(A) A landowner, or the landowner's authorized agent, with prior approval from a Game Warden, may take, on land owned or occupied by the landowner and not posted except as provided in 10 V.S.A. § 4710, a turkey which the landowner can prove, has repeatedly, or may continue to substantially damage the following:

(B) A landowner may designate one individual who holds a resident Vermont hunting license as an agent to take a turkey doing damage, pursuant to subsection (A) of this section, on the landowner's behalf. A landowner may not offer or accept any form of payment to or from a person designated as an agent under this subsection except as allowed in subsection (E) of this section.

(C) The landowner shall immediately report the wounding or killing of a turkey under this section to a Game Warden. Within 12 hours of said wounding or killing of a turkey under this section, the landowner or person who performed the act shall submit a written, signed report relating the date, time, place and reason for the wounding or killing to a Game Warden.

(D) A person who kills the turkey shall immediately properly dress the carcass and care for the meat.

(E) The Game Warden shall immediately investigate the case and if satisfied that the turkey was taken as provided in this section, the Warden shall give the landowner a certificate of his or her finding in the matter. The certificate shall entitle the landowner to the ownership of the carcass. The landowner may not sell or give away the carcass except to offer all or a portion of it to the agent designated under subsection (B) of this section as compensation for killing the turkey. Any carcass not desired for home consumption in the household of the certificate holder or designated agent shall be turned over to a Game Warden. (Added 2002, Fish and Wildlife Board Reg. No. 1007a, eff. Sept. 7, 2002.)