HB388 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chad Fincher

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Trapping of fur-bearing animals, licensing by Conservation and Natural Resources Department, fees, use of plastic tags on traps and the requirement that the license number of the owner of a trap be contained on any tag, deleted, Sec. 9-11-59 am'd.

Summary

HB388 would overhaul Alabama fur-trapping licensing by creating resident and nonresident licenses, adding beaver trapping rules, and establishing trap-tag identification and penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It creates resident and nonresident trapping licenses with specified fees, and adds a beaver trapping license (fee waived if trapping only beaver). Traps must be identified with a tag bearing the owner's license number, name, and address (for beaver traps, the tag bears only the name and address). It allows confiscation of trapping devices used in violations and treats violations as misdemeanors with fines between $250 and $2,000 per offense. Licenses are valid only during the fur-bearing season, and fees may be adjusted in the future; the act becomes effective after governor approval and three months.

Who It Affects

• Residents of Alabama who trap fur-bearing animals: would need a resident trapping license with a specified fee, and traps would require identification tags with owner information; beaver trapping would require a license, with potential fee waiver if trapping beaver only.
• Nonresidents and others who trap fur-bearing animals (including beaver trappers): would need a nonresident trapping license with a higher minimum fee; traps would require identification tags; violations could lead to fines and confiscation of trapping devices.

Key Provisions

• Establishes resident trapping license and nonresident trapping license, with specified fees and minimums (nonresident fee higher; minimums stated as multiple of resident fee).
• Beaver trapping requires a trapping license; beaver-only trapping may be exempt from license fees.
• Requires traps to be identified with a tag bearing the owner's license number, name, and address (beaver traps' tags bear only name and address).
• Allows confiscation of trapping devices used in violation; devices become property of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and disposed of per the Commissioner's orders.
• Violations of licensing or tagging provisions are misdemeanors with fines of $250 to $2,000 per offense.
• License validity is limited to the fur-bearing season; license issuance and fees may be adjusted under a related statute.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation and Natural Resources Department