The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is changing the way married couples buy their combination hunting and fishing licenses. 

Starting Thursday, both members of married couples who want to buy combination licenses in person will need to be present to provide and verify their own complete customer records on file, the DNR said in a news release Wednesday.

“These changes will bring the DNR into compliance with state and federal laws that require collecting this information for angling or hunting license sales,” Steve Michaels, licensing program director, said in a news release. “The information helps prevent licenses being sold to people with violations or unpaid fines.”

There will be no change in price for the combination license, which is cheaper than purchasing two individual licenses. 

If both spouses aren't present, the one present can buy their part of the license and the other member can purchase their half at a later date at no additional charge, the DNR explains.

The DNR offers combination licenses for:

• Angling, valid for fishing.
• Conservation angling, valid for half the possession limit, per spouse.
• Sports, valid for fishing for both spouses and small game hunting for one spouse.
• Super Sports, valid for fishing for both spouses, small game for one spouse, includes two state trout stamps, and waterfowl and pheasant stamps for one spouse. It also offers the choice of a firearm, archery or muzzleloader deer license for one spouse.
• Family nonresident angling, valid for one or both parents and dependent children under age 16.

The DNR's licensing website is here. 

“Thank you to all our license purchasers for patience adjusting to these changes and for buying a license,” Michaels said in news release. “Your license dollars pay for a great deal of DNR conservation work and leverage more federal funding that supports hunting and fishing opportunities and habitat work.”