AB 598

This bill makes numerous changes so that farm-raised game bovids are treated

in the same manner as farm-raised deer. The bill defines “farm-raised game bovid”

as animals kept in captivity to be hunted that are members of the taxonomic family

bovidae, which includes animals more commonly known as bison, buffalo, sheep,

goats, and antelopes.

Under current law, there are many requirements and restrictions relating to

wild animals, including those relating to hunting, killing, possessing, transporting,

selling, serving, and stealing wild animals. However, these requirements and

restrictions generally do not apply to farm-raised deer. The bill exempts

farm-raised game bovids from these requirements and restrictions and specifically

allows the hunting of farm-raised game bovids without a license.

The bill requires farm-raised game bovids to be fenced in the same manner as

farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer. The bill also treats farm-raised

game bovids in the same manner as farm-raised deer for the purpose of sales taxes;

farmland preservation and the purchase of agricultural conservation easements;

various trade regulation provisions, such as the misrepresentation of animal breeds;

disease control, with the exception that farm-raised game bovids are not required

to be tested for chronic wasting disease; premises registration; voluntary tagging;

indemnity payments for condemned animals; animal market licensing;

slaughtering; and the seizure and disposal of escaped animals.