2016 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 17 - Game and Fish
§ 17-314 Civil liability for illegally taking or wounding wildlife; recovery of damages

AZ Rev Stat § 17-314 (2016) What's This?

17-314. Civil liability for illegally taking or wounding wildlife; recovery of damages

A. The commission or any officer charged with enforcement of the laws relating to game and fish, if so directed by the commission, may bring a civil action in the name of the state against any person unlawfully taking, wounding or killing, or unlawfully in possession of, any of the following wildlife, or part thereof, and seek to recover the following minimum sums as damage:

 1. For each turkey or javelina $500.00 

2. For each bear, mountain lion, antelope or deer,

 other than trophy $1, 500.00 

3. For each elk or eagle, other than trophy or

 endangered species $2, 500.00 4. For each predatory,  fur-bearing or nongame animal $ 250.00 5. For each small game or aquatic wildlife animal $ 50.00 6. For each trophy or endangered species animal $8, 000.00 

B. No verdict or judgment recovered by the state in such action shall be for less than the sum fixed in this section. The minimum sum that the commission may seek to recover as damages from a person pursuant to this section may be doubled for a second verdict or judgment and tripled for a third verdict or judgment. The action for damages may be joined with an action for possession, and recovery had for the possession as well as the damages.

C. The pendency or determination of an action for damages or payment of a judgment, or the pendency or determination of a criminal prosecution for the same taking, wounding, killing or possession, is not a bar to the other, nor does either affect the right of seizure under any other provision of the laws relating to game and fish.

D. All monies recovered pursuant to this section shall be placed in the wildlife theft prevention fund.

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.