Big game animals-harassment and disturbance.

2016
State of Wyoming
16LSO-0236
Introduced
1.5

HOUSE BILL

NO.

HB0102

Big game animals-harassment and disturbance.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Schwartz, Baldwin, Freeman and Kirkbride and Senator(s) Craft

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to game and fish; providing for the protection of big game animals from harassment and disturbance as specified; authorizing rulemaking; specifying applicability; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
305 is created to read:

23
‑
1
‑
305
.

Protection of big game animals.

(a)

The commission
may
establish rules and regulations for the purpose of minimizing the harassment or disturbance of big game populations. The rules and regulations shall:

(i)

Regulate and control the collection of shed antlers and horns of big game animals on public lands west of the Continental Divide any time
from
January 1
through April 30
of each year; and

(ii)

Provide for the protection of crucial winter ranges
on public lands
essential for the conservation of big game populations
from
January 1
through April 30
of each year.

(b)

Nothing in this section shall apply to:

(i)

Governmental agencies, their employees, contractors or designees in the performance of any lawful duties;

(ii)

Any normal or accepted agricultural management practices.

(c)

For purposes of this section:

(i)

"Disturbance" means to engage in any activity that affects the behavior of any big game animal resulting in displacement;

(ii)

"Harassment" includes but is not limited to any intentional activity that
endangers,
worr
ie
s, annoys, disturbs or torments any big game animal but does not include the lawful taking of any big game animal.

Section 2
.

W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
302(
a)(xxxi) is repealed.

Section

3
.

This
act is effective July 1,
201
6
.

(END)

1
HB0102