SB369.html

To amend Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to game and fish, so as to provide for a license to hunt in the vicinity of a certain type of feeder for grain for deer and wild hogs; to provide for a license fee and the disposition of a license fee; to provide for the intent of the General Assembly relative to certain appropriations; to provide that it shall be lawful to entice and hunt hogs and deer by means of such a feeder in the southern zone for establishing deer season; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to game and fish, is amended by inserting at the end of Chapter 2, relating to licenses, permits, and stamps relating to game and fish, the following:
"27-2-32.
(a) The department shall issue licenses for hunting deer and feral hogs within the vicinity of a feeder containing corn, wheat, or other feeds as provided in subsection (d) of Code Section 27-3-9.
(b) The board shall establish a license fee not to exceed $50.00 for such license.
(c) All fees received as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section shall be deposited into the state treasury in accordance with Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45, the 'Budget Act.' The General Assembly declares its intent to appropriate to the Department of Natural Resources each fiscal year an amount equal to that generated by the prior year´s sales of licenses as provided in this Code section for the acquisition and operation of wildlife management areas in the southern zone for establishing deer season."

Said title is further amended by striking subsection (a) of Code Section 27-3-9, relating to the unlawful enticement of game, and inserting in lieu there thereof the following: "(a) It Except as otherwise provided by subsection (d) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to place, expose, deposit, distribute, or scatter any corn, wheat, or other grains, salts, apples, or other feeds or bait so as to constitute a lure or attraction or enticement for any game bird or game animal on or over any area where hunters are or will be hunting."

Said title is further amended by inserting at the end of Code Section 27-3-9, relating to the unlawful enticement of game, the following:
"(d) It shall be lawful on private lands in the southern zone for establishing deer season for a person licensed as provided in Code Section 27-2-32 to hunt deer and feral hogs within the vicinity of corn, wheat, or other feeds used as a lure or attraction or enticement for deer and hogs provided such feeds are placed in a feeder designed to protect the contents from the elements; provided, however, that the hunter must remain farther than 25 yards from such feeder."