Accumulation of bear hunter preference points for youth allowed.

HF 818 amends Minnesota Statutes section 97B.405 to allow the commissioner to award bear hunting preference points to youth who are too young to hunt bears. This directly affects young Minnesotans aspiring to hunt bears in the future, enabling them to accumulate preference points while minors. The key provision creates a mechanism where youth can earn points toward future hunting eligibility, which carry over when they reach the legal hunting age. The change modifies the existing preference point system under bear hunting regulations without altering current hunting rules or license requirements.