Chapter 29

29.591 29.591 Hunter education program and bow hunter education program.

29.591(1) (1) Establishment; contents.

29.591(1)(a) (a) The department shall establish a hunter education program and bow hunter education program. The department shall conduct these courses of instruction in cooperation with qualified individuals, organizations, groups, associations, public or private corporations and federal, state and local governmental entities. The hunter education program shall provide for a course of instruction in each school district or county. The bow hunter education program need not provide for a course of instruction in each school district or county.

29.591(1)(am) (am) The department shall offer an online course of instruction under the hunter education program for persons who are at least 18 years of age.

29.591(1)(b) (b) The courses of instruction under these programs shall provide instruction to students in the responsibilities of hunters to wildlife, environment, landowners and others, how to recognize threatened and endangered species that cannot be hunted and the principles of wildlife management and conservation.

29.591(1)(c) (c) In addition to the topics specified in par. (b), the course of instruction under the hunter education program shall provide instruction in the commonly accepted principles of safety in handling firearms and bows and arrows used in hunting and their associated equipment.

29.591(1)(d) (d) In addition to the topics specified in par. (b), the course of instruction under the bow hunter education program shall provide instruction in hunting with bows and arrows and their associated equipment.

29.591(2) (2) Administration.

29.591(2)(am) (am) The department may appoint county, regional and statewide directors and categories of hunter education instructors necessary for the hunter education program and the bow hunter education program. These appointees are responsible to the department and shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation. This paragraph does not apply to the online course of instruction under sub. (1) (am).

29.591(2)(b) (b)

29.591(2)(b)1. 1. If the online course of instruction under the hunter education program requires field testing for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course, the department shall make field testing available through each department service center at least once every 2 months for persons who are at least 18 years of age.

29.591(2)(b)2. 2. If the online course of instruction under the hunter education program requires a written test for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course, the department shall offer the test at each department service center at least once every 2 months to persons who are at least 18 years of age.

29.591(3) (3) Instruction fee. The department shall promulgate a rule establishing a fee for the course of instruction under the hunter education program and the bow hunter education program. If the department offers an advanced hunter education course or an advanced bow hunter education course, the rule may authorize the department to charge an additional fee for those courses. The instructor conducting a course under this subsection shall collect the instruction fee from each person who receives instruction. The instructor may retain up to $5 for each person who receives instruction from that instructor for allowable costs of instruction, as determined by the department. The instructor shall remit the remainder of the fee, or if nothing is retained, the entire fee, to the department.

29.591(4) (4) Certificate of accomplishment.

29.591(4)(a) (a) Issuance.

29.591(4)(a)1. 1. The department shall issue a certificate of accomplishment for free to a person who successfully completes the course of instruction under the hunter education program or the bow hunter education program and who pays the instruction fee.

29.591(4)(a)2. 2. A resident may use the certificate of accomplishment issued to him or her for successfully completing the course of instruction under the hunter education program for the first time in place of a small game hunting license.

29.591(4)(am) (am) Authorization for antlerless deer. The department may authorize a person to whom it issues a certificate of accomplishment for successfully completing the course of instruction under the hunter education program for the first time to use the certificate in place of a permit issued under s. 29.177 to take one antlerless deer in specific areas identified by the department. The authorization for group deer hunting under s. 29.324 shall not apply to a person hunting an antlerless deer as authorized under this paragraph.

29.591(4)(ar) (ar) Period for hunting antlerless deer. A certificate of accomplishment issued under this section that the department has authorized to be used in place of a permit under par. (am) is valid for the hunting of one antlerless deer during the deer hunting season immediately following the date of issuance of the certificate.

29.591(4)(b) (b) Duplicate. The department shall issue a duplicate certificate of accomplishment to a person who is entitled to a duplicate certificate of accomplishment and who pays the fee specified under s. 29.563 (12) (c) 2.

29.591 History History: 1983 a. 420; 1997 a. 12, 197; 1997 a. 248 ss. 175, 420 to 426; Stats. 1997 s. 29.591; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25; 2011 a. 168; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

29.592 29.592 Hunting mentorship program.

