2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
October 30, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Skowronski, Tittl, T. Larson,
A. Ott, Knodl, Mursau, Berceau, Krug, Edming, Sinicki, C. Taylor and
Ballweg. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting
Heritage.
AB471,1,4 1An Act to amend 29.983 (1) (a), 29.983 (1) (b) 9., 29.983 (1) (b) 10., 29.983 (1) (b)
211. and 29.983 (1) (b) 12.; and to create 29.983 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating
3to:
wild animal protection surcharges for game fish and a higher wild animal
4protection surcharge for certain animals of a larger size.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, if a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for the unlawful killing,
wounding, catching, taking, trapping, or possession of certain wild animals, the
court may impose a wild animal protection surcharge. The statute specifies the
amount of the surcharge allowed for each type of wild animal.
This bill allows a court to impose a higher wild animal protection surcharge
when it imposes a fine or forfeiture for the unlawful killing, wounding, catching,
taking, trapping, or possession of a deer, elk, or bear that has a certain size of antlers
or skull. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish a
method for measuring the antler or skull size, and specifies the amount of the
surcharge allowed for each animal. If both a regular and a higher wild animal
protection surcharge are allowed, the bill requires a court to impose the higher
surcharge.
The bill also increases the wild animal protection surcharges that may be
imposed for different types of game fish.

For further information see the state and local 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:
AB471,1 1Section 1. 29.983 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB471,2,112 29.983 (1) (a) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of a provision
3of this chapter or an order issued under this chapter for the unlawful killing,
4wounding, catching, taking, trapping, or possession of a wild animal specified in par.
5(b) or (c), or any part of such a wild animal, the court may impose a wild animal
6protection surcharge under ch. 814 that equals the amount specified for the wild
7animal under par. (b) or (c). The department shall establish a method for measuring
8the size of the antlers of a deer or elk and the skull of a bear to determine whether
9the wild animal protection surcharge amounts listed under par. (c) apply. If a wild
10animal protection surcharge under both pars. (b) and (c) applies, the court shall use
11the wild animal protection surcharge listed under par. (c)
.
AB471,2 12Section 2. 29.983 (1) (b) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB471,2,1313 29.983 (1) (b) 9. For any muskellunge or lake sturgeon, $43.75 $75.50.
AB471,3 14Section 3. 29.983 (1) (b) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB471,2,1515 29.983 (1) (b) 10. For any largemouth or smallmouth bass, $26.25 $45.25.
AB471,4 16Section 4. 29.983 (1) (b) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB471,2,1817 29.983 (1) (b) 11. For any brook, rainbow, brown, or steel head trout, $26.25
18$45.25.
AB471,5 19Section 5. 29.983 (1) (b) 12. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB471,2,2120 29.983 (1) (b) 12. For any walleye pike, northern pike, or any other game fish
21not mentioned in subds. 9. to 11., $8.75 $50.
AB471,6
1Section 6. 29.983 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB471,3,32 29.983 (1) (c) The amount of the wild animal protection surcharge imposed
3under ch. 814 for the following wild animals shall be as follows:
AB471,3,54 1. For any deer with antlers measuring at least 125 inches but less than 150
5inches, $2,000.
AB471,3,76 2. For any deer with antlers measuring at least 150 inches but less than 170
7inches, $5,000.
AB471,3,88 3. For any deer with antlers measuring 170 inches or more, $10,000.
AB471,3,109 4. For any elk with at least 6 points on one antler or with antlers measuring
10260 inches or more, $10,000.
AB471,3,1111 5. For any bear with a skull measuring 20 inches or more, $2,000.
AB471,7 12Section 7. Initial applicability.
AB471,3,1413 (1) This act first applies to violations that occur on the effective date of this
14subsection.
AB471,3,1515 (End)
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