HB 1382 Summary

• Creates a new "commercial harvesting license" issued by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry for facilities harvesting or hunting legally acquired privately owned cervidae (whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, cervidae hybrids), turkey, and exotic species for profit or monetary gain.

• Prohibits any person from propagating or holding in captivity wildlife belonging to the state; applicants must submit proof that animals are secured from sources other than wild state stock.

• Sets annual commercial harvesting license fee at $300.00, with licenses expiring August 31 of each year; transfers authority for cervidae licensing from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

• Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, State Veterinarian, or their designees to inspect commercial harvesting facilities without prior notice if probable cause exists that a violation has occurred; all other inspections require prior notice.

• Declares an emergency effective upon passage and approval.