Relating to deer hunting licenses available to nonresident hunters

Sponsored by the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee

Topics:Environment & natural resources

Same legislation: SF 2142

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 31, 2022
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 1, 2022
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 21, 2022
Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: House committee
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary People from outside of Iowa would be able to buy up to 7,500 licenses to hunt deer with antlers. The state will use a drawing system to give these licenses to people who have the most points. If a hunter uses a special license to hunt a deer without antlers in certain areas, they will also earn an extra point for future drawings.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to deer hunting licenses available to nonresident hunters. Currently, the natural resource commission (NRC) issues up to 6,000 antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses to nonresidents. The bill increases that amount to 7,500. The bill requires NRC to use a random draw process that is weighted to favor applicants with the most preference points to assign nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses until all available nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses have been issued. The bill provides that when a nonresident uses the antlerless deer only deer hunting license and tag that the nonresident is required to purchase with an antlered or any sex deer hunting license to take an antlerless deer in a zone that is above the population goal determined by NRC, then NRC will assign one preference point to the nonresident, which shall be in addition to any preference points purchased or acquired after failing to obtain an antlered or any sex deer hunting license from a drawing. The department of natural resources shall determine a method for verifying a harvest in a zone that is above the population goal.

Full bill text²

Fiscal note

More revenue: up to $954,000 Compare with other bills

AI summary This bill increases the number of nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses available each year to 7,500 and creates a new way for hunters to earn preference points. It is estimated to result in an increase of revenue of $954,000 annually to the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.³

Read the fiscal note

Description

Senate File 2344 increases the number of nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses that are available annually to 7,500. In addition, the Bill provides an additional way for a nonresident hunter to accumulate preference points used in determining the distribution of nonresident deer hunting licenses.

Background

Currently, the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) is limited to issuing 6,000 nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses annually. After the limit is reached, the NRC may determine a number of nonresident antlerless only deer hunting licenses to issue. If a nonresident does not receive an antlered or any sex deer hunting license due to the limited number, the NRC will assign one preference point to the nonresident for that year and for each successive year the nonresident does not receive a license. The more preference points a person has, the more likely the person will be able to receive a nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting license. The total cost for a nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting license is $636 before additional fees.

Fees from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses go to the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which is used for fish and wildlife research, education, management, and expansion of wildlife opportunities. The fund is constitutionally protected and must be used for these purposes by the DNR.