SENATE, No. 2475
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
211th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MAY 5, 2005
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Coniglio and Ciesla
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 6/10/2005)
An Act concerning the hunting of deer, and amending R.S.23:4-24.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.23:4-24 is amended to read as follows:
23:4-24. a. No person shall hunt with a hound or with firearms or weapons of any kind, or carry a gun in the woods or fields or on the waters on Sunday, under a penalty of [$20.00] $50 for each offense; except that this section shall not apply to :
(1) any person hunting raccoon between midnight on Saturday and sunrise on Sunday during the season prescribed in [section] R.S.23:4-1 [of this Title or to];
(2) a person possessing a valid and proper rifle permit licensed to trap fur-bearing animals pursuant to the provisions of R.S.23:3-1 using a .22 caliber rifle and .22 caliber short rimfire cartridges to humanely dispatch legally trapped animals; or
(3) a person using a bow and arrow to hunt deer during any bow and arrow hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code, provided the person possesses a valid bow and arrow license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License" if applicable, issued by the division, abides by all applicable provisions of the code, and is hunting on a State wildlife management area or on private property.
b. This section shall not prevent farm land owners, lessees actually occupying or farming the land, members of their immediate families, or their farm employees from hunting and destroying at any time and in any manner crows, woodchuck, fox and vermin on that land.
(cf: P.L.1996, c.97, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize deer hunting with bow and arrow on Sundays during any bow and arrow hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code, provided the hunting is on a State wildlife management area or on private property. This bill also raises from $20 to $50 the penalty for a violation of the no-Sunday hunting prohibition.
Current law provides that there is a statutory prohibition against hunting on Sundays. This bill would amend current law to authorize the hunting of deer with bow and arrow on Sundays during any bow and arrow hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code, provided the person hunting possesses a valid bow and arrow license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License" if applicable, issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and abides by all applicable provisions of the State Fish and Game Code.
