Under the bill, DNR may limit the number of cranes harvested and the number
of hunters by issuing permits if DNR determines that the limitation is required for
proper game management. Under the bill, if DNR decides to issue permits, DNR
must determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill crane hunting

area and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of applications for
the permits for a given hunting area or season do not exceed the number of available
permits allocated by DNR, DNR issues a permit to each applicant who pays the
applicable fees. If the number of applications for the permits for a given hunting area
or season exceeds the number of available permits allocated by DNR, DNR may
either issue the permits at random or establish a cumulative preference system. If
a cumulative preference system is used, the system establishes preference categories
for those applicants who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority
given to those applicants with more preference points. Under the preference system,
an applicant may elect to apply for a preference point instead of a permit. Under the
bill, a person must pay a processing fee when applying for a permit or preference
point, but there is no fee for the permit itself. The revenue from the processing fees
is appropriated for improving and managing the state's sandhill crane population
and for administering the sandhill crane hunter education program.
Current law authorizes a person who owns, leases, or controls land on which
certain wild animals cause damage to crops or livestock to apply under a
state-funded wildlife damage program for wildlife damage abatement assistance
and for wildlife damage claim payments. Wildlife damage for which a person is
eligible to receive this assistance or payments under the program includes damage
caused by deer, geese, and turkey and by sandhill cranes if hunting of such cranes
is authorized by DNR. This bill removes this condition so that wildlife damage
caused by sandhill cranes is the type of damage for which a person is eligible to
receive assistance or payments. The revenue from the wildlife damage surcharge
fees is appropriated for use under this wildlife damage program and other fish and
game management activities.
For further information see the state and local 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:
AB613, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.370 (1) (hy) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,2,52 20.370 (1) (hy) Sandhill crane management. All moneys received as processing
3fees for sandhill crane hunting permit applications under s. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. for
4developing, managing, preserving, restoring, and maintaining the sandhill crane
5population and for the sandhill crane hunter education program under s. 29.596.
AB613, s. 2 6Section 2. 29.165 of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,3,8
129.165 Sandhill hunting permits. (1) Authorization; restrictions. (a)
2Department authority. The department shall authorize the hunting of sandhill
3cranes in this state. The department may issue sandhill crane hunting permits to
4limit the number of hunters of sandhill cranes and the number of sandhill cranes
5harvested in any area of the state if the department determines that such limitations
6are required for proper game management. The department shall establish one
7sandhill crane hunting season and may establish by rule closed zones where the
8hunting of sandhill cranes is prohibited.
AB613,3,129 (b) Requirements. No person may hunt sandhill cranes unless he or she has a
10valid small game license, or other license that authorizes the hunting of small game,
11and a valid sandhill crane hunting permit if such a permit is required under this
12section.
AB613,4,9 13(2) Issuance of permits. (a) Procedure; preference system. If the department
14requires sandhill crane hunting permits under sub. (1) (a), the department shall
15determine the number of permits it will issue for a given sandhill crane hunting area
16and for a given sandhill crane hunting season. If the number of applications for
17sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area or season do not exceed the
18number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by the department for
19that hunting area or that season, the department shall issue a sandhill crane
20hunting permit to each applicant who pays the applicable fee. If the number of
21applications for sandhill crane hunting permits for a given hunting area or season
22exceeds the number of available sandhill crane hunting permits allocated by the
23department for that area or that season, the department may either issue the
24permits at random or establish a cumulative preference system. If a cumulative
25preference system is used, the system shall establish preference categories for those

