Article 13. Fox and Coyote Hunting Enclosures
§ 50-11-2600 . Definitions.
§ 50-11-2605 . Coyote and fox purchase and release.
§ 50-11-2610 . Enclosure permits.
§ 50-11-2620 . Obtaining foxes and coyotes to stock enclosures.
§ 50-11-2630 . Sales of live foxes or coyotes by trappers; records of sales.
§ 50-11-2640 . Importing foxes and coyotes.
§ 50-11-2650 . Penalties for violation of article.
For purposes of this article:
(1) “Fox and coyote hunting enclosure” and “enclosure” mean a structure that restricts the free movement of foxes and coyotes into or out of an area.
(2) “Enclosure operator” means the owner, manager, or operator of an enclosure. Only one operator is allowed for each enclosure in addition to the owner.
(3) “Owner” means the person that owns the property enclosed, or one that leases the property with an agreement with the enclosed lands owner to retain possession of the improvements to the property.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1.
§ 50-11-2605. Coyote and fox purchase and release.
It is unlawful to buy, sell, transfer, possess, or release a live coyote, coyote-hybrid, or fox within the State except as permitted by the department pursuant to this title.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1.
§ 50-11-2610. Enclosure permits.
(A) The department is authorized to issue fox and coyote hunting enclosure permits to an enclosure operator pursuant to the terms and provisions of this article. There is no charge for the permit. For purposes of this article a permit year is from May sixteenth of one year to May fifteenth of the next year.
(B) An operating permit is valid only for one enclosure; additional permits are required to operate more than one enclosure. It is unlawful for a person to submit false information to the department when making application for a permit provided for in this article. Intentional misrepresentation of information submitted on the application results in the denial or revocation of the enclosure permit.
(C) It is unlawful to operate or hunt fox or coyote within a fox or coyote hunting enclosure that is not permitted pursuant to the provisions of this article.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1; 2005 Act No. 82, § 10.
§ 50-11-2620. Obtaining foxes and coyotes to stock enclosures.
(A) Foxes and coyotes for stocking hunting enclosures may be obtained only from a South Carolina licensed trapper and must be lawfully taken within this State during the regular trapping season.
(B) Foxes and coyotes for stocking hunting enclosures may be obtained only by the owner or enclosure operator of a permitted enclosure. Foxes and coyotes may be released only into an enclosure that is permitted by this title by the owner or enclosure operator of the permitted enclosure.
(C) The owner and enclosure operator shall record all fox and coyote purchases, transfers, and releases into the hunting enclosures daily on a form provided by the department. These forms must be retained and made available for reasonable inquiry by department employees. No later than April fifteenth the owner and enclosure operator shall furnish the department all of the daily register forms for the permit period. It is unlawful for a person to fail to report to the department as required by this section.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1.
§ 50-11-2630. Sales of live foxes or coyotes by trappers; records of sales.
(A) A commercial fur license permits a trapper to possess, sell, barter, or exchange live foxes or coyotes taken by the trapper. The possession, sale, barter, or exchange is lawful only during the trapping season and for thirty days following the closing date of the trapping season.
(B) Live foxes or coyotes may be sold or transferred only to an owner or enclosure operator of a permitted enclosure by the trapper who took the animal.
(C) A trapper shall maintain accurate records on a daily basis of all sales, purchases, transfers, or exchanges on the furbearer harvest record forms provided by the department. These forms must be retained and made available for reasonable inquiry by department employees. A trapper shall furnish the department all of the daily forms and the fur harvest report for the previous year no later than April fifteenth. It is unlawful for a person to fail to report to the department as required by this section.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1.'
§ 50-11-2640. Importing foxes and coyotes.
(A) It is unlawful to bring, import, or cause to have imported a live coyote or fox into this State, except those brought into the State and kept in captivity by permit from the department for exhibition purposes. It is unlawful to release a coyote in this State except as authorized by this title.
(B) A person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year. A conviction for a second offense occurring within five years of a first offense conviction is punishable by a fine of five thousand dollars or imprisonment for two years. For a second offense conviction within five years of the date of a first conviction, the enclosure and associated property is ineligible permanently for an enclosure permit.
(C) A commercial fur license held by a person convicted of a second offense within five years of a first conviction must be suspended for five years.
(D) Each animal taken or possessed in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1; 2012 Act No. 257, § 10, eff June 18, 2012.
§ 50-11-2650. Penalties for violation of article.
Except as otherwise provided, a person who violates a provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be:
(1) for a first offense, fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days;
(2) for a second offense within two years of a conviction for the first offense, fined five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days; and
(3) for a third or subsequent offense within two years of a conviction for the second offense, fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months.
CREDIT(S)
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 23, § 1.