deer; taking; landowner permits

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the permit is required if the commission determines necessity, but does not specify criteria beyond population management or conflict reduction.

HB2147: Landowner Permits for Deer on Private Lands

This bill requires the Arizona Game and Fish Department to issue special permits that allow landowners to take deer on their own private property.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department to create a new permit specifically for taking deer on private lands.
• Directs the department to issue these permits if officials say they are needed to manage wildlife populations or reduce conflicts between people, animals, and property.
• States that a person cannot give or sell their landowner permit to anyone else.

Who It Names or Affects

• Owners of private lands in Arizona
• The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)
• The Arizona Game and Fish Commission

Terms To Know

Taking

Hunting, killing, or capturing wildlife.

Landowner permit

A special license that allows a property owner to take deer on their own land.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not state when this law will officially start or how much the permits might cost.
• The text does not explain exactly what steps officials must follow to decide if a permit is necessary for conflict reduction.

Official Summary Text

HB2147 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House
: LARA DP 5-3-0-0

HB
2147
: deer; taking; landowner permits

Sponsor:
Representative Griffin, LD 19

House
Engrossed

Overview

Requires
the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to issue landowner permits for
deer hunting on private lands.

History

The AZGFD manages wildlife populations in Arizona through the
administration of hunting and fishing license programs, enforcement actions for
the unlawful taking of game and wildlife habitat protection and development. A
five-member commission appointed by the Governor oversees the operations of AZGFD
(
A.R.S. ��
17-201 et. seq.
).

Title 17,
Chapter 3
(Taking and Handling of Wildlife) outlines
statutes regulating hunting and transporting hunted animals. A person in this
state cannot take wildlife without a valid license or a commission-approved
proof of purchase. A person must carry the license or proof of purchase and
produce it on request to any game ranger, wildlife manager or peace officer (
A.R.S. � 17-331
).

Provisions

1.

Requires AZGFD
to issue a landowner permit for the taking of deer on private lands. (Sec. 1)

2.

Directs AZGFD
to issue a landowner permit if the Arizona Game and Fish Commission determines
the permit is necessary to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife or
between property and wildlife. (Sec. 1)

3.

Specifies a
person may not transfer a landowner permit to any other person. (Sec. 1)

4.

5.

6.

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FOOTER ---------

7.

Initials CW��������������������� HB
2147

8.

2/27/2026� Page 0 House
Engrossed

9.

10.

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FOOTER ---------

Current Bill Text

HB2147 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

deer; taking;
landowner permits

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2147

AN
ACT

Amending title 17, chapter 3, ARTICLE 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 17-321; RELATING to the taking of
wildlife.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section
1.
1. Title
17, chapter 3, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
section 17-321, to read:

START_STATUTE
17-321.

Private lands; taking deer; landowner permits

A. The department shall issue a
landowner permit for the taking of deer on private lands.

B. The department shall issue a
landowner permit if the commission determines that the permit is necessary
FOR wildlife population management or to reduce conflicts between
humans and wildlife
or BETWEEN property and wildlife.

C. A person may not transfer a
landowner permit to any other person.
END_STATUTE