2014 -- H 7344 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - DEER HUNTING

     Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, Costantino, Chippendale, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 20-15-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-15 entitled "Deer

Hunting" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-15-3. Permit to landowner to protect property. -- (a) Any person owning or

occupying any property and any employee of that person, while on that person's premises, may

kill any deer found destroying any crops, vegetables, or fruit trees, or otherwise causing damage

to that property; provided, however, that this person shall not kill any deer unless he or she has

obtained a permit from the director to do so. The director, on application, may issue the permit to

any responsible owner or the owner's employee, provided that no such permit shall be issued until

the director has determined that actual damage has been done to crops, vegetables, fruit trees, or

other property by any deer, and that no practical alternative to the shooting of the deer is

available. This permit shall be issued on an annual basis for a period of five (5) years at a fee of

twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Any person taking or wounding a deer under the permit shall report

the taking or wounding to a conservation officer or other designee of the director within twenty-

four (24) hours of the taking or wounding.

     (b) Hunting shall only be permitted from one half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one half

(1/2) hour after sunset; provided that the director, subject to terms and conditions to be set forth

by regulation, may authorize hunting at other times on farmlands; and further provided, that these

farms have experienced severe deer damage to a cash crop or crops, and have attempted

unsuccessfully other reasonable means of controlling the damage, including daylight hunting; and

provided further, that the director determines whether these farmlands are of sufficient size to

support night hunting without endangering the public safety. A night hunting permit may be

issued by the director to any responsible owner or the owner's employee, provided that no such

permit shall be issued until the director has determined that actual damage has been done to

crops, vegetables, fruit trees, or other property by any deer, and that no practical alternative to the

shooting of the deer is available. This permit shall be issued on an annual basis for a period of

five (5) years at a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

      (c) Under the authority of the director, the division of agriculture shall be responsible for

administering the provisions of this section as they relate to farmers, and may also be responsible

for administering this section as it relates to other landowners.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - DEER HUNTING

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     This act would allow the director of the department of environmental management to

issue permits every five (5) years, instead of annually, to a landowner for the protection of

property and crop destruction caused by deer.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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