As outdoor technology advances, Minnesota DNR deals with fair chase questions
As outdoor technology advances, Minnesota DNR deals with fair chase questions
Publish Date: 2026-02-06 12:26:00
Source Domain: www.outdoornews.com
Key points from the story:
- Minnesota DNR leaders say most new outdoor technologies haven’t yet harmed wildlife populations, but tools like forward-facing sonar and trail cameras are raising concerns about fair chase, ethics, and the quality of hunting and fishing experiences.
- Enforcement and wildlife officials highlighted legal and ethical gray areas, especially involving trail cameras, drones, and emerging devices.
- Panelists warned that artificial intelligence may be the next major challenge, with AI-driven wildlife patterning potentially giving hunters unprecedented advantages.
Brooklyn Park, Minn. — At the Minnesota DNR’s 2026 Roundtable last month, one of the final sessions of the day was entitled “Future of Fair Chase and Natural Resource Sustainability.”
The discussion revolved around the role of new technology in the outdoors. Because the technologies discussed are not new, the hour-long panel discussion did not serve to open a new can of worms. It did, however, afford a brief look at how deep the can has already become.
Marc Bacigalupi, the DNR’s northwest regional fisheries manager, spoke about growing the concerns around forward-facing sonar.
“You might be surprised to know that overall, you don’t see that much of an effect. But we also know that the high-level expert anglers are very good at it. We see signals of that in a few different creel surveys,” he said.
From forward-facing sonar to drones and AI, panelists explore how technology is reshaping ethics, enforcement, and experiences out-of-doors. (Stock photo)
Bacigalupi assured the audience that fisheries personnel are good at monitoring populations, and that if fish abundance or size were to decrease, the agency could address those concerns with stricter regulations.
He also cited the work of a technology work group, comprised of citizens, industry experts, guides, and DNR staff. Plans are underway for a website and informational campaigns.
Representing the DNR Wildlife…
