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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 934
January 12, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives TITTL, BEHNKE, EDMING,
GOEBEN, GUSTAFSON, MAGNAFICI, MURSAU, PALMERI and SCHMIDT. Referred to
Committee on Sporting Heritage.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to repeal 29.172, 29.217, 29.235 (2) (dm), 29.235 (2m) (dm), 29.563 (2)
(a) 8r., 29.563 (2) (a) 8t. and 29.563 (2g); and to amend 29.014 (1m) (b), 29.171
(2), 29.185 (2) (b), 29.216 (2), 29.563 (2) (a) 8., 29.563 (2) (b) 6., 29.563 (12) (a)
2., 29.563 (12m), 29.593 (1) (b) and 29.593 (2m) of the statutes; relating to:
combining the archer and crossbow hunting licenses.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides that an archer hunting license authorizes hunting with a bow
and arrow or crossbow.
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources issues resident and
nonresident crossbow hunting licenses that authorize hunting only with a crossbow.
DNR issues separate resident and nonresident archer licenses that authorize
hunting with a bow and arrow. Current law also provides that, if DNR establishes
an open season for hunting deer, elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and
arrow only, it must also establish an open season for hunting that animal with a
crossbow.
The bill eliminates the resident and nonresident crossbow licenses and
provides that resident and nonresident archer licenses authorize hunting with a bow
and arrow or crossbow. The bill increases the fee for both archer licenses by $1. The
bill provides that, if DNR establishes an open season for hunting deer, elk, small
game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow or crossbow but not with a firearm,
DNR must allow the use of both bow and arrow and crossbow for hunting during the
same open season.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 934
For further information see the state 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:
SECTION 1. 29.014 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.014 (1m) (b) If the department establishes an open season for hunting deer,
elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow or crossbow but not with
a firearm, the department shall also establish an open season for permit the hunting
of the respective game with both a bow and arrow and a crossbow during the open
season.
SECTION 2. 29.171 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.171 (2) A resident archer hunting license authorizes the hunting of all
game, except bear, elk, and wild turkey, during the open seasons established by the
department for hunting that game with bow and arrow or crossbow.
SECTION 3. 29.172 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 4. 29.185 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.185 (2) (b) Archer licenses, crossbow licenses, and trapping licenses.
Notwithstanding ss. 29.171 (2), 29.172 (2), 29.216 (2), 29.217 (2), and 29.241 (3), a
resident archer hunting license, a nonresident archer hunting license, a resident
crossbow hunting license, a nonresident crossbow hunting license, or a trapping
license does not authorize the hunting or trapping of wolves.
SECTION 5. 29.216 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.216 (2) AUTHORIZATION. The nonresident archer hunting license authorizes
the hunting of all game, except bear, elk, wild turkey, and fur-bearing animals,
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SECTION 5
ASSEMBLY BILL 934
during the open season for the hunting of that game with a bow and arrow or
crossbow.
SECTION 6. 29.217 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 7. 29.235 (2) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 8. 29.235 (2m) (dm) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 9. 29.563 (2) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
29.563 (2) (a) 8. Archer: $21.25 $22.25.
SECTION 10. 29.563 (2) (a) 8r. of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 11. 29.563 (2) (a) 8t. of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 12. 29.563 (2) (b) 6. of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act
19, is amended to read:
29.563 (2) (b) 6. Archer: $162.25 $163.25.
SECTION 13. 29.563 (2g) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 14. 29.563 (12) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
29.563 (12) (a) 2. Archer, crossbow, sports, or conservation patron, except as
provided in subd. 2m: $11.25.
SECTION 15. 29.563 (12m) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.563 (12m) DUPLICATES OF REDUCED FEE APPROVALS. Notwithstanding the fees
specified under sub. (12) (a) and (b), a person who was issued an approval and
charged the reduced fee specified under sub. (2g) or (6m) may not be charged a fee
for a duplicate of that approval that exceeds the fee specified for the approval under
sub. (2g) or (6m).
SECTION 16. 29.593 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.593 (1) (b) A certificate of accomplishment issued to a person for successfully
completing the course under the bow hunter education program only authorizes the
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SECTION 16 ASSEMBLY BILL 934
person to obtain a resident archer hunting license, or a nonresident archer hunting
license, a resident crossbow hunting license, or a nonresident crossbow hunting
license.
SECTION 17. 29.593 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.593 (2m) A person who has a certificate, license, or other evidence that is
satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed
in another state, country, or province a bow hunter education course recognized by
the department may obtain an archer hunting license or crossbow hunting license.
SECTION 18.0Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on March 1, 2024.
(END)
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