LRB-3213/1
RNK:jld&amn
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
October 9, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Moulton and Marklein, cosponsored by
Representatives Kleefisch, Allen, Czaja, Edming, Gannon, Heaton, Knodl,
Krug, Mursau, Murtha, Ripp, Thiesfeldt and Tittl. Referred to Committee
on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry.
SB301,1,4 1An Act to repeal 29.592 (3); and to amend 29.592 (1) (intro.) of the statutes;
2relating to: eliminating age requirements for participating in the hunting
3mentorship program and hunting devices authorized to be used under the
4hunting mentorship program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires, with certain exceptions, that every person who obtains
a hunting approval must have a certificate of accomplishment issued by the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) indicating that he or she has successfully
completed one of the applicable hunter education programs established by DNR.
Current law also generally prohibits hunting and firearm possession by any person
under the age of 12. For persons who are at least 12 years old, but under the age of
16, current law allows hunting and firearm possession but imposes certain
restrictions that vary depending on the person's age.
The hunting mentorship program under current law establishes an exception
to the general requirement that a person obtain a certificate of accomplishment in
order to hunt. Under that program, a person who is at least ten years of age may hunt
without obtaining a certificate of accomplishment and may possess or control a
firearm while hunting if the person has a valid hunting approval and is hunting with
a qualified mentor. The mentor must remain within arm's reach of the person for
whom he or she is serving as a mentor, must hold a current valid hunting approval,
must have obtained a certificate of accomplishment or be exempt from the
requirement to obtain a certificate of accomplishment, and may take only one person

hunting at a time. Additionally, the mentor and person who is hunting with the
mentor may jointly have only one firearm, bow, or crossbow (hunting device) while
hunting.
This bill eliminates the requirement that a person be at least ten years of age
in order to hunt under the hunting mentorship program. Under the bill, a person
may participate in the program regardless of age. The bill also eliminates the limit
on the number of hunting devices that a mentor and the person hunting with a
mentor may have in their possession or control while hunting.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB301,1 1Section 1. 29.592 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB301,2,42 29.592 (1) (intro.) A person who is at least 10 years of age may hunt in this state
3without obtaining a certificate of accomplishment under s. 29.591 and may, while
4hunting, possess or control a firearm if all of the following apply:
SB301,2 5Section 2. 29.592 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
SB301,2,66 (End)
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