(a)
The commission may authorize the department to issue revocable, nontransferable licenses for the operation of wildlife habitat enhancement and management areas on any private lands it determines are suitable for habitat enhancement, management, utilization, propagation, and conservation of fish and wildlife resources of those lands. Any private lands affected by a habitat enhancement and management plan licensed pursuant to this article shall not be available for use by the general public without the consent of the landholders. No public access road shall be closed to the public under this article as a result of licensing a wildlife habitat enhancement and management area or implementing the wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan.
(b)
The commission shall authorize hunting during the rut only in a wildlife habitat enhancement and management area when that hunting is consistent with the management plans prepared for that area or herd and does not result in an overall negative effect on the deer herd population in that area.