Chapter 167

167.31(4)(bg)1. 1. Subsection (2) (a), (b), (c), and (d) does not apply to a state employee or agent, or to a federal employee or agent, who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or agency, who is authorized by the department of natural resources to take animals in the wild for the purpose of controlling the spread of disease in animals and who is hunting in an area designated by the department of natural resources as a chronic wasting disease eradication zone, except that this subdivision does not authorize the discharge of a firearm or the shooting of a bolt or arrow from a bow or crossbow across a state trunk highway, county trunk highway, or paved town highway.

167.31(4)(bg)1g. 1g. Subsection (2) (b) and (c) does not apply to a landowner, a family member of the landowner, or an employee of the landowner who is using a firearm, bow, or crossbow to shoot wild animals from a farm tractor or an implement of husbandry on the landowner’s land that is located in an area designated by the department of natural resources as a chronic wasting disease eradication zone.

167.31(4)(bg)2. 2. This paragraph does not apply after June 30, 2010.

167.31(4)(bn) (bn) Subsection (2) (a) does not apply to a person using a bow or a crossbow for fishing from a motorboat.

167.31(4)(bt) (bt) Subsection (2) (b) does not apply to the placement, possession, or transportation of an unloaded firearm in or on a vehicle if all of the following apply:

167.31(4)(bt)1. 1. The vehicle is a self-propelled motor vehicle with 4 rubber-tired wheels.

167.31(4)(bt)2. 2. The vehicle is not certified by the manufacturer for on-road use.

167.31(4)(bt)3. 3. The vehicle is not an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (2g).

167.31(4)(bt)4. 4. The vehicle is being used to transport individuals involved in sport shooting activities at sport shooting ranges, as defined in s. 895.527 (1), and is not being used to transport individuals involved in hunting.

167.31(4)(bt)5. 5. The vehicle is being operated entirely on private property and is not being operated in the right-of-way of any highway.

167.31(4)(c) (c) Subsection (2) (b) and (c) does not apply to the holder of a Class A or Class B permit under s. 29.193 (2) who is hunting from a stationary vehicle.

167.31(4)(cg) (cg) A holder of a Class A or Class B permit under s. 29.193 (2) who is hunting from a stationary vehicle may load and discharge a firearm or airgun or shoot a bolt or an arrow within 50 feet of the center of a roadway if all of the following apply:

167.31(4)(cg)1. 1. The roadway is part of a county highway, a town highway or any other highway that is not part of a street or of a state trunk or federal highway.

167.31(4)(cg)2. 2. The vehicle is located off the roadway and is not in violation of any prohibition or restriction that applies to the parking, stopping or standing of the vehicle under ss. 346.51 to 346.55 or under a regulation enacted under s. 349.06 or 349.13.

167.31(4)(cg)3. 3. The holder of the permit is not hunting game to fill the tag of another person.

167.31(4)(cg)4. 4. The holder of the permit has obtained permission from any person who is the owner or lessee of private property across or on to which the holder of the permit intends to discharge a firearm or airgun or shoot a bolt or an arrow.

167.31(4)(cg)5. 5. The vehicle bears special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), or (1m) or displays a sign that is at least 11 inches square on which is conspicuously written “disabled hunter”.

167.31(4)(cg)6. 6. The holder of the permit discharges the firearm or airgun or shoots the bolt or arrow away from and not across or parallel to the roadway.

167.31(4)(cm) (cm) For purposes of pars. (c) and (cg), the exemption from sub. (2) (b) under these paragraphs only applies to the firearm, bow or crossbow being used for hunting by the holder of the Class A or Class B permit under s. 29.193 (2).

167.31(4)(co) (co) For purposes of par. (cg), a person may stop a vehicle off the roadway on the left side of the highway.

167.31(4)(cr) (cr) For purposes of par. (cg) 4., “private property” does not include property leased for hunting by the public, land that is subject to a contract under subch. I of ch. 77, or land that is subject to an order designating it as managed forest land under subch. VI of ch. 77 and that is not designated as closed to the public under s. 77.83 (1).

167.31(4)(d) (d) Subsection (2) (b) does not prohibit a person from leaning an unloaded firearm against a vehicle.

167.31(4)(e) (e) Subsection (2) (d) does not apply to a person who is legally hunting small game with a muzzle-loading firearm or with a firearm or airgun loaded with shotshell or chilled shot number BB or smaller, if the surface of the highway or roadway is anything other than concrete or blacktop.

167.31(4)(f) (f) Subsection (2) (d) does not prohibit a person from possessing a loaded firearm or airgun within 50 feet of the center of a roadway if the person does not violate sub. (2) (b) or (c).

167.31(4)(fm) (fm) Subsection (2) (d) does not prohibit the department of natural resources, acting under s. 29.885, or an agent of a city, village, town, or county authorized by the department of natural resources under s. 29.885 from discharging a firearm or airgun within 50 feet of the center of a roadway in order to dispose of a beaver or muskrat that is causing damage to a highway in which the roadway is located if the discharge does not pose a risk to public safety.

