AB182: Bill Text

LRB-0495/3

MGG:mfd:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 182

March 13, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Boyle, Nass, R. Young, Goetsch and Travis, cosponsored by Senator Grobschmidt. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB182,1,2 An Act to amend 29.03 (8) and 29.05 (8) (b); and to create 29.254 of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting the use of dogs in the hunting of bear.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under rules promulgated by the department of natural resources, a person hunting bear may use a group of up to 6 dogs to pursue bear. This bill prohibits the use of dogs in bear hunting and prohibits the training of hunting dogs for hunting bear. Current law authorizes a conservation warden to kill a dog found running deer if necessary to protect the deer from injury or death. This bill expands this authorization to cover a dog found running bear. The bill also makes a dog running bear a public nuisance, thereby giving the state, a local unit of government or a person the right to file suit to abate the nuisance.

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:

AB182, s. 1 Section 1. 29.03 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB182,1,5 29.03 (8) Any dog found running bear or deer, except farm-raised deer, at any time, or used in violation of this chapter.

AB182, s. 2 Section 2. 29.05 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB182,2,9 29.05 (8) (b) Any perishable property seized by the department or its wardens may be sold at the highest available price, and the proceeds of the sale turned into court to await disposition of the proceeds as the court directs. A conservation warden or other officers charged with the enforcement of the laws dealing with the conservation of the natural resources of the state may kill a dog found running, injuring, causing injury to, or killing any bear or deer, other than farm-raised deer, or destroying game birds, their eggs or nests, if immediate action is necessary to protect the bear or deer or game birds, their nests or eggs, from injury or death.

AB182, s. 3 Section 3. 29.254 of the statutes is created to read:

AB182,2,12 29.254 Use of dogs for bear hunting. No person may use dogs in the process of hunting bear or train dogs to hunt bear.

AB182,2,13 (End)