Amendment SSA1-SB112

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

LRBs0106/1

ZDW:skw&wlj

SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 112

October 31, 2025 - Offered by Senator Stafsholt.

SB112-SSA1,1,6 An Act to renumber 29.179 (5); to amend 29.001 (39), 29.179 (4), 29.563 (14) (c) 3., 29.938 (intro.), 29.977 (1) (b) and 29.983 (1) (b) 2.; to create 29.165, 29.179 (1) (a) 12., 29.179 (5) (b), 29.180 (1) (a) 8m., 29.180 (4m), 29.183 (1) (hm), 29.183 (6), 29.553 (1) (gm), 29.563 (2) (c) 3., 29.563 (2) (d) 3., 29.563 (14) (a) 4. and 29.596 of the statutes; relating to: hunting of sandhill cranes and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to classify the sandhill crane as a migratory game bird and authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, subsequent to approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. DNR must establish by rule one sandhill crane hunting season and may establish by rule hunting zones where the hunting of sandhill cranes is permitted. DNR must establish restrictions on sandhill crane hunting permits to minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species.

The bill requires DNR to issue sandhill crane hunting permits to limit the number of hunters of sandhill cranes and the number of sandhill cranes harvested in any area of the state. The fee for the permit is $10 for residents of this state and $50 for nonresidents. If the number of applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given zone or season exceeds the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits, DNR must issue permits according to a cumulative preference system. Under the cumulative preference system, DNR must establish preference categories for those applicants who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority for hunting permits issued to those categories with the most preference points versus those with fewer preference points.

The bill requires DNR to establish and conduct a sandhill crane hunter education program. DNR must offer a test for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course of instruction and shall issue a certificate of accomplishment for free to a person who completes the course of instruction and passes the test. No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless the person has a valid certificate of accomplishment.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB112-SSA1,1 Section 1. 29.001 (39) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB112-SSA1,2,6 29.001 (39) “Game birds” means birds that are in the wild and includes wild geese, brant, wild ducks, wild swan, rails, coots, gallinules, snipe, woodcock, plovers, sandpipers, ruffed grouse, prairie chicken, sharp-tailed grouse, pheasants, gray partridge, chukar partridge, bobwhite, quail, crows, sandhill cranes, and wild turkey.

SB112-SSA1,2 Section 2. 29.165 of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,3,6 29.165 Sandhill crane hunting permits. (1) Authorization; restrictions. (a) Department authority. The department shall classify the sandhill crane as a migratory game bird, authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes in this state, subsequent to approval by the U.S. fish and wildlife service, and issue sandhill crane hunting permits to limit the number of hunters of sandhill cranes and the number of sandhill cranes harvested in any area of the state. The sandhill crane hunting permit issued by the department shall include any restrictions necessary to comply with federal laws and regulations. The department shall establish by rule one sandhill crane hunting season and may establish by rule hunting zones where the hunting of sandhill cranes is permitted. The department shall establish restrictions on sandhill crane hunting permits to minimize the inadvertent taking of other bird species.

SB112-SSA1,3,9 (b) Requirements. No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a valid small game license, or other license that authorizes the hunting of small game, and a valid sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,4,8 (2) Issuance of permits. (a) Procedure; preference system. If the department issues sandhill crane hunting permits under sub. (1) (a), the department shall determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill crane hunting zone and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting zone or season does not exceed the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by the department for that hunting zone or that season, the department shall issue a sandhill crane hunting permit to each applicant who pays the applicable fee. If the number of applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting zone or season exceeds the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by the department for that hunting zone or that season, the department shall issue permits according to a cumulative preference system. The department shall establish preference categories under the cumulative preference system for those applicants who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority of hunting permits issued to those categories with the most preference points versus those with fewer preference points. Under the system, the department shall allow each applicant to apply for a preference point or for a permit for each sandhill crane hunting season. The department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a preference point and to each applicant who applies for a permit but who is not selected. If the number of applicants within a preference category exceeds the number of permits available in the category, the department shall select at random within the category the applicants to be issued the permits.

SB112-SSA1,4,11 (b) Loss of preference points. Applicants who fail to apply for either a preference point or a permit at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points.

