SB177 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Hunting on land without permission, penalties revised, fines increased, restitution, forfeiture of hunting gear and firearms, Secs. 9-11-241, 9-11-242, 9-11-243 repealed

Summary

SB177 tightens penalties for hunting wild game on someone else’s land without permission, adds restitution and gear forfeiture, and repeals older related statutes.

What This Bill Does

The bill replaces the old rules with new prohibitions for hunting on another person’s land without written permission, and increases penalties. It allows the court to order restitution to cover wildlife losses and to seize hunting gear and firearms used in the violation. Penalties escalate with each offense, ranging from fines and suspensions to a felony and permanent loss of hunting privileges on the third or subsequent offense. It specifies an effective date and notes a local-funding provision is exempt from requiring local approval.

Who It Affects

• Landowners and the owners' agents, who can grant or withhold written permission and are protected by the new prohibitions
• Hunters, who would face increasing fines, suspensions, potential felony charges, restitution requirements, and gear/weapon forfeiture for illegally hunting on someone else’s land

Key Provisions

• Repeals Sections 9-11-241, 9-11-242, and 9-11-243, replacing them with new prohibitions and penalties
• Prohibits hunting or catching wild game on another's land unless written permission is provided by the landowner or their agent
• First violation: general violation is Class B misdemeanor with a $1,500 fine and 1-year hunting-privilege suspension; killing a deer triggers Class A misdemeanor with a $3,000 fine and 1-year suspension
• Second violation: Class A misdemeanor with a $5,000 fine and 5-year suspension
• Third or subsequent violation: Class D felony with a $7,500 fine and permanent revocation of hunting privileges
• Court may order restitution to the Department for the value of wildlife losses; nonpayment can lead to denial of licenses, tags, or permits
• Any hunting gear or firearms used in the violation must be forfeited to the department
• The bill includes a local-funding provision note under Amendment 621, but states it is exempt from local-approval requirements because it creates or amends a crime

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