Bill Text: GA SB301 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Hunting; authorize the use of silencers on hunting firearms under certain circumstances
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-02-02 - House Second Readers [SB301 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB301-Engrossed.html
12 LC 28 5950S
(SCS)
Senate
Bill 301
By:
Senators Bulloch of the 11th, Tolleson of the 20th, Shafer of the 48th, Rogers
of the 21st, Mullis of the 53rd and others
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding hunting, so as to
authorize the use of silencers on hunting firearms under certain circumstances;
to provide for suspension of hunting privileges for persons who are convicted of
hunting without landowner permission, hunting in an area that is closed to
hunting, or hunting big game out of season or at night with a silencer equipped
firearm; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding hunting, is amended by
revising Code Section 27-3-4, relating to legal weapons for hunting wildlife
generally, as follows:
"27-3-4.
(a)
It shall be unlawful to hunt wildlife with any weapon, except that:
(1)
Longbows, recurve bows, crossbows, and compound bows may be used for taking
small game, feral hogs, or big game. Arrows for hunting deer, bear, and feral
hogs must be broadhead type;
(2)
During primitive weapon hunts or primitive weapons seasons:
(A)
Longbows, recurve bows, crossbows, compound bows, muzzleloading firearms of .44
caliber or larger, and muzzleloading shotguns of 20 gauge or larger loaded with
single shot may be used; and
(B)
Youth under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any firearm legal for hunting
deer;
(3)
Firearms for hunting deer, bear, and feral hogs are limited to 20 gauge shotguns
or larger shotguns loaded with slugs or buckshot (except that no buckshot is
permitted on state wildlife management areas unless otherwise specified),
muzzleloading firearms of .44 caliber or larger, and center-fire firearms .22
caliber or larger; provided, however, that firearms for hunting feral hogs,
other than those weapons specified in this paragraph, may be authorized by rule
or regulation of the board. Bullets used in all center-fire rifles and handguns
must be of the expanding type;
(4)
Weapons for hunting small game shall be limited to shotguns with shot shell size
of no greater than 3 1/2 inches in length with No. 2 lead shot or smaller or
federally approved nontoxic shot size of F or smaller shot, .22 caliber or
smaller rimfire firearms, air rifles, muzzleloading firearms, longbows, recurve
bows, crossbows, and compound bows; provided, however, that nothing contained in
this paragraph shall permit the taking of protected species;
(5)(A)
For hunting deer, feral hogs, and bear, shotguns shall be limited to a capacity
of not more than five shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is
necessary to so limit the capacity, the plug shall be of one piece, incapable of
being removed through the loading end of the magazine.
(B)
For hunting all other game animals, shotguns shall be limited to a capacity of
not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is
necessary to so limit the capacity, the plug shall be of one piece, incapable of
being removed through the loading end of the magazine;
(6)
It shall be unlawful to hunt turkey with any weapons except shotguns using No. 2
shot or smaller, muzzleloading firearms, longbows, crossbows, recurve bows, or
compound bows. Any person taking turkey in violation of this paragraph shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as for a
misdemeanor, except that a fine imposed for such violation shall not be less
than $250.00;
(7)
Weapons for hunting alligators shall be limited to hand-held ropes or snares,
snatch hooks, harpoons, gigs, or arrows with restraining lines attached.
Lawfully restrained alligators may be killed with any caliber handgun or
bangstick and shall be killed immediately before transporting;
(8)
There are no firearms restrictions for taking nongame animals or nongame birds;
and
(9)
The use of
silencers for hunting within this state is
prohibited
Any firearm
otherwise authorized for use in the hunting or taking of game may be equipped
with a silencer, as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 16-11-121,
possessed by the user in accordance with paragraph (4) of Code Section
16-11-124.
(b)
The hunting privileges of any person who has been convicted of violating the
provisions of this title or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto
by hunting without landowner permission, hunting in an area that is closed for
hunting, or by hunting big game out of season or at night with a firearm
equipped with a silencer shall be suspended for three
years."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.