167.31(4)(g) (g) A person who is fishing with a bow and arrow may shoot an arrow from a bow, and a person who is fishing with a crossbow may shoot a bolt from a crossbow, within 50 feet of the center of a roadway if the person does not shoot the arrow or bolt from the roadway or across a highway.

167.31(4)(h) (h) Subsection (3m) does not apply to any of the following who discharge a firearm or airgun in the direction of a transmission facility:

167.31(4)(h)1. 1. A member of the armed forces in the line of duty.

167.31(4)(h)2. 2. A member of the national guard in the line of duty.

167.31(4)(h)3. 3. A peace officer in the line of duty.

167.31(4)(h)4. 4. A private security person who meets all of the requirements under par. (a) 4.

167.31(4)(i) (i) Subsection (2) (b) and (c) does not apply to a person legally hunting from a stationary nonmotorized vehicle that is not attached to a motor vehicle.

167.31(4)(j) (j) Subsection (2) (b) and (c) does not apply to a person legally hunting from a stationary motor vehicle if the person is hunting from a part of the vehicle or a piece of equipment attached to the vehicle that is raised by mechanical means not fewer than 5 feet above the ground or above the lowered resting position of the part or piece of equipment, whichever is higher.

167.31(4)(k) (k) Subsection (2) does not apply to designated personnel at a public-use airport, as defined in s. 114.002 (18m), or an airport under the exclusive control of the national guard or U.S. department of defense, for the purposes of nuisance wildlife management and control when authorized by state or federal permits. “Designated personnel” includes any person who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or employer and who is an employee or contractor of the airport or the local government that operates the airport or a federal employee or agent.

167.31(4m) (4m) Rules. The department of natural resources may further restrict hunting from stationary vehicles on county or town highways by promulgating rules designating certain county and town highways, or portions thereof, upon which a holder of a Class A or Class B permit issued under s. 29.193 (2) may not discharge a firearm or shoot a bolt or an arrow from a bow or crossbow under sub. (4) (cg). For each restriction of hunting from a county or town highway contained in a rule to be promulgated under this subsection, the department shall submit a specific justification for the restriction with the rule submitted to legislative council staff for review under s. 227.15 (1).

167.31(5) (5) Weapons surcharge.

167.31(5)(a) (a) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of this section, the court shall also impose a weapons surcharge under ch. 814 equal to 75 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture.

167.31(5)(b) (b) If a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the weapons surcharge shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.

167.31(5)(c) (c) If any deposit is made for an offense to which this subsection applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the weapons surcharge under this subsection. If the deposit is forfeited, the amount of the weapons surcharge shall be transmitted to the secretary of administration under par. (d). If the deposit is returned, the amount of the weapons surcharge shall also be returned.

167.31(5)(d) (d) The clerk of the circuit court shall collect and transmit to the county treasurer the weapons surcharge as required under s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then pay the secretary of administration as provided in s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2. The secretary of administration shall deposit all amounts received under this paragraph in the conservation fund to be appropriated under s. 20.370 (3) (mu).

167.31 History History: 1985 a. 36; 1987 a. 27, 353; 1991 a. 77; 1993 a. 147; 1995 a. 122, 201; 1997 a. 248, 249; 1999 a. 32, 158; 2001 a. 8, 56, 90, 108; 2003 a. 33, 139, 326; 2005 a. 169, 253, 286, 345; 2007 a. 97; 2009 a. 246; 2011 a. 32, 35, 51, 180, 265; 2017 a. 171; 2019 a. 11, 98; 2021 a. 62; 2021 a. 238 s. 44; 2023 a. 51, 115.

167.31 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.001, 10.05, and 10.07, Wis. adm. code.

167.31 Annotation Sub. (2) (b) and s. 941.23 (2) are not in conflict. The defendant could have complied with both by either obtaining a license to carry a concealed weapon under s. 175.60 or by placing the loaded handgun out of reach. State v. Grandberry, 2018 WI 29, 380 Wis. 2d 541, 910 N.W.2d 214, 16-0173.

167.32 167.32 Safety at sporting events.

167.32(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

167.32(1)(a) (a) “Alcohol beverages” means fermented malt beverages and intoxicating liquor.

167.32(1)(b) (b) “Facility” means building or stadium.

167.32(1)(c) (c) “Fermented malt beverages” has the meaning designated in s. 125.02 (6).

167.32(1)(d) (d) “Intoxicating liquor” has the meaning designated in s. 125.02 (8).

167.32(1)(e) (e) “Passing” includes pushing, pulling, throwing and moving.

167.32(1)(f) (f) “Sports facility” means a facility where sporting events are held, regardless of whether that is the exclusive use of the facility.

167.32(2) (2) Body passing.

167.32(2)(a) (a) A spectator at a sporting event at a sports facility shall not participate in the process of passing another person above the floor or ground from one location to another.

167.32(2)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to the act of a person moving another person in order to render first aid or otherwise assist or care for that other person.

167.32(3) (3) Object passing. A spectator at a sporting event at a sports facility shall not participate in the process of passing bleachers, seats or other objects in a manner which threatens the safety of other persons.

