The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reached a decision on a petition they received form several environmental and conservation groups.

The petition requested that the DNR initiate policies to:

  • Ban the possession and use of lead or other toxic fishing tackle on Minnesota waters located within the common loon range.
  • Prohibit the taking of wild animals within Minnesota while possessing or using bullets containing lead or other toxic materials.
  • Prohibit the taking of wild animals within Minnesota with shotshells other than those loaded with steel shot, copper-plated shot, nickel-plated shot, zinc-plated steel shot, or shot made of other nontoxic materials approved by the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The DNR, after analyzing 20 years of data and stakeholder input related to this subject, has denied the petition.

Multiple factors came into play, including:

Limitations in the DNR’s rulemaking authority, the petition’s lack of data concerning the impact of the proposed rule, the lack of demonstrated broad stakeholder support, and the DNR’s conclusion that potential restrictions on the use of lead ammunition and tackle should be considered by the Minnesota Legislature.

You can follow the link below to see the detailed reasons for their decision.

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