The Wisconsin Legislature has advanced a set of hunting, fishing and wildlife management bills to Gov. Evers. They include an increase in nonresident fees and require a statewide wolf population goal.
The Wisconsin Legislature will adjourn its 2023-24 session in Madison.
The final general floor session is scheduled for March 12-14, with bills scheduled to be sent on April 4 to Gov. Tony Evers, according to the Legislature’s calendar. It’s possible the legislation could be advanced after that time, but most of the work will be completed in the coming weeks.
The governor will have a creel full of fishing, hunting and wildlife bills on his desk.
Here is a sampling:
Non-resident hunting and fishing license fees: The Legislature may be divided on many issues this session but charging non-residents to hunt and fish in Wisconsin is not one of them.
You may recall the cost of 15 non-resident hunting and fishing licenses was increased in the 2023-25 state budget. Assembly Bill 1036 and companion Senate Bill 993 take a broader turn — it would raise nonresident fees for 27 hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, according to a Department of Administration review of the proposals. .
These include non-resident wild turkey hunting ($35 increase), archer and crossbow deer hunting ($35 each), bonus deer permit ($11), Class A bear hunting ($63), conservation patron ($100), sports combination license ( $27 ), ginseng harvest ($30) and sturgeon spearing ($6).
Assuming the number of licenses sold remains the same, the fee changes would result in an annual revenue increase of $780,000 for the Department of Natural Resources, according to a state financial analysis.
In a show of support for the bill, on Thursday the Assembly voted 97-0 to advance it.
If signed into law as expected, the fee increases are set to take effect this year.
The DNR is experiencing a structural deficit in its fish and wildlife account. While increased non-resident revenue will help the DNR, the Legislature at some point will have to address the most important part of the fees – resident hunting and fishing licenses. Most resident license fees have not increased since 2005.
Airguns for big game: A proposal to allow airguns for big game hunting in Wisconsin advanced without opposition.
The bill (AB633/SB586) would allow the use of airguns during any hunting season now open to firearms. Since the equipment is now legal for small game, the most significant change is allowing firearms for deer, black bear and elk.
If the measure becomes law, Wisconsin will join more than two dozen other states that allow airguns for big game hunting, said Mitch King, president of the Airgun Sporting Association, a trade group promoting expanded use of airguns throughout the country.
The bill advanced on unanimous votes from both the Assembly and Senate committees.
The lack of opposition was largely due to language in the bill that narrowed it down to “times now open to firearms.”
Previous proposals under consideration in Wisconsin would have allowed air-propelled arrows or bolts to be used during the state’s bow season. Such “airbow” technology is opposed by the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association.
Gov. is expected to sign. Evers the bill.
Wolf population goals: The Legislature has advanced a measure (AB137/SB139) that would require the DNR to set a numerical goal for the state’s gray wolf population.
The state’s wolf management plan, approved in October by the Natural Resources Board, uses an “adaptive” approach and does not specify a population goal. Instead it is likely to keep the wolf population in a range close to current numbers, or between 800 and 1,200 wolves, according to the DNR.
Republicans who sponsored the bill would prefer to have a specific — and likely lower — number set as a target.
However AB137/SB139 does not address the population objective. It will leave that up to the DNR.
Votes on the measure in the Legislature split along party lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. Many agricultural and hunting groups are in favor of the bill, while the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and many conservation and environmental organizations oppose it.
Gov. is likely to veto it. Evers.
Antlerless deer hunting in northern Wisconsin: A bill (AB1030/SB965) aimed at increasing the white-tailed deer herd in northern Wisconsin has moved rapidly through the Legislature in recent weeks.
The measure would ban hunters for the next four years from shooting antlerless deer in the state’s northern forest management region. The area covers all or part of 20 counties.
It would also both prohibit the DNR from holding antlerless deer hunting seasons and issuing regional antlerless deer harvest authorizations.
An exception will be made for youth hunters during youth deer hunting.
And all hunters can continue to shoot bucks in the region.
The proposal advanced largely along party lines, with Republicans in favor.
Because the state’s County Deer Advisory Council system is already in place and charged each year with recommending antlerless permit levels, the Governor is expected to veto the bill.
For more information on all laws, visit legis.wisconsin.gov.
