LRB-1483/1
ZDW:skw
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
January 28, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Stafsholt, Petrowski, Cowles and
Felzkowski, cosponsored by Representatives Callahan, Magnafici,
Horlacher, Rozar, Edming, Spiros, Tittl, Kurtz, VanderMeer and
Skowronski. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business
and Rural Issues.
SB54,1,2
1An Act to renumber 29.311; and
to create 29.311 (2) of the statutes;
relating
2to: shot shell restrictions and the hunting of fur-bearing animals.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from limiting the use
of shot shells based on shot size for the hunting of fur-bearing animals, which
current law defines to include otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, woodchuck, marten,
fisher, skunk, raccoon, fox, weasel, opossum, badger, wolf, coyote, bobcat, cougar, and
lynx.
Under current law, DNR is required to regulate the hunting, fishing, and
trapping of wild animals. In general, a person may hunt, fish, or trap a wild animal
only during the open season for that animal and only with the appropriate approval
issued by DNR. However, current law provides that a landowner or occupant may
hunt or trap beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels
(commonly referred to as nuisance wildlife) on the land at any time and without a
DNR approval.
Under current rules promulgated by DNR, no person while hunting may use,
possess, or have under the person's control shot shells containing shot larger than
T. Under the bill, DNR may not limit the use, possession, or control of shot shells on
the basis of the size of the contained shot for the hunting of a fur-bearing animal
during an open season established for that animal by the department or for the
hunting of nuisance wildlife as provided under current law.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB54,1
1Section
1. 29.311 of the statutes is renumbered 29.311 (1).
SB54,2
2Section
2. 29.311 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
SB54,2,63
29.311
(2) The department may not limit the use, possession, or control of shot
4shells on the basis of the size of the contained shot for the hunting of a fur-bearing
5animal during an open season established for that animal by the department or for
6the hunting of an animal as provided under s. 29.337 (1).
