37-451 Permit to hunt mountain sheep; regulation and limitation by commission; issuance; fee; violation; penalty.

37-451. Permit to huntmountain sheep; regulation and limitation by commission; issuance; fee; violation; penalty.(1) Thecommission may issue permits for hunting mountain sheep and may adopt and promulgate separate and, when necessary,different rules and regulationstherefor within the limitations prescribed in subsection (1) of section 37-447and section 37-452 for hunting deer. Such rulesand regulations shall include provisions allowing persons whofind dead mountain sheep, or any part of a mountain sheep, to turn over tothe commission such mountain sheep or part of a mountain sheep. The commissionmay dispose of such mountain sheep or part of a mountain sheep as it deemsreasonable and prudent. Except as otherwise provided in this section, thepermits shall be issued to residents of Nebraska.(2) The commission shall,pursuant to section 37-327, establish and charge a nonrefundable applicationfee of not more than twenty-five dollars for permits issued only to residents.Any number of resident-only permits, as authorized by the commission, shallbe awarded by random drawing to eligible applicants. No permit fee shall becharged in addition to the nonrefundable application fee.(3) No more than one additionalpermit may be authorized and issued pursuant to an auction open to residentsand nonresidents. The auction shall be conducted according to rules and regulationsprescribed by the commission. Any money derived from the sale of permits byauction shall be used only for perpetuation and management of mountain sheep,elk, and deer.(4) If the commission determinesto limit the number of permits issued for any or all management units, thecommission shall by rule and regulation determine eligibility requirementsfor the permits.(5) A person may obtain onlyone mountain sheep permit in his or her lifetime.(6) Any personviolating the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to thissection shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor and shall be fined at leastfive hundred dollars upon conviction. SourceLaws 1998, LB 922, § 161; Laws 2008, LB1162, § 5; Laws 2009, LB105, § 18.