SB 617 - This act modifies provisions relating to feral hogs. This act specifies that a landowner, landowner's agent, or any person with written permission from the landowner may kill such feral hogs on the landowner's own property and do so with the use of artificial light. Currently, the penalty for releasing feral hogs, or possessing or transporting feral hogs without a permit from the Department of Agriculture, is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense, and any subsequent identical offense committed within 10 years of the first offense is a Class E felony. Under this act, a person may not obtain a permit for possessing or transporting feral hogs. Further, under this act, a person releasing, possessing, or transporting feral hogs is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be assessed a $1,000 fine for the first offense and forfeit any hunting, fishing, or trapping permits held from the Department of Conservation. Additionally, such convicted person would forfeit the privilege of obtaining any such permit for the subsequent 3 years. For any second offense, the person shall be assessed a $10,000 fine and permanently forfeit any hunting, fishing, or trapping permits held from the Department of Conservation.
This act is identical to HB 1781 (2016) and is similar to HB 1873 (2016).
KAYLA HAHN