06 LC
25 4410
House
Bill 1463
By:
Representatives Warren of the
122nd
and Jenkins of the
8th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to deer, so as to prohibit confinement of
white-tailed deer except under certain circumstances; to prohibit hunting or the
selling, leasing, or providing of hunting opportunities for any confined
white-tailed deer except under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
2 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to deer, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"27-3-51.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'confine' means to capture, possess, or
impede free egress of white-tailed deer with a fenced enclosure regardless of
size of the area enclosed.
(b)
It shall be unlawful to confine white-tailed deer except as specifically
authorized in this title.
(c)
It shall be unlawful to hunt or to sell, lease, or provide a hunting opportunity
for any confined white-tailed deer except as provided in subsection (d) of this
Code section.
(d)(1)(A)
Any owner of real property who lawfully confined deer in existing fenced
enclosures as of June 30, 2006, may continue to confine white-tailed deer if
such person registers such enclosures with the department not later than
September 30, 2006. No enclosure shall be eligible for registration for
continued confinement of white-tailed deer unless such enclosure was completed
not later than June 30, 2006.
(B)
If at any time any registered enclosure suffers damage through neglect or due to
natural causes and ceases to be effective in confining white-tailed deer for
more than 180 days after such damage, the registration shall be invalid and the
enclosure shall not be repaired thereafter to confine white-tailed deer
again.
(2)
It shall be lawful to hunt or to sell, lease, or provide a hunting opportunity
for any confined white-tailed deer that is held in a fenced enclosure only if
that fenced enclosure is registered validly in accordance with paragraph (1) of
this subsection.
(3)
At no time shall any mound, platform, one-way door or gate, or other device be
used to encourage or allow white-tailed deer to enter a fenced
enclosure."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.