Relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, maximum fur dealer license fees, and deer depredation, and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, and maximum fur dealer license fees. The bill requires that a stand placed on public land for hunting deer be affixed with and exhibit a metal plate that plainly shows the department-issued identification number of the owner of the stand. An owner who does not properly identify a tree stand placed on public land belonging to the owner is subject to a scheduled fine of $30. The bill provides that an owner of a tree stand placed on public land shall not be held liable for damage to personal property or an injury resulting from another person’s use of the tree stand. The natural resource commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill relating to tree stands. Under current law, a person is generally prohibited from disturbing, in any manner, any den, lodge, or house of a fur-bearing animal or beaver dam except with written permission of an officer appointed by the director. The bill allows a property owner, the property owner’s agent, or a drainage district to breach or alter a beaver dam to protect the person’s property. Under current law, all traps and snares used for the taking of fur-bearing animals require a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the user’s name and address. The bill allows the user the option of labeling the trap or snare with the user’s department-issued identification number instead of the user’s name and address. The bill creates a maximum fur dealer license fee of $50, regardless of resident status.50 for one day and one location. Current law allows residents from another state to purchase a fur dealer license for the set fee unless that state has reciprocity with Iowa, in which case the nonresident shall pay the reciprocity fee amount that is less than the nonresident license fee but more than the Iowa resident license fee.