Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3061 adds a new subchapter to the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Parks and Wildlife Department to issue a permit for the management of wild white-tail deer on acreage enclosed by a fence capable of retaining and preventing entry of white-tail deer. The act stipulates that the deer managed under this permit remain the property of the people of the state. If the commission establishes a special season with a special bag limit for holders of a deer management permit, the permit holder may not receive compensation for granting any other person permission to kill a wild deer during that special season on acreage covered by the permit.

            House Bill 3061 also requires the permit holder to annually submit to the department for approval a deer management plan that outlines specific management practices to be applied, including the killing of wild deer during a special season having a special bag limit established by the Parks and Wildlife Commission for this permit. The permit holder is also required to maintain records of the number of white-tail deer taken, detained, and released and any other information required by the department. Employees of the department are authorized to inspect the records and acreage of a permit holder at any time without a warrant to monitor for compliance with the management plan.

            Finally, House Bill 3061 authorizes the commission to establish certain permit conditions regarding the killing and retaining of deer, authorizes the department to set permit fees not to exceed $1,000, and establishes penalties for violating this subchapter.