Bill
HF 866
HF866 lets private agricultural property owners outside city limits take nuisance geese outside open seasons, via traps or shooting, while noting MBTA compliance.
HF 866 – Summary (Open Season Exceptions for Taking Geese)
Overview
- This Minnesota House File, introduced March 7, 2025 and referred to the Natural Resources committee, would widen the set of animals that may be taken outside an open hunting season when deemed a nuisance. Specifically, geese would be added to the list of species eligible for such nuisance-based removal on certain private property.
Purpose and intent
- Provide property owners or tenants with agricultural land and their associated residences located outside city limits a mechanism to address nuisance wildlife more broadly, by allowing takings of geese outside an open season when the animal is deemed a nuisance.
- Align with existing nuisance provisions that currently apply to other species (raccoon, opossum, skunk) on similar property.
Key provisions (as introduced)
- Geographic and property scope: Applies to owners or tenants of agricultural property or associated residences located outside the corporate limits of a city.
- Methods permitted: Allows taking, capture using a cage trap or dog-proof trap, shooting, or temporarily possessing the animal.
- Purpose and rationale: Actions may be taken for the purpose of destroying or disposing of the animal if the owner or tenant in good faith deems it a nuisance.
- Species covered: Adds geese to the list of animals that may be taken outside of an open season when deemed a nuisance.
- Exclusions: Does not apply to animals listed under the federal Endangered Species Act or those listed as endangered by the state commission under section 481B.3.
- Federal law interplay: The bill notes that certain geese are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Violations of MBTA may incur penalties under federal law.
Affected parties and impact
- Primary beneficiaries: Owners or tenants of agricultural property and associated residences outside city limits who would otherwise need to wait for an open season to address nuisance geese.
- Potential beneficiaries/risks: While aimed at nuisance control for private property, the allowance to take geese outside open seasons engages with federal law (MBTA) and could raise enforcement and compliance considerations for individuals and property owners.
- Wildlife management considerations: The measure creates a new private nuisance exception for geese, which may have wildlife management and conservation implications, given migratory status and federal protections.
Procedural/timeline details
- Status: Introduced and placed on the calendar (HF 866).
- Legislative actions: Referred to Natural Resources on April 3, 2025 (after introduction on March 7, 2025). Next steps would typically involve committee review, potential amendments, and floor consideration.
Notes
- The bill mirrors existing nuisance-taking provisions for raccoons, opossums, and skunks but extends them to geese.
- Because geese are often migratory and some species are MBTA-protected, the bill acknowledges potential federal penalties and the need to comply with federal law. Stakeholders should monitor how the MBTA interacts with this state-level nuisance exception if enacted.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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