TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-510, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL BAITING OF WILD TURKEYS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TERM "BAITED AREA" DOES NOT INCLUDE A FIELD THAT IS PLANTED UNDER NORMAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-11-544, RELATING TO WILD TURKEY HUNTING AND WILD TURKEY TRANSPORTATION TAGS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF INDIVIDUAL WILD TURKEY TRANSPORTATION TAGS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF WILD TURKEY TRANSPORTATION TAG PERMITS TO A LANDOWNER OR LESSEE FOR A FEE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 50-11-510     of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end of the second undesignated paragraph:

"A 'baited area' does not include a field that is planted under normal agricultural practices."

SECTION    2.    Section 50-11-544 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-11-544.    (A)    A person who hunts wild turkeys is required to possess a set of wild turkey transportation tags issued by the department at no cost. All turkeys taken must be tagged before being moved from the point of kill. No person may obtain or possess more than one set of turkey tags as contained in subsection (B). However, a hunter may possess tags contained in subsection (B) and hunt on a permitted property as contained in subsection (C).

(B)    For the privilege of taking a wild turkey, in addition to the required hunting license and big game permit, a hunter shall obtain up to three annual individual wild turkey transportation tags issued in his name.

(C)    A landowner or lessee may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a wild turkey transportation tag permit at a cost of five hundred dollars per application and twenty dollars per one hundred acres over five hundred acres on each permit application. Each application may cover multiple contiguous tracts of land. The department shall determine an appropriate quota of tags to be issued under each permit. Each tag issued for the property will have a fee of five dollars per tag and must be used on that property."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.