SB609: Bill Text

LRB-4591/1

ZDW:skw

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 609

October 14, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Stafsholt, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jagler, Marklein, Stroebel, Testin and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Edming, Dallman, Allen, Armstrong, Born, Cabral-Guevara, Callahan, James, Magnafici, Mursau, Penterman, Snyder, Summerfield, Tauchen, Krug and Thiesfeldt. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues.

SB609,1,2 An Act to create 29.190 of the statutes; relating to: stocking pheasants for hunting.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish a schedule for stocking pheasants to ensure adequate hunting opportunities through the end of each pheasant hunting season. The bill also requires DNR to meet certain pheasant production totals at the Poynette State Game Farm.

The bill also requires DNR, no later than January 31, 2022, to submit to the legislature a report identifying properties where pheasants will be stocked and detailing a plan for the stocking of those properties. Following approval of the plan by the legislature, DNR must implement the plan for the next pheasant hunting season.

Under current law, the hunting of pheasants is permitted only during open seasons established by DNR and only by individuals possessing the necessary approvals issued by DNR.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

SB609,1 Section 1. 29.190 of the statutes is created to read:

SB609,2,7 29.190 Stocking of pheasants. (1) The department shall establish a schedule for stocking pheasants to ensure adequate hunting opportunities through the end of each pheasant hunting season on public hunting grounds and private land enrolled in a program that requires the land to be open to the public for hunting. The schedule shall specify that stocking of pheasants shall occur, at a minimum, following each open season for hunting deer with a firearm and during the month of December.

SB609,2,9 (2) The department shall ensure that production at the Poynette State Game Farm is sufficient to annually produce all of the following:

SB609,2,11 (a) 200,000 rooster pheasants for stocking pheasants for hunting as required under sub. (1).

SB609,2,12 (b) 50,000 pheasants for the department's day-old chick program.

SB609,2 Section 2. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB609,2,23 (1) No later than January 31, 2022, the department of natural resources shall submit to the legislature a report that identifies properties where pheasants will be stocked and details a plan for the stocking of those properties. The list of properties shall include all properties that are open to the public for hunting and that are owned or managed by the department of natural resources, have received funding under the stewardship program under s. 23.0915 or 23.0917, are actively managed for grassland habitat, or are enrolled in a program that requires the land to be open to the public for hunting. Following approval of the plan by the legislature, the department shall implement the plan for the first open season for hunting pheasants that occurs following approval of the plan.

SB609,2,24 (End)