Committee advances bill allowing lotteries and $100 fee for out-of-state hunters on WMAs
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Summary
Senate Bill 448 was reported as due passed. The bill allows wildlife management areas to set up a lottery and charge a $100 check-in fee for out-of-state hunters when demand exceeds capacity; it applies only to nonresidents, the sponsor said.
Representative Grego presented Senate Bill 448 and said it applies to hunters coming from out of state to hunt on conservation commission wildlife management areas (WMAs).
“If you're coming up from out of state to hunt on a conservation commission wildlife management area, you will check-in with them. If they have more hunters than they think they can handle, they may set up a lottery system. They'll set up a way of charging you $100 as well,” Grego said, adding that the bill “has nothing to do with in-state residents.”
Committee members confirmed the provision could be applied on a case-by-case basis to particular WMAs that see high demand; Grego agreed.
A motion to report the bill as due passed was made and seconded. The roll call included recorded “aye” votes by Representatives Kennedy and Cornwell; the clerk later announced 6 yeas and 0 nays. The chair declared the motion passed and said the bill would be reported as due passed.
The bill authorizes the conservation commission or the managing body of a WMA to set up lotteries and to charge a $100 check-in fee for nonresident hunters when local managers determine demand exceeds capacity; the sponsor said the measure does not affect in-state hunters.