1applicants who applied for but were not issued permits, with higher priority given
2to those categories with more points than those with fewer preference points. Under
3the system, the department shall allow each applicant to apply for a preference point
4or for a permit for each sandhill crane hunting season. The department shall give
5a preference point to each applicant who applies for a preference point and to each
6applicant who applies for a permit but who is not selected. If the number of
7applicants within a preference category exceeds the number of permits available in
8the category, the department shall select at random within the category the
9applicants to be issued the permits.
AB613,4,1210 (b) Loss of preference points. Applicants who fail to apply for either a preference
11point or a permit at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously
12accumulated preference points.
AB613,4,1413 (c) Permit limitation. No person may apply for or receive more than one
14sandhill crane hunting permit for one season.
AB613,4,2015 (d) Notification; issuance; payment. The department shall issue a notice of
16approval to those qualified applicants selected to receive a sandhill crane hunting
17permit under par. (a). A person who receives a notice of approval and who pays the
18license fee in the manner required by the department shall be issued a sandhill crane
19hunting permit and tag. The department may not charge a fee for a tag that is issued
20under this paragraph.
AB613,4,23 21(3) Use of moneys from fees. The fees collected from the issuance of sandhill
22crane hunting permits shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370
23(1) (hy).
AB613, s. 3 24Section 3. 29.179 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,5,4
129.179 (4) Notwithstanding ss. 29.164 (3) (cr), 29.165 (2) (b), 29.177 (5) (b),
229.184 (6) (b), and 29.192 (4), a minor who is transferred an approval under this
3section shall retain all preference points that he or she has previously accumulated
4for that type of approval.
AB613, s. 4 5Section 4. 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,66 29.180 (1) (a) 8m. Sandhill crane hunting permit.
AB613, s. 5 7Section 5. 29.183 (1) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,88 29.183 (1) (hm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
AB613, s. 6 9Section 6. 29.553 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,1010 29.553 (1) (gm) Sandhill crane hunting permit.
AB613, s. 7 11Section 7. 29.563 (2) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,1212 29.563 (2) (c) 3. Sandhill: $0.
AB613, s. 8 13Section 8. 29.563 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 29.563 (2) (d) 1.
AB613, s. 9 14Section 9. 29.563 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,1515 29.563 (2) (d) 2. Sandhill: $0.
AB613, s. 10 16Section 10. 29.563 (13) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,1917 29.563 (13) (am) Surcharge for sandhill crane permit. The surcharge for a
18sandhill crane hunting permit shall be $2. This surcharge shall be paid together with
19the processing fee specified in sub. (14) (a) 4.
AB613, s. 11 20Section 11. 29.563 (14) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,5,2221 29.563 (14) (a) 4. The processing fee for applications for sandhill crane hunting
22permits: $7.75.
AB613, s. 12 23Section 12. 29.563 (14) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,6,324 29.563 (14) (c) 3. Each application for a hunter's choice permit, bonus deer
25hunting permit, elk hunting license, wild turkey hunting license, Canada goose

1hunting permit, sandhill crane hunting permit, sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit,
2bobcat hunting and trapping permit, otter trapping permit, fisher trapping permit,
3or sturgeon fishing permit: 25 cents.
AB613, s. 13 4Section 13. 29.563 (14) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,6,65 29.563 (14) (c) 4. Each bonus deer hunting permit issued for which a fee is
6charged under s. 29.563 (2) (c) 1. or (d) 1.: 75 cents.
AB613, s. 14 7Section 14. 29.596 of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,6,10 829.596 Sandhill crane hunter education program. (1) The department
9shall establish and conduct a sandhill crane hunter education program. The
10program shall provide a course of instruction that includes all of the following:
AB613,6,1211 (a) History and recovery of the sandhill crane in this state and in the eastern
12United States.
AB613,6,1313 (b) Methods used to distinguish sandhill cranes from other other birds.
AB613,6,1414 (c) Methods used to estimate the population of sandhill cranes in the state.
AB613,6,1515 (d) Areas covered by sandhill crane hunting zones.
AB613,6,1716 (e) Any rules promulgated by the department concerning the hunting of
17sandhill cranes.
AB613,6,19 18(2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may hunt sandhill cranes unless
19he or she has successfully completed the course established under sub. (1).
AB613,6,2320 (b) A person who has a certificate, license, or other evidence that is satisfactory
21to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another
22state, country, or province a sandhill crane hunter education program recognized by
23the department may obtain a sandhill crane hunting permit.
AB613,6,25 24(3) The department may not charge a fee for the course of instruction or the
25certificate of accomplishment.
AB613, s. 15
1Section 15. 29.889 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,32 29.889 (1) (e) Sandhill crane if hunting of sandhill cranes is authorized by the
3department
.
AB613, s. 16 4Section 16. 29.938 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,9 529.938 Use by the department of unclaimed, seized, or confiscated
6property.
(intro.) The department may receive, retain, and use for the hunter
7education programs under ss. 29.591 and, 29.595, and 29.596, the trapper education
8program under s. 29.597, or other educational hunting, fishing, trapping, or
9conservation activities the department conducts any of the following property:
AB613, s. 17 10Section 17. 29.977 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,1211 29.977 (1) (b) Any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill crane,
12$262.50.
AB613, s. 18 13Section 18. 29.983 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,1514 29.983 (1) (b) 2. For any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill sandhill
15crane, $262.50.
AB613,7,1616 (End)
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