HB197 Summary

• Amends Section 9-11-244 of the Alabama Code to allow hunting whitetail deer or feral swine with bait on privately owned or leased lands if the hunter purchases a baiting privilege license from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

• Sets baiting privilege license fees at $14 annually for residents plus $1 issuance fee, and $50 annually for nonresidents plus $1 issuance fee.

• Requires hunters exempt from purchasing standard hunting licenses to still purchase a baiting privilege license to use bait while hunting deer or swine.

• Authorizes the commissioner to suspend baiting privilege licenses on a county, regional, or statewide basis without refund to prevent the spread of diseases among wildlife, with suspension announced via news release.

• Becomes effective immediately upon passage and gubernatorial approval or upon otherwise becoming law.