South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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A257, R219, S454

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Campsen and Turner
Document Path: l:\s-res\gec\044deer.ksg.gec.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4943

Introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2015
Introduced in the House on March 19, 2015
Last Amended on May 24, 2016
Passed by the General Assembly on May 26, 2016
Governor's Action: June 8, 2016, Signed

Summary: Hunting and fishing licenses

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/12/2015  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
   2/12/2015  Senate  Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry 
                        (Senate Journal-page 3)
    3/5/2015  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Fish, Game 
                        and Forestry (Senate Journal-page 22)
    3/6/2015          Scrivener's error corrected
   3/10/2015  Senate  Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 23)
   3/10/2015  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 23)
   3/10/2015  Senate  Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-4 (Senate Journal-page 23)
   3/11/2015          Scrivener's error corrected
   3/17/2015  Senate  Amended (Senate Journal-page 24)
   3/18/2015  Senate  Read third time and sent to House 
                        (Senate Journal-page 16)
   3/19/2015  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 5)
   3/19/2015  House   Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources 
                        and Environmental Affairs (House Journal-page 5)
   2/25/2016  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Agriculture, 
                        Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs 
                        (House Journal-page 67)
    3/2/2016  House   Requests for debate-Rep(s). Hiott, Loftis, Hixon, VS 
                        Moss, Kirby, Ott, Finlay, Pitts, Crosby, GR Smith, 
                        Sottile, Hosey, Collins, Hart (House Journal-page 33)
   4/14/2016  House   Amended (House Journal-page 60)
   4/14/2016  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 60)
   4/14/2016  House   Roll call Yeas-93  Nays-5 (House Journal-page 70)
   4/14/2016  House   Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative 
                        day (House Journal-page 71)
   4/15/2016  House   Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 2)
   5/24/2016  Senate  House amendment amended (Senate Journal-page 101)
   5/24/2016  Senate  Roll call Ayes-38  Nays-1 (Senate Journal-page 101)
   5/24/2016  Senate  Returned to House with amendments 
                        (Senate Journal-page 101)
   5/26/2016  House   Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled 
                        (House Journal-page 74)
   5/26/2016  House   Roll call Yeas-85  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 75)
    6/2/2016          Ratified R 219
    6/8/2016          Signed By Governor
   6/15/2016          Effective date 07/01/17
   6/16/2016          Act No. 257

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/12/2015
3/5/2015
3/6/2015
3/10/2015
3/11/2015
3/17/2015
2/25/2016
4/14/2016
5/24/2016


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A257, R219, S454)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-650, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF ANNUAL INDIVIDUAL ANTLERLESS DEER TAGS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES AND CHARGES A PERSON FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF HUNTING AND TAKING DEER IN THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 50-9-920, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSITION OF REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, PERMITS, AND TAGS, SO AS TO SUBSTITUTE THE TERM "ANTLERLESS DEER QUOTA PERMIT" FOR THE TERM "DEER QUOTA PROGRAM PERMIT", AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUES COLLECTED FROM THE SALE OF NONRESIDENT ANTLERED DEER TAGS AND RESIDENT ANTLER RESTRICTION INDIVIDUAL ANTLERED DEER TAGS; BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-315 SO AS TO PROVIDE BAG LIMITS FOR ANTLERED DEER AND DEER TAKEN WITH A DEER QUOTA PROGRAM PERMIT, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION; BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-320 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES TAGS FOR THE HUNTING AND TAKING OF DEER, TO REGULATE THE HUNTING AND TAKING OF DEER, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-390, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' REGULATION OF GAME ZONES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS FOR THE TAKING OF ANTLERLESS DEER DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTLERLESS DAYS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF THE DEER QUOTA PROGRAM; TO REPEAL SECTION 50-11-335 RELATING TO BAG LIMITS ESTABLISHED FOR ANTLERED DEER; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL PROVIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE STATE'S WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION.

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

Deer hunting

SECTION    1.    Section 50-9-650 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 233 of 2010, is amended to read:

"Section 50-9-650.    (A)(1)    For the privilege of hunting and taking deer on property with a Deer Quota Program permit, a person must obtain the required hunting license, any other required permits, and have access and authorization to utilize Deer Quota Program tags for the property on which the person is hunting.

(2)    A landowner or lessee may apply to the Deer Quota Program for a permit at a cost of fifty dollars per land tract application. The applicant may request a quota for antlerless deer, antlered deer, or both antlered and antlerless deer. The department shall determine an appropriate number of Deer Quota Program tags for antlered and antlerless deer to be issued under each permit, and there is no cost for these tags.

(B)(1)    For the privilege of hunting and taking deer on property without a Deer Quota Program permit, a person must obtain the required hunting license, any other required permits, and a set of individual deer tags from the department issued in the person's name.

(2)(a)    With the purchase of a South Carolina hunting license and a big game permit, a resident shall be issued eight date-specific individual antlerless deer tags which are valid only on specified days and three unrestricted individual antlered deer tags. Persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees may receive these tags upon request to the department. Residents, including persons under the age of sixteen, lifetime, and gratis licensees also may purchase:

(i)        two antler restriction individual antlered deer tags valid for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread for five dollars per tag; and

(ii)    additional individual antlerless deer tags for five dollars per tag.

