Broken Arrow Lawmaker Wants Limits On Game Warden Access To Private Property

An Oklahoma lawmaker says he wants to help protect your private property by keeping game wardens at a distance.

Oklahoma game wardens currently can go onto private property if they hear a gunshot and believe wildlife laws are being broken.

But state senator Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) says it's not illegal to shoot a gun in rural Oklahoma.

He says coming onto private property violates Second and Fourth Amendment rights.

His bill would require game wardens to have more than just a gunshot and a suspicion to go on your property.

Game wardens say changing state law could open the door to more crime and hurt wildlife.

 “The Wildlife Department, which is funded by licenses, will lose money,” Oklahoma Game Warden Association President Tony Clark said. “Wildlife will lose its protection on vast areas of land that is not inhabited by anybody.

The bill has three more hurdles to pass before making it to the governor's desk.