SB116 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Hunting on land without permission, penalties revised, fines increased, restitution, forfeiture of hunting gear and firearms, Secs. 9-11-240, 9-11-241, 9-11-242 repealed

Summary

SB116 tightens penalties for hunting wild game on someone else’s land without permission, adds restitution and gear forfeiture, and replaces the old law.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits hunting on another person's land without written consent or accompanying by the landowner or their agent. It creates escalating penalties, including fines and suspensions, with deer killed on a first offense facing a higher felony and larger fines, and with higher penalties for subsequent offenses. It allows courts to order restitution for the value of wildlife loss or damage and to forfeit hunting gear and firearms used in the violation, and it repeals the older related statutes while clarifying the bill’s relation to local-funding requirements and its effective date.

Who It Affects

• Hunters who hunt on land without permission would face new prohibitions, higher fines, longer suspensions, potential felonies, and possible forfeiture of gear and firearms.
• Landowners and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would have stronger protections for land rights, enforcement of penalties, collection of restitution, and management of forfeited hunting gear and firearms.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits hunting or catching wild game on another's land without written consent or accompaniment by the landowner or their agent.
• Imposes a tiered penalty system: first offense is a Class A misdemeanor with at least a $1,500 fine and 1-year hunting-privilege suspension; killing a deer on a first offense is a Class C felony with at least a $3,000 fine and 1-year suspension; second offense is a Class C felony with at least a $5,000 fine and 5-year suspension; third or subsequent offenses are Class C felonies with at least a $10,000 fine and permanent license revocation.
• Allows restitution to be ordered for the value of wildlife loss or damage, with nonpayment leading to denial of hunting or fishing licenses, tags, or permits, and continued hunting after nonpayment becoming a Class A misdemeanor.
• Requires forfeiture to the department of hunting gear and firearms used to commit the violation.
• Repeals existing sections related to hunting on the land of another without permission and enacts the new provisions.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from certain local-funding requirements due to exceptions in Amendment 621 and sets an effective date on the first day of the third month after passage and 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

Game and Fish