WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4464

By Delegates Phillips, Cooper and
Miller

(By Request of the Division of Natural Resources)

[Introduced January 31, 2022; referred
to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §20-2-44b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the bear damage stamp; including additional license classes with which the stamp may be used; specifying when additional stamps are required; and providing limitations when a seasonal bag limit is reached.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.

§20-2-44b. Bear damage stamp; proceeds to be paid into bear damage fund; purposes, etc.

To hunt bear in this state, a licensed hunter shall have, in addition to a Class A, A-L, AB-L, X, X3, XP, XP3, or XJ, in the case of a resident, or a Class C or EE, in the case of a nonresident, a bear damage stamp issued by the Division of Natural Resources. The fee for the stamp is $10. Any person who has filled his or her initial bear damage stamp and pursues additional bears or trains hunting dogs on bears pursuant to §20-2-5(24) of this code is required to purchase an additional bear damage stamp: Provided, That a person who has met the season bag limit during any open bear season may not participate further in bear hunting or the training of hunting dogs on bear with a bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, or firearm in his or her possession, except as provided in §20-2-5(9) of this code. All proceeds from the sale of stamps shall be paid into the bear damage fund which shall be maintained by the Division of Natural Resources for paying claims of property owners for damages to real and personal property caused by acts of bear and to cover the expense of black bear research programs within the state. This stamp requires that the licensee purchase the appropriate base license before participating in the activities specified in this section, except as noted.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide revisions on when a bear damage stamp is required.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.