SB 254

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues two

types of bear hunting licenses. A Class A bear license allows the license holder to

shoot and kill bear and to exercise the privileges of a Class B bear license. A Class

B bear license allows the license holder to assist a Class A license holder in pursuing

bear, to bait bear, and to train dogs to pursue bear (dog training); but it does not allow

the license holder to actually shoot at or kill bear.

This bill expands the privileges of a Class B bear license. The bill authorizes

the holder of a Class B bear license to shoot and kill a bear that was shot, but not

killed, by another hunter holding a Class A bear license in the same hunting party

if killing the bear is necessary to protect the safety of other members of the hunting

party or the public. The bill also allows the holder of a Class B bear license to pursue

a bear, provided that the holder of the Class B bear license does not shoot or kill the

bear, unless the public safety circumstances for killing a bear shot at by another

hunter apply.

This bill also requires DNR to allow a person who holds a Class B bear license

to engage in dog training during any part of an open season in which DNR allows a

Class A bear license holder to hunt bear with the use of a dog. The bill also eliminates

the requirement that holders of a Class B bear license attach a back tag to their

outermost garment when engaging in the activities authorized under that license.

Current law exempts a person who is under the age of 12 years from holding a

Class B bear license. This bill expands this exemption by allowing a person who is

under the age of 16 years to engage in the activities authorized under a Class B bear

license without holding that license. The bill also creates a new exemption that

authorizes a person to engage in the activities authorized by a Class B bear license

without holding the license during the third Saturday in August and the

immediately following Sunday.