HB197 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Danny CrawfordRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Hunting, authorize the taking of whitetail deer or feral swine by means of bait, when baiting privilege license is purchased, under certain conditions, Sec. 9-11-244 am'd.
Summary: HB 197 would let people take whitetail deer or feral swine by bait on private lands if they buy a baiting privilege license, and it gives the wildlife commissioner power to suspend licenses to stop disease spread.
What This Bill Does
It creates an exception that allows taking deer or feral swine using bait on privately owned or leased land, provided the hunter holds a bait privilege license from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It establishes the license fees (residents $14 + $1 issuance; nonresidents $50 + $1 issuance), and states the license is obtained similarly to an annual hunting license with the issuance fee kept by the issuing office; those exempt from hunting licenses are not exempt from the bait license. It gives the commissioner authority to suspend the license to prevent disease spread and to adopt rules about feeding wildlife, with suspensions announced publicly.

Who It Affects
Private landowners or lessees who hunt whitetail deer or feral swine with bait on their land, who must purchase and carry a bait privilege license.
Hunters who are normally exempt from hunting licenses but who would hunt under this act; they must still purchase a bait privilege license.

Key Provisions
Allows taking whitetail deer or feral swine by bait on privately owned or leased lands if the hunter has a bait privilege license.
Sets license fees: $14 for residents and $50 for nonresidents plus a $1 issuance fee; fees may be adjusted as allowed by law; license issuance and fees follow the same process as annual hunting licenses.
Exemption from hunting licenses does not exempt a person from needing a bait privilege license.
Gives the Commissioner authority to suspend the bait privilege license on a county, regional, or statewide basis to prevent disease spread, with suspensions announced in a news release; rules to manage wildlife feeding may be adopted.
Effective immediately following the governor's 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: Hunters and Hunting