The commissioner may issue to any responsible person or authorized field trial group a permit to hold field dog trials, on land approved by the commissioner as suitable for the purpose, at any time, including Sunday, during daylight hours, at which liberated game birds, waterfowl and pigeons legally possessed may be shot. All such game birds shall, immediately after being shot, be tagged with tags furnished by the commissioner, for which a reasonable fee may be charged. Such game birds so tagged may be possessed, transported, bought and sold at any time. Tags shall not be removed from such game birds until such time as such birds are finally prepared for consumption. The commissioner may, by regulation, govern and prescribe the minimum number of such birds that shall be released, the method of liberating and the method of taking such birds, the species and sex of such birds that may be shot, locations where such field dog trials may be held, periods of the year when such field dog trials may be held, the maximum number of such field dog trials that shall be sponsored or conducted by an individual or group during the period from July first to June thirtieth and the method of reporting all such activities. Notwithstanding the provision of any regulation to the contrary, the fee for a permit to hold a field dog trial on state-owned land shall be thirty-five dollars and the fee for a permit to hold a field dog trial on private land shall be eighteen dollars.

(1949, S. 2450d; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 248; P.A. 73-24, S. 1, 2; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 7, 21; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 95; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 455; P.A. 10-3, S. 45.)

History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 73-24 specified that commissioner has power to dictate the method of reporting activities within the scope of his power; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 amended section to require a fee of $10 for a permit issued for a field dog trial held on private land and a fee of $20 for a permit issued for a field dog trial held on state land; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 increased permit fee to hold a field dog trial on state-owned land to $28 and increased permit fee to hold a field dog trial on private land to $14, effective January 1, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased permit fee to hold field dog trial on state-owned land from $28 to $56 and increased permit fee to hold field dog trial on private land from $14 to $28; P.A. 10-3 reduced fees from $56 to $35 and from $28 to $18, effective April 14, 2010.