H*3807(Rat #0108, Act #0033 of 1997)  General Bill, By Sharpe and Witherspoon

Similar(S 637)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE GAME ZONES OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO REVISE THE
 COMPOSITION OF GAME ZONES 1 AND 2; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-310, AS AMENDED,
 RELATING TO THE OPEN SEASON FOR ANTLERED DEER, SO AS TO REVISE THE OPEN SEASON
 FOR TAKING DEER IN GAME ZONES 1, 2, AND 4, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT
 OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN GAMES ZONES 1, 2, AND 4 BY REGULATION MAY ESTABLISH
 THE METHODS FOR HUNTING AND TAKING OF DEER AND MAY SET OTHER RESTRICTIONS FOR
 HUNTING AND TAKING DEER; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-390, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY
 OF THE DEPARTMENT TO DECLARE OPEN SEASONS AND SET BAG LIMITS AND METHODS OF
 HUNTING OF ANTLERLESS DEER, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THE
 DEPARTMENT IN THIS REGARD; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 50-11-395 RELATING TO THE
 ISSUANCE OF ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS IN GAME ZONES 1, 2, AND 4.-AMENDED TITLE

   04/02/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-124
   04/02/97  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-124
   04/16/97  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-9
   04/23/97  House  Debate adjourned until Thursday, April 24, 1997 HJ-21
   04/24/97  House  Amended HJ-24
   04/24/97  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Whipper HJ-24
   04/24/97  House  Read second time HJ-24
   04/24/97  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-24
   04/25/97  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1
   04/29/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   04/29/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-9
   05/06/97  Senate Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-7
   05/06/97  Senate Read second time SJ-7
   05/06/97  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-7
   05/07/97  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-7
   05/15/97         Ratified R 108
   05/21/97         Signed By Governor
   05/21/97         Effective date 05/21/97
   06/02/97         Copies available
   06/02/97         Act No. 33

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-1-60, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE GAME ZONES OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF GAME ZONES 1 AND 2; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OPEN SEASON FOR ANTLERED DEER, SO AS TO REVISE THE OPEN SEASON FOR TAKING DEER IN GAME ZONES 1, 2, AND 4, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN GAME ZONES 1, 2, AND 4 BY REGULATION MAY ESTABLISH THE METHODS FOR HUNTING AND TAKING OF DEER AND MAY SET OTHER RESTRICTIONS FOR HUNTING AND TAKING DEER; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-390, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO DECLARE OPEN SEASONS AND SET BAG LIMITS AND METHODS OF HUNTING OF ANTLERLESS DEER, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THIS REGARD; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 50-11-395 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS IN GAME ZONES 1, 2, AND 4.

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

Game zones revised

SECTION 1. Section 50-1-60(1) and (2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 1257 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"(1) the first zone shall be comprised of those portions of the counties of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens which lie north and northwest of the main line of the Norfolk-Southern railroad track;

(2) the second zone shall be comprised of the counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda, and those portions of the counties of Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens which lie south and southeast of the main line of the Norfolk-Southern railroad track;"

Open season for antlered deer; deer regulations in certain game zones

SECTION 2. 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) In Game Zone 1: October first through October tenth, with primitive weapons only; October eleventh through October sixteenth, and October thirty-first through December seventh, with archery equipment and firearms; December eighth through December twenty-second, with archery equipment only; December twenty-third through January first, with archery equipment and firearms, Sundays excepted;

(2) In Game Zones 2 and 4: September fifteenth through September thirtieth, with archery equipment only; October first through October tenth, with primitive weapons only; October eleventh through January first, with archery equipment and firearms; Sundays excepted;

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

(4) 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;

(5) 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.

(D) In Game Zones 1, 2, and 4, the department may promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act to establish the methods for hunting and taking of deer and for other restrictions for hunting and taking deer."

Season and taking of antlerless deer

SECTION 3. Section 50-11-390 of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 1262 of Act 181 of 1993, is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-390. (A) The Department of Natural Resources may permit the taking of antlerless deer between September fifteenth and January first, inclusive. The department may set bag limits and methods for hunting and taking of antlerless deer and other restrictions for the proper control of hunting and taking of antlerless deer.

(B) In Game Zones 1, 2, and 4, the department may issue individual tags for antlerless deer at a cost of five dollars each which must be used as prescribed by the department. These tags are valid in Game Zones 1, 2, and 4 only and must be possessed and used only by the individuals to whom they are issued. Revenue generated from the sale of individual tags must be used to administer the tag program and for deer management and research. The department shall utilize twenty percent of this revenue for law enforcement.

(C) In all other game zones, the department may issue antlerless deer quota permits to landowners or lessees at a cost of fifty dollars each. Revenue generated from the quota permits must be used to administer the tag program and for deer management and research.

(D) Antlerless deer taken pursuant to quota permits must be tagged with a valid antlerless deer tag and reported to the department. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. Antlerless deer taken pursuant to quota permits must be tagged, even if taken on designated either-sex days.

(E) The department may suspend the taking of antlerless deer or revoke any quota permit when environmental conditions or other factors warrant.

(F) It is unlawful to hunt or take, possess, or transport antlerless deer, except as permitted by this section. A person violating the provisions of this section or the provisions for taking antlerless deer established by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not to exceed thirty days."

Repeal

SECTION 4. Section 50-11-395 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

Time effective

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 21st day of May, 1997.