Loading ...Two Hraychuck Bills Signed into Law
MADISON –Two bills authored by Representative Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) were signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on August 13, 2009.
The first bill, Senate Bill 112, modernizes current statutes that regulate trapping and the possession of trapped fur. The two major changes are that it expands the time in the year that furs can be processed and sold, and allows trappers to use their DNR customer ID number on their traps instead of their name and address.
“It was about time we updated our trapping laws to reflect the practices and refrigeration methods of this century, instead of those from the early 1900’s, when Wisconsin’s trapping laws were created,” said Rep. Hraychuck.
The second bill, Senate Bill 167, creates a hunting mentorship program that allows youth at least ten years old to hunt with specific limitations. Only one firearm can be in the joint possession of the mentor and the new hunter. The new hunter must always be within arm’s reach of the mentor to ensure the he or she is actively being taught how to hunt safely, correctly, and ethically. Mentors must be at least 18 years old, have passed hunter safety education, have a valid hunting license, and can only mentor one person at a time.
“The Mentored Hunting Bill is a classic example of what can be accomplished when we put partisan politics aside to achieve a common goal. Through open communication and collaboration between all stakeholders—legislators from both sides of the isle, DNR Secretary Matt Frank, national and statewide hunting groups, and Governor Doyle—a compromise was reached. I am proud that Wisconsin now joins over 40 other states with similar laws that promote young people getting involved in hunting,” said Hraychuck.
The new hunting mentorship program begins on September 1st, 2009.