West Virginia House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Co-Chairman Ty Nestor, R-Randolph, is lead sponsor of House Bill 4504, which would allow nonresident landowners, their children and parents to hunt, trap and fish on their land during open season without getting a license. The state Division of Natural Resources estimates the bill would cost the agency over $1 million in annual revenue and result in the elimination of at least four DNR police officers.
PERRY BENNETT | West Virginia Legislative Photography
A West Virginia legislative committee has signed off on a bill that the state Division of Natural Resources says would cost it over $1 million in annual revenue and result in elimination of DNR police officers that help protect the state’s animals and plants.
The House of Delegates Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved House Bill 4504, which would allow nonresident landowners, their children and parents to hunt, trap and fish on their land during open season without getting a license.
The allowance wouldn’t apply if the land has been designated as a wildlife refuge or preserve.
The DNR said in a fiscal note analyzing HB 4504 that the bill’s license fee exemptions would cost at least $1 million in revenue each year. The legislation would prompt a need to reduce the number of Natural Resources police officers by at least four full-time positions.
Natural Resources police officers work with United States Fish and Wildlife Service special agents to protect the state’s plants and animals, conduct search and rescue operations and participate in disaster recovery.
West Virginia House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Co-Chairman Ty Nestor, R-Randolph, is lead sponsor of House Bill 4504, which would allow nonresident landowners, their children and parents to hunt, trap and fish on their land during open season without getting a license. The state Division of Natural Resources estimates the bill would cost the agency over $1 million in annual revenue and result in the elimination of at least four DNR police officers.
PERRY BENNETT | West Virginia Legislative Photography
By the numbers
The DNR said in its 2021-22 annual report that there were 117 Natural Resources police officers working during fiscal year 2022, with a normal staffing level of 126 officers and 11 support personnel.
The DNR’s Law Enforcement Division has 126 full-time positions, agency spokesperson Andy Malinoski said Wednesday.
The DNR estimated that 5,305 nonresidents hunt on land they own based on a survey of deer hunters in West Virginia the agency conducted in 2020.
The agency estimated at least $894,006 of hunting and fishing license revenue would be lost due to providing these free privileges, and roughly $115,137 of federal aid reimbursement would be lost due to a lowered number of licensed hunters in West Virginia.
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee sent HB 4504 to the House Government Organization Committee without discussion Wednesday morning. HB 4504’s lead and only sponsor is Delegate Ty Nestor, R-Randolph, chairman of the agriculture side of the Agriculture and Natural Resources panel.
