Proposed bills would impact natural resources, hunters, other sportsmen

Several pieces of proposed legislation in the current state legislative session have bearing on those in the outdoor sporting community. Here is a brief look at several of those bills.

Muzzleloaders

Assembly bill 632 and it’s partner SB587 looks to redefine the definition of a muzzleloader for the purposes of hunting season. Current law authorizes the use of a muzzleloading firearm for certain hunting activities, but does not define that type of firearm. This bill defines the term as “a firearm that shoots a projectile loaded exclusively from the muzzle.” Hearings have been held in the Assembly and Senate Sporting Heritage Committees. The change is opposed by the Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association.

Air guns

There has been a push recently to allow hunting with high-powered air guns. While air guns are most commonly associated with small game hunting, more powerful air guns are now expanding into the hunting of predators as well as big game. Assembly Bill 633 and it’s partner Senate bill SB586, referred by the Committee on Sporting Heritage, would allow the use of air guns while hunting. This bill would require any season that is open for hunting with a firearm to also be open for hunting that same animal with an air gun. It does allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to promulgate rules limiting the types of air guns that may be used to hunt specific species during specific seasons. 

“It the department promulgates rules under this paragraph, the department shall allow the use of air guns and air gun ammunition with regards to effectiveness for hunting,” the bill reads. This act would amend current laws governing hunting to add air guns to be treated in the same manner as other firearms for hunting purposes. 

Nonresident cross bow and archery license

Assembly Bill 799 addresses nonresident cross bow and archery license fees. Its status was listed as “introduced” at the time of this writing. The bill would look to increase the nonresident fee for these licenses from $162.25 to $197.25. When adding the $0.75 issuing fee and the $2 wildlife damage surcharge, the total a nonresident would pay for a license would be $200. Assuming the demand were to stay equal for nonresident licenses, and taking into account there were 15,520 nonresident licenses sold in 2023, this would be an anticipated increase in revenue of approximately $543,200. However, it is unclear how a price increase will affect demand for these licenses. 

Dog training

Assembly Bill 512 and Senate Bill 545 address the length of time for dog training in Northern Wisconsin. It would allow for the same timing of training and trialing of dogs for both Northern and Southern Wisconsin. Currently, north of certain east-west highways, from May 1 to June 30, a Department of Natural Resources code provision generally prohibits hunting or pursuing a “free-roaming wild animal” with aid of a dog. There are also administrative code restrictions on dog training and trialing on any free roaming wild animal during that period in that area. This bill would repeal both of those code provisions. Hearings have been held in both the Assembly and the Senate on these bills.

Size limits of fish during transportation

Assembly Bill 430 and its partner SB411 have been tabled at this writing, so will likely not be considered during this legislative session. Currently, a fish subject to size limits is still subject to those size limits should it be filleted. That is, a fish with a 15” minimum size limit must make 15” fillets to be transported unless other certain conditions are met such as “a dressed fish shall remain in one piece with the skin and scales intact. The skin and scales shall remain on a filleted fish.” Under this new bill, photographic evidence would also be acceptable. The bill states. The condition would not apply if:

“The person transporting the fish provides upon request a physical or digital photograph that bears a stamp of the time and date on which the photograph was taken and that shows the fish before the head or tail was removed alongside a ruler or other method acceptable to the department for proving the length of the fish.”

Field training day for youth hunter education

Assembly Bill 270 and Senate Bill 265 would require an in-field training day for youth to complete their hunter safety requirements. The bill would require the Department of Natural Resources to offer in-person and online hunter education to persons under the age of 18. 

It would also require any person under the age os 18 to attend an in-person field certification exam following the completion of either form of the course. It also charges the department with promulgating rules establishing the curriculum, length and fee for the courses and instruction for these courses.

A wolf population goal

Assembly Bill 137 and Senate bill 139 would look to set a population goal for wolves in the state. It has been tabled by the Assembly, however. The bill states, if wolves are delisted, the department shall allow the hunting and trapping of wolves, shall regulate that hunting and trapping season and shall implement a wolf management plan that establishes a statewide population goal.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].