29.592(1) (1) A person may hunt in this state without obtaining a certificate of accomplishment under s. 29.591 and may, while hunting, possess or control a firearm or an airgun if all of the following apply:

29.592(1)(a) (a) At all times when hunting, the person is within arm’s reach of a mentor who meets the qualifications under sub. (2).

29.592(1)(b) (b) The person holds a hunting approval.

29.592(2) (2) No person may serve as a qualified mentor for a hunter unless the person meets all of the following requirements:

29.592(2)(a) (a) The person is 18 years of age or older.

29.592(2)(b) (b) The person is the parent or guardian of the person for whom he or she is serving as a mentor or is authorized by the parent or guardian to serve as a mentor. This requirement does not apply to a person serving as a mentor for a person who is 18 years of age or older.

29.592(2)(c) (c) At all times when serving as a mentor, the person is within arm’s reach of the person for whom he or she is serving as a mentor.

29.592(2)(d) (d) The person has been issued a certificate of accomplishment under s. 29.591 or, if serving as a mentor for hunting elk, under s. 29.595 unless the person was born before January 1, 1973, and is not required to obtain a certificate of accomplishment.

29.592(2)(e) (e) The person holds a current valid hunting approval.

29.592(4) (4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for whom he or she is serving as a mentor.

29.592(5) (5) The requirements under subs. (1) (b) and (2) (e) do not apply to a person who is authorized to hunt without a hunting approval under s. 29.337 (1), 95.55 (5), or 169.19 (5).

29.592 History History: 2009 a. 39; 2013 a. 61; 2017 a. 62; 2023 a. 115.

29.593 29.593 Requirement for certificate of accomplishment to obtain hunting approval.

29.593(1) (1) 

29.593(1)(a) (a) Except as provided under subs. (2), (2m) and (3), and s. 29.592 (1), no person born on or after January 1, 1973, may obtain any approval authorizing hunting unless the person is issued a certificate of accomplishment under s. 29.591.

29.593(1)(b) (b) A certificate of accomplishment issued to a person for successfully completing the course under the bow hunter education program only authorizes the person to obtain a resident archer hunting license, a nonresident archer hunting license, a resident crossbow hunting license, or a nonresident crossbow hunting license.

29.593(2) (2) A person who has a certificate, license, or other evidence that is satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another state, country, or province a hunter education course recognized by the department may obtain an approval authorizing hunting.

29.593(2m) (2m) A person who has a certificate, license, or other evidence that is satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another state, country, or province a bow hunter education course recognized by the department may obtain an archer hunting license or crossbow hunting license.

29.593(3) (3) A person who successfully completes basic training in the U.S. armed forces, reserves or national guard may obtain an approval authorizing hunting.

29.593(4) (4) A person who is subject to sub. (1) may prove compliance with sub. (1) when submitting an application for an approval authorizing hunting by presenting any of the following:

29.593(4)(a) (a) His or her certificate of accomplishment issued under s. 29.591.

29.593(4)(b) (b) An approval authorizing hunting that was issued to him or her under this chapter within 365 days before submitting the application.

29.593(4)(c) (c) An approval authorizing hunting that was issued to him or her under this chapter for a hunting season that ended within 365 days before submitting the application.

29.593 History History: 1983 a. 420; 1991 a. 254; 1997 a. 27, 197; 1997 a. 248 ss. 427 to 430; Stats. 1997 s. 29.593; 1999 a. 32; 2005 a. 289; 2009 a. 39; 2013 a. 61.

29.595 29.595 Elk hunter education program.

29.595(1) (1) Establishment. The department shall establish and conduct an elk hunter education program.

29.595(2) (2) Instruction. The elk hunter education program shall provide a course of instruction that includes all of the following:

29.595(2)(a) (a) History and recovery of elk in this state and the eastern United States.

29.595(2)(b) (b) Elk census and population estimation methods used in this state.

