.
26.5 (b) The commissioner of natural resources shall amend Minnesota Rules, part
26.6 6232.1300, subpart 3, item B, to allow legal bucks to be taken in season option A for a
26.7 nine-day period beginning the Saturday nearest November 6. The commissioner may use
26.8 the good cause exemption under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388, subdivision 1, clause
26.9 (3), to adopt rules under this section, and Minnesota Statutes, section 14.386, does not
26.10 apply except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388.
I am not sure you understand the great deal of research that has gone into the development of this pilot project. There has been a lot of hard work by thousands of individuals that will be absolutely destroyed if you include this language. According to the QDMA's Whitetail Report, which is based on data and scientific evidence, Minnesota is regarded as one of the poorest managed whitetail populations. Those who opposed these rules have no data to back up their arguments, which is why the MN DNR has been supportive of the efforts to institute the new regulations in zone 3. Last year was year one of this 3-year trial. Why must you find the need to derail the DNR's efforts so early in the project? What scientific evidence do you have that indicates this is a bad thing?
Minnesota has had its base current regulations in place for essentially 30+ years. It is time for change. This is how 22 other states have already changed and quite frankly, if we had it our way, we would want more strict regulations. These regulations are a complete compromise. Everything you may hear about these new regulations catering to one group is an absolute lie. The regulations as they are now are what we have always thought of as a nice middle ground where everyone can be happy, they just have to give them a chance.
Lastly I am very angry at how this rule got pushed through without input from groups like Bluffland Whitetails and the Quality Deer Management Association. There is a reason why it was done this way. The surveys done by the MN DNR show that the majority of hunters support the new rules and the passage of this bill with the language above will only satisfy a minority of the population. Last I checked, it was a Representatives job to do what the majority of the people wanted, not the minority!
Please take this language out!