Subject: Fish and Wildlife; Licenses; Moose Permits

BILL AS INTRODUCEDH.204

2007Page 1

H.204

Introduced by Representatives Rodgers of Glover, Larocque of Barnet, Larrabee of Danville, Morley of Barton and Pillsbury of Brattleboro

Referred to Committee on

Date:

Subject: Fish and wildlife; licenses; moose permits

Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to require the fish and wildlife board to set aside 15percent of the moose permits it authorizes for award to landowners in Vermont who do not post their land against hunting.

AN ACT RELATING TO AWARDING MOOSE PERMITS TO VERMONT LANDOWNERS

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 4254(i) is amended to read:

(i)(1) If the board establishes a moose hunting season, up to five moose permits shall be set aside to be auctioned. The board shall adopt rules necessary for the department to establish, implement, and run the auction process. Proceeds from the auction shall be deposited in the fish and wildlife fund and used for conservation education programs run by the department. Successful bidders must have a Vermont hunting or combination license in order to purchase a moose permit. Beginning with the 2006 hunting season, the five moose permits set aside for auction shall be in addition to the number of annual moose permits authorized by the board.

(2) If the board establishes a moose hunting season, 15 percent of the moose permits authorized by the board shall be set aside to be awarded to owners of more than 20 acres of land in the state, provided that the landowner does not post his or her land against hunting and fishing under section 5201 of this title. A landowner who posts land under section 4710 of this title and who is otherwise qualified may receive a moose permit under this subsection. The board shall adopt rules necessary for the department to establish and implement the setaside program for landowners, including a method by which landowners who applied for but failed to receive a permit in one hunting season are awarded priority in the subsequent moose hunting season. Landowners awarded a moose permit under this subsection must possess a valid Vermont hunting or combination license in order to purchase a moose permit.

(3) If the board establishes a moose hunting season, only one moose permit shall be awarded per household. If more than one moose permit is awarded to a household during the moose permit lottery, the additional permit or permits shall be reentered in the lottery for award to another household. For purposes of this subdivision, “household” means any individual or group of individuals who share the same residence.