Wildlife Amendments

Wildlife Board and Regional Advisory Council members must now hold a valid hunting or combination license while serving, with automatic removal if they fail to maintain licensure.

Access to state wildlife management areas is restricted; individuals 18 and older generally need a valid hunting, fishing, or combination license to enter.

Night hunting of non-protected wildlife (coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon) now requires a specific county ordinance and permit, prohibiting the use of motor vehicle headlights.

Feeding of big game is now prohibited in management units testing positive for chronic wasting disease or where elk populations exceed management objectives.

Definitions for 'Wildlife management area' and 'Big game' were updated to clarify exclusions and include specific species lists.

Compensation for livestock damaged by wolves and eagles is now explicitly excluded from funding via the Wildlife Resources Account.

Prohibitions on target shooting in wildlife management areas due to hazardous conditions must be reviewed and renewed every 14 days.

Updated definitions of 'big game' to specify hoofed protected wildlife, clarified 'night hunting' to include light enhancement devices, and modified 'protected wildlife' exclusions to include coyote, feral swine, field mouse, gopher, ground squirrel, jack rabbit, muskrat, striped skunk, and red fox.

Corrected definition of 'big game' to include deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goats, pronghorn, and bison, and clarified 'shed antler' and 'shed horn' definitions.

Added requirements for Wildlife Board and regional advisory council members to obtain and maintain hunting or combination licenses at least three times during the five years before appointment and while serving on the board.

Created new section for night hunting of nonprotected wildlife requiring county ordinances, permits, and restrictions on motor vehicle use during hunting activities.

Modified livestock depredation compensation provisions to limit Wildlife Resources Account funding to 50% of fair market value and exclude wolf and eagle damage claims from this funding source.

Added restrictions on big game feeding in chronic wasting disease positive areas and areas where elk populations exceed management objectives.

Enhanced predator control authority by allowing immediate action to reduce predator populations when big game populations fall below herd size objectives.

Made technical corrections to section numbering and formatting throughout the bill.