Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes various changes to the laws relating to restrictions on hunting
and firearm possession and establishes a hunting mentorship program.
Accompaniment by parent or guardian
Under current law, a person who is the minimum hunting age but under the age
of 16 may hunt or have a firearm in his or her possession or control if the person is
accompanied by a parent or guardian and if he or she meets certain other
requirements. This bill specifies that such a person may also hunt or have a firearm
in his or her possession or control if the person is accompanied by a person who is at
least 18 years old and who has been designated by the person's parent or guardian.
Mentorship program
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 the hunter education program or bow hunter education program
established by DNR. Current law also generally prohibits hunting and firearm
possession by any person under the age of 12. For persons who are older than 12 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.
This bill creates a new exception to the general requirement that a person
obtain a certificate of accomplishment in order to obtain a hunting approval. The bill
also lowers the minimum hunting age from 12 years of age to ten years of age for
persons who hunt under the hunting mentorship program established in this bill.
The bill authorizes a person who is at least ten years of age to hunt without obtaining
a certificate of accomplishment and to possess or control a firearm while hunting if
the person has a valid hunting approval and is hunting with a qualified mentor.
Under the hunting mentorship program, to qualify as a mentor, a person must
be 18 years of age or older and be the parent or guardian of the person for whom he
or she is serving as a mentor or be authorized by the parent or guardian to serve as
the mentor. The bill provides that at all times when serving as a mentor, the mentor
must be within arm's reach of the person for whom he or she is serving as a mentor,
must have a current valid hunting approval, and must have obtained a certificate of
accomplishment or be exempt from the requirement to obtain a certificate of
accomplishment. The bill provides that a mentor may take only one person hunting
at a time and specifies that a mentor and a person who is hunting with the mentor
may jointly have only one firearm, bow, or crossbow while hunting. The bill also
requires DNR to issue to each person to whom DNR issues a hunting approval a
pamphlet that contains hunter safety information if the person is not required to
obtain a certificate of accomplishment and is authorized to hunt with a mentor. The
bill authorizes DNR to promulgate rules lowering the minimum age for hunting with

a mentor if DNR determines that hunting by persons younger than ten years of age
does not present a safety risk. The bill provides that DNR may make this
determination only after considering existing studies and data on the safety risk of
hunting and firearm possession by persons who are under ten years of age.
Target practice
The bill also creates a new exception to the restrictions that apply to firearm
possession by persons who are under a specified age. The bill provides that those age
restrictions do not apply to a person who uses a firearm in target practice if the
person is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person who is at least
18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian.
Proof of compliance
Under current law, an applicant for a hunting approval may show compliance
with the hunter education requirement by presenting his or her certificate of
accomplishment when submitting an application for a hunting approval.
Alternatively, the person may prove compliance by presenting an approval
authorizing hunting that was issued to him or her within 365 days before submitting
the application or that was issued to him or her for a hunting season that ended
within 365 days before submitting the application. This bill requires that when
presenting a previously issued hunting approval as proof of compliance, the approval
must contain the applicant's hunter education certificate number.
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:
AB672, s. 1 1Section 1. 29.063 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,4,22 29.063 (5) The department may exempt deer hunters from obtaining a license
3under this chapter for the hunting of deer in an area that the department has
4designated by rule as a chronic wasting disease control zone. Deer hunters that are
5exempted under this subsection shall be at least 12 10 years of age, or the age
6specified by the department by rule under s. 29.592 (6), whichever age is lower,

7except that a person born on or after January 1, 1973, may not hunt deer under this
8subsection unless he or she complies with ss. 29.304 and 29.593. The department
9shall by rule establish eligibility criteria and application procedures for receipt of an

1exemption under this subsection, including a method for obtaining a permit to hunt
2deer without a license under this subsection.
AB672, s. 2 3Section 2. 29.184 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,4,64 29.184 (1) (b) "Minor" means a person who is at least 12 10 years of age, or the
5age specified by the department by rule under s. 29.592 (6), whichever age is lower,

6but under 18 years of age.
AB672, s. 3 7Section 3. 29.184 (6) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,4,98 29.184 (6) (b) 1. The applicant is at least 12 10 years old, or the age specified
9by the department by rule under s. 29.592 (6), whichever age is lower
.
