The full Alabama Senate and House Agriculture and Forestry Committee approved bills this week aimed at eliminating confusion and enforcement differences related to Alabama’s deer and feral swine baiting laws. 

SB 66 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, and HB 197 by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, would allow hunters to purchase 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.

SB 66 passed the Senate 25-8 and has been referred to the same House committee which approved Crawford’s companion bill.