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House File 716 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to firearms requirements for hunting deer.
2BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 455A.5, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 7. For purposes of adopting rules, the
4commission shall define and categorize firearms in a manner
5fully consistent with the definitions established in 18 U.S.C.
6§921 and 27 C.F.R.§478.11.
7 Sec. 2. Section 481A.48, subsections 5 and 6, Code 2019, are
8amended to read as follows:
95. The commission shall establish one or more pistol
10or revolver seasons for hunting deer as separate firearm
11seasons or to coincide with one or more other firearm deer
12hunting seasons. Any pistol or revolver firing a magnum
13three hundred fifty-seven thousandths of one inch caliber or
14larger, centerfire, straight wall ammunition propelling an
15expanding-type bullet with a barrel length of at least four
16inches and firing straight wall or other centerfire ammunition
17propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of
18no less than three hundred fifty thousandths of one inch and
19no larger than five hundred thousandths of one inch and with
20a published or calculated muzzle energy of five hundred foot
21pounds or higher is legal for hunting deer during the pistol or
22revolver seasons. The commission shall adopt rules to allow
23black powder pistols or revolvers for hunting deer. The rules
24shall not allow pistols or revolvers with shoulder stock or
25long-barrel modifications. The barrel length of a pistol or
26revolver used for deer hunting shall be at least four inches.
27 The rules may limit types of ammunition projectiles. A person
28who is sixteen twenty years of age or less shall not hunt deer
29with a pistol or revolver unless that person is accompanied and
30under direct supervision throughout the hunt by a responsible
31person with a valid hunting license who is at least twenty-one
32years of age, with the consent of a parent, guardian, or spouse
33who is at least twenty-one years of age, pursuant to section
34724.22, subsection 5. A person possessing a prohibited pistol
35or revolver while hunting deer commits a scheduled violation
-1-1under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “h”, subparagraph
2(5).
36. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A
4allowing the use of straight wall cartridge rifles to hunt deer
5as follows:
6a. A straight wall cartridge rifle may be used to hunt deer
7during youth and disabled deer hunting season and first and
8second shotgun deer hunting seasons by a person who has a valid
9deer hunting license and is otherwise qualified to hunt.
10b. A straight wall cartridge rifle that is allowed pursuant
11to this subsection shall be of the same caliber and use the
12same straight wall or other ammunition as is allowed for
13use in a pistol or revolver for hunting deer as provided in
14subsection 5. In addition, the commission shall provide, by
15rule, for the use of straight wall or other ammunition under
16this subsection that meets ballistics specifications similar to
17the requirements for straight wall or other ammunition allowed
18for use in a pistol or revolver for hunting deer as provided in
19subsection 5.
20c. A person possessing a prohibited rifle while hunting deer
21commits a scheduled violation under section 805.8B, subsection
223, paragraph “h”, subparagraph (6). In addition, the hunting
23privileges of a person convicted of possessing a prohibited
24rifle while hunting deer shall be suspended for two years.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28Current law requires the natural resource commission to
29establish rules that prohibit the use of pistols and revolvers
30with shoulder stock or long-barrel modifications when hunting
31deer. Current law also prohibits a person under the age of 16
32from hunting deer with a pistol or revolver.
33This bill requires the commission to define and categorize
34firearms to be consistent with federal definitions, and
35modifies current provisions to reflect consistency with federal
-2-1definitions. The bill also allows a person 20 years of age or
2less to hunt using a pistol or revolver if the person is under
3direct supervision of a person who is at least 21 years of age
4with a valid hunting license, and has consent from a parent,
5guardian, or spouse who is at least 21 years of age.
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2BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 455A.5, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 7. For purposes of adopting rules, the
4commission shall define and categorize firearms in a manner
5fully consistent with the definitions established in 18 U.S.C.
6§921 and 27 C.F.R.§478.11.
7 Sec. 2. Section 481A.48, subsections 5 and 6, Code 2019, are
8amended to read as follows:
95. The commission shall establish one or more pistol
10or revolver seasons for hunting deer as separate firearm
11seasons or to coincide with one or more other firearm deer
12hunting seasons. Any pistol or revolver firing a magnum
13three hundred fifty-seven thousandths of one inch caliber or
14larger, centerfire, straight wall ammunition propelling an
15expanding-type bullet with a barrel length of at least four
16inches and firing straight wall or other centerfire ammunition
17propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of
18no less than three hundred fifty thousandths of one inch and
19no larger than five hundred thousandths of one inch and with
20a published or calculated muzzle energy of five hundred foot
21pounds or higher is legal for hunting deer during the pistol or
22revolver seasons. The commission shall adopt rules to allow
23black powder pistols or revolvers for hunting deer. The rules
24shall not allow pistols or revolvers with shoulder stock or
25long-barrel modifications. The barrel length of a pistol or
26revolver used for deer hunting shall be at least four inches.
27 The rules may limit types of ammunition projectiles. A person
28who is sixteen twenty years of age or less shall not hunt deer
29with a pistol or revolver unless that person is accompanied and
30under direct supervision throughout the hunt by a responsible
31person with a valid hunting license who is at least twenty-one
32years of age, with the consent of a parent, guardian, or spouse
33who is at least twenty-one years of age, pursuant to section
34724.22, subsection 5. A person possessing a prohibited pistol
35or revolver while hunting deer commits a scheduled violation
-1-1under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “h”, subparagraph
2(5).
36. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A
4allowing the use of straight wall cartridge rifles to hunt deer
5as follows:
6a. A straight wall cartridge rifle may be used to hunt deer
7during youth and disabled deer hunting season and first and
8second shotgun deer hunting seasons by a person who has a valid
9deer hunting license and is otherwise qualified to hunt.
10b. A straight wall cartridge rifle that is allowed pursuant
11to this subsection shall be of the same caliber and use the
12same straight wall or other ammunition as is allowed for
13use in a pistol or revolver for hunting deer as provided in
14subsection 5. In addition, the commission shall provide, by
15rule, for the use of straight wall or other ammunition under
16this subsection that meets ballistics specifications similar to
17the requirements for straight wall or other ammunition allowed
18for use in a pistol or revolver for hunting deer as provided in
19subsection 5.
20c. A person possessing a prohibited rifle while hunting deer
21commits a scheduled violation under section 805.8B, subsection
223, paragraph “h”, subparagraph (6). In addition, the hunting
23privileges of a person convicted of possessing a prohibited
24rifle while hunting deer shall be suspended for two years.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28Current law requires the natural resource commission to
29establish rules that prohibit the use of pistols and revolvers
30with shoulder stock or long-barrel modifications when hunting
31deer. Current law also prohibits a person under the age of 16
32from hunting deer with a pistol or revolver.
33This bill requires the commission to define and categorize
34firearms to be consistent with federal definitions, and
35modifies current provisions to reflect consistency with federal
-2-1definitions. The bill also allows a person 20 years of age or
2less to hunt using a pistol or revolver if the person is under
3direct supervision of a person who is at least 21 years of age
4with a valid hunting license, and has consent from a parent,
5guardian, or spouse who is at least 21 years of age.
-3-js/rn