2014 -- H 7858

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LC005049

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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: Representative Scott J.Guthrie

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Hunting" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-15-1. Deer hunting prohibited except as provided. -- No person shall hunt, pursue,

or shoot, or attempt to hunt, pursue, or shoot, deer in this state except as provided in this chapter.

Deer hunting shall be limited to seasons, times, manner of taking, and bag limits established in

regulations adopted by the director pursuant to section 20-1-12. The regulations shall be

formulated to include the best methods to provide for the safety both of hunters and residents. In

any event, the following prohibitions and restrictions shall always apply to deer hunting:

      (1) (i) No firearm deer hunting shall be done within five hundred feet (500') of any

building or dwelling house in use, without the specific written permission of the owner or tenant

of the dwelling.

      (ii) No archery deer hunting shall be done within two hundred feet (200') of any building

or dwelling house in use without the specific written permission of the owner or tenant of the

dwelling unless otherwise established in regulations adopted by the director or his or her designee

for the purpose of wildlife management;

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

(1/2) hour after sunset;

      (3) No dog shall be employed in any deer hunting activities;

      (4) No hunting shall be done on any privately owned land without the written permission

of the owner of the land;. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a felony and

shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years;

      (5) Only a shotgun, muzzle loading rifle, or long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and

compound bow) or crossbow and arrow shall be utilized in deer hunting;

      (6) No person shall make, set, or use any trap or snare, or salt lick or other device for the

purpose of ensnaring, enticing, taking, injuring, or killing a deer;. Any person who violates this

provision shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years;

      (7) No person shall individually, or in conjunction with others, use an artificial light at

any time to illuminate, jack light, locate, attempt to locate, or show up wild birds or mammals or

any other vertebrates when that person or persons have in their actual possession, in the passenger

compartment of their vehicle, or in the storage area of a truck or van, unless locked in a case, a

crossbow, long bow (straight limb, reflex, recurve, and compound bow) rifle, gun, or pistol; and

      (8) Upon conviction of a violation of any provision of this section or the rules and

regulations promulgated under this section and section 20-1-12, in addition to the penalties

provided by section 20-1-16, and the specific penalties provided herein, any weapons, guns,

lights, or other equipment used in killing or attempting to kill any deer shall be forfeited to the

state.

     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 make it a felony to hunt deer on privately owned land without the written

permission of the owner. This act would also make it a felony to make, set or use any trap or salt

lick or other device to ensnare, entice, take, injure or kill a deer.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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