Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: February 19, 2024 Contact: Anna Henning, Principal Attorney
2023 Senate Bill 965
Senate
Amendment 1
2023 SENATE BILL 965
Under 2023 Senate Bill 965, if the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) establishes a northern
forest zone as a deer management area, DNR is prohibited from doing all of the following to regulate
deer hunting:
Establishing an open season for hunting deer in the northern forest zone during which only the
hunting of antlerless deer is authorized.
Issuing authorizations to kill antlerless deer in the northern forest zone.
Issuing a person more than one authorization to kill an antlered deer in the northern forest zone
during either an open season for hunting deer with a muzzle-loading firearm or an open season for
hunting deer with a firearm. If a person is issued an authorization to kill an antlered deer in the
northern forest zone during an open season for hunting deer with a muzzle-loading firearm but does
not use the authorization, the person may use the authorization during an open season for hunting
deer with a firearm in the northern forest zone, and vice versa.
Issuing a person more than one authorization to kill an antlered deer in the northern forest zone
during either an open season for hunting deer with a bow or an open season for hunting deer with a
crossbow. If a person is issued an authorization to kill an antlered deer in the northern forest zone
during an open season for hunting deer with a bow but does not use the authorization, the person
may use the authorization during an open season for hunting deer with a crossbow in the northern
forest zone, and vice versa.
SENATE AMENDMENT 1
Senate Amendment 1 creates an exception to the bill’s prohibition on DNR issuing authorizations to kill
antlerless deer in the northern forest zone.
Under this exception, if DNR authorizes a season for hunting deer in the northern forest zone that is
open only to hunters under the age of 16, any deer hunting authorization DNR issues for that season
must authorize the killing of one deer, which may be antlered or antlerless.
BILL HISTORY
Senator Quinn offered Senate Amendment 1 on February 9, 2024. On February 16, 2024, the Senate
Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage voted by mail ballot to recommend
adoption of the amendment on a vote of Ayes, 5; Noes, 0, and passage of the bill, as amended, on a vote
of Ayes, 3; Noes, 2.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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