AB618: Bill Text

LRB-2482/2

RNK:bjk:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 618

December 17, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Newcomer, Zigmunt, Petrowski, Suder, A. Ott, Townsend, Kaufert, Strachota, Knodl and Kleefisch, cosponsored by Senator Schultz. Referred to Committee on Fish and Wildlife.

AB618,1,2 An Act to create 29.329 of the statutes; relating to: regulating certain tree stands used for hunting.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill regulates the erection of temporary tree stands used to hunt game animals. Under the bill, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may not prohibit any person from erecting such a tree stand during the applicable open season if the person holds all of the required hunting approvals, affixes to the tree stand an identifying number assigned by DNR, and erects not more than four tree stands during the period beginning on September 1 and ending on the following December 31. The bill also provides that the tree stand may not be a permanent structure and must be actively used for the purpose of hunting. Under the bill, if these requirements are satisfied, DNR may not require the owner of the tree stand to remove the tree stand before the December 31 immediately following the date on which the tree stand was erected.

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

AB618, s. 1 Section 1. 29.329 of the statutes is created to read:

AB618,2,2 29.329 Regulation of tree stands. (1) The department may not prohibit a person from erecting a tree stand or from using that tree stand to hunt any game animal during the open season for hunting that game animal if all of the following apply:

AB618,2,3 (a) The person holds all of the approvals required for hunting the game animal.

AB618,2,5 (b) The person affixes to the tree stand an identifying number assigned by the department.

AB618,2,7 (c) The person erects not more than 4 tree stands during the period specified under par. (f).

AB618,2,8 (d) The tree stand is not a permanent structure.

AB618,2,9 (e) The tree stand is actively used for the purpose of hunting.

AB618,2,11 (f) The tree stand is erected during the period beginning on September 1 and ending on the following December 31.

AB618,2,14 (2) The department may not require a person who owns a tree stand and who complies with the requirements under sub. (1) to remove the tree stand before the December 31 immediately following the date on which the tree stand was erected.

AB618,2,15 (End)