Section 571.95.2. Verifying eligibility for free landowner or tenant licenses.

Eligibility for free and reduced-fee deer and wild turkey hunting licenses, which are hereafter referred to as free licenses, is defined in Iowa Code section 483A.24, rule 571—98.5(483A) and rule 571—106.12(481A). The electronic licensing system for Iowa (ELSI) will not issue free licenses to persons who have not registered their eligibility with ELSI.

       95.2(1) Farm unit. As provided in 571—subrule 106.12(6), all the land under the lawful control of the landowner or tenant is considered one farm unit no matter how it is subdivided for business purposes. No one may be registered as eligible for free licenses on more than one farm unit. Registering on one parcel of land within the farm unit will allow the landowner, tenant or family member to hunt on all land in the farm unit.

      95.2(2) Who may obtain free licenses. One member of the landowner family (the landowner or an eligible family member) may obtain a free any-deer license. Members of the landowner family may divide the free antlerless-deer-only licenses for which the family is eligible among themselves in any way they choose. If there is a tenant on the same property, one member of the tenant family (the tenant or an eligible family member) may also obtain a free any-deer license. Members of the tenant family may divide the free antlerless-deer-only licenses for which they may be eligible among themselves in any way they choose. One member of the landowner family and one member of the tenant family may each obtain one free spring turkey hunting license and one free fall turkey hunting license.

       95.2(3) Method of registration. A landowner or tenant may register in one of the following ways:

        a.           Landowners. Persons who own at least one parcel of qualifying land may register on the Internet through ELSI or by mailing or faxing an affidavit obtained from DNR. The online system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An online registrant may immediately obtain a free license once the registration process is complete. A person who registers through the mail or by fax may have to wait up to ten business days after the form is received by DNR to obtain a free license.

        b.           Tenants. A person who qualifies as a tenant but does not own any qualifying land may register on the Internet through ELSI or by mailing or faxing an affidavit obtained from DNR. A tenant may have to wait up to ten business days after the affidavit is received by DNR before obtaining a free license.

       95.2(4) Information verifying eligibility. In order to register, a landowner, tenant or qualifying family member must have a customer record in ELSI, i.e., have already purchased a license through ELSI. A person without an ELSI customer record must call the ELSI telephone ordering system to establish a customer record before registering. When registering, landowners, tenants and family members will be required to provide their ELSI customer number or their Iowa driver’s license number or social security number and their date of birth to identify their ELSI customer record.

        a.           Landowners. A landowner shall provide the parcel identification number (PIN) from the landowner’s current property tax statement for one parcel of qualifying land owned by the landowner and the number of the county where the land is located. Qualifying family members shall be registered to the same parcel of qualifying land as the landowner.

        b.           Partnerships, corporations or other forms of joint land ownership. Each owner of a jointly owned farm unit and the owner’s qualifying family members who wish to receive free licenses for that farm unit shall register with the same county number and PIN. Only one joint owner or family member may obtain the one any-deer license available for the farm unit. The other joint owner(s) and family members may divide any other free licenses to which they are entitled among themselves in any way they choose.

        c.           Tenants. A tenant shall provide an affidavit that contains the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the qualifying land rented by the tenant; the county number where the land is located; and the landowner’s PIN from one parcel of that qualifying land. If a tenant rents land from more than one landowner, the tenant shall provide the required information about only one landowner. The tenant’s qualifying family members shall be registered to the same parcel of qualifying land as the tenant.

        d.           Signature required. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 483A.24(2)“f,” all affidavits submitted to register eligibility for free licenses shall bear the signature of the landowner, tenant, or family member attesting that the information contained therein is true.

       95.2(5) Forms. Instructions and affidavits may be obtained online at www.iowadnr.com, at DNR offices, or by calling [phone].

       95.2(6) Registration expiration and renewal. A registered landowner, tenant, or eligible family member may obtain free licenses as allowed in subrule 95.2(2) provided the registration information and eligibility status remain valid. If the registration information or eligibility status of a registered landowner, tenant, or eligible family member changes, that individual must send by U.S. mail or by fax a DNR affidavit form or contact the DNR by telephone. The DNR will periodically review registration information to verify eligibility status and will inactivate registrations when the registration information fails to indicate eligibility.

       95.2(7) Penalties. Free licenses will not be issued to an applicant until a legible and complete affidavit is received by DNR. An illegible or incomplete affidavit will be returned to the applicant for correction. A person who has made a false attestation in obtaining a license in violation of Iowa Code Supplement section 483A.24(2)“f” shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and subject to license revocation, as provided in Iowa Code section 483A.21, Iowa Code supplement section 483A.24(2)“f” and 571—subrule 106.8(3).

[ARC 7919B, IAB 7/1/09, effective 8/5/09]