An Early Fishing Opener?

Mother’s Day and the Minnesota state fishing opener may not conflict this year, even though they are scheduled the same weekend.

If signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, the omnibus game and fish bill would set fishing opener for May 5. Minnesota’s 2012 fishing season is officially scheduled to start May 12.

“The fish have done most of the work that they must do to make other fish,” Rep. David Dill (D-Crane Lake) said. “The fish already are moving out (into deeper water). This is a bonus week. We have a constitutional amendment that says we have the right to hunt and fish.”

The omnibus game and fish bill, HF2171, passed by the House Tuesday, and also includes a Minnesota wolf-hunting season coinciding with the start of the deer-hunting season.

The bill awaits action by the Senate. If the Senate fails to pass the identical bill, a conference committee would be needed to work out the differences.

Wolf Hunt

The late-2011 removal of wolves from the federal Endangered Species List resulted in the transfer of management of Minnesota’s estimated population of 3,000 wolves to the state on Jan. 27, 2012.

Under the bill, up to 400 wolves could be taken during the first season, which would begin this year on the same day as the deer-hunting season.

For other provisions in the omnibus game and fish bill, visit the House of Representatives Session Daily.

-- Bob Geiger of the House of Representatives Session Daily contributed to this report.