Evers signs hunting, fishing bills into law

As the legislature left its recent session, several bills sat on Gov. Tony Evers desk, waiting for him to sign them into law. Not surprisingly, several of those had to do with hunting and fishing in the state.

Airguns for hunting

This bill was introduced by Senator Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond), Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and Cory Tomcyzk (R - Mosinee). It looked to allow the use of air guns in hunting wildlife species within the state. Big bore airguns are currently used in several other states for a variety of hunting opportunities.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is authorized to open and close hunting seasons as well as to specify the type of weapon to be used in conjunction with each license. This bill, signed by Gov. Evers stated that any season open to hunting with a firearm must now also be open to hunting that same species with an airgun.  The law would also be changed to disallow the discharging of a firearm from a vehicle or an aircraft as well as within 50 feet of a highway or in the direction of a transmission facility. This is also a stipulation when it comes to other firearms.

“The department may promulgate rules limiting the types of airguns that may be used to hunt specific species during particular hunting seasons,” the bill stated.

Muzzle loaders

Another bill signed into law last week was in regards to muzzle loaders. It provided a definition of a muzzle loader as a “firearm that shoots a projectile loaded exclusively from the muzzle.” According to the National Rifle Association website, the definition was previously out-dated and the new definition would address some confusion in terms of firearms allowed while hunting. The website also said this definition would allow for “introduction of new muzzleloading technology,” such as the Federal Firestick.

“Imprecise language should not constrict people’s choice of firearms, nor should it prevent them from enjoying their passion for hunting and the outdoors,” said a story on the NRW website from February. 

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, however, reported both the Wisconsin and National Muzzle Loading Association had weighed in against this change. 

Fish transportation

Prior to this bill being signed into law, if the head or tail of a fish, or both, were removed, that fish would still need to conform to minimum length requirements for that species when taken by hook and line from inland or outlying waters. 

For instance, where a 15” size may exist on a body of water for walleye, the fillets of that fish, then, would still need to measure 15 inches. This law would make it legal for fillets from a legal length fish to be transported, even if those fillets did not meet the legal length requirement of that species. However, an angler must be able to show a time stamped physical or digital photograph of that fish when requested by DNR. In the photograph must also be a ruler or other method of measurement acceptable to the Department. The photograph provided must show the fish before the head and/or tail was removed.

“A dressed fish shall remain in one piece with the skin and scaled intact,”the bill stated for fillets that did not meet the legal length requirement for that species. “The skin and scale shall remain on a filleted fish.”

Free Fishing Weekend

Each year the DNR is required to designate two weekends per year as “Free Fishing Weekends,” during which license fees are waived. All bag and size limits still apply. One of those weekends is in June and the other had traditionally been the third weekend in January. This bill modified that requirement. It moved the January Free Fishing Weekend to the full weekend prior to the third Monday in January, which is Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day. The Department would still designate to which inland and/or outlying waters the fee waiver would apply, by rule.

Proof of Residency

Currently, those wishing to purchase a resident authorization for hunting, fishing or trapping from the DNR must prove they have maintained a “permanent abode in the state for at least 30 days.” This bill allows for that domiciliary intent to be satisfied with a Department of Transportation (DOT)-issued state ID card in lieu of a driver’s license. 

The bill requires the DOT to allow electronic access to ID card records by the DNR for purposed of verifying residency.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached at [email protected].