NATURAL RESOURCES-Week of January 30

SF 2017 – Use of leashed dogs while tracking wounded deer

SSB 3058 – Identification of ownership of deer blinds or stands
COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2017 directs the Natural Resources Commission to adopt rules that would allow the use of leashed dogs while tracking a wounded deer. Tracking wounded animals with dogs improves the likelihood that the animal will be found, reducing the number of lost deer. The person tracking the wounded deer would not be allowed to carry a firearm or bow with them while tracking a deer with a leashed dog. The person tracking with a leashed dog is required to gain permission from a property owner before taking the dog onto private property. [1/31: short form]

SSB 3058 requires a person using a deer hunting blind or stand to affix a tag or some other form of identification indicating ownership of the structure. The identification would help identify which stands are properly placed on a landowner’s property with permission. [1/31: 9-4 (Ernst, Hamerlinck, Kapucian, and Sorenson “no”)]