LRB-3126/3
RNK:lmk:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
September 20, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Suder, Gard, Pettis,
Gronemus, M. Williams, Petrowski, Moulton, Ott, Nerison, Vruwink, Freese

and Wieckert, cosponsored by Senators Zien, Stepp, Wirch and Breske.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AB677,2,2 1An Act to renumber 29.304 (5); to renumber and amend 29.304 (1) (b); to
2amend
29.184 (6) (b) 1., 29.304 (1) (a), 29.304 (2) (a), 29.304 (2) (b) (intro.),
329.304 (2) (b) 1., 29.304 (2) (b) 2., 29.304 (3) (a) (intro.), 29.304 (3) (a) 1., 29.304
4(3) (a) 2., 29.304 (3) (b) (intro.), 29.304 (3) (b) 1., 29.304 (3) (b) 2., 29.304 (3) (b)
53., 29.563 (2) (a) 4., 29.563 (4) (a) 1m., 29.563 (4) (a) 2m., 29.563 (4) (b) 1m.,
629.593 (1) (a), 29.595 (3) (b), 169.20 (1) (a), 169.20 (2) (a) and 169.33 (2) (d); to
7repeal and recreate
29.304 (5) (title); and to create 29.304 (1) (b) 2., 29.304
8(2) (b) 3., 29.304 (3) (a) 3., 29.304 (3) (b) 4., 29.304 (5) (b), 29.592, 167.31 (1) (fh)
9and 167.31 (4) (am) 4. and 5. of the statutes; relating to: requirements for
10obtaining a certificate of accomplishment under the hunter education program
11and the elk hunter education program, requirements for hunting with a mentor

1and for serving as a hunting mentor, and exceptions to the restrictions on
2placing, possessing, and transporting a firearm in or on a vehicle.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law imposes certain restrictions on hunting and firearm possession by
any person under the age of 16 and generally prohibits hunting and firearm
possession by any person under the age of 12. For persons who are older than 12 but
under the age of 16, restrictions on hunting and firearm possession vary depending
on the person's age. Current law also specifies that, with certain exceptions, no
person born on or after January 1, 1973 may obtain a hunting approval unless the
person is issued a certificate of accomplishment that certifies that the person has
successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter education or bow
hunter education program established by the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR). Furthermore, under current law, no person may be issued an elk hunting
license unless the person has successfully completed the course of instruction under
the elk hunter education program established by DNR.
This bill creates a hunting mentorship program under which a person of any
age may hunt with a qualified mentor. Under the bill, a person who hunts with a
qualified mentor is not required to obtain a certificate of accomplishment under one
of the DNR hunter education programs if, at all times when hunting, the person is
within arm's reach of a qualified mentor and the person holds a hunting approval.
To qualify as a hunting mentor under the bill, the mentor must be at least 21
years of age and, if the person being mentored is under the age of 18, must be the
hunter's parent or guardian or must be authorized in writing by the parent or
guardian to serve as a mentor. The mentor must also have been issued a certificate
of accomplishment under one of DNR's hunter education programs unless the
mentor is of an age at which such a certificate is not required under the law. Finally,
the mentor must hold a hunting approval of the type held by the person for whom he
or she is serving as a mentor.
This bill also provides that the restrictions on firearm possession by persons
under the age of 16 do not apply to a person using a firearm in target practice if he
or she is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years
of age who is designated by the parent or guardian.
Current law provides, with certain exceptions, that no person may place,
possess, or transport a firearm in or on a vehicle unless the firearm is unloaded and
encased. This bill creates two additional exceptions to this general prohibition.
Under the bill, a person may place an unloaded firearm that is not in a case, on the
exterior of a stationary vehicle or in the bed of a stationary truck while legally
hunting. The bill also allows a person to possess or transport such a firearm in a
vehicle while traveling between stations at a sport shooting range.
Under current law, a person may not purchase, possess, release into the wild,
or hunt certain captive wild birds for the purpose of training a dog unless that person
is issued a license by DNR. Current law also provides that a person must obtain a

hound dog training license from DNR in order for to purchase, possess, release into
the wild, or hunt certain captive wild animals for the purpose of teaching hound dogs
to track game. A person is not eligible under current law to apply for either of these
licenses unless that person is at least 12 years old. This bill reduces the minimum
age for obtaining either of these licenses to 10 years of age.
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:
AB677, s. 1 1Section 1. 29.184 (6) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,3,22 29.184 (6) (b) 1. The applicant is at least 12 10 years old.
AB677, s. 2 3Section 2. 29.304 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,3,64 29.304 (1) (a) Prohibition on hunting. No person under 12 years of age may
5hunt with a firearm or, bow and arrow , or crossbow unless he or she is hunting with
6a mentor and meets the requirements specified under s. 29.592
.
AB677, s. 3 7Section 3. 29.304 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 29.304 (1) (b) (intro.)
8and amended to read:
AB677,3,119 29.304 (1) (b) (intro.) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No
10person under 12 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm
11unless he any of the following apply:
AB677,3,15 121. He or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education
13program and he or she is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that
14class under the supervision of a parent or guardian or is handling or operating the
15firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.
AB677, s. 4 16Section 4. 29.304 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB677,3,1817 29.304 (1) (b) 2. He or she is hunting with a mentor and meets the requirements
18specified under s. 29.592.
AB677, s. 5
1Section 5. 29.304 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,52 29.304 (2) (a) Restrictions on hunting. No person 12 years of age or older but
3under 14 years of age may hunt unless he or she is accompanied by a parent or
4guardian or he or she is hunting with a mentor and meets the requirements specified
5under s. 29.592
.
AB677, s. 6 6Section 6. 29.304 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,97 29.304 (2) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. (intro.) No
8person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may have in his or her
9possession or control any firearm unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB677, s. 7 10Section 7. 29.304 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,1111 29.304 (2) (b) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a parent or guardian; or .
AB677, s. 8 12Section 8. 29.304 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,1613 29.304 (2) (b) 2. Is He or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the
14hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or
15from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the
16supervision of an instructor.
AB677, s. 9 17Section 9. 29.304 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB677,4,1918 29.304 (2) (b) 3. He or she is hunting with a mentor and meets the requirements
19specified under s. 29.592.
AB677, s. 10 20Section 10. 29.304 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,2221 29.304 (3) (a) Restrictions on hunting. (intro.) No person 14 years of age or
22older but under 16 years of age may hunt unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB677, s. 11 23Section 11. 29.304 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,4,2424 29.304 (3) (a) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a parent or guardian; or .
AB677, s. 12 25Section 12. 29.304 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,3
129.304 (3) (a) 2. Is He or she is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states
2that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter
3education program or has a similar certificate issued by another state or province.
AB677, s. 13 4Section 13. 29.304 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB677,5,65 29.304 (3) (a) 3. He or she is hunting with a mentor and meets the requirements
6specified under s. 29.592.
AB677, s. 14 7Section 14. 29.304 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,108 29.304 (3) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. (intro.) No
9person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may have in his or her
10possession or control any firearm unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB677, s. 15 11Section 15. 29.304 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,1212 29.304 (3) (b) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a parent or guardian;.
AB677, s. 16 13Section 16. 29.304 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB677,5,1714 29.304 (3) (b) 2. Is He or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the
15hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or
16from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the
17supervision of an instructor; or.
AB677, s. 17 18Section 17. 29.304 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
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