SB112-SSA1,4,13 (c) Permit limitation. No person may apply for or receive more than one sandhill crane hunting permit for one season.

SB112-SSA1,4,18 (d) Notification; issuance; payment. The department shall issue a notice of approval to those applicants selected to receive a sandhill crane hunting permit under par. (a). A person who receives a notice of approval and who pays the applicable fee in the manner required by the department shall be issued a sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,4,21 (e) Harvest limit. Subject to subd. 1., a sandhill crane hunting permit is valid for harvesting one sandhill crane in the zone and time period for which the permit is issued.

SB112-SSA1,5,2 2. Three years after the date on which the hunting of sandhill cranes begins in this state, if the state’s sandhill crane hunt has remained continuously in compliance with U.S. fish and wildlife service requirements, the department may authorize the holder of a sandhill crane hunting permit to harvest 2 sandhill cranes in the zone and time period for which the permit is issued.

SB112-SSA1,5,5 (f) Education requirement. A sandhill crane hunting permit is not valid unless the permit holder has completed the sandhill crane hunter education program under s. 29.596.

SB112-SSA1,3 Section 3. 29.179 (1) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,7 29.179 (1) (a) 12. A sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,4 Section 4. 29.179 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,12 29.179 (4) Retention of preference points. Notwithstanding ss. 29.164 (3) (cr), 29.165 (2) (b), 29.177 (5) (b), 29.184 (6) (b), and 29.192 (4), a person who is transferred an approval under this section shall retain all preference points that he or she has previously accumulated for that type of approval.

SB112-SSA1,5 Section 5. 29.179 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 29.179 (5) (a).

SB112-SSA1,6 Section 6. 29.179 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,16 29.179 (5) (b) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.

SB112-SSA1,7 Section 7. 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,18 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. Sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,8 Section 8. 29.180 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,21 29.180 (4m) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.

SB112-SSA1,9 Section 9. 29.183 (1) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,5,23 29.183 (1) (hm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,10 Section 10. 29.183 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,2 29.183 (6) This section applies to sandhill crane hunting permits only to the extent allowable under federal laws and regulations.

SB112-SSA1,11 Section 11. 29.553 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,4 29.553 (1) (gm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.

SB112-SSA1,12 Section 12. 29.563 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,6 29.563 (2) (c) 3. Sandhill crane: $10.

SB112-SSA1,13 Section 13. 29.563 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,8 29.563 (2) (d) 3. Sandhill crane: $50.

SB112-SSA1,14 Section 14. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,11 29.563 (14) (a) 4. The processing fee for applications for sandhill crane hunting permits: 75 cents.

SB112-SSA1,15 Section 15. 29.563 (14) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB112-SSA1,6,18 29.563 (14) (c) 3. Each application for a hunter’s choice permit, bonus deer hunting permit, elk hunting license, wild turkey hunting license, Class A bear license, wolf harvesting license, Canada goose hunting permit, sandhill crane hunting permit, sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit, bobcat hunting and trapping permit, otter trapping permit, fisher trapping permit, or sturgeon fishing permit: 25 cents.

SB112-SSA1,16 Section 16. 29.596 of the statutes is created to read:

SB112-SSA1,7,2 29.596 Sandhill crane hunter education program. (1) The department shall establish and conduct a sandhill crane hunter education program. The department shall offer the program online and may offer the program in person. The program shall provide a course of instruction that includes education tools and communications that will help hunters understand sandhill crane hunting and how to avoid the harvest of nontarget species, particularly whooping cranes.

SB112-SSA1,7,7 (2) The department shall offer a test for a person to demonstrate successful completion of the course of instruction and shall issue a certificate of accomplishment for free to a person who completes the course of instruction and passes the test. The department shall offer the test online and may offer the test in person.

SB112-SSA1,7,9 (3) No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a valid certificate of accomplishment issued under sub. (2).

SB112-SSA1,7,14 (4) If the department maintains a system under which the department stores information in an electronic format as described under s. 23.47 (2), the department shall store information in that system relating to persons who have completed a sandhill crane hunter education program, and any associated test, that satisfies the requirements of this section.

SB112-SSA1,7,16 (5) The department may not charge a fee for the course of instruction under sub. (1) or the test under sub. (2).

SB112-SSA1,17 Section 17. 29.938 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: