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2018 SESSION

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HB 995 Dogs; licensed hunter may track a wounded bear, turkey, or deer with certain weapon.

Introduced by: Kathy J. Byron | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Tracking wounded bear, deer, or turkey. Allows a licensed hunter to use tracking dogs to find a wounded or dead bear, deer, or turkey. The bill authorizes the hunter to have a weapon in his possession and to use it to humanely kill the tracked animal, including after legal shooting hours. The bill prohibits using the weapon to hunt, wound, or kill any animal other than the animal the hunter is tracking, except in self-defense. Current law prohibits a hunter from having a weapon in his possession while tracking.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Special license to track a wounded bear or deer with dogs. Creates a special license to find a wounded or dead bear or deer with tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead. The license is available to a tracker who has been engaged by a licensed hunter to track a wounded or dead bear or deer and has permission to enter or hunt on the land on which the dogs will track. The bill authorizes a licensed tracker to have a weapon in his possession and to use it to humanely kill the tracked animal. Current law prohibits a tracker from having a weapon in his possession. The bill also requires the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to establish regulations pertaining to the new license and for the safe practice of tracking with dogs.