Changes to Existing Law

Before an individual may salvage eggs from non-migratory game bird nests, which have been or may be unintentionally destroyed during normal agricultural operations or other lawful activities, the individual must obtain an avian special purpose salvage permit from the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The permit authorizes the individual to: (1) Salvage eggs from non-migratory game bird nests; (2) Incubate and hatch eggs from non-migratory game bird nests; and (3) Band and release the birds at a developmental stage appropriate for survival. The department shall develop and post a permit application on its website. A permit under this section is valid until December thirty-first of each year.

Except as permitted by statute, noNo person may take or have in possession or break or destroy any nest or the eggs of the kinds of birds, the taking or killing of which is at any time or at all times prohibited. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. This section does not apply to: (1) Any unintentional destruction during normal agricultural operations or other lawful activities; or (2) Actions undertaken by an individual if those actions are permitted under the individual's: (a) Avian special purpose salvage permit, issued in accordance with section 3 of this Act; or 32 (b) Migratory bird special purpose salvage permit, issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance with 50 C.F.R § 21.95 (January 1, 2026).

Licenses, and permits, and stamps issued under this title are classified as follows: (1) Avian special purpose salvage permit; (2) Breeding and raising birds license; (2)(3) Disabled hunter permit; (3)(4) Export bait dealer license; (4)(5) Fur dealer's license; (5)(6) Hoop net, trap, or setline license; (6)(7) Mentored youth hunting license; (7)(8) Nonresident big game license; (8)(9) Nonresident fishing license; (9)(10) Nonresident and resident migratory bird certification permit; (10)(11) Nonresident predator/varmint license; (11)(12) Nonresident retail bait dealer license; (12)(13) Nonresident shooting preserve license; (13)(14) Nonresident small game license; (14)(15) Nonresident wholesale bait dealer license; (15)(16) Nonresident wild turkey license; (16)(17) Nursing facility group fishing license; (17)(18) Park user's license; (18)(19) Permit for transportation of big game animal; (19)(20) Private fish hatchery license; (20)(21) Reciprocal nonresident license to take fur-bearing animals; 26 (21)(22) Resident license to take fur-bearing animals; (22)(23) Resident big game license; (23)(24) Resident elk license; (24)(25) Resident fishing license and resident senior fishing license; (25)(26) Resident retail bait dealer license; (26)(27) Resident small game license and resident youth small game license; (27)(28) Resident predator/varmint license; (28)(29) Resident wholesale bait dealer license; (29)(30) Resident wild turkey license; (30)(31) Scientific collector's license; (31)(32) Special nonresident waterfowl license; (32)(33) Taxidermist's license; (33)(34) Temporary fishing and hunting licenses; (34)(35) Temporary nonresident early fall Canada goose license; (35)(36) Temporary nonresident fall three-day waterfowl license; and (36)(37) Temporary nonresident spring snow goose license. The rights and privileges of such the licensees and permittees are set forth in §§ 41-6-12 to 41-6-45.1, inclusive, section 3 of this Act, and in § 41-17-13. The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to set the fees, eligibility, and duration for such the licenses and permits.