AB672, s. 4 10Section 4. 29.235 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,4,1711 29.235 (1) Issuance. A resident conservation patron license shall be issued
12subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident 12 10
13years old or older, or the age specified by the department by rule under s. 29.592 (6),
14whichever age is lower, and
who applies for the license. A nonresident conservation
15patron license shall be issued subject to s. 29.024 by the department to any person
1612 10 years old or older, or the age specified by the department by rule under s. 29.592
17(6), whichever age is lower,
who is not a resident, and who applies for the license.
AB672, s. 5 18Section 5. 29.304 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,4,2519 29.304 (1) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person
20under 12 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless
21he or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program
22and he or she is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class
23under the supervision of a his or her parent or guardian, or by a person at least 18
24years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian,
or is handling or operating
25the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.
AB672, s. 6
1Section 6. 29.304 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,22 29.304 (2) (title) Persons 12 to 14 and 13 years of age.
AB672, s. 7 3Section 7. 29.304 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,74 29.304 (2) (a) Restrictions on hunting. No person 12 years of age or older but
5under 14 years of age may hunt unless he or she is accompanied by a his or her
6parent or guardian, or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the
7parent or guardian
.
AB672, s. 8 8Section 8. 29.304 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,119 29.304 (2) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. (intro.) No
10person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may have in his or her
11possession or control any firearm unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB672, s. 9 12Section 9. 29.304 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,1513 29.304 (2) (b) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a his or her parent or guardian
14or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian;
15or
.
AB672, s. 10 16Section 10. 29.304 (2) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,2017 29.304 (2) (b) 2. Is He or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the
18hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or
19from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the
20supervision of an instructor.
AB672, s. 11 21Section 11. 29.304 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,2222 29.304 (3) (title) Persons 14 to 16 and 15 years of age.
AB672, s. 12 23Section 12. 29.304 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,5,2524 29.304 (3) (a) Restrictions on hunting. (intro.) No person 14 years of age or
25older but under 16 years of age may hunt unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB672, s. 13
1Section 13. 29.304 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,6,42 29.304 (3) (a) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a his or her parent or guardian
3or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian;
4or
.
AB672, s. 14 5Section 14. 29.304 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,6,106 29.304 (3) (a) 2. Is He or she is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states
7that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter
8education program or has a similar certificate, license, or other evidence satisfactory
9to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another
10state, country, or province a hunter education course recognized by the department.
AB672, s. 15 11Section 15. 29.304 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,6,1412 29.304 (3) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. (intro.) No
13person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may have in his or her
14possession or control any firearm unless he or she any of the following apply:
AB672, s. 16 15Section 16. 29.304 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,6,1816 29.304 (3) (b) 1. Is He or she is accompanied by a his or her parent or guardian
17or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian;
18or
.
AB672, s. 17 19Section 17. 29.304 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,6,2320 29.304 (3) (b) 2. Is He or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the
21hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or
22from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the
23supervision of an instructor; or.
AB672, s. 18 24Section 18. 29.304 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,7,5
129.304 (3) (b) 3. Is He or she is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states
2that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter
3education program or has a similar certificate, license, or other evidence satisfactory
4to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another
5state, country, or province a hunter education course recognized by the department.
AB672, s. 19 6Section 19. 29.304 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB672,7,107 29.304 (4m) Hunting mentorship program. The prohibition specified in sub.
8(1) (a) and the restrictions specified in subs. (1) (b) to (d), (2), and (3) do not apply to
9a person who is hunting with a mentor and who complies with the requirements
10specified under s. 29.592.
AB672, s. 20 11Section 20. 29.304 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 29.304 (5) (a) and
12amended to read:
AB672,7,1613 29.304 (5) Exception. (a) Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (3), a person 12 years
14of age or older may possess or control a firearm and may hunt with a firearm or, bow
15and arrow, or crossbow on land under the ownership of the person or the person's
16family if no license is required and if the firing of firearms is permitted on that land.
AB672, s. 21 17Section 21. 29.304 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB672,7,2118 29.304 (5) (b) The restrictions on the possession and control of a firearm under
19sub. (1) do not apply to a person using a firearm in target practice if he or she is
20accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years of age
21who is designated by the parent or guardian.
