Ask a conservation officer

[Lee Borgersen]

                                   Ask a conservation officer:

 Photo of license won’t meet law

Q: With the proliferation of smartphones and the ability to take a picture of my license, is it sufficient to have a photo copy of my current fishing and hunting license and the signature, rather than having to have an actual copy of the license?


A: Technology has brought a lot of convenient tools and abilities to everyday life, and laws and policies are slowly catching up to these advancements. Unfortunately in this situation, Minnesota state statute still requires the hunter or angler to physically possess his or her license when acting under the privileges granted by the license. If the license was purchased electronically and a transaction authorization number was issued, the possession of this number will suffice until the hunter or angler receives the actual physical license. Once that actual license is received, however, it is required to be on the hunter or angler when he or she is acting under its privileges. Visiting a license vendor to obtain a duplicate copy of your license to keep in a favorite jacket, boat or tackle box can help you remember it when you go afield.