An Act to remove the locking seal requirement provide legal tagging options for the transportation of big game animals.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 41-14-14 be AMENDED.

41-14-14. Tag required for big game transport--Violation as misdemeanor.

No big game animal taken in this state may be transported unless the:

(1) A locking seal and tag, furnished by the department and bearing the license number of the owner and the year of its issue, are securely locked and attached legally tagged, as required by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The seal shall be securely locked and the tag attached big game must be legally tagged, at the time the big game animal is brought out to a road or into any hunting camp, dwelling, farmyard, or other place of abode of any kind, or before it is placed upon or in a vehicle of any kind. The seal and tag shall be furnished by the department with each big game license; or

(2) The person who has taken the big game animal:

(a) Properly acquired and properly validated an electronic tag, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, pursuant to chapter 1-26; and

(b) Attached to the animal, in plain sight, a locking seal and tag, furnished by the department and bearing the tag owner's name and the tag identification number.

A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Section 2. That § 41-14-16 be AMENDED.

41-14-16. Tag required for big game transport--Common carrier.

If any big game is transported by a common carrier, to a point within or outside of this state, the animal must have securely attached, the tag and locking seal bearing the same number as the license be legally tagged, as required by § 41-14-14, and in accordance with rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. No person may have in possession or as common carrier any big game animal without the tag and locking seal attached being legally tagged. No big game animal may be offered for shipment, shipped, or received for shipment by transportation companies unless the tag and locking seal are attached to the big game animal when presented for shipment legally tagged.

The provisions of this section do not apply to any nondomestic animal regulated pursuant to § 40-3-26, as long as the animals are accompanied by a bill of sale or other proof of ownership.