AB872: Bill Text

LRB-0484/1

ZDW:amn

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 872

January 18, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Tittl, Milroy, Armstrong and Skowronski. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage.

AB872,1,10 An Act to amend 29.016 (1) (b), 29.016 (2) (intro.), 29.053 (3), 29.089 (2) (intro.), 29.091 (1), 29.091 (2) (intro.), 29.164 (2) (b), 29.173 (2) (a), 29.182 (3) (a), 29.182 (3) (b), 29.184 (3) (am), 29.184 (3) (c), 29.185 (6) (a) 1., 29.185 (6) (b), 29.193 (2) (cr) 4., 29.193 (2) (d), 29.211 (2), 29.304 (title), 29.311 (1), 29.312 (2), 29.314 (3) (a), 29.314 (3) (b) 4., 29.314 (4) (a), 29.314 (4) (b) 4., 29.324 (1) (b), 29.324 (1) (d), 29.341 (1), 29.345, 29.592 (1) (intro.), 29.621 (4) (intro.), 29.927 (6g), 29.971 (12) and 66.0409 (1) (a); and to create 29.001 (5), 29.001 (7), 29.014 (1u), 29.304 (6) and 29.314 (6m) of the statutes; relating to: hunting with an airgun, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, a person may hunt a wild animal with an airgun in a season open to hunting that animal with a firearm. The bill defines “airgun” as a weapon originally manufactured to expel one or more projectiles by the expansion of compressed air, including an airbow. “Airbow” is defined as a weapon originally designed to fire an arrow by the expansion of compressed air.

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources is authorized to establish open and closed seasons for the hunting of wild animals. DNR issues hunting licenses that authorize the hunting of specified animals and those licenses specify the type of weapon that may be used when hunting under those licenses.

Under the bill, if DNR establishes an open season for hunting an animal with a firearm, the season must also be open for hunting that animal with an airgun. The bill also provides that each license that currently authorizes the hunting of an animal with a firearm also authorizes the hunting of that animal with an airgun.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB872,1 Section 1 . 29.001 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB872,2,3 29.001 (5) “Airbow” means a weapon originally designed to fire an arrow by the expansion of compressed air.

AB872,2 Section 2 . 29.001 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB872,2,6 29.001 (7) “Airgun” means a weapon originally manufactured to expel one or more projectiles by the expansion of compressed air. “Airgun” includes an airbow.

AB872,3 Section 3 . 29.014 (1u) of the statutes is created to read:

AB872,2,10 29.014 (1u) (a) If the department establishes an open season for hunting an animal with a firearm, the season shall also be open for hunting that animal with an airgun.

AB872,2,15 (b) The department may promulgate rules limiting the types of airguns that may be used to hunt specific species during particular hunting seasons. If the department promulgates rules under this paragraph, the department shall allow the use of airguns and airgun ammunition that are similar to permitted firearms and firearm ammunition with regards to effectiveness for hunting.

AB872,4 Section 4 . 29.016 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,3,3 29.016 (1) (b) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), establish a fall open season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns that begins before the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November.

AB872,5 Section 5 . 29.016 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,3,8 29.016 (2) (intro.) Subsection (1) (b) does not prohibit the department from promulgating a rule that establishes a fall open season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns that begins before the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November if any of the following applies:

AB872,6 Section 6 . 29.053 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,3,17 29.053 (3) The department may modify any requirement of this chapter or rules promulgated under it, establish special seasons, authorize the use of special equipment or take any other action in order to provide additional hunting and fishing opportunities for persons who are physically disabled or visually handicapped. The department may limit the number of persons involved, except that if the department establishes a special season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns for persons who are physically disabled, the season shall be open to persons who have been issued a Class D permit under s. 29.193 (2).

AB872,7 Section 7 . 29.089 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,3,22 29.089 (2) (intro.) No person may have in his or her possession or under his or her control a firearm or airgun on land located in state fish hatcheries unless the firearm or airgun is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

AB872,8 Section 8 . 29.091 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,6 29.091 (1) No person may hunt or trap within any wildlife refuge established under s. 23.09 (2) (b) or 29.621 (1), or, except as provided in sub. (2), have possession or control of any gun, firearm, airgun, bow, or crossbow unless the gun or , firearm, or airgun is unloaded, the bow or crossbow is unstrung, and the gun, firearm, airgun, bow, or crossbow is enclosed within a carrying case. The taking of predatory game birds and animals shall be done as the department directs. All state wildlife refuge boundary lines shall be marked by posts placed at intervals of not over 500 feet and bearing signs with the words “Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge".

AB872,9 Section 9 . 29.091 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,10 29.091 (2) (intro.) The prohibition in sub. (1), as it relates to the possession or control of a loaded or unencased gun or, firearm, or airgun within a refuge established under s. 23.09 (2) (b), does not apply to any of the following:

AB872,10 Section 10 . 29.164 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,13 29.164 (2) (b) Type of hunting authorized. A license issued under this section authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

AB872,11 Section 11. 29.173 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,16 29.173 (2) (a) A resident deer hunting license authorizes the hunting of deer with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

AB872,12 Section 12 . 29.182 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,19 29.182 (3) (a) A resident elk hunting license authorizes a resident of this state to hunt elk with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

AB872,13 Section 13 . 29.182 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,4,22 29.182 (3) (b) A nonresident elk hunting license authorizes a nonresident of this state to hunt elk with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

AB872,14 Section 14 . 29.184 (3) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,5,3 29.184 (3) (am) Evidence of bear hunting. The fact that a person is observing a bear while possessing a firearm or airgun is not sufficient evidence to prove that the person holding the firearm or airgun is hunting bear.

AB872,15 Section 15 . 29.184 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,5,6 29.184 (3) (c) Type of hunting authorized. A Class A bear license authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

AB872,16 Section 16 . 29.185 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,5,9 29.185 (6) (a) 1. A firearm or airgun, as authorized under par. (b), a bow and arrow, or a crossbow.

AB872,17 Section 17 . 29.185 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,5,15 29.185 (6) (b) Firearms and ammunition. A wolf harvesting license authorizes hunting with a rifle, a muzzle-loading firearm, a handgun, a shotgun that fires slugs or shotshells, an airgun, and any other firearm that is loaded with a single slug or ball. A wolf harvesting license authorizes hunting with shot that is larger than size BB.

AB872,18 Section 18 . 29.193 (2) (cr) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB872,5,20 29.193 (2) (cr) 4. A person holding a current resident or nonresident deer hunting license and a Class D permit may hunt deer of either sex with a firearm or airgun only during a special season established by the department that is open for hunting deer with firearms by disabled persons who hold a permit under this section.

AB872,19 Section 19 . 29.193 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read: