MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

By: Senator(s) Seymour

Senate Bill 2492

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-140, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE SIZE LIMITATION ON THE ENCLOSURE THAT A WILD HOG MAY BE RELEASED INTO FOR PURPOSE OF SLAUGHTER; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO ISSUE METALLIC TAGS THAT MUST BE AFFIXED TO THE EAR OF EACH WILD HOG BEING TRANSPORTED WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 49-7-140, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     49-7-140.  (1)  No person may import into the state or release into the wild, any live * * * feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boar wild hog.

     (2)  No person may transport on public roads or off of the property of record where captured or relocate within the state any live * * * feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boar wild hog, except as * * * permitted by the department authorized in this section.

     (3)  For the purposes of this section, "wild hog" means any "feral * * *hogs hog, wild swine * * * or and Russian Boar" * * * are defined as and any other hog that is not a domesticated pet or livestock.

     (4)  A violation of this section is a Class I violation punishable as provided in Section 49-7-141.

     (5)  (a)  Wild hogs may be caught or trapped and transported within the State of Mississippi, with a permit, issued by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.  Wild hogs may not be released or removed alive from any mobile device or vehicle, except that wild hogs may be released alive for the purpose of slaughter into an enclosure * * * no larger than five hundred (500) square feet in size and constructed in a manner that prevents the escape of any wild hog, or to a facility where the hog may be immediately prepared for slaughter.  The department shall issue metallic tags to each permittee that must be affixed to an ear of each wild hog being transported.  The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations for the issuance of * * * a hog transportation permits and tags consistent with this subsection * * *, provided that.  The * * * authority to department shall not issue * * * such a permit * * * is based on the determination that the individuals, or any tags unless the department determines at the time * * * of requesting such the permit is requested that the individual requesting the permit:

              (i)  Does not have a history of repeat hunting offenses; or

              (ii)  Has not had his or her hunting privileges revoked.

          (b)  Any person transporting a live wild hog within the State of Mississippi must first obtain from the * * * Mississippi department * * * of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, a live wild hog transportation permit and tags, as provided * * * above, for in this subsection.  Each wild hog being transported shall have a tag attached to one (1) ear which shall remain in the ear of the hog until it is slaughtered.

          (c)  A violation of any regulation of the commission promulgated under the authority provided in this section shall be a Class I violation and punishable as provided in Section 49-7-141.  In addition to the penalties provided therein, upon conviction, the violator shall forfeit all hunting, trapping and fishing privileges for a period of one (1) year from the date of conviction.

     (6)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the lawful transport of domestic swine for customary and ordinary purposes of intrastate or interstate commerce, or agricultural practices.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.

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