Digital photos of paper licenses acceptable until March 2025

Hunters and fishers can temporarily remember one less item when heading outdoors if they’re bringing along a phone.

Effective May 7, 2024, a new law clarifies that conservation officers will accept a digital photo of paper fishing or hunting licenses, cross-country skiing passes and horse-riding passes. It expires March 5, 2025.

The Department of Natural Resources is moving toward a more comprehensive, online licensing system. The practice for most enforcement officers in the meantime is to accept photos of licenses, but the law makes this explicit.

Conservation officers are not responsible if the phone is damaged during inspection. Handing over the phone does not constitute permission to look at any other content it contains.

Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) sponsor the law.

HF3376*/SF3400/CH92

HF3376* / SF3400 / CH92