29.595(2)(c) (c) Elk biology and disease prevention.

29.595(2)(d) (d) Elk hunting techniques and hunter ethics.

29.595(2)(e) (e) Elk hunting zones.

29.595(2)(f) (f) Rules promulgated by the department concerning elk hunting.

29.595(2)(g) (g) Native American hunting.

29.595(3) (3) Certificate of accomplishment.

29.595(3)(a) (a) The department shall issue a certificate of accomplishment to a person who successfully completes the course of instruction under the elk hunter education program.

29.595(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), no person may be issued an elk hunting license unless he or she holds a valid certificate of accomplishment issued under this subsection.

29.595(3)(c) (c) A person who has a certificate, license, or other evidence that is satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another state, country, or province an elk hunter education course recognized by the department may obtain an elk hunting license.

29.595(4) (4) Fee prohibited. The department may not charge a fee for the course of instruction or the certificate of accomplishment.

29.595 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 289.

29.597 29.597 Trapper education program.

29.597(1) (1) Establishment; program requirements.

29.597(1)(a) (a) The department shall establish and supervise the administration of a trapper education program funded from the appropriations under s. 20.370 (1) (Lq) and (ma). Except with respect to the online course of instruction under sub. (1m), the department shall enter into an agreement with an organization that has demonstrated ability and experience in the field of trapper education to assist in the establishment and administration of the program.

29.597(1)(b) (b) The trapper education program shall provide classroom instruction and instruction by correspondence and shall provide a course of instruction that includes all of the following:

29.597(1)(b)1. 1. Principles of wildlife management.

29.597(1)(b)2. 2. Responsibilities of trappers to landowners.

29.597(1)(b)3. 3. Interrelationships between trapping activities and the conservation of natural resources.

29.597(1)(b)4. 4. Techniques for the trapping of fur-bearing animals.

29.597(1)(c) (c) The trapper education program shall use certified instructors when providing the instruction on techniques of trapping fur-bearing animals. The department shall establish criteria and standards for certifying these instructors. This paragraph does not apply to the online course of instruction under sub. (1m).

29.597(1m) (1m) Online course of instruction. The department shall offer an online course of instruction under the trapper education program.

29.597(2) (2) Administration.

29.597(2)(a) (a) The department and the organization with which the department enters into an agreement under sub. (1) (a) shall jointly do all of the following:

29.597(2)(a)1. 1. Contract with a qualified individual, who may not be an employee of the department, to operate the trapper education program.

29.597(2)(a)2. 2. Prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the individual contracted with under subd. 1.

29.597(2)(b) (b) The individual contracted with under par. (a) 1. shall operate the trapper education program and shall do all of the following:

29.597(2)(b)1. 1. Supervise the recruitment and training of qualified trapper education instructors.

29.597(2)(b)2. 2. Coordinate the scheduling of classes.

29.597(2)(b)3. 3. Maintain the records for the trapper education program.

29.597(2)(c) (c)

29.597(2)(c)1. 1. If the online course of instruction under the trapper education program requires field testing for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course, the department shall make field testing available through each department service center at least once every 2 months.

29.597(2)(c)2. 2. If the online course of instruction under the trapper education program requires a written test for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course, the department shall offer the test at each department service center at least once every 2 months.

29.597(2)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to the online course of instruction under the trapper education program.

29.597(3) (3) Instruction fee.

29.597(3)(a) (a) The department shall establish by rule the fee for the course of instruction under the trapper education program.

29.597(3)(b) (b) An instructor conducting the course of instruction under the trapper education program shall collect the fee established under par. (a) from each person receiving instruction. The department may authorize an instructor to retain up to 50 percent of the fee to defray expenses incurred by the instructor conducting the course. The instructor shall remit the remaining portion of the fee or, if nothing is retained, the entire fee to the department.

29.597(4) (4) Course and promotional materials. The department may reimburse the organization with which it enters into an agreement under sub. (1) (a) for the organization’s costs of producing promotional and course materials for the program.

29.597(5) (5) Certificate of accomplishment.