Bill > SB0869

This bill modifies Tennessee's hunting regulations by creating a new "deer bait privilege license" that allows hunters to use bait when hunting whitetail deer and wild-appearing swine on privately owned or leased land. The license will cost $50 for residents and $100 for non-residents, and all hunters in a hunting party who hunt over bait must purchase this license, even if they are otherwise exempt from hunting license requirements. The state wildlife agency will have the authority to suspend baiting privileges without refund if necessary to prevent disease spread among wildlife populations, and must establish rules by August 1, 2026, specifying what constitutes acceptable bait, the amount of bait that can be used, and the conditions for using the license. Currently, using bait to hunt wildlife is generally prohibited, but this bill creates a specific exception for deer hunting with the proper license. Violations of the baiting regulations will be considered a Class C misdemeanor. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving the state time to develop and implement the new licensing and regulatory framework.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0869&ga=114