SENATE, No. 2400

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2016

Sponsored by:

Senator  NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

SYNOPSIS

     Authorizes use of tracking dog to search for and recover wild deer during prescribed hunting season.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act concerning the use of dogs to track wild deer and amending R.S.23:4-46.

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    R.S.23:4-46 is amended to read as follows:

     23:4-46.      a.     No person shall at any time, or for any reason, hunt for, track, search for, seek, capture, or kill a wild deer with a dog.

     b.    Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary, a person permitted by the Division of Fish and Wildlife may use a certified tracking dog on a lead to search for and recover deer lost by a hunter during any hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code.

(cf:  P.L.1957, c.116, s.1)

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     Current law (R.S.23:4-46) prohibits a person from using a dog, at any time, or for any reason, to hunt for, track, search for, seek, capture, or kill a wild deer.  This bill would amend the law to allow a person authorized by the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environment Protection to use a certified tracking dog on a lead to search for and recover deer lost by a hunter during any hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code.