Legislation to allow the hunting of deer and feral swine over bait is one step closer to final passage following the approval of companion bills by House of Representatives and Senate agriculture committees Thursday. 

HB 197 by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, received a favorable report from the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee following passage last week by the full House. Meanwhile, SB 66 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, cleared the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee, which Crawford chairs. The bill passed the full Senate earlier this month. 

The legislation would allow the purchase of a license to hunt deer and feral swine over bait on privately owned or leased lands. The annual bait privilege license fee would be $14 plus a $1 issuance fee for in-state hunters and $50 plus a $1 fee for out-of-state sportsmen.

Sponsors of the legislation say it would eliminate confusion and enforcement differences related to Alabama’s deer feeding laws and could help reduce crop damage by feral hogs.