H.F. 65 Section 1. Section 481C.2, subsection 2, Code 2025, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 2. The department shall issue depredation permits and 3 deer shooting permits to any landowner who incurs crop, 4 horticultural product, tree, or nursery damage of one thousand 5 dollars or more due to wild animals. 6 Sec. 2. Section 481C.2A, subsection 5, Code 2025, is amended 7 by adding the following new paragraph: 8 NEW PARAGRAPH . c. There shall be an annual deer depredation 9 season from January 11 through January 31 for any person 10 possessing a valid depredation license and tag or deer shooting 11 permit issued pursuant to this section on or after February 1 12 of the preceding calendar year. The method of take for the 13 deer depredation season shall be a rifle using a cartridge 14 approved by the department, a shotgun, a muzzleloader, a 15 handgun, a crossbow, or a bow. 16 EXPLANATION 17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 19 This bill relates to deer depredation. The bill directs the 20 department of natural resources to issue deer shooting permits 21 to a landowner who incurs crop, horticultural product, tree, or 22 nursery damage of $1,000 or more due to wild animals. 23 The bill creates a designated deer depredation season from 24 January 11 through January 31. A person possessing a deer 25 depredation license and tag or deer shooting permit may use a 26 rifle with an approved cartridge, a shotgun, a muzzleloader, a 27 handgun, a crossbow, or a bow during the designated season. 28 -1- LSB 1046YH (2) 91 sb/js 1/ 1