AB 544

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

licenses, permits, and other approvals (approvals) authorizing hunting, fishing, and

trapping. Among the approvals that DNR issues are wild turkey hunting licenses,

stamps, and tags.

This bill requires DNR to administer a program under which it provides

instruction to disabled veterans who are learning to hunt wild turkey and under

which it establishes a special wild turkey hunting event during which only disabled

veterans are allowed to participate. The bill defines a disabled veteran as a veteran

who is a resident of this state and who has a service-connected disability rating

under federal law of at least 50 percent.

Under this bill, a disabled veteran may hunt wild turkey during a special wild

turkey hunting event established by DNR if the disabled veteran holds the required

turkey hunting approvals or has been issued a waiver from all hunting approval

requirements by DNR, receives instruction about wild turkey hunting as specified

by DNR, and is accompanied by a mentor at all times while hunting. The bill requires

the mentor to have at least five years of hunting experience, to hold a valid hunting

approval, and to provide instruction or assistance to the disabled veteran. The bill

prohibits DNR from charging a disabled veteran participating in the program a fee

to receive instruction or a waiver. The bill requires the special event to take place

during the two-week period immediately preceding the period during which the

hunting of wild turkey is otherwise allowed by the department.