Hotspotoutdoors

Here is my question......a buddy and I will be up in the bwca fishing this thursday through monday. I am from WI and he is from Montana. We will be using my canoe (which does not have to be registered under WI state law). Do I need to purchase MN registration for my canoe when we enter the boundary waters or does MN recognize out of state users and the laws they are bound by in their home state?? Thanks for any clarification and have a great fall season everyone.

GoggleEye

You will be fine. They do recognize other state's laws.

OK, great. That is what I remember, but I wanted to make sure we have all the legal bases covered before we enter the B-dub. Thanks for your help.

GoggleEye

Try reading MN Statute 86B.301, or better yet contact a MN Conservation Officer. If your canoe is NOT registered in your home state, required or not, you DO need to register it in order to use in MN. Unregistered = unregistered. I'd rather give my money to my home state than to a different state, so try checking with the canoe's home state to see if its even possible to register it. It is illegal to paddle without reigstration. Registration is required.

2009 Minnesota Statutes
86B.301 WATERCRAFT LICENSES REQUIRED.
Subdivision 1.Requirement.

Except as provided in subdivisions 2 and 3, a person may not operate or give permission for the operation of a watercraft that requires a watercraft license on the waters of this state unless:

(1) a watercraft license for the watercraft has been issued and is valid during the period of operation;

(2) the license number is affixed to the watercraft as prescribed by the commissioner; and

(3) a valid registration sticker is affixed to the watercraft as prescribed by the commissioner.
Subd. 2.Exemptions.

A watercraft license is not required for:

(1) a watercraft that is covered by a license or number in full force and effect under federal law or a federally approved licensing or numbering system of another state, and has not been within this state for more than 90 consecutive days, which does not include days that a watercraft is laid up at dock over winter or for repairs at a Lake Superior port or another port in the state;

(2) a watercraft from a country other than the United States that has not been within this state for more than 90 consecutive days, which does not include days that a watercraft is laid up at dock over winter or for repairs at a Lake Superior port or another port in the state;

(3) a watercraft owned by the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state, except watercraft used for recreational purposes;

(4) a ship's lifeboat;

(5) a watercraft that has been issued a valid marine document by the United States government;

(6) a duck boat during duck hunting season;

(7) a rice boat during the harvest season;

(8) a seaplane; and

(9) a nonmotorized watercraft nine feet in length or less.
Subd. 3.Temporary certificate.

A person may operate a watercraft and allow another person to operate a watercraft for which a temporary license certificate has been issued during the period the certificate is valid.
History:

1990 c 391 art 9 s 12

Sorry my bad. I should have double checked about a non-registered water craft.

Goggle eye, Years ago I let my brother(a MN resident) use my canoe in the BWCA. Since WI doesn't require a license, I didn't think twice about it. Long story short, He got busted by a MN CO. Your canoe won't require hull numbers, but it will require a tag. You can spend your tax dollars at home, or send them to MN. It's your choice.

chaffmj, not a big deal. WI residents can use their 'unregistered" trailers on MN roads, so you would think a canoe would be OK, but no.

Good thing I double checked this thread, I guess I will be going to the DNR office to fork out yet another check. Man, pretty soon I am going to have to get a part-time job just to hunt and fish......it just never ends with the fees and permits and registrations and licenses......oh well, such is life I guess. Thanks for the help everyone.

GoggleEye

The last time I had any dealings with canoe registration, the sticker from the state (any state that required registration) needed to be affixed to the bow.
Any state that had a registered boats/canoes sticker will be honored in Minnesota.
If the state has no registration requirements, you must license it to be used in Minnesota waters.
License numbers in Minnesota(above and beyond the sticker) only need to be displayed if the canoe is powered by a motor.