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Bill Would Permit Northwestern Minn. Crane Hunting

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- More long-necked sandhill cranes may soon end up in hunters' crosshairs if a bill makes its way through the Minnesota Legislature.

The proposal that's expected to pass the House and Senate soon, would change the state's hunting and fishing law to classify the sandhill crane as a game bird.

The Department of Natural Resources allowed the birds to be hunted last year in northwestern Minnesota, the first time they'd been hunted in more than 100 years. About 1,800 permits were issued. DNR wildlife program manager Steve Merchant says sandhill crane hunting will still be confined to the northwestern portion of the state.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports most sandhills that migrate through Minnesota end up in the northwestern region.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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