A bill for an act relating to the taking of black bears, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (HF 195) reclassifies black bears as "fur-bearing animals" under Iowa law, directly affecting hunters and trappers who wish to take them. It requires individuals to obtain a special fur-harvester license from the Natural Resources Commission, subject to commission-imposed rules, before hunting or trapping black bears. The bill also establishes a $2,500 civil penalty for unlawful taking, with seized bears subject to seizure by the Department of Natural Resources. These changes align black bear management with existing regulations for other fur-bearing species like raccoons and beavers.