Section 9-11-45

License to hunt deer or wild turkey on wildlife management areas; fee of issuing authority; disposition of fees.

(a) Whoever hunts on state operated wildlife management areas in this state shall pay a special annual license fee of fifteen dollars ($15) in addition to the amount of the state, county, or nonresident's licenses specified in Sections 9-11-44 to 9-11-49, inclusive, payment of which shall be evidenced by a stamp, license, big game tag system, or other appropriate method as the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may prescribe.

(b) The issuing officer or authority shall be allowed a fee of one dollar ($1) for each special license issued by him or her, which issuing fee shall be in addition to the cost of the special license. In counties where the judge of probate or issuing officer is on the fee system, the issuing fee shall be retained by the judge of probate or issuing officer, and in counties where the issuing officer or judge of probate is on a salary basis, the fee shall be paid to the county treasury; provided, that the license established by this section shall not be required of any Alabama resident who is 65 years of age or older or who is 15 years of age or younger.

(c) All license fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Game and Fish Fund and shall be expended in the operation of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries program, including the acquiring of additional conservation officers and the expansion of public hunting areas.

(d) Whoever uses a shooting range on state-operated wildlife management areas and who is required to have a valid hunting license in order to hunt shall hold a valid license issued pursuant to this section or a valid license issued pursuant to Sections 9-11-44 to 9-11-49, inclusive.

(e) Whoever hunts on state-operated wildlife management areas without first obtaining the proper hunting license and the special license required in this section, or whoever utilizes a shooting range on state-operated wildlife management areas in this state in violation of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as prescribed in Section 9-11-51.

(Acts 1965, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 121, p. 169; Act 2000-742, p. 169, §§ 1-3.)