167.32(4) (4) Alcohol consumption.

167.32(4)(a) (a) A spectator shall not bring alcohol beverages into a sports facility where there is a sporting event at the sports facility.

167.32(4)(b) (b) A spectator shall not possess or consume alcohol beverages at a sporting event at a sports facility if the alcohol beverages were brought to the facility as specified in par. (a).

167.32(4)(c) (c) This subsection does not apply to any vendor or other person who brings alcohol beverages into a sports facility with the authorization of the person in charge of the facility.

167.32(5) (5) Forfeiture. Any person who violates sub. (2), (3) or (4) shall forfeit $50.

167.32(6) (6) Citation procedure. The state may use the citation procedures under s. 778.25 to enforce this section. A county or municipality may use the citation procedures under s. 778.25 to enforce a local ordinance strictly conforming to this section.

167.32 History History: 1985 a. 254.

167.33 167.33 Alpine sports.

167.33(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

167.33(1)(ac) (ac) “Affiliate” means:

167.33(1)(ac)1. 1. With respect to a partnership, each partner thereof.

167.33(1)(ac)2. 2. With respect to a limited liability company, each member thereof.

167.33(1)(ac)3. 3. With respect to a corporation, each officer, director, principal stockholder, and controlling member thereof.

167.33(1)(ag) (ag) “Alpine sport” means skiing, sledding, biking, or tubing.

167.33(1)(ar) (ar) “Biking” means riding a bicycle within a ski area after purchasing or receiving a ticket, pass, or license from the ski area operator.

167.33(1)(b) (b) “Competition” means any event authorized by a ski area operator, or by an agent of a ski area operator, that involves a comparison of skills used in one or more alpine sports. “Competition” includes training sessions for such an event.

167.33(1)(dm) (dm) “Freestyle terrain” means an area that includes half-pipes, terrain parks, terrain gardens, freestyle courses, or other terrain features. Freestyle terrain does not include an area groomed with natural and man-made surface variations to aid new skiers in learning to ski or natural or man-made mogul fields.

167.33(1)(e) (e) “Hazard” means any man-made or natural obstacle or hazard. “Hazard” includes ridges, sharp corners, jumps, bumps, moguls, valleys, dips, cliffs, ravines, and bodies of water.

167.33(1)(f) (f) “Lift” means any aerial tramway or lift, a surface lift, a tow, or a conveyor used by a ski area operator to transport participants in alpine sports at a ski area.

167.33(1)(g) (g) “Participant in an alpine sport” means an individual who has a pass or ticket to engage in an alpine sport and who is engaged in an alpine sport or is walking or otherwise traveling within a ski area for purposes of engaging in the sport. “Participant in an alpine sport” also means an individual who is present at a ski area to observe others engaged in an alpine sport or who is a passenger on a lift. “Participant in an alpine sport” includes an individual that is an employee of a ski area operator when he or she is acting outside the scope of his or her employment.

167.33(1)(h) (h) “Ski area” means trails, terrains, and other outdoor areas that are used by individuals engaged in alpine sports and that is administered as a single enterprise by a ski area operator.

167.33(1)(i) (i) “Ski area infrastructure” means lifts and any associated components, snowmaking equipment and any associated components, and utility structures, buildings, huts, signs, lift mazes, fences, or other structures located within a ski area.

167.33(1)(j) (j) “Ski area operator” means a person that owns or is responsible for operating a ski area or its affiliates. “Ski area operator” includes the employees and agents of a ski area operator.

167.33(1)(k) (k) “Ski area vehicle” means a motorized vehicle used in the operation and maintenance of a ski area or used as transportation within a ski area.

167.33(1)(L) (L) “Skiing” means downhill skiing, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, cross-country skiing, ski biking, telemarking, snowshoeing, or snowboarding.

167.33(1)(m) (m) “Sledding” means sliding down a prepared course on sleds, toboggans, or comparable devices. “Sledding” excludes tubing.

167.33(1)(n) (n) “Snowmaking equipment” includes pipes, hoses, hydrants, snow guns, fans, wands, pumps, and any other equipment associated with making snow.

167.33(1)(om) (om) “Terrain features” means man-made features that include boxes, jumps, hits, jibs, rails, rollers, half pipes, picnic tables, logs, and pipes.

167.33(1)(p) (p) “Tree skiing area” means an area open to skiing, that is not groomed for skiing, and that is forested.

167.33(1)(q) (q) “Tubing” means sliding down a prepared course on inflatable tubes, minibobs, or comparable devices.

167.33(2) (2) Conditions and risks of alpine sports. For purposes of this section, conditions and risks consist of all of the following:

167.33(2)(a) (a) Changes in weather or visibility.

167.33(2)(b) (b) The presence of surface or subsurface conditions, including any of the following:

167.33(2)(b)1. 1. Snow, ice, crust, slush, soft spots, holes, grooves, bare spots, mud, loose dirt, cuts, rocks, boulders, water, puddles, creeks, streams, cliffs, drop-offs, or tracks from foot traffic or ski area vehicles.