Purpose

• Regulate the possession of live deer in Minnesota by requiring registration with the Board of Animal Health and adherence to farmed Cervidae standards. The bill also addresses control over whitetailed deer possession by restricting new registrations and setting transfer rules, enforcement, and penalties.

Main Provisions

• Mandatory registration for possession of live Cervidae:
  • A person may not possess live Cervidae in Minnesota unless they are registered with the Board of Animal Health and meet all the requirements for farmed Cervidae.
  • If Cervidae are possessed in violation of this rule, they may be seized and destroyed by the commissioner of natural resources.
• Revocation consequences:
  • If a person’s registration is revoked, they are ineligible for future registration unless the board determines they have taken steps that make future escapes extremely unlikely.
• Whitetailed deer registrations:
  • The board must not allow new registrations under this section for possessing whitetailed deer.
  • This prohibition on new registrations for whitetailed deer does not prohibit someone who already holds a valid registration from selling or transferring it to an immediate family member. A valid registration may be sold or transferred only once under this provision.
  • Before approving a sale or transfer to a family member, the board must verify the registration is in good standing, and the eligible family member must pay a one-time transfer fee of $500 to the board.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Alters Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 35.155 subdivision 10 to implement mandatory registration for possession of live Cervidae.
• Introduces enforcement provisions allowing seizure and destruction of unlawfully possessed Cervidae, overseen by the commissioner of natural resources.
• Restricts new registrations specifically for possessing whitetailed deer, effectively limiting new holders of whitetailed deer unless already registered.
• Creates a limited pathway for transfer of an existing registration within an immediate family member, subject to board verification and a one-time transfer fee.

Compliance & Enforcement

• Compliance: Individuals must obtain and maintain registration with the Board of Animal Health to legally possess live Cervidae, and must meet farmed Cervidae requirements.
• Enforcement: The commissioner of natural resources may seize and destroy Cervidae possessed without proper registration.
• Registration status: If registration is revoked, the individual may not regain registration unless the board approves measures to reduce future escapes.

Notable Changes in Practice

• Opens the door for changes to how whitetailed deer are kept by removing broad prohibitions on new whitetailed deer farms (as suggested in the bill’s introduction), but simultaneously restricts new registrations for possessing whitetailed deer in practice.
• Adds a defined transfer mechanism for existing registrations within immediate families, with a financial cost and a verification step.

Relevant Terms - Cervidae - whitetailed deer - live Cervidae - farmed Cervidae - Board of Animal Health - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 35.155 subdivision 10 - mandatory registration - registration - revoked registration; ineligible for future registration - deeds to reduce escapes - immediate family member - transfer of registration - one-time transfer fee - $500 - good standing - seizure and destruction - commissioner of natural resources