AB672, s. 22 22Section 22. 29.563 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,7,2423 29.563 (2) (a) 4. Small game issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds persons
24who are younger than 18 years of age
: $6.25.
AB672, s. 23 25Section 23. 29.563 (2) (a) 5g. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,2
129.563 (2) (a) 5g. Deer issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds persons who are
2younger than 18 years of age
: $17.25.
AB672, s. 24 3Section 24. 29.563 (2) (a) 8m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,54 29.563 (2) (a) 8m. Archer issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year olds persons who
5are younger than 18 years of age
: $17.25.
AB672, s. 25 6Section 25. 29.563 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,107 29.563 (2m) Hunting approvals for certain nonresidents. The fees for
8hunting approvals for a 12 to 17 year-old person who is younger than 18 years of age,
9who is not a resident, and who exhibits proof that his or her parent is a resident shall
10be the same as the fees for hunting approvals for residents under sub. (2) (a) and (c).
AB672, s. 26 11Section 26. 29.563 (4) (a) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,1412 29.563 (4) (a) 1m. Sports issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds persons who
13are younger than 18 years of age
: $32.25 or a greater amount at the applicant's
14option.
AB672, s. 27 15Section 27. 29.563 (4) (a) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,1816 29.563 (4) (a) 2m. Conservation patron issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds
17persons who are younger than 18 years of age: $70.25 or a greater amount at the
18applicant's option.
AB672, s. 28 19Section 28. 29.563 (4) (b) 1m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,8,2220 29.563 (4) (b) 1m. Sports issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds persons who
21are younger than 18 years of age
: $33.25 or a greater amount at the applicant's
22option.
AB672, s. 29 23Section 29. 29.563 (4) (b) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB672,9,3
129.563 (4) (b) 2m. Conservation patron issued to 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds
2persons who are younger than 18 years of age: $72.25 or a greater amount at the
3applicant's option.
AB672, s. 30 4Section 30. 29.592 of the statutes is created to read:
AB672,9,9 529.592 Hunting mentorship program. (1) A person who is at least 10 years
6of age, or the age specified by the department by rule under sub. (6), whichever age
7is lower, may hunt in this state without obtaining a certificate of accomplishment
8under s. 29.591 and may, while hunting, possess or control a firearm if all of the
9following apply:
AB672,9,1110 (a) At all times when hunting, the person is within arm's reach of a mentor who
11meets the qualifications under sub. (2).
AB672,9,1212 (b) The person holds a hunting approval.
AB672,9,14 13(2) No person may serve as a qualified mentor for a hunter unless the person
14meets all of the following requirements:
AB672,9,1515 (a) The person is 18 years of age or older.
AB672,9,1916 (b) The person is the parent or guardian of the person for whom he or she is
17serving as a mentor or is authorized by the parent or guardian to serve as a mentor.
18This requirement does not apply to a person serving as a mentor for a person who
19is 18 years of age or older.
AB672,9,2120 (c) At all times when serving as a mentor, the person is within arm's reach of
21the person for whom he or she is serving as a mentor.
AB672,9,2522 (d) The person has been issued a certificate of accomplishment under s. 29.591,
23or under s. 29.595 if the person is serving as a mentor for hunting elk, unless the
24person was born before January 1, 1973, and is not required to obtain a certificate
25of accomplishment.
AB672,10,1
1(e) The person holds a current valid hunting approval.
AB672,10,5 2(3) A person who is authorized to hunt with a mentor under this section and
3a mentor under this section with whom that person hunts may jointly have only one
4firearm, only one bow, or, if hunting with a crossbow is authorized under s. 29.171
5(4) or 29.193 (2), only one crossbow in their possession or control while hunting.
AB672,10,7 6(4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for
7whom he or she is serving as a mentor.
AB672,10,12 8(5) The department shall issue to each person to whom the department issues
9a hunting approval a pamphlet, developed by the department, that contains hunter
10safety information if the person is not required to obtain a certificate of
11accomplishment under s. 29.591 and is authorized to hunt with a mentor under this
12section.
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