Fish houses, dark houses and portable shelters placed on the ice must
have proper identification (2005-01-04)
It's a sign of the season, fish houses, dark houses and portable shelters
dotting Minnesota waters as anxious anglers ready for another ice fishing
season.
"Ice fishing is among the most popular Minnesota winter activities, with
about 140,000 ice fishing shelter licenses sold last year," said DNR Chief
Conservation Officer Mike Hamm, "but with this opportunity comes some
responsibility."
Hamm said all shelters, which include dark houses, fish houses and portable
shelters, placed on the ice of Minnesota waters must have the complete name
and address, driver's license number or MDNR number that's issued to the
individual through the Electronic Licensing System(ELS) system plainly and
legibly displayed in readily visible locations on the outside in letters and
figures at least 2 inches in height.
Dark houses, fish houses and portable shelters placed on the ice for shelter
while fishing must be licensed, except that a license is not required on
border waters with Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. The tag, furnished with
the license, must be attached to the exterior in a readily visible location.
Hamm also urged snowmobilers and ATV riders to be aware of fish houses
partially or completely hidden by snow. "Night riders should be very alert
and slow down, you may hit one of these before you ever see it. So drive at
a speed which will allow you time to see potential hazards and avoid them,"
Hamm said.
The following regulations apply to fish houses, dark houses, and portable
shelters used on all Minnesota waters, unless noted in the 2004 Minnesota
Fishing Regulations Handbook.
- Dark houses, fish houses, and portable shelters must have a door that can
be opened from the outside at any time when in use.
- No person may erect a dark house, fish house, or shelter within 10 feet of
an existing dark house, fish house, or shelter.
- Fish houses left on the ice overnight need to have at least 2 square
inches of reflective material on each side of the house.
- Portable dark houses, fish houses, and shelters may be used for fishing
within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), but must be
removed from the ice each night. The structure must be removed from the
BWCAW each time the occupant leaves the BWCAW.
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