hb1424_LC_25_4500S_hs_4.html
06 LC 25 4500S

The House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs offers the following
substitute to HB 1424:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to hunting, so as to change certain provisions relating to hunting deer with dogs, seasons, and permit requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to hunting, is amended by striking Code Section 27-3-17, relating to hunting deer with dogs, seasons, and permit requirements, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"27-3-17.
(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with dogs except during such special open seasons for the hunting of deer with dogs as may be designated by the board on a state-wide, regional, or local basis.
(b) In accordance with subsection (a) of this Code section, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing an open season for the hunting of deer with dogs as may be appropriate based on sound wildlife management principles.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer with dogs on any tract of real property unless a permit for hunting deer with dogs has been issued by the department for such tract to the owner or owners of such tract or the lessee of deer hunting rights for such tract. A permit for hunting deer with dogs shall not be issued to a lessee of deer hunting rights for any tract of real property that is less than 1,000 contiguous acres or to the property owner or owners for any tract of real property that is less than 250 contiguous acres. Any application for a permit for hunting deer with dogs shall be on such form as prescribed by the department; shall be accompanied by the required application fee; and shall include a written description of the tract boundaries and a map showing key features such as public roads or streams on or bordering the tract and occupied dwellings on adjacent properties. The application must be signed by all persons owning any portion of the tract of real property or an authorized agent thereof. The application fee for such tract permit shall be $100.00 for an annual permit or $25.00 for a two-day permit.
(d) The owner of any dog that is used for hunting deer must apply to the department for a deer hunting permit for such dog and cause such dog to be identified at all times during the hunt with the permit number for the tract being hunted. The application fee for such dog permit shall be $100.00 for an annual permit or $25.00 for a two-day permit. No person shall use a dog for hunting deer unless the owner of such dog holds a valid permit issued under this subsection.
(e) Any person operating a motor vehicle used in conducting a deer hunt with dogs shall during such hunt clearly display in the lower corner of the driveŕs side of the front or rear windshield of such motor vehicle a decal or card showing the tract permit number in numerals not less than two inches high.
(f)(1) The department shall thoroughly investigate for validity any complaints from adjacent property owners regarding hunting deer with dogs in violation of this title or rules and regulations issued pursuant to this title. The commissioner may take action against a tract permit holder or a dog permit holder as provided by Code Section 27-2-25 for violations of the provisions of this title or rules and regulations issued pursuant to this title occurring on the tract of real property for which the permit was issued.
(2) The roaming or escape of or pursuit or trailing of game by any dog used for deer hunting from a tract of real property for which the hunter or organization of which he or she is a member or guest has been issued a tract permit under this Code section onto a tract of real property for which the hunter or organization of which he or she is a member or guest does not hold a tract permit under this Code section shall constitute cause for action against the holder of the dog permit or the holder of the permit for the tract from which the dog escaped or roamed as follows:
(A) For the first two cumulative violations under this paragraph within any deer hunting season by a dog permit holder, a warning citation shall be issued to such dog permit holder;
(B) For a third cumulative violation under this paragraph within any deer hunting season by a dog permit holder, the permit of the dog permit holder shall be revoked for a period of one year from the date of the third violation; and
(C) For a second cumulative violation under this paragraph within any deer hunting season by any members or guests of a tract permit holder occurring after any member or guest thereof has had his or her dog permit revoked under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the tract permit shall be revoked for such tract for a period of one year from the date of such second violation."

SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.