AB125: Bill Text

1999 Assembly BILL 125

February 16, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Boyle, Goetsch, Ryba, Pocan, Colon, Riley and Travis, cosponsored by Senators Risser, Burke and Erpenbach. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB125,1,5 An Act to repeal 29.184 (2) (b), 29.184 (3) (a) 4., 29.184 (3) (br) 3., 29.184 (4) and 29.971 (11m) (c); to renumber 29.184 (2) (a); to amend 29.184 (1), 29.184 (5) (a), 29.184 (5) (b), 29.184 (9) (b), 29.921 (7), 29.927 (8) and 29.971 (11m) (b); and to create 29.184 (4m) of the statutes; relating to: dogs running bear and prohibiting the use of dogs in the hunting of bear.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person holding a bear hunting license may use a dog to hunt bear or may train a dog for that purpose. This bill prohibits the use of dogs for hunting bear and prohibits the training of dogs for that purpose. 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:

AB125, s. 1 Section 1. 29.184 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,2,5 29.184 (1) Definition. Notwithstanding s. 29.001 (42), in this section "hunt bear" means to shoot, shoot at, take, catch or kill a bear or pursue , with or without the use of dogs, a bear for the purpose of shooting, shooting at, taking, catching or killing the bear.

AB125, s. 2 Section 2. 29.184 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 29.184 (2).

AB125, s. 3 Section 3. 29.184 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB125, s. 4 Section 4. 29.184 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is repealed.

AB125, s. 5 Section 5. 29.184 (3) (br) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB125, s. 6 Section 6. 29.184 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB125, s. 7 Section 7. 29.184 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB125,2,14 29.184 (4m) Use of dogs prohibited. No person may use a dog to hunt bear or train a dog to track bear, to trail bear or to otherwise engage in an activity that contributes to locating bear.

AB125, s. 8 Section 8. 29.184 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,2,17 29.184 (5) (a) A person under the age of 12 years may engage in the activities authorized under sub. (3) (br) 1. to 3. and 2. without holding a Class B bear license.

AB125, s. 9 Section 9. 29.184 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,2,22 29.184 (5) (b) If a disabled person holds either a Class A or a Class B bear license, a person who accompanies and assists the disabled person may engage in the activities authorized under sub. (2) (br) 1. to 3. (3) (br) 1. and 2. without holding a Class B bear license.

AB125, s. 10 Section 10. 29.184 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,3,2 29.184 (9) (b) No person may hunt bear or engage in the activity specified in sub. (3) (br) 1. or 3. 2. unless there is attached to the center of the person's coat, shirt, jacket or similar outermost garment where it can clearly be seen the back tag issued to the person under par. (a).

AB125, s. 11 Section 11. 29.921 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,3,7 29.921 (7) Dogs injuring wildlife. A warden 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, deer or game birds, or their nests or eggs, from injury or death.

AB125, s. 12 Section 12. 29.927 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,3,10 29.927 (8) Any dog found running bear or deer, except farm-raised deer, at any time, or used in violation of this chapter.

AB125, s. 13 Section 13. 29.971 (11m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB125,3,15 29.971 (11m) (b) Except as provided under par. (a), for the violation of any provision of this chapter or any relating to bear hunting, to the activities specified in s. 29.184 (3) (br) 1. to 3. and 2. or to the validation of a bear carcass tag or registration of a bear, by a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.

AB125, s. 14 Section 14. 29.971 (11m) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB125,3,17 (End)