§ 47-2101 — Raising domesticated deer; unlawful acts; criminal penalty; permit; identification of deer; inspection of premises; communications with and assistance from the department of wildlife and parks; definitions

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess domesticated deer unless such person has obtained from the animal health commissioner a domesticated deer permit. Application for such permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by the commissioner. The permit period shall be for the permit year ending on September 30 following the issuance date.
(b) Each application for issuance or renewal of a permit shall be accompanied by a fee of not more than $400 as established by the commissioner in rules and regulations.
(c) The animal health commissioner shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of article 21 of chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, ensure compliance with federal requirements and protect domestic animals and wildlife from disease risks related to domestic deer production.
(d) Any person who fails to obtain a permit as prescribed in subsection (a) shall be deemed guilty of a class C nonperson misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000. Continued operation, after a conviction, shall constitute a separate offense for each day of operation.
(e) The commissioner may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend or revoke any permit for any one of the following reasons:
(1) Material misstatement in the application for the original permit or in the application for any renewal of a permit;
(2) the conviction of any crime, an essential element of which is misstatement, fraud or dishonesty, or relating to the theft of or cruelty to animals;
(3) substantial misrepresentation;
(4) the person who is issued a permit is found to be poaching or illegally obtaining deer; or
(5) the permit holder's willful disregard of any rule or regulation adopted under this section.
(f) Any refusal to issue or renew a permit and any suspension or revocation of a permit under this section shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act and shall be subject to review in accordance with the Kansas judicial review act.
(g) Each domesticated deer, regardless of age, that enters a premises alive or leaves a premises alive or dead for any purpose, other than for direct movement to a licensed or registered slaughter facility in Kansas, shall have official identification, as prescribed by rules and regulations of the commissioner. Any person who receives a permit issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall keep records of such deer as required by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.
(h) (1) The animal health commissioner or the commissioner's representatives may inspect the premises and records of any person issued a domesticated deer permit, but shall not inspect such premises and records more than once each permit year, unless the commissioner has:
(A) Discovered a violation of article 21 of chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto; or
(B) received a complaint that such premises is not being operated, managed or maintained in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.
(2) The commissioner or the commissioner's representatives may inspect unlicensed premises when the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is violating the provisions of this section.
(i) The animal health commissioner, on an annual basis, shall transmit to the secretary of wildlife and parks a current list of persons issued a permit pursuant to this section. The Kansas department of agriculture may request assistance from the department of wildlife and parks to assist in implementing and enforcing article 21 of chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.
(j) All moneys received under this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the animal disease control fund.
(k) As used in this section:
(1) "Deer" means any member of the family cervidae.
(2) "Domesticated deer" means any member of the family cervidae that was legally obtained and is being sold or raised in a confined area for:
(A) Breeding stock;
(B) any carcass, skin or part of such animal;
(C) exhibition; or
(D) companionship.

Legislative History

L. 1993, ch. 143, § 1; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 176; L. 2010, ch. 105, § 4; L. 2010, ch. 155, § 17; L. 2012, ch. 140, § 108; L. 2013, ch. 90, § 5; L. 2015, ch. 2, § 1; L. 2021, ch. 99, § 6; L. 2023, ch. 7, § 108; July 1.