Group deer hunting requirements and restrictions on placing, possessing, or transporting a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a vehicle

This bill also extends certain hunting privileges to persons who hunt in a group and who all use a bow and arrow. The bill provides that a member of such a group may kill a deer for another member of the group if that deer is an antlerless deer and if the person for whom the antlerless deer is killed possesses a current unused deer carcass tag authorized for use on that deer.

Current law also requires a person who kills a deer for another member of a qualifying group deer hunting party to ensure that a member of the group deer hunting party attaches a current deer carcass tag to the deer without delay. This bill requires a person who kills a deer for another member of any qualifying group deer hunting party to inform another member of his or her group deer hunting party of the kill and to ensure that the informed member attaches his or her deer carcass tag to the deer within one hour after the deer is killed.

This bill also expands the exceptions to general restrictions on possessing or transporting a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a vehicle. Under current law, with certain exceptions, no person may place, possess, or transport (place) a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a vehicle unless: 1) for a firearm, the firearm is unloaded and completely enclosed in a case that is made for the purpose of containing a firearm;

or 2) for a bow or crossbow, the bow or crossbow is either unstrung or enclosed in a carrying case. This bill eliminates the requirement that an unloaded firearm placed in a vehicle be in a case. The bill also provides that the prohibitions against the placement of a firearm, bow, or crossbow in a vehicle do not apply if the vehicle is stationary. The bill does not change the current law prohibition against shooting a firearm, bolt, or arrow from a vehicle.