Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes fenced hunting preserves for the hunting of farm-raised deer.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue a hunting preserve license to an individual who meets the following requirements (Sec. 6):
• The individual owns a hunting preserve that meets the requirements of this bill;
• The individual pays a fee of $5,000; and
• If applicable, the individual operated a hunting preserve at any time between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2013.

• Defines “hunting preserve” as an area of land where a permitted animal is hunted (Sec. 6).

• Defines “permitted animal” as a privately owned farm raised and released white tail deer or elk (Sec. 6).

• Requires a hunting preserve to meet certain requirements including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 6):
• The hunting preserve provides “sufficient space” and at least 40 percent escape cover;
• The hunting preserve contains at least 160 contiguous acres of land, unless the licensed owner operated the preserve continuously from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2014; and
• The hunting preserve is enclosed by either 2 perimeter fences that are at least 8 feet tall or 1 perimeter fence that is at least 10 feet tall.

• Authorizes an individual to hunt a permitted animal on a hunting preserve without a hunting license (Sec. 6).

• Requires the owner of a hunting preserve to maintain records of the number of permitted animals purchased and harvested and the full name and address of each individual who hunts a permitted animal in the hunting preserve (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes an individual to hunt a permitted animal on a hunting preserve between a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset between the dates of September 1 and March 1 of each year (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Department of Natural Resources to inspect each hunting preserve at least once per year (Sec. 6).

• Prohibits a hunting preserve license from being sold or transferred unless the license holder meets the following conditions (Sec. 6):
• The license holder is a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation and is selling or transferring interest in the hunting preserve to an individual who was listed as a partner, member, or stockholder when the license was granted; or
• The license holder is the owner of a hunting preserve selling or transferring, including through inheritance, interest in the hunting preserve to his or her spouse or child.

• Classifies an unknowing or unintentional violation of this bill as a Class A infraction and a knowing or intentional violation of this bill as a Level 6 felony (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text