Those people who are accustomed to a slap on the wrist for violating game and fish laws in Alabama will be in for a rude awakening should they run afoul of conservation enforcement officers this fall.

The Alabama Legislature passed House Bill 677 last session, which significantly increases the fines and penalties for a variety of game and fish laws and should provide a deterrent to those who feel they are above the law.

Numerous groups encouraged the passage of the legislation, including the Alabama Wildlife Federation, the Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Bowhunters of Alabama, Alabama Dog Hunters Association, Alabama Quail Hunters, The Mobile Bay Audubon Society, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ducks Unlimited, Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation, Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the Alabama Cattleman’s Association. Also, the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board passed a resolution in support of the bill.

“In my book, it was a bad day for poachers and trespassers and a good day for landowners, hunters and anglers,” said Tim Gothard of the AWF. “Being an organization that has both landowners and hunters, we knew that the low fine rates had a direct impact on the ability of landowners, hunters, hunting clubs and outdoors enthusiasts in general being able to enjoy their properties in a manner that was safe and secure.

“We knew this would provide a more substantial deterrent to people participating in that type activity. If you fish in somebody’s pond and get caught and it costs you $25, that’s not a big deterrent. If you hunt without permission, the fines were not much of a deterrent. Our goal was, one, the fines themselves would provide a much greater deterrent that would hopefully make people say, ‘I’m not doing that.’ On top of that, when we do have people – regardless of the fines decide to do it anyway – when we do catch them we’ve got something with more teeth in it to make them think twice before ever doing it again.”

The new legislation increases fines and adds the possibility of jail time and the loss of hunting privileges to several violations.

The penalties for taking game animals or birds at night increased. The fine was $1,000-$2,000. Now, someone convicted of that violation faces a fine of $2,000 to $3,000 with up to six months in jail and a revocation of all hunting privileges for three years.

The minimum fine for hunting without permission was $250. Now those convicted of that violation face a fine of $1,000 and, at the discretion of the court, a revocation of hunting privileges for one year. Upon conviction for a second offense, the fine increases to $2,000 with 10 to 30 days in jail and a one-year revocation of all hunting privileges.

The minimum fine for hunting from a public road was $250. Now, the minimum fine is increased to $1,000 for the first offense. The second offense carries penalties of a $2,000 fine and a revocation of all hunting privileges for one year.

“It was apparent that the punishment was not fitting the crime when our people would catch somebody for trespassing or poaching, and they would tell our people, ‘Well, you can catch me four more times cheaper than I can join a hunting club,’” said Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “The reason we have Conservation Enforcement Officers is because people are breaking the law. You have to have a system that protects rights but also punishes enough that people don’t take those chances.

“Our main problems are road hunting and night hunting. We’re addressing that. Some of these fines hadn’t been adjusted since 1940, which tells you how antiquated they were. We’re hoping it makes a big difference. What our officers would like to do is be able to do things that will help the hunters and landowners instead of answering complaint calls all day. This is good start.”