Turkey hunting weird rule (UPDATED)

[Pulleye16]

I thought it was an error so I sent an email to the DNR…

I was curious if I could use a bow a few days while turkey hunting with a gun tag, so I took to their FAQ section and they had it answers…but was shocked   


It said you can use a crossbow instead of a gun (with firearm tag) but no mention of a bow. So I sent the DNR that questioned, thinking it was a simple mistake, but NO- you cannot use a bow and arrow with your firearm turkey tag…but can use a crossbow. Found this weird.

Attached email

[Pulleye16]

I think she’s wrong…found this on the MN DNR website. I’m curious how she’ll respond.

[LPS]

I thought you could use anything.

[Leech~~]

Huum, didn't think strings and bullets could be used at the same time? 

[Jerkbiat]

According to what he found you can. I know you can for bear hunting.

[Pulleye16]

I just wanted to "try" bow a couple days during my hunt with a firearms tag. I always thought you could choose a "lesser" weapon to hunt with. What is strange is that they say I can use a gun and/or crossbow with my firearm tag, but not a vertical bow.

Anyways, I'm guessing the FAQ section and this lady's response is WRONG since I found, through more digging in the actual regs, that I CAN USE a vertical bow with my firearms tag...I guess I'll see what section of the rule book is correct!  LOL

[LPS]

I thought that when they made cross bows legal for everyone that at that time it became legal to use bows for everything, both cross bow and vertical bows.  But don't take my word for it.

[Jerkbiat]

I would have to agree with LPS.

[Pulleye16]

I just received a response from a “specialist.”  Remember, I found out after the fact, that in the regulations, it says I CAN use a bow with a firearm tag.

I’m not sure how to decipher his response but it appears he agrees with the First Lady I contacted as well as the FAQ section of turkey hunting…that a bow is NOT allowed under a firearm tag.

He sent a screen shot that said I can’t…so I responded to him with a screen shot that says I can…

Oh the suspense!  What’s the answer?


Why im really digging into this is because I’m taking a youth hunting for the first time and I don’t want to do anything wrong. I wanted to bring my bow with incase a perfect opportunity should arise, I’d like to take the shot. Otherwise, the youth will be taking with a gun. If the youth gets a turkey, or we are struggling, I’ll just take a gun with. It’s just been a goal to get on with a bow…

The case of “bow is legal or not” continues…

(Below is the specialists response)

[Steve-o]

I hate it when the can't or won't read their own writing.    I'd just do it because the regs say you can.   

I think it all depends on what type of license you are buying. 

If you buy an archer tag, according to bullet point 6, you can hunt all over the state in any season.  Y'er good.

If you buy a firearms tag, bullet point 4 says you CAN hunt with archery equipment - as long as you are hunting during the correct time-period.  Y'er good.

Bullet point 6b) says that if you buy an archery license, you can hunt state-wide all seasons AND use a crossbow - which has nothing to do at all with firearms anything.   

[Pulleye16]

Yep, 100% agree Steve. Those are the regs (screen shot) I sent to both DNR officials.  It’s funny, if I would have read those BEFORE reading the FAQ and having them clarify why in there it says I can’t, I wouldn’t be in this mess. lol.

Now knowing some think it’s illegal, I just don’t want to put a sour taste in the kids first hunt should I get questioned. 

But, knowing the regs say I can…I’m going to do it! 

I’m still curious how they respond after showing them the regs…

[glenn57]

They'll sau it's not what it means!

[Pulleye16]

It gets better fellas…and I apologize.

I got an official response today. AND THEY REWORDED the regulations to NOT allow vertical bows!  You can’t make this sh!t up. They literally just changed the regulations today.

Look above at what Steve-o and I posted and now look at the NEW regs!

Their response was just as stupid as the reg change.

So now, if you purchase a firearm tag, you can use gun or crossbow…but not a vertical bow. But…they’ll change the rule NEXT year to allow vertical bows.

So it was allowed this year (per their regs but not in the FAQ section), I asked to clarify. They said it’s not allowed and CHANGE the regs to reflect that. But are going to change the regs back to allowing it next year…WTF?

I’m never asking the DNR to clarify a question again.

[Pulleye16]

They'll sau it's not what it means!

I didn’t think that was possible Glenn considering the regs were pretty black and white on allowing me to using a bow with my firearm tag…well, I guess unless they changed the rule, but that would never happen one week before opener…

[LPS]

So why as heck not allow them right now.   

[Jerkbiat]

Ya, that is really stupid. But then it is a government agency and that should explain it all.