1) there are existing laws that prohibit:



a) hunting game along a public right of way

b) shooting a firearm along a public right of way



2) there is an existing law that prohibits hunting from a vehicle from a public right of way (current not interpreted to apply to herps, but obviously was in the past)



3) there is not an existing law which prohibits hunting or trapping nongame from a public right of way



Why HB 2414 was initially written as to apply solely to game animals (when there was already such a law in place) remains unclear (although many on here have ventured reasons that are purely speculative). It was amended in committee to apply to all wild animals because it would otherwise be duplicative of existing law.



Raptors were omitted (IMHO) for a variety of reasons -



1) falconers have a strong lobby

2) falconers are tightly regulated

3) falconers are expressly non-commercial



By the way, Carl Isett (the one who introduced this bill) is the representative from Lubbock, not Witchita Falls.



Troy

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