Wildlife Amendments

Added eligibility for license refunds if the holder becomes ill or injured, provided verification is obtained from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

Changed the requirement for acquiring private land to include publishing a notice on a public legal website and obtaining the governor's approval.

Added a new requirement for hunters to report hunt information to the division, with penalties for non-compliance capped at $25.

Clarified and modified rules regarding the improper discharge of dangerous weapons, specifically adding exceptions for discharging weapons on waterfowl and wildlife management areas.

Changed the bill's effective date from February 6, 2026, to January 23, 2026.

New section requires hunters to report hunt information to the division, with penalties up to $25 for non-compliance.

New section mandates immediate removal of grizzly bears found in areas where they are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Real property acquisition by the division now requires publishing notice on the division's website and obtaining governor approval before purchase.

New section grants the Wildlife Board rulemaking authority specifically to manage grizzly bears in accordance with the new management requirements.

Refund eligibility for hunters who become ill or injured now requires verification from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

New provisions allow free fishing licenses for residents with intellectual disabilities and terminally ill residents with less than five years to live.

New definitions added for 'grizzly bear' (Ursus arctos horribilis) and 'wolf' (Canis lupus) in the Wolf and Grizzly Bear Management Act.

Penalties for discharging weapons near public utilities and railroads were updated, and new exemptions were added for discharging weapons on waterfowl and wildlife management areas.

Created the Poaching Mitigation Fund to collect restitution and reimbursements for wildlife crime investigations, specifically for use by the Division of Law Enforcement.

Renamed the Guide and Outfitter Fund to the 'Guide, and Outfitter, and Spotter Fund' but removed explicit references to spotters in the fund's purpose, while retaining spotter registration fees.

Updated registration fees for guides and outfitters, increasing costs for nonresidents and adjusting resident fees based on whether they hunt big game or bear.

Changed the notice requirement for acquiring private real property by the Division from newspaper publication to posting on the division's public website.

Clarified definitions of 'guide,' 'outfitter,' and 'spotter' and restricted the number of individuals providing services to a maximum of three per hunt, with specific exceptions for big game hunts.

Modified grizzly bear management provisions to require immediate removal of bears found in threatened or endangered areas until they are delisted.

Amended license refund rules to allow refunds for illness or injury if verified by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, removing previous reliance on spotters for verification.

Increased penalties for improper discharge of a dangerous weapon near wildlife management areas and clarified exemptions for hunting activities.

Added provisions requiring reimbursement of investigation expenses for wildlife crimes and unlawful activity by aircraft pilots.

Created a new 'Poaching Mitigation Fund' to finance anti-poaching education, equipment, and training, funded by reimbursements and restitution from illegal wildlife taking.

Established a 'Guide, Outfitter, and Spotter Fund' to support the administration of guide and outfitter regulations.

Increased annual registration fees for guides and outfitters, particularly for nonresidents hunting big game, and clarified that guides and outfitters must be registered.

Added a requirement for hunters to report hunt information to the Division of Wildlife Resources, with potential penalties for non-compliance.

Modified the number of individuals allowed to provide guide or outfitter services at one time, limiting it to two or three under specific conditions.

Removed references to 'spotters' from the definitions of guide and outfitter services, effectively changing how these roles are legally defined and compensated.

Added new penalties for pilots who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operate aircraft to take or locate wildlife in violation of the law.

Expanded restitution requirements for poaching, setting specific minimum dollar amounts for various species and requiring funds to go to the new Poaching Mitigation Fund.

Clarified that a person may not retain an unregistered guide or outfitter or compensate a guide in violation of registration rules, making such actions a misdemeanor.