SECTION 1. Section 49-7-95 (6) It shall not be unlawful for any licensed or exempt hunter or tracker to track or pursue a deer that was lawfully shot and wounded during legal hunting hours, into the night after legal hunting hours, and to dispatch the deer if the deer is found and is still alive. A licensed or exempt hunter or tracker tracking or pursuing a wounded white-tailed deer into the nighttime hours may use reasonable means to assist the pursuit, including, but not limited to, lights and blood-trailing/tracking dogs. If tracking/blood-trailing dogs are used, no more than two (2) dogs may be used. If the animal being tracked is discovered to still be alive, but wounded, the hunter or tracker may dispatch the animal by using a handgun with a barrel no longer than six (6) inches and chambered in a caliber no larger than .45 caliber. For the purposes of this section, a “licensed hunter” or “licensed tracker” shall mean a hunter or tracker with the proper license for hunting white-tailed deer. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as allowing any individual to trespass upon the lands of another while in pursuit of an injured or wounded white-tailed deer animal.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.
