HF 322 (LSB 2148YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 322

BY  HORA

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to free deer hunting licenses issued to owners and tenants of farm units.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 483A.24, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  (1)  Upon written application on forms furnished by the department, the department shall issue annually without fee two deer hunting licenses, one antlered or any sex deer hunting license and one antlerless deer only deer hunting license, to the owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both, and to the tenant of a farm unit or a member of the tenant’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both. The deer hunting licenses issued shall be valid only for use on the farm unit for which the applicant applies pursuant to this paragraph subparagraph. The owner or the tenant need not reside on the farm unit to qualify for the free deer hunting licenses to hunt on that farm unit. The free deer hunting licenses issued pursuant to this paragraph subparagraph shall be valid and may be used during any bow or firearm deer hunting season. The licenses may be used to harvest deer in two different seasons. In addition, a person who receives a free deer hunting license pursuant to this paragraph subparagraph shall pay a one dollar fee for each license that shall be used and is appropriated for the purpose of deer herd population management, including assisting with the cost of processing deer donated to the help us stop hunger program administered by the commission.
   (2)  After receiving a license pursuant to subparagraph (1), the recipient of the license may sell or otherwise transfer the license to another person for use on the property. The other person must have a valid hunting license in order to use a deer hunting license issued pursuant to subparagraph (1).
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to free deer hunting licenses issued to owners and tenants of farm units. Under current law, upon application, the department of natural resources shall issue annually without fee two deer hunting licenses, one antlered or any sex deer hunting license and one antlerless deer only deer hunting license, to the owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both, and to the tenant of a farm unit or a member of the tenant’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both. The free deer hunting licenses are valid only for use on the farm unit and may be used during any bow or firearm deer hunting season.
   After receiving a free deer hunting license, the bill authorizes the recipient of the license to sell or otherwise transfer the license to another person for use on the property. The other person must have a valid hunting license in order to use the free deer hunting license.