2018 -- S 2929

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LC005475

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FIELD TRIALS AND SHOOTING PRESERVES

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardo, McCaffrey, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 24, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 20-19-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-19 entitled "Field Trials

and Shooting Preserves" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     20-19-2. Shooting preserves.

     (a) No person shall operate a shooting preserve for the purpose of taking domestic game

birds unless a license has been obtained from the director. Domestic game birds may be released

and taken by shooting at shooting preserves. The following requirements must be followed in

shooting preserves:

     (1) The shooting area is a single body of land not less than one hundred twenty (120)

acres in size, and is accurately described in the application;

     (2) The licensee shall keep an accurate record of all domestic game held by him or her,

how, when, and where acquired, how many released and when released, how many taken on the

area, by whom, and when, and shall provide this information to the department when required;

     (3) The licensee shall attach to each domestic game bird killed on the area a band

furnished by the department for which the licensee shall pay the cost of purchase or manufacture;

     (4) Domestic game birds taken on a shooting preserve may be possessed and transported

in any number but only when bearing the prescribed band; and

     (5) Every person hunting or taking domestic game birds on a shooting preserve has a

valid Rhode Island hunting license or a special license permitting the taking of domestic game on

shooting preserves only.

     (b) No person shall operate a shooting preserve for the purpose of taking animals other

than domestic game birds unless a license has been obtained from the director. Domestic or wild

game may be released and taken by shooting at shooting preserves. The following requirements

must be followed in shooting preserves for the taking of wild animals other than domestic game

birds:

     (1) The shooting area is a single body of land not less than five hundred (500) acres in

size, and is accurately described in the application;

     (2) The licensee shall keep an accurate record of all domestic and wild game held by

them; how, when, and where acquired; how many released and when released; how many taken

on the area; by whom, and when; and shall provide this information to the department when

required;

     (3) The licensee shall attach to each animal taken on the area a band furnished by the

department for which the licensee shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) in addition to the cost of

purchase or manufacture;

     (4) Animals taken on a shooting preserve may be possessed and transported in any

number but only when bearing the prescribed band; and

     (c) Every person hunting or taking domestic or wild game on a shooting preserve shall

have a valid Rhode Island hunting license or a special license permitting the taking of wild or

domestic game on shooting preserves only.

     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 -- FIELD TRIALS AND SHOOTING PRESERVES

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     This act would permit the taking of animals other than domestic game birds on a shooting

preserve provided a license is obtained and certain restrictions are met regarding the size of the

shooting area, and the maintenance of records of the game birds released and taken.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005475

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