HB392 (2017) Detail

Relative to hunting with a crossbow.


HB 392-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0694

10/06

 

HOUSE BILL 392-FN

 

AN ACT relative to hunting with a crossbow.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Gagnon, Sull. 5

 

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill adds the use of a crossbow to the archery license for bow and arrow.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0694

10/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to hunting with a crossbow.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Bow and Arrow; Crossbow Added.  Amend RSA 208:5 to read as follows:

208:5  Bow and Arrow; Crossbow.

I.  The executive director shall set the fee pursuant to RSA 206:10, I, for issuance of archery licenses for the following categories: residents 16 years of age or older and nonresidents 16 years of age or older.

II.  The licensee shall be entitled to hunt wildlife with bow and arrow or  crossbow  during the open season, subject to the restrictions of this title.

III.  The licensee shall be entitled to hunt deer during the special archery season for bow and arrow and crossbow established by the executive director, after consultation with the commission, pursuant to RSA 208:2 throughout the state and in Bear Brook Refuge.

IV.  The licensee shall be entitled to take one deer under the archery license and additional deer under the archery license as determined by the executive director in accordance with RSA 208:5-b.

V.  The licensee shall not be entitled to carry any firearms while hunting under the provisions of this section, unless such licensee also possesses a valid firearms hunting license or a valid license to carry firearms issued pursuant to RSA 159.

VI.  A resident or nonresident person under 16 years of age shall not take wildlife with a bow and arrow or crossbow unless said person is accompanied by a properly licensed person who is 18 years of age or older.

VII.  A resident or nonresident person under 16 years of age shall not take deer with bow and arrow or crossbow during the special archery season unless such person is accompanied by a person possessing the archery license described in RSA 208:5, I who is 18 years of age or older.

VIII.  No person taking deer under the provisions of this section shall take or attempt to take deer with any type of firearm.

IX.  An archery license purchased pursuant to this section shall not constitute satisfactory proof that the licensee has previously had a hunting license issued to the licensee in this state, or any other state, province or country as required by RSA 214:23-a.

2  Fish and Game; Crossbow Hunting.  Amend RSA 208:7-a, I and II to read as follows:

I.  The executive director of fish and game, with the consent of the commission, may adopt rules under RSA 541-A to allow for the taking of deer by crossbow during the regular firearms season and the regular muzzleloader season, for persons holding a valid firearms or muzzleloader deer tag, or as specified in RSA 206:23-c, and shall adopt rules for the taking of deer by crossbow for persons holding an archery license during the open season under RSA 208:5.

II.  The executive director of fish and game, with the consent of the commission, may adopt rules under RSA 541-A to allow for the taking by crossbow of any game bird or any game animal, other than deer, during the regular firearms season set for that species, and shall adopt rules for the taking of game birds or game animals by crossbow for persons holding an archery license during the open season under RSA 208:5.

3  Lawful Method of Taking; Crossbow Added.  Amend RSA 207:3, I to read as follows:

I.  Wildlife shall be taken in the daytime between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset with a gun fired at arm's length, a crossbow, or bow and arrow, unless otherwise specifically permitted.

4  Hunter Orange.  Amend RSA 207:38-b, I to read as follows:

I.  Any person hunting with a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow in this state during the hunting season, except for a person legally hunting waterfowl, should wear a hat, vest or other suitable article of clothing of material in the color of hunter orange visible from all sides at a minimum distance of 200 feet.  "Hunter orange'' means a daylight fluorescent orange color with a dominant wave length between 595 and 605 nanometers, an excitation purity of not less than 85 percent, and a luminance factor of not less than 40 percent.

5  Shooting of Domestic Animals.  Amend RSA 207:39-b and RSA 207:39-c to read as follows:

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, crossbow, 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, crossbow, 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.

6  Transportation of Deer; Permit.  Amend RSA 208:14, I to read as follows:

I.  Any transportation of deer not covered in RSA 208:12 and 13 shall be allowed only under the terms of a special permit, signed by the executive director or an agent of the executive director, except that a person under 16 years of age, hunting without a license but accompanied by a licensee 18 years of age or over or a person with a valid hunting license issued pursuant to RSA 214:7-a or RSA 214:9-c or a bow and arrow or crossbow license issued pursuant to RSA 214:9-cc, or a resident landowner pursuant to RSA 214:2, may transport a deer killed by such person, by identifying it with a tag bearing such person's name, residence, and the date taken.

7  Persons Over 68 Years of Age.  Amend RSA 214:7-a, I to read as follows:

I.  Any resident of this state who is 68 years of age or over may make application each year, to any authorized agent of the state for the sale of freshwater fishing, hunting, or trapping licenses, for a special license to fish in freshwaters and hunt or trap, under the restrictions of this title.  Such license may permit the use of a muzzleloading firearm, crossbow, and bow and arrow.  The executive director shall set the annual fee for the special license established in this section by rule pursuant to RSA 206:10, I.  Said fee shall not exceed 50 percent of the regular resident license fee for fishing in freshwaters, hunting, or trapping.  The license shall be marked in such manner as the executive director may designate.

8  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

 

LBAO

17-0694

1/6/17

 

HB 392-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to hunting with a crossbow.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2021.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

 

 

 

 

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 24, 2017 House Hearing
Jan. 24, 2017 House Exec Session
Feb. 9, 2017 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB392 Revision: 1013 Date: Jan. 30, 2017, 8 a.m.

Docket


Feb. 9, 2017: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/09/2017 HJ 6 P. 3


Feb. 9, 2017: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 02/09/2017 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 10 P. 3


Jan. 24, 2017: Executive Session: 01/24/2017 LOB 307


Jan. 24, 2017: Public Hearing: 01/24/2017 10:00 AM LOB 307


Jan. 5, 2017: Introduced 01/05/2017 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 3 P. 12