Iowa Senate Bill SF2056

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/24
• Refer: 1/17/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to family members hunting on a farm unit.

Impact

If enacted, SF2056 would allow adult children of landowners and tenants who live outside Iowa to purchase hunting licenses alongside their resident family members. Furthermore, the bill ensures that any deer licenses acquired by these family members will not count towards the nonresident license limits. This could potentially lead to an increase in deer hunting participation among nonresident adult children of Iowa landowners, reflecting a broader recognition of familial ties in hunting activities.

Summary

Senate File 2056, introduced by Senator McClintock, amends existing regulations concerning hunting licenses for family members residing on a farm unit in Iowa. The bill revises the definition of a 'family member' to include not only resident spouses and minor children of landowners and tenants but also adult children regardless of their residency status. This change builds upon the current law, which only considers spouses and minor children who are residents eligible for free wild turkey or deer hunting licenses as landowners' and tenants' family members.

Contention

While supporters of SF2056 might argue that the bill expands opportunities for families to engage in hunting together, there could be concerns regarding wildlife management and the potential for overhunting. Critics may point to the implications of allowing additional nonresidents to partake in hunting, possibly exacerbating competition for hunting resources. The bill also invites discussions around the management of wildlife populations and the consequences of increasing hunting licenses issued to individuals not directly residing in Iowa, which could provoke differing opinions among local hunters and environmental advocates.