Relating to special deer hunting licenses available to nonresident family members

This bill creates a special deer hunting license available to certain nonresident family members. In order to hunt deer under current law, a nonresident who does not own land in Iowa may apply for an antlered or any sex deer hunting license that is subject to a specified zone and an annual quota. A nonresident who is unsuccessful in acquiring an antlered or any sex deer hunting license receives preference to purchase an antlerless deer only deer hunting license. The bill allows a nonresident who is a family member of a resident to purchase a nonresident family member deer hunting license for a fee that is one-half the fee of a nonresident deer hunting license established by the natural resource commission by rule. 24(2)(c). A person using a nonresident family member deer hunting license is entitled to the same privileges as a person using a resident deer hunting license, including party hunting, and the nonresident family member deer hunting license is not subject to requirements or quotas imposed on nonresidents. However, the nonresident family member is required to purchase an annual nonresident hunting license.24(2)(c).