Fines and penalties for a variety of game and fish laws were recently increased and should provide a deterrent to those who feel they are above the law.
Two of the most frequent violations in Alabama are road hunting and night hunting. The penalty for taking game animals or birds at night was increased to a fine of $2,000-$3,000 with up to six months in jail and a revocation of all hunting privileges for three years.
The fine for hunting from a public road is now $1,000 for the first offense. The second offense carries penalties of a $2,000 fine and a revocation of all hunting privileges for one year.
Some of the fines for violations hadn’t been adjusted since 1940, so this is a significant change. I’d like to thank several groups who were involved with the passage of the legislation including the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the Alabama Forestry Association, the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Bowhunters of Alabama and the Alabama Cattleman’s Association. The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board also passed a resolution in support of the bill.
