Texas House Bill HB3833

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the ownership of certain deer in this state.

Impact

If passed, HB 3833 will impact how breeder deer are recognized legally in Texas. The explicit definition of ownership will help deer breeders maintain clear property rights, potentially leading to increased investment and efforts in deer management and breeding operations. As breeders would be able to claim personal property rights over their deer, this could affect the economics of breeding and owning deer, especially with respect to their sale, purchase, and transfer.

Summary

House Bill 3833 seeks to amend the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code concerning the ownership of breeder deer. The bill stipulates that a breeder deer is considered the personal property of a deer breeder as long as specific conditions are met, primarily that the deer is held in accordance with a permit issued under Section 43.352 and is permanently identified through a unique tattoo. This change aims to clarify existing ownership laws regarding deer that are bred in captivity for various purposes, including hunting and conservation efforts.

Contention

There could be points of contention with the enforcement and implications of the bill. For instance, concerns may arise regarding the management of released deer, as the bill states that the ownership designation does not apply to those released into the wild. This clause raises questions about how the released deer will be monitored and whether any protections would remain when such animals are no longer under the breeder's control. Additionally, there may be debates on the ecological impact of clarifying ownership over breeder deer, particularly as it relates to wildlife conservation and ecosystem management.