LD866

Directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to provide free antlerless deer permits to landowners who keep their lands open to hunting.

This bill amends the law governing the antlerless deer permit lottery to provide that a landowner who keeps their lands open to hunting by the public and applies for an antlerless deer permit is not charged for the permit. If a landowner is unsuccessful in obtaining a permit through the lottery but secures one through other means, it must be provided at no cost. The commissioner shall provide at least 25% of the available antlerless deer permits in a wildlife management district at no cost to eligible landowners.