ST. PAUL - A proposal to ban elaborate permanent hunting stands on Minnesota's public lands appears unlikely to pass this session.
The House had approved a game and fish bill that prohibits hunting stands or blinds constructed on public lands from having permanent roofs or walls.
But the restriction on elaborate hunting stands wasn't included in a Senate game and fish package approved Wednesday.
Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, who sponsored the Senate bill, said hunters don't want rules on how they build stands.
"It's not particularly popular," he said.
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Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, who sponsored the provision to restrict fancy stands, said he didn't expect the Senate to agree. He also said he won't fight to keep the measure in a final agreement.
The intent was to raise awareness about permanent hunting stands, McNamara said, because there is a "concerted effort to eliminate them" on all public lands. Establishing some restrictions could stop attempts to ban them completely, he said.
Saxhaug said he would rather see the state Department of Natural Resources encourage hunters to "get rid of the Taj Mahal" deer stands.
That issue will be settled in a House-Senate conference committee, which could meet within the next few days, Saxhaug said.
The Senate game and fish bill also limits to one the number of walleye over 20 inches that people can have in their possession. The House plan didn't include that.
Wente is a reporter for the Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle, a Forum Communications newspaper
