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House Study Bill 216 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the established season for hunting game
2birds on a preserve, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 484B.1, subsection 5, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
35. “Game birds” means pen-reared birds of the family
4gallinae order galliformes and pen-reared mallard ducks.
5 Sec. 2. Section 484B.10, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended
6to read as follows:
71. a. A person shall not take a game bird or ungulate upon
8a hunting preserve, by shooting in any manner, except during
9the established season or as authorized by section 481A.56.
10The established season shall be September 1 through March 31
11of the succeeding year, both dates inclusive. The owner of
12a hunting preserve shall establish the hunting season for
13nonnative, pen-reared ungulates on the hunting preserve.
14b. A game bird hunting preserve operator may apply for a
15variance to extend the season date beyond March 31 for that
16preserve if the monthly precipitation is above average for
17the county in which the preserve is located for at least two
18months out of the months of January, February, and March of
19that season. The state climatologist established pursuant to
20section 159.5 shall provide official national weather service
21and community collaborative rain, hail and snow network data
22to the department to determine whether a variance to the
23established season shall be granted. The department shall
24not grant a variance to a game bird preserve that extends the
25season beyond April 15 of the year for which the variance is
26requested. A person hunting on a game bird hunting preserve on
27a date after March 31 pursuant to an extension granted under
28this paragraph shall only hunt for and take chukars, quail, or
29rooster pheasants.
30EXPLANATION
31The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
32the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
33This bill relates to the established season for hunting game
34birds on a preserve.
35Under current law, a person shall not take a game bird on a
-1-1hunting preserve except during the established hunting preserve
2season, which begins on September 1 and ends on March 31. The
3bill allows a game bird hunting preserve operator to apply for
4a variance to extend the season beyond March 31 if the monthly
5precipitation is above average for the county in which the
6preserve is located for at least two months out of the months
7of January, February, and March of that season. The bill
8requires the state climatologist to provide official national
9weather service and community collaborative rain, hail and
10snow network data to the department of natural resources to
11determine whether a variance to the established season shall
12be granted. The bill prohibits the department from granting a
13variance that extends the season beyond April 15 of the year
14for which the variance is requested. A person hunting on a
15game bird hunting preserve on a date after March 31 pursuant to
16an extension granted pursuant to the bill shall only hunt for
17and take chukars, quail, or rooster pheasants.
18The bill also makes a change to the definition of “game bird”
19to reflect a recent reorganization of bird classification.
20A person who violates the bill is guilty of a simple
21misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement
22for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not
23more than $855.
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2birds on a preserve, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 484B.1, subsection 5, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
35. “Game birds” means pen-reared birds of the family
4gallinae order galliformes and pen-reared mallard ducks.
5 Sec. 2. Section 484B.10, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended
6to read as follows:
71. a. A person shall not take a game bird or ungulate upon
8a hunting preserve, by shooting in any manner, except during
9the established season or as authorized by section 481A.56.
10The established season shall be September 1 through March 31
11of the succeeding year, both dates inclusive. The owner of
12a hunting preserve shall establish the hunting season for
13nonnative, pen-reared ungulates on the hunting preserve.
14b. A game bird hunting preserve operator may apply for a
15variance to extend the season date beyond March 31 for that
16preserve if the monthly precipitation is above average for
17the county in which the preserve is located for at least two
18months out of the months of January, February, and March of
19that season. The state climatologist established pursuant to
20section 159.5 shall provide official national weather service
21and community collaborative rain, hail and snow network data
22to the department to determine whether a variance to the
23established season shall be granted. The department shall
24not grant a variance to a game bird preserve that extends the
25season beyond April 15 of the year for which the variance is
26requested. A person hunting on a game bird hunting preserve on
27a date after March 31 pursuant to an extension granted under
28this paragraph shall only hunt for and take chukars, quail, or
29rooster pheasants.
30EXPLANATION
31The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
32the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
33This bill relates to the established season for hunting game
34birds on a preserve.
35Under current law, a person shall not take a game bird on a
-1-1hunting preserve except during the established hunting preserve
2season, which begins on September 1 and ends on March 31. The
3bill allows a game bird hunting preserve operator to apply for
4a variance to extend the season beyond March 31 if the monthly
5precipitation is above average for the county in which the
6preserve is located for at least two months out of the months
7of January, February, and March of that season. The bill
8requires the state climatologist to provide official national
9weather service and community collaborative rain, hail and
10snow network data to the department of natural resources to
11determine whether a variance to the established season shall
12be granted. The bill prohibits the department from granting a
13variance that extends the season beyond April 15 of the year
14for which the variance is requested. A person hunting on a
15game bird hunting preserve on a date after March 31 pursuant to
16an extension granted pursuant to the bill shall only hunt for
17and take chukars, quail, or rooster pheasants.
18The bill also makes a change to the definition of “game bird”
19to reflect a recent reorganization of bird classification.
20A person who violates the bill is guilty of a simple
21misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement
22for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not
23more than $855.
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