H 3671 General Bill, By Sheheen
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE OPEN SEASON FOR TAKING ANTLERED DEER, SO AS TO PROHIBIT
 THE PURSUIT OF DEER WITH DOGS EXCEPT ON TRACTS OF MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED
 FIFTY CONTIGUOUS ACRES WHICH ARE OWNED OR LEASED BY THE PERSON PURSUING DEER
 WITH DOGS OR WHICH THIS PERSON HAS THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE OWNER OR
 LESSEE THEREOF TO USE FOR THESE PURPOSES.

   03/18/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   03/18/97  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-5

TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OPEN SEASON FOR TAKING ANTLERED DEER, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE PURSUIT OF DEER WITH DOGS EXCEPT ON TRACTS OF MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY CONTIGUOUS ACRES WHICH ARE OWNED OR LEASED BY THE PERSON PURSUING DEER WITH DOGS OR WHICH THIS PERSON HAS THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE OWNER OR LESSEE THEREOF TO USE FOR THESE PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 50-11-310 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 427 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-11-310. (A) The open season for taking antlered deer is:

(1) Game Zones 1, 2, and 4: as set by the department between October first and January first. The department may designate the sex of the deer that may be taken and may promulgate regulations for the proper control of the deer harvest in these game zones; however, in Game Zone 4, on private land only between October 11 and January 1, the department must not establish more than two consecutive days where deer may not be hunted or taken with modern firearms.

(2) Game Zones 5 and 7: with bow and arrow September first through January first and with firearms September fifteenth through January first;

(3) Game Zones 8 and 9: August fifteenth to August thirty-first with bow and arrow only and September first through January first with firearms. Antlerless deer may be taken December fifteenth through January first with bow and arrow only;

(4) Game Zone 10: September first through January first with bow and arrow only and with firearms September fifteenth through January first.

(B) Except as provided in subsection (A), the season for taking antlered deer is August fifteenth through January first.

(C) It is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs except during the prescribed season for hunting deer on tracts of more than seven hundred fifty contiguous acres which are owned or leased by the person pursuing deer with dogs or which the person pursuing deer with dogs has the written permission of the owner or lessee thereof to use for such purposes; provided, that invitees of this person may also engage in the pursuit of deer with dogs."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.