This bill addresses the management of wildlife resources and wildlife habitats.
This bill:
- addresses who may provide verification of illness, injury, or disability in relationship to a license, certificate, or permit issued under the Wildlife Resources Act;
- amends provisions related to notice of acquisition of real property;
- addresses rulemaking and penalties related to reporting hunt information;
- provides for the management of grizzly bears;
- grants rulemaking authority;
- addresses discharge of a dangerous weapon related to a waterfowl management area or wildlife management area;
- creates the Poaching Mitigation Fund;
- provides for restitution money to be deposited into the Poaching Mitigation Fund for use by the Division of Law Enforcement within the Department of Natural Resources;
- removes references to spotters;
- provides that money in the Guide and Outfitter Fund be used by the Division of Law Enforcement within the Department of Natural Resources;
- removes outdated language related to the Division of Professional Licensing;
- modifies definitions related to guide and outfitter provisions, including the definition of a guide or outfitter;
- modifies fee provisions;
- amends under certain circumstances the total number of individuals allowed to provide guide services or outfitting services at a time;
- clarifies the relationship between guides and outfitters and the retention of outfitters;
- addresses unlawful activity of a pilot of an aircraft;
- requires certain reimbursements of investigatory expenses for violations of the wildlife resources title;
- modifies provisions related to unlawful taking of protected wildlife related to a guide or outfitter; and
- makes technical and conforming amendments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 23A-4-207, 23A-4-305, 23A-6-202, 23A-15-101, 57-18-5, 76-11-209
Amended 2/6/2026 16:02:469: 23A-4-207, 23A-4-305, 23A-6-202, 23A-15-101, 76-11-209
Substitute #1: 23A-4-207, 23A-4-305, 23A-6-202, 23A-15-101, 76-11-209
Enrolled: 23A-3-216, 23A-4-207, 23A-4-305, 23A-4-1106, 23A-4-1201, 23A-4-1202, 23A-4-1203, 23A-4-1204, 23A-5-309, 23A-5-312, 23A-6-202, 23A-15-101, 76-11-209
Substitute #2: 23A-3-216, 23A-4-207, 23A-4-305, 23A-4-1106, 23A-4-1201, 23A-4-1202, 23A-4-1203, 23A-4-1204, 23A-5-309, 23A-5-312, 23A-6-202, 23A-15-101, 76-11-209