Revision: Jan. 21, 2010, midnight
CHAPTER 289
SB 179 – FINAL VERSION
03/31/05 0893s
01Jun2005… 1423h
06/29/05 2021cofc
2005 SESSION
08/04
SENATE BILL 179
COMMITTEE: Environment and Wildlife
This bill requires hunters to render aid and to report the death or injury of domestic animals.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/31/05 0893s
01Jun2005… 1423h
06/29/05 2021cofc
05-0707
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five
AN ACT requiring hunters to report the death or injury of domestic animals.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
289:1 Shooting Domestic Animals; Liability. RSA 207:39-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
207:39-a Shooting Domestic Animals; Liability. Any person, while actually engaged in hunting or in the pursuit of wild animals or wild birds, who causes death, injury, or damage to domestic animals, ducks, or fowl shall be liable for damages to the owner of the animals.
289:2 New Sections; Reporting the Death or Injury of Domestic Animals. Amend RSA 207 by inserting after section 39-a the following new sections:
207:39-b Intentional or Negligent Shooting of Domestic Animals; Penalty. Any person, while actually engaged in hunting or in pursuit of wild animals or wild birds who knowingly or purposely causes death, injury, or damage to such domestic animals, ducks, or fowl through the discharge of a firearm or bow and arrow may have his or her license to hunt revoked and he or she may not be granted a license to hunt for a period not to exceed 5 years. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a hunter killing or injuring his or her own animal or a borrowed animal or one used by another member of the same hunting party, other than being liable to the owner of the animal. The executive director of the fish and game department may make such revocation and suspension of the privilege of obtaining a license and determine the term of such suspension when, in the executive director’s opinion, reasonable evidence of a violation of the provisions of this section exist.
207:39-c Reporting the Death or Injury of Domestic Animals. Any person who negligently or accidentally causes death, injury, or damage to domestic animals through the discharge of a firearm or bow and arrow shall immediately report the death, injury, or damage to the local police department, and in the case of injury to such domestic animals, shall render aid to the animal in an attempt to save the animal’s life.
289:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2006.
(Approved: July 22, 2005)
(Effective Date: January 1, 2006)