JW

2015 − 2016 LEGISLATURE
2015 ASSEMBLY BILL 411
October 15, 2015 − Introduced by Representatives KLEEFISCH, ALLEN, CZAJA,EDMING, GANNON, HEATON, KNODL, KRUG, MURSAU, MURTHA, RIPP, THIESFELT and TITTL, cosponsored by Senators MOULTON and MARKLEIN. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.

AN ACT to repeal 29.592 (3); and to amend 29.592 (1) (intro.) of the statutes;relating to: eliminating age requirements for participating in the hunting mentorship program and hunting devices authorized to be used under the hunting mentorship program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

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 one of the applicable hunter education programs established by DNR. Current law also generally prohibits hunting and firearm possession by any person
under the age of 12. For persons who are at least 12 years old, 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.

The hunting mentorship program under current law establishes an exception to the general requirement that a person obtain a certificate of accomplishment in order to hunt. Under that program, a person who is at least ten years of age may hunt without obtaining a certificate of accomplishment and may possess or control a firearm while hunting if the person has a valid hunting approval and is hunting with a qualified mentor. The mentor must remain within arm’s reach of the person for whom he or she is serving as a mentor, must hold a current valid hunting approval, must have obtained a certificate of accomplishment or be exempt from the requirement to obtain a certificate of accomplishment, and may take only one person
hunting at a time. Additionally, the mentor and person who is hunting with the mentor may jointly have only one firearm, bow, or crossbow (hunting device) while hunting.

NOTE This bill eliminates the requirement that a person be at least ten years of age in order to hunt under the hunting mentorship program. Under the bill, a person may participate in the program regardless of age. The bill also eliminates the limit on the number of hunting devices that a mentor and the person hunting with a mentor may have in their possession or control while hunting.



I am an active 20 yr veteran WI Certified Hunter Education Safety Instructor and I am a Lead Instructor for 2 separate instructor groups. I set the STD for at least 4 hunter ed classes in 2 separate regions of the state of WI under the Policy and Procedure manual in WI each yr. I also do conduct Learn to Hunt Programs> This program is one step further ofr me than teaching Hunter Education and is very rewarding - I by no means support these amendments no way, no how!

My first question would be can I limit which age I allow purley based on liability as it will come back to my group per say? If I am told NO. I am done teaching Learn to Hunt Programs.

I see 10 years olds now who do not have the maturity to really be labeled a hunter and need to be monitored 24/7 in our Hunter Safety Classes. While they go through the motions and pass the 2 required simple tests they certainly need monitoring before being allowed to really hunt aon their own. Even at the age of 14 which is legal to be hunting alone in the state of WI - I really question that for a lot of the students I see.
Second - The rule of 1 firearm per Mentor and Student is done for SAFETY in a Mentor hunt. Allowing a Mentor and a student to each have a firearm during any type of hunt serves no purpose what sovever. Mentors teach your Student to make that first shot count or Pass on it! For you the Mentor to also carry a FIREARM to me serves no purpose other than to poach! The Mentor will loose focus coaching their student pure and simple. And I feel potential violations and cheating will ensue which only cheapens the intent of what the real theme of what the program is intended to do! And that is to teach the Hunting heritage not the thought of cheating or Poaching and to that I will be done helping the general public!
What are these people thinking? Wow!
Come on Wisconsin people write your Politicians!

JW