SF 531 (LSB 1781SV (1) 90)

SENATE FILE 531

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1184)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing crop loss deer hunting permits and seasons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  481C.2B  Crop loss deer hunting permits.
   1.  For purposes of this section, “family member”, “farm unit”, “owner”, and “tenant” mean the same as defined in section 483A.24.
   2.  An owner, tenant, or family member may apply to receive crop loss deer hunting permits and tags for use on the owner’s farm unit. An application shall be accompanied with proof of substantial yield loss due to deer, which may be demonstrated with a yield map or photographs. Upon application, the department shall issue at no cost crop loss deer hunting permits and tags pursuant to this section.
   3.  The department shall establish an early split crop loss deer hunting season that shall encompass the months of September and October and a late split crop loss deer hunting season that shall encompass the months of November and December. The department shall issue twelve crop loss deer hunting tags for use on the farm unit with six crop loss deer hunting tags issued during each split season. Crop loss deer hunting tags issued for the early split season that remain unfilled at the conclusion of the early split season may be used in the late split season.
   4.  Tags issued pursuant to this section may be transferred to another resident for use on the farm unit. A resident is eligible to receive tags pursuant to this subsection if the resident has purchased the licenses and paid the fees described in section 483A.8, subsection 1.
   5.  A person may use any legal method of take when hunting with a permit issued pursuant to this section.
   6.  A person shall only take antlerless deer when hunting with a permit issued pursuant to this section.
   7.  Receiving a permit or tag pursuant to this section does not prohibit the recipient from receiving any other lawfully issued permit, license, or tag.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes crop loss deer hunting permits and seasons. The bill allows an owner or tenant of a farm unit, or a family member of the owner or tenant, to apply to receive crop loss deer hunting permits and tags for use on the owner’s farm unit. An application shall be accompanied with proof of substantial yield loss due to deer. Upon application, the department of natural resources shall issue a crop loss deer hunting permit and tags for use on the farm unit. Six crop loss deer hunting tags are available for use during an early split crop loss deer hunting season, which shall encompass the months of September and October, and six crop loss deer hunting tags are available for use during a late split crop loss deer hunting season, which shall encompass the months of November and December. Tags that remain unfilled at the conclusion of the early split season may be used in the late split season.
   Tags issued pursuant to the bill may be transferred to another resident hunter for use on the farm unit. A person may use any legal method of take when hunting with a permit issued pursuant to the bill, but shall only take antlerless deer. Receiving a permit or tag pursuant to the bill does not prohibit the recipient from receiving any other lawfully issued permit, license, or tag.