What is the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact?
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is an agreement that recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in member states. This means that illegal activities in one state can affect a person’s hunting or fishing privileges in all participating states. Any person whose license privileges or rights are suspended in a member state may also be suspended in Alabama. If a person's hunting, fishing, or trapping rights are suspended in Alabama, they may be suspended in member states as well. This cooperative interstate effort will enhance the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ ability to protect and manage our wildlife resources.
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact also establishes a process whereby wildlife law violations by a non-resident from a member state are handled as if the person were a resident, meaning they can be served a ticket rather than being arrested, booked, and bonded. This process is a convenience for hunters, fishermen, and trappers of member states, and increases efficiency of Wildlife Officers by allowing more time for enforcement duties rather than violator processing procedures.
If a person plans to hunt, fish, or trap in another state, and they have a license suspension in Alabama, it is their responsibility to contact the other state to see if they can legally hunt, fish, or trap there.
History of the Compact
The concept of a wildlife violator compact was first advanced in the early 1980s by member states in the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Law enforcement administrators and Wildlife Commissioners from several states began discussing the idea of a compact based on the format of the existing Driver’s License Compact and Non-Resident Violator Compact, both of these related to motor vehicle operator licensing and enforcement.
In 1985 draft compacts were developed independently in Colorado and Nevada. Subsequently, these drafts were merged and the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact was created.
Member States
If your hunting/fishing privaleges are suspended in any member state, you may be prohibited from purchasing a license in Alabama. Currently all states but three are members of the Compact (Massachusetts, Delaware and Hawaii)
