Hunter Nation Applauds Legislature, Calls on Gov. Evers to Sign Part of Sporting Freedom Package

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin State Assembly passed part of the Wisconsin Sporting Freedom package in a bipartisan fashion today. Passage of this commonsense legislation sends a clear message to the people of Wisconsin that our representatives value hunters and our way of life by legislating concrete proactive steps to defend our values and rights. The bills, which have also passed the State Senate, now go to Gov. Evers’ desk to be signed into law.

Hunter Nation CEO, Luke Hilgemann, was grateful to the Wisconsin State Assembly for passing bills in the Wisconsin Sporting Freedom Act: “We thank the Wisconsin State Assembly for passing these commonsense bills that will have an immense positive impact on generations of hunters and anglers to come. We encourage Gov. Evers to do the right thing and sign these bills immediately and show Wisconsin’s outdoor community that they are valued members of this state.”

In October, legislators, Hunter Nation, and rock and roll legend Ted Nugent unveiled this legislation in Wisconsin’s Capitol building. They highlighted how it was a win for the state of Wisconsin because it prioritizes the economic relationship and historic partnership that a state has with its sportsmen and women.

The bills passed today, from material released by the legislators sponsoring them, include:

Pheasant Management Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Rob Stafsholt and Rep. James Edming

• This bill would increase the minimum number of pheasants being planted to 200,000 and would improve the identification of the properties where the pheasants are planted, increasing access to hunting.

Wisconsin Brook Trout Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Eric Wimberger and Rep. Elijah Behnke

• This bill would set a minimum number of 100,000 brook trout that would be required to be raised by the DNR.

Farm-raised Game Bovid
Sponsored by Sen. Patrick Testin and Rep. Jeff Mursau

• Under this bill, Wisconsin hunters will have an opportunity to hunt non- native bovids, some of which are already being raised on Wisconsin game farms. The bill requires farm-raised game bovids to be fenced in the same manner as farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer.

Below is information on each bill that was announced in October as a part of the Wisconsin Sporting Freedom Package, from material released by the legislators sponsoring them:

Pheasant Management Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Rob Stafsholt and Rep. James Edming

• This bill would increase the minimum number of pheasants being planted to 200,000 and would improve the identification of the properties where the pheasants are planted, increasing access to hunting.

Turkey Hunting Simplification Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Robert Brooks

• This bill would modify administrative rules relating to the hunting of wild turkeys to combine hunting zones and seasons to just two zones and two seasons (down from the complicated and restrictive six seasons that makes it difficult for many hunters to participate), and to modify youth hunting restrictions.

Mentored Hunt Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Jerry Petrowski and Rep. Robert Brooks

• This bill would allow an individual to satisfy the in-person field testing requirement for the hunter’s safety program by participating in a mentored hunt.

Wisconsin Brook Trout Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Eric Wimberger and Rep. Elijah Behnke

• This bill would set a minimum number of 100,000 brook trout that would be required to be raised by the DNR.

DNR Regulation Simplification Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Duey Stroebel and Rep. Calvin Callahan

• This bill would require the DNR to eliminate three rules every time they propose adding another rule.

DNR Hunting License Categories Simplification Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Alex Dallman

• This bill would require the DNR to prepare a report that identifies ways to consolidate or eliminate hunting, fishing, and trapping approvals to reduce the total number of types of licenses DNR is required to issue.

Sandhill Crane Hunting Season Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Mary Felzkowski and Rep. Paul Tittl 

• This bill requires the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes by individuals who have completed a sandhill crane hunter education course and who possess the appropriate approval issued by the DNR to help manage the growing sandhill crane population in Wisconsin.

Constitutional Carry Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Mary Felzkowski and Rep. Robert Brooks

• This bill would guarantee Wisconsinites would be able to exercise their constitutional right to carry a gun under the rights already afforded to them by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

DNR Habitat Transparency Bill
Sponsored by Sen. John Jagler and Rep. Clint Moses

• This bill would increase transparency and accountability by requiring the DNR to create a biennial work plan that establishes priorities and goals for habitat work on lands managed by DNR and measures progress on established priorities and goals.

DNR Public Lands Access Report Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Gae Magnafici

• This bill would require the DNR to prepare a report that identifies public access opportunities on all lands owned or managed by DNR, land acquired under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship program, and open managed forest lands.

Dog Training Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Clint Moses

• This bill would require the DNR to make available on the Go Wild website dog training licenses. Currently, this license is not available there and that makes it harder for hunters to comply.

Aquaculture Partnership Bill
Sponsored by Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Alex Dallman

• This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to prepare a report that identifies opportunities for partnering with the private aquaculture industry for increased stocking of desirable sport fish in lakes and streams.

Farm-raised Game Bovid
Sponsored by Sen. Patrick Testin and Rep. Jeff Mursau

• Under this bill, Wisconsin hunters will have an opportunity to hunt non- native bovids, some of which are already being raised on Wisconsin game farms. The bill requires farm-raised game bovids to be fenced in the same manner as farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer.