Committee adopts amendment and advances HB 139 to protect November mule‑deer buck hunting; bill passes committee as amended

During executive action the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee considered House Bill 139, a measure intended to preserve the November mule‑deer buck hunting opportunity by placing a statutory protection around harvest timing.

Vice Chair Kohenhauer moved the bill and then moved Amendment 139.10.2 to revise whereas language and to name the act the “November Mule Deer Buck Hunt Protection Act.” The amendment was adopted on roll call (recorded as 12 ayes, 8 no). Representative Kohenhauer then moved the bill as amended for a due pass to the House floor; the committee adopted the due‑pass motion on roll call (final count recorded 11 ayes, 9 no). The committee’s recorded votes and discussion are in the transcript and reflect a divided committee but a narrow majority advancing the bill as amended.

Committee discussion ranged from objections that season setting belongs to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission and that codifying season dates in statute constrains adaptive management, to supporters who said the statutory language creates a backstop protecting a long‑standing hunting tradition over the Thanksgiving period. Several members noted the amendment and bill still permit the commission to close or limit seasons where warranted, while others argued the legislature should not set seasons in statute.

Actions recorded: the amendment (139.10.2) was adopted by roll call (12‑8) and the due‑pass motion as amended was approved by roll call (11‑9); HB 139 will advance to the House floor.

Provenance: executive action and roll calls are recorded in the transcript from 9685.3545 through the final counts recorded in the meeting minutes.