(b)    Fees for nonresident deer tags are as follows:

(i)        fifty dollars for the first antlered deer tag and twenty dollars for each additional antlered deer tag up to a maximum of four tags; two of which must be an antler restriction individual antlered deer tag valid only for deer with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread; and

(ii)    ten dollars per individual antlerless deer tag."

Deer hunting

SECTION    2.    Section 50-9-920(B)(6) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 94 of 2013, is further amended to read:

"(6)    Deer Quota Program permit shall be exclusively used to administer the Deer Quota Program and for deer management and research;"

Deer hunting

SECTION    3.    Section 50-9-920(B)(7) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 94 of 2013, is further amended to read:

"(7)    individual antlerless and nonresident antlered deer tags shall be used as follows:

(a)    eighty percent to administer the tag program, deer management, and research; and

(b)    the remaining twenty percent for law enforcement;"

Coyote management program

SECTION    4.    Section 50-9-920(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 94 of 2013, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end:

"( )    resident antler restriction individual antlered deer tag shall be used to administer the Coyote Management Program."

Deer hunting

SECTION    5.    Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-11-315.    (A)    The bag limit for antlered deer taken with individual antlered deer tags is five per year for all seasons combined of which two have antler restrictions with a minimum of four points on one antler or a minimum twelve-inch inside antler spread. No more than two antlered deer may be taken daily. For the purpose of this section:

(1)    a point is a projection that is at least one inch long and longer than wide at some location at least one inch from the tip of the projection; and

(2)    inside antler spread is measured at a right angle to the center line of the skull at its widest point between the main beams. No more than two antlerless deer may be taken daily with individual tags.

(B)    The bag limit for deer taken on property with a Deer Quota Program permit shall be set by the department.

(C)    It is unlawful to take more than the legal limit of deer. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Each animal over the limit is a separate offense."

Deer hunting

SECTION    6.    Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-11-320.    (A)    The department will issue tags for the hunting and taking of deer.

(1)    Antlered deer tags issued to individuals are valid statewide as prescribed by the department except on property with a Deer Quota Program permit for antlered deer.

(2)    Antlerless deer tags issued to individuals are valid statewide as prescribed by the department except on property with a Deer Quota Program permit for antlerless deer.

(3)    Deer Quota Program tags are valid only on properties for which they are issued.

(B)(1)    Deer taken pursuant to individual deer tags, during any season regardless of weapon, must be tagged with a valid individual deer tag. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

(2)    Deer taken pursuant to Deer Quota Program tags must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the department as prescribed. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

(C)    It is unlawful for an individual:

(1)    to harvest or attempt to harvest a deer on property with a Deer Quota Program permit without having access and authorization to utilize Deer Quota Program tags for the property on which the person is hunting;

(2)    to harvest or attempt to harvest a deer on property without a Deer Quota Program permit unless the person possesses a set of individual deer tags issued in the person's name;

(3)    to possess, move, or transport an untagged deer which was harvested by hunting in South Carolina;

(4)    to use or attempt to use more than one set of deer tags or tags issued in another person's name to harvest a deer; and

(5)    to alter a deer tag for fraudulent or unlawful purposes.

(D)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days."

Deer hunting

SECTION    7.    Section 50-11-390 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 233 of 2010, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-11-390.    (A)(1)    The department may promulgate regulations to permit the taking of antlerless deer between September fifteenth and January first.

(2)    The department must establish a minimum number of antlerless days as follows:

(a)    three days in Game Zone 1;

(b)    eight days in Game Zones 2, 3, and 4.

(B)    In all game zones, the department may issue individual tags for antlerless deer which must be used as prescribed by the department. These tags are valid statewide, except on property receiving a Deer Quota Program permit for antlerless deer pursuant to subsection (C), and must be possessed and used only by the individual to whom they are issued.

(C)    In all game zones, the department may issue Deer Quota Program permits to landowners or lessees. The department will determine the appropriate number of Deer Quota Program tags, and issue the tags for the permitted property.

(D)    Deer taken pursuant to a Deer Quota Program permit must be tagged with a valid Deer Quota Program tag and reported to the department as prescribed. Each tag must be attached to the deer as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill.

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

(F)    It is unlawful to take, possess, or transport deer, except as permitted by this section. A person violating the provisions of this section or the provisions for taking deer established by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty and not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days."

Repeal

SECTION    8.    Section 50-11-335 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

White-tailed deer population study

SECTION    9.    The department shall provide a report of a four-year study by July 1, 2022, to the Chairman of the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and the Chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. The report will include, but will not be limited to, the status of the white-tailed deer population and a review of the tagging program.

Time effective

SECTION    10.    This act takes effect on July 1, 2017.

Ratified the 2nd day of June, 2016.

Approved the 8th day of June, 2016.

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This web page was last updated on July 12, 2016 at 3:09 PM