Forgive me if addressed already. I'm not familiar with how to look up past topics other that scrolling page after page.

Wishing to take my new solo canoe on a week trip to BWCA through EP16 in September. It's my understanding that if in MN waters at all from out of state (I'm in WI), then one has to have either MN tags on the canoe or from home state. Wisconsin does not require a tag for my particular canoe.

It looks like the parking lot for EP16 lays just outside the park boundary on state land. Is that true? Would I be required to have a sticker for the several tens of feet portage to cross into BWCA?

It my only trip in that canoe outside the border of WI. Well, besides Ontario!
I hate to give the state money for just that few minutes in, and few minutes out while portaging. I'm a bit of a "rule follower" too. It keeps us civilized! I'm not going to just go for it.

Cheers,
jaime

MN DNR Rules.

I believe you can have a non-licensed watercraft in MN for up to 90 days as long as your home state does not require licensing. You will probably have to have a long conversation with a game warden or DNR if you ran into one in the BWCA. I don't think the Forest Service checks watercraft licenses. But, for your situation, you would be fine based on the letter of the law above.

"A watercraft license is not required for:
Non-motorized watercraft 10 ft or less, or a watercraft owned by a person from another state and that state does not require licensing of that type of watercraft and it is not within Minnesota for more than 90 consecutive days. See MN Boating Guide for more information."

Oh yes, I see. Thank you for the MNDNR link. cheers

Print the DNR info and have it with you. Can tell you from personal experience, once in the case of the TSA, law enforcement often doesn't know "the law", but that is another discussion for another day.

jaimed: "Forgive me if addressed already. I'm not familiar with how to look up past topics other that scrolling page after page."

Searching for a topic of interest is relatively easy: click on the "Search" tab/link at the top of the web page and enter your search term, such as "canoe registration."

The TSA has nothing to do with a canoe. The DNR regulates watercraft and they know the rules.

The BWCA is not a park BTW.
Tom

Just to clarify:

Minnesota state law applies inside the BWCAW, including the provisions regarding watercraft and fishing. The federal statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to the BWCAW are inapplicable to those matters. DNR conservation officers patrol the BWCAW and routinely write citations for violating the former.

Ausable: "

jaimed: "Forgive me if addressed already. I'm not familiar with how to look up past topics other that scrolling page after page."

Searching for a topic of interest is relatively easy: click on the "Search" tab/link at the top of the web page and enter your search term, such as "canoe registration.""

Another option for searching is to just use Google. Type in "bwca.com" first, then whatever subject you want - in your case "canoe registration" and maybe "Wisconsin". By typing in bwca.com first, it will usually restrict results to threads found in this website. Watch the dates of the post thought as some are dated.

Has anyone ever actually been stopped for having their canoe not registered lol.

Yes, in college I was on a trip with 6 guys, 3 canoes into the Fourtown area and at the end of the entry point portage, we ran into a couple wardens who noted one canoe was not stickered. We explained it was from WI and was borrowed from a family friend. They had the whole group wait while 2 of us ran back into Ely to register a canoe that was not our own.

According to information on this message board, the rule changed for canoes in MN in 2017 (see https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1026953&forumID=12&confID=1

The rule changed in Canada in 2011.

I believe the rule changed in Wisconsin in 2022.

I purchased my first canoe in 1980 and registered it in MN. Later I moved to WI and registered the canoe. When I moved to IL I was not required to register the canoe, but I did so out of habit. The canoe is now in Ontario and it is not registered.

Not sure if I entered the link correctly.

I live in WI and have been going to the BWCA for the past 20+ years with my own canoe. I initially registered it in Ely on the way into my first trip and have done so every renewal period (online). It is good for three years and is only a small cost. It's well worth not worrying about this for less than $30 once every three years. I renew online each time and it's done. Personally, I wouldn't waste time worrying about it for the small cost and peace of mind knowing that I'm in compliance. There are far more important issues (and costs) for a BWCA trip.

I believe you can register it in WI for $11 for 3 years. See this thread:

https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1285256&forumID=12&confID=1