Establishing crop loss deer hunting permits and seasons

This bill establishes crop loss deer hunting permits and seasons. The bill allows an owner or tenant of a farm unit, or a family member of the owner or tenant, to apply to receive crop loss deer hunting permits and tags for use on the owner’s farm unit. An application shall be accompanied with proof of substantial yield loss due to deer. Upon application, the department of natural resources shall issue a crop loss deer hunting permit and tags for use on the farm unit. Six crop loss deer hunting tags are available for use during an early split crop loss deer hunting season, which shall encompass the months of September and October, and six crop loss deer hunting tags are available for use during a late split crop loss deer hunting season, which shall encompass the months of November and December. Tags that remain unfilled at the conclusion of the early split season may be used in the late split season. Tags issued pursuant to the bill may be transferred to another resident hunter for use on the farm unit. A person may use any legal method of take when hunting with a permit issued pursuant to the bill, but shall only take antlerless deer. Receiving a permit or tag pursuant to the bill does not prohibit the recipient from receiving any other lawfully issued permit, license, or tag.