Senate OKs hunters giving big-game permits to grandkids

PHOENIX—A bill that would allow hunters to transfer coveted big-game permits to their grandchildren would help preserve Arizona’s hunting tradition and ensure that the permits get used, its sponsor says.

“We lose children that might want to hunt because of generation gaps,” said Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale. “We have a lot of kids who aren’t hunting because their parents don’t. But there are many grandparents that do and would like to share the experience.”

HB 2116 won unanimous approval Monday from the state Senate and will be sent to Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Big-game permits, which are handed out by lottery due to overwhelming demand, are used to hunt game such as elk, deer, antelope, bear, bighorn sheep and javelina.

Weiers’ bill would allow hunters who win these permits to transfer them to their grandchildren. But in order to use the permits, the recipients must be between the ages of 10 and 17, have valid hunting licenses and have completed the state hunter safety course.

A grandparent, parent or guardian would also have to accompany the grandchild on the hunt.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department issued 108,250 big-game permits in 2006, said Tony Guiles, legislative liaison for the Game and Fish Department. The department received more than 330,000 applications.

Weiers’ bill is based on a similar law that lets parents give big-game permits to their children. Last year, 193 were transferred that way, Guiles said.

Bill McLean, a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, which oversees the Game and Fish Department, said the bill fits within Game and Fish’s mission of introducing hunting to Arizona’s youth.

“We believe hunting has a strong family tie, which is one of the best ways to maintain the tradition,” McLean said.

Weiers also introduced a bill that would allow permits to be transferred to nonprofit organizations that work with physically disabled children.

Under HB 2117, hunters could donate their permits through the Arizona Game and Fish Department to be used by children with serious medical conditions. The bill has won approval from the House and awaits a vote by the Senate.

The two bills would make sure that fewer tags go unused, Weiers said.

“It’s like winning the lottery when you get a big-game tag,” he said. “Instead of the big-game tag being lost, you can take children out for an opportunity that they may never get the chance to do again.”