H. B. 4154
(By Delegates Yeager, Leggett and Williams)
[Introduced January 25, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section forty-six-j, article two,
chapter twenty of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to
muzzle-loading deer hunting license and hunting season.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section forty-six-j, article two, chapter twenty of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.
§20-2-46j. Class V resident and Class VV nonresident
muzzle-loading deer hunting licenses.
There shall be a special season of at least three days each
year for the taking of deer with muzzle-loading firearms, either
rifles or pistols, to be set at such time and to be of a duration
determined by the commission. For a minimum of two days during this season, deer of either sex may be taken with muzzle-loading
firearms in all counties open for the taking of antlerless deer
as provided in section forty-six-b of this article. Antlered
deer only may be taken in all other counties open for the taking
of deer with firearms.
A Class V license is a resident muzzle-loading deer hunting
license. A Class VV license is a nonresident muzzle-loading deer
hunting license. A Class V and VV license entitles the licensee
to hunt for and kill deer with a muzzle-loader during
muzzle-loading deer seasons in counties of the state, or parts
thereof, as established by the natural resources commission as
provided in section seventeen, article one of this chapter. The
director shall establish rules governing the issuance of Class V
and Class VV licenses as the director determines necessary to
limit, on a fair and equitable basis, the number of persons who
may hunt for deer with a muzzle-loader in any special management
area. There shall be at least three days each year for the
taking of deer with muzzle-loading firearms, either rifles or
pistols.
Only single shot muzzle-loading firearms with iron open
sights having a bore diameter of no less than thirty-eight
one-hundredths inch are legal firearms for the taking of deer
during the special muzzle-loading deer season provided herein.
The special season provided herein shall be concurrent with all other seasons designated for the taking of game.
Any person wishing to hunt for and kill deer during the
special muzzle-loading season must possess a valid Class V or
Class VV license, except that this requirement does not apply to
a resident of West Virginia who is not required to obtain a
license or permit to hunt as provided in this chapter. A Class
V license shall be a resident muzzle-loading deer hunting
license. A Class VV license shall be a nonresident
muzzle-loading deer hunting license. The licenses shall be
issued in a form prescribed by the director, are in addition to
a Class A, Class AB or Class E license and are valid only when
accompanied thereby. The fee for the Class V license shall be
five dollars. The fee for the Class VV license shall be ten
twenty-five dollars. Provided, That on and after the first day
of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight, the fee shall
be twenty-five dollars
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.