Senate committee reviews Fish & Wildlife rule edits, elevates several hunting violations to 20‑point status

The Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee examined a draft amendment to Fish and Wildlife rules that would move multiple violations — including taking more than one black bear in a calendar year — into the 20‑point category, tighten season‑and‑hour violations for bear and turkey seasons, and add permit conditions for hunting with dogs.

Staff member reviewing the draft told the committee that “a person shall not harvest more than 1 black bear for a calendar year,” and that the amendment moves that provision into the 20‑point section to align enforcement with other serious violations. The staff presentation also described season‑specific provisions (early/late seasons), hour limits that hinge on sunrise/sunset, and prohibitions tied to unregistered dogs unless authorization exists.

The committee pressed staff for detail on how pack limits would work and whether multiple permit holders could combine registered dogs. The staff response clarified that two or more permit holders may combine department‑registered dogs but the total number of dogs engaged in hunting would be capped; the rule text, staff said, would be revised for clarity.

On fishing tournaments, staff explained applicants must submit a form issued by the commissioner and that “the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall post notice of the tournament on the department’s website.” The draft also directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to consult the Department of Environmental Conservation on best management practices to protect public drinking‑water systems; those practices would be folded into tournament permits.

Committee members suggested wording fixes (including restoring quotation marks and tightening definitions) and asked staff to explain why certain possession‑of‑unregistered‑dog language was being removed from the 20‑point section. Staff said the element could be enforced through other civil penalties or training rather than point penalties, and the committee agreed to take another look at the drafting choices in a later round.

What happens next: Committee staff said they will circulate revised language and follow up with agency reviewers; the committee did not take a vote during the session.