Warden Wire:Frequently Asked Questions- archery, fishing and scents
By: Bureau of Law Enforcement
November 4, 2012
Here are answers to some recent most frequently asked law enforcement questions taken by the DNR Call Center.
The Call Center is staffed daily, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., and offers bilingual service in Spanish and Hmong. The number is 1-888-936-7463.
Question 1: I just bought my Archery Deer License. I hunt in a regular unit. How many deer I am authorized to kill?
Answer: In a “Regular Unit,” you are authorized to harvest one antlered deer and one antlerless deer with the purchase of your Archery Deer License. The “Archery Buck Deer Carcass Tag” which is valid in “ANY UNIT STATEWIDE” can only be used to tag an antlered deer. Your “Archery Antlerless Deer Carcass,” which is valid in all units except the buck-only units, can only be used to tag an antlerless deer. If you wish to harvest additional antlerless deer you can purchase bonus “Antlerless Deer Carcass Tags,” which are only valid in the deer management specified on the tag. These bonus tags cost $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, and can be purchased at a rate of one each day until they are sold out for that unit.
Question 2: Is it legal to be fishing under the power of an electric trolling motor with a secondary pole/line in the water while actively casting a primary pole/line?
Answer: It depends.
- If fishing on a waterbody where it is legal to motor troll, then this would be fine.
- If motor trolling is not allowed on the waterbody you are fishing, but you have a Class A disabled permit or an Electric Motor Trolling permit, or you are fishing from a boat with a person who has one of these permits, then this would also be legal.
- If fishing on a waterbody where motor trolling is not legal and not fishing under a permit that authorizes trolling, then it would not be legal to trail a bait or lure behind a boat propelled by a motor, including electric motors.
Trolling means fishing by trailing any lure, bait or similar device that may be used to attract or catch fish from a boat propelled by a means other than drifting or rowing. Casting and immediate retrieval of a bait, lure or similar device while the motor is running or position fishing is not trolling. Position fishing means fishing from a boat in a manner where the fishing line extends vertically into the water while the boat is maneuvered by the use of a motor.
Question 3: Is it legal to place up to 2 ounces of scent, in any manner, statewide?
Answer: Yes. Two ounces or less of scent may be placed, used or deposited in any manner for hunting game and does not need to be removed daily at the end of hunting hours. In counties where baiting deer is not legal, any amount of scent more than 2 ounces may not be placed or deposited in a manner in which it is accessible for consumption by deer or elk, and scents shall be removed daily at the end of hunting hours for deer. Scent means a material that is used solely to attract an animal by its odor and not for consumption any animal.