South Carolina § 50-11-100 - Enclosure impeding free range of deer being hunted; construction unlawful; registration of existing enclosures; expansion of registered enclosures; penalties.

§ 50-11-100. Enclosure impeding free range of deer being hunted; construction unlawful; registration of existing enclosures; expansion of registered enclosures; penalties.

(A) It is unlawful to construct a new enclosure which prevents or materially impedes the free range of the deer being hunted. For purposes of the definitions herein, "prevents or materially impedes" means erecting a fence in excess of six feet in height from ground level for the express purpose of corralling wild game for hunting purposes.

(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 two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than three years, or both. The hunting and fishing privileges of a person convicted under the provisions of this section must also be suspended for two years. In addition, the court in which a person violating this section is convicted may order that restitution be paid to the department of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars for each animal taken in violation of this section and shall be ordered to remove the enclosure.

(C)(1) All owners or leasees of property which have enclosures which prevent or materially impede the free range of the deer being hunted must register with the department within thirty days after the effective date of this section, provided the enclosure is an existing, completed enclosure in that the construction of the enclosure is wholly complete in every respect and requires no further labor or material to erect or complete the construction of the enclosure thirty days after the effective date of this section.

(2) Except as provided in item (3), after an enclosure is registered with the department, the owner may expand but may not decrease the enclosed area. The owner may make repairs necessary for the care and maintenance of the enclosure.

(3) Expansion of a registered enclosure of less than seven hundred acres is limited to an aggregate of up to fifteen percent of the area of the enclosure as of the time the enclosure was registered. Expansion of a registered enclosure of seven hundred acres or more may not exceed an aggregate of four hundred acres.

(D) It is unlawful to hunt deer with dogs in an enclosure registered with the department pursuant to Section 50-11-100(C)(1).

(E) It is unlawful to construct any mound, platform, or other device designed to allow animals into an enclosed area.

(F) If any term or provision of this section is declared unconstitutional, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this section is severable and remains in full force and effect.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 353, SECTION 1.