A bill for an act relating to open season exceptions for taking geese.(See HF 866.)
Summary
HSB254 would expand Iowa’s nuisance-animal exception for agricultural property owners and tenants outside city limits by adding geese to the list of animals that may be taken, captured, shot, or temporarily possessed without prior permission when the owner or tenant in good faith considers the animal a nuisance. Under current law, that exception already applies to raccoons, opossums, and skunks; the bill would place geese in the same category for purposes of nuisance control on qualifying property.
The bill is framed as a wildlife-management measure for farmers and rural property owners dealing with nuisance geese. The explanation notes that the change would apply regardless of open season under state law, but it also cautions that some goose species are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, meaning federal law could still limit or penalize taking certain geese even if state law allows it. The bill does not alter protections for endangered species under state or federal law.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Iowa Code section 481A.87(3) to broaden the existing no-prior-permission nuisance exception on agricultural property outside city limits. The practical effect would be to authorize owners and tenants to remove geese under the same nuisance standard already available for raccoons, opossums, and skunks, while leaving federal wildlife restrictions intact. The bill would affect agricultural landowners, tenants, and wildlife enforcement by expanding state-law authority but not overriding federal migratory bird protections.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests moderate but clear support in committee, with both the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture reporting the bill by 15-6 votes. That pattern indicates the proposal was generally well received among members focused on agricultural and wildlife-management concerns, though not unanimously. No committee transcript is available, so the discussion record does not show detailed floor-level or stakeholder testimony.
Contention
The main point of contention is the balance between nuisance control for farmers and wildlife protection for geese, especially because some goose species are federally protected. Supporters are likely to view the bill as a practical tool for landowners dealing with crop damage or property nuisance issues, while opponents may be concerned about expanded taking of migratory birds and the risk of conflict with federal law. The 6 dissenting votes in each committee report suggest some members were not comfortable with the expansion, likely due to conservation, animal-protection, or federal-preemption concerns.