SF 46 – Fishing on private pond, prohibiting DNR from stocking private ponds
SF 47 – Youth deer and youth wild turkey hunting licenses
SF 50 – Landowner wild turkey and deer tags
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 46 – Fishing on private pond, prohibiting DNR from stocking private ponds
SF 46, as amended in committee, would allow fishing without a license on an entirely landlocked private pond that is not connected to the channel of a water of the state. Currently, a person fishing in Iowa must purchase a license as applicable regardless of the body of water. The amendment also prohibits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from stocking fish in privately owned ponds. The DNR had offered fish stocking in ponds for a minor fee in the past. They ceased doing so in recent years because they lacked funding, but had given thought to restarting the program because increased license fee receipts will allow the department to expand their wildlife and habitat resource programs. The fish would include fingerling-size fish from a variety of species. The DNR did not stock fish that were of harvesting size or for game purposes.
[2/5: 8-4 (No: Boulton, Celsi, Lykam, J. Smith; Absent: Hogg)]
SF 47 – Youth deer and youth wild turkey hunting licenses
SF 47, as amended in committee, will re-establish the nine-day youth hunting seasons for deer and wild turkey prior to other hunting seasons. The 2019 seasons established by the Natural Resource Commission through rulemaking provided only three days (one weekend) for youth hunters before the other hunting seasons began. The goal of youth seasons is to provide the best-possible opportunity for a youth hunter to have a successful experience. The three-day season was not enough time. The bill also reduces the costs of youth deer and wild turkey tags by 50 percent. The current tags are the same price as those for adult hunters.
[2/5: Short Form (Absent: Hogg)]
SF 50 – Landowner wild turkey and deer tags
SF 50 provides more prescriptive language regarding the use of landowner deer and wild turkey tags across shotgun or bow hunting seasons. Legislation last year allowed an unused landowner tag to be used in subsequent hunting seasons during the year they were issued in the event the tag was unfilled during an earlier season. The person using the tag must hunt using the prescribed method of take for the season when the tag is used. SF 50 clarifies the process further to ensure that the landowner tags are not used during the applicable youth hunting seasons, but only in the other hunting seasons outlined by the NRC.
[2/5: Short Form (Absent: Hogg)]