§183D-2  Powers and duties of department. The department shall:

(1)  Manage and administer the wildlife and wildliferesources of the State;

(2)  Enforce all laws relating to the protecting,taking, hunting, killing, propagating, or increasing the wildlife within theState and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

(3)  Establish and maintain wildlife propagatingfacility or facilities;

(4)  Subject to the provisions of title 12, importwildlife for the purpose of propagating and disseminating the same in the Stateand the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

(5)  Distribute, free of charge, as the departmentdeems to be in the public interest, game for the purpose of increasing the foodsupply of the State; provided that when in the discretion of the department thepublic interest will not be materially interfered with by so doing, thedepartment may propagate and furnish wildlife to private parties, upon suchreasonable terms, conditions, and prices as the department may determine;

(6)  Ascertain, compile, and disseminate, free ofcharge, information and advice as to the best methods of protecting,propagating, and distributing wildlife in the State and the waters subject toits jurisdiction;

(7)  Gather and compile information and statisticsconcerning the area, location, character, and increase and decrease of wildlifein the State;

(8)  Gather and compile information concerningwildlife recommended for release in different localities, including the careand propagation of wildlife for protective, productive, and aesthetic purposesand other useful information, which the department deems proper;

(9)  Have the power to manage and regulate all landswhich may be set apart as game management areas, public hunting areas, andwildlife sanctuaries;

(10)  Pursuant to section 183D-65 of this chapter,destroy predators deemed harmful to wildlife;

(11)  Formulate, and from time to time recommend to thegovernor and legislature, such additional legislation necessary or desirable toimplement the objectives of title 12; and

(12)  Preserve, protect, and promote public hunting. [L1985, c 174, pt of §4; am L 1999, c 122, §2]