Senate Bill No. 31
(By Senators Sypolt, Deem, Stollings, Barnes, Laird and Hall)
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[Introduced February 11, 2009; referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §20-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to hunting, trapping or fishing on
lands of another person; and absolving the landowner and his
or her tenant or agent of civil liability for injuries
suffered by a person hunting, trapping or fishing on his or
her lands with or without written permission.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §20-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. WILDLIFE RESOURCES.
§20-2-7. Hunting, trapping or fishing on lands of another; damages
and compensation.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to shoot, hunt, fish or trap
upon the fenced, enclosed or posted lands of another person; or to
peel trees or timber, build fires or do any other act in connection with shooting, hunting, fishing or trapping on such lands without
written permission in his or her possession from the owner, tenant
or agent of the owner.
The owner, tenant or agent of the owner who
has given written permission is not liable in civil damages for any
injuries received on the lands by the person or persons to whom
permission was given. An owner, tenant or agent of the owner also
is not liable in civil damages for injuries received by persons
shooting, hunting, fishing or trapping on the grounds or lands
without written permission.
(b) Any person who hunts, traps or fishes on land without the
permission of the owner, tenant or agent of the owner is guilty of
a misdemeanor and liable to the owner or person suffering damage
for all costs and damages for: (1) Killing or injuring any
domestic animal or fowl; (2) cutting, destroying or damaging any
bars, gates or fence or any part of the property; or (3) leaving
open any bars or gates resulting in damage to the property.
(c) The owner, tenant or agent of the owner may arrest a
person violating this section and immediately take him or her
before a magistrate. The owner, tenant or agent of the owner is
vested with the powers and rights of a conservation officer for
these purposes. The officers charged with the enforcement of the
provisions of this chapter shall enforce the provisions of this
section if requested to do so by the owner, tenant or agent of the
owner, but not otherwise.
(d) The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section
related to criminal penalties and being subject to arrest are
inapplicable to a person whose dog, without the person's direction
or encouragement, travels onto the fenced, enclosed or posted land
of another in pursuit of an animal or wild bird: Provided, That
the pursuit does not result in the taking of game from the fenced,
enclosed or posted land and does not result in the killing of
domestic animals or fowl or other damage to or on the fenced,
enclosed or posted land.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to absolve the landowner,
tenant or agent of the landowner from any civil liability for
injuries to any persons hunting, trapping or fishing on the
landowner's land with or without written permission.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.