HF 2472 (LSB 5775YH (7) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2472

BY  FISHER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to raccoons, including restrictions on taking, reimbursement requirements, and scheduled fine amounts, and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.130, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  For each beaver, bobcat, mink, otter, red fox, or gray fox, or raccoon, two hundred dollars.
    Sec. 2.  Section 481A.130, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  k.  For each raccoon, fifteen dollars.
    Sec. 3.  Section 483A.5, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   483A.5  Fur harvester license.
   1.  A fur harvester license is required to hunt and to trap any fur-bearing animal. A hunting license is not required when hunting furbearers with a fur harvester license or field trial permit. However, coyote and groundhog may be hunted with a hunting or a fur harvester license.
   2.  The department shall not restrict the time of the year when a person with a valid fur harvester license or field trial permit may hunt raccoons on public land.
    Sec. 4.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph f, subparagraph (5), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   (5)  (a)  For raccoons, the scheduled fine is fifteen dollars.
   (b)  For all other fur-bearing animals, the scheduled fine is one hundred dollars.
    Sec. 5.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph g, subparagraph (1), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  (a)  For raccoons, the scheduled fine is fifteen dollars.
   (b)  For all other game or fur-bearing animals, the scheduled fine is seventy dollars.
    Sec. 6.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph l, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (1A)  For raccoons, the scheduled fine is fifteen dollars.
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 raccoons, including restrictions on taking, reimbursement requirements, and scheduled fine amounts.
   The bill provides that a hunting license is not required when hunting furbearers with a field trial permit, consistent with other current Code provisions.
   The bill prohibits the department of natural resources from restricting the time of the year when a person with a valid fur harvester license or field trial permit may hunt raccoons on public land.
   Under current law, a person convicted of unlawfully selling, taking, catching, killing, injuring, destroying, or having in possession a raccoon must reimburse the state $200. The bill decreases the reimbursement to $15.
   The bill reduces all scheduled fines relating to the taking, pursuing, killing, injuring, destroying, trapping or ensnaring, buying, selling, possessing, or transporting of raccoons to $15.