A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-11-510, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION AGAINST BAITING WILD TURKEYS, SO AS TO EXEMPT CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE TWO HUNDRED YARDS OR MORE FROM A BAITED AREA MANAGED FOR THE RESTORATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF WILD BOBWHITE QUAIL.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 50-11-510 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 50-11-510. (A) It is unlawful for a person to:

       (1) hunt or take or attempt to hunt or take a wild turkey by means of, or aid or use of, bait or baiting; or

       (2) hunt or take or attempt to hunt or take a wild turkey on or over any baited area.

    (B) As used in this section,:

       (1) "bait" or "baiting'" means the placing, "depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of salt, shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain, or other foodstuffs to that constitute a lure, attraction, or enticement for wild turkeys a lure, attraction, or enticement to, on, or over any areasan area where hunters are attempting to take them,; and

       (2) "baited area" means an area where salt, shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain, or other foodstuffs capable of luring, attracting, or enticing wild turkeys is directly or indirectly placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, and. the The area remains a baited area for ten days following complete consumption or removal of all bait.

    (C) It is not a violation of this section if a person is at least two hundred yards from a baited area located wholly within a property that is actively managed for the restoration and sustainability of wild bobwhite quail, and that is permitted by the department for this purpose. The department must apply current best practices for managing wild bobwhite quail habitat in making a permit determination.

 

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

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