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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Assembly Bill 311

Creating a sporting recruitment and retention council, programs to encourage recruitment of hunters and trappers, restrictions on expenditures under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship program, reduced fees for certain first-time hunting and trapping approvals, high school credit under and administration of the hunter and trapper education programs, waiving fishing license requirements for a weekend ice fishing event, and sturgeon spearing license age requirements

Topics: Business, Fish and fishing, Fish and fishing: License, Game bird, Game: Hunting, Game: Hunting license, Natural Resources Board, Natural Resources, Department of: Hunting and fishing, Natural resource, Persons with disabilities, Reorganization of state government, School: Board, State park, Studies, Veteran

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2012. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Oct 6, 2011

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Nov 1, 2011

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 7, 2012

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 168

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2012: “Published 4-16-2012”

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers the laws regulating hunting, fishing, and trapping. This bill makes various changes to those laws.

Fees Current law requires, with certain exceptions, a person to obtain a license, permit, or other approval (approval) from DNR in order to hunt or trap wild animals or to fish. The fees for these approvals vary depending on the type of animal for which hunting or trapping is authorized under the approval, the age of the applicant for the approval, and whether the approval is issued to a resident of this state or to a nonresident. Generally, fees for nonresident approvals are higher than fees for resident approvals. The fees for fishing approvals also vary based on similar factors.

Read the full summary

This bill requires DNR to charge a reduced fee for certain hunting approvals, including small game, deer, and wild turkey licenses, issued to persons who have not received that type of approval in any of the ten years preceding the date on which the application for the approval is made. For these approvals issued to residents of this state, the bill requires DNR to charge a reduced fee of $4.25 and for these approvals issued to nonresidents, the bill requires DNR to charge a reduced fee of one-half of the fee that would otherwise apply for the approval.

Hunter and trapper education Current law requires DNR to establish a hunter education program, a bow hunter education program, and a trapper education program and to issue a certificate of accomplishment to a person who successfully completes the course of instruction under the respective program. Generally, with certain exceptions, a person may not obtain a hunting or trapping approval unless the person has been issued a certificate of accomplishment by DNR under the relevant hunter education or trapper education program. This bill requires school boards to award one-half high school credit to a pupil who successfully completes the hunter education program, the bow hunter education program, or the trapper education program.

This bill also requires DNR to offer an online course of instruction under the hunter education program and under the trapper education program for persons who are at least 18 years old. In addition, the bill provides that if the online course of instruction under the hunter education program or the trapper education program requires field testing or completion of a written test, DNR must make that testing available at each DNR service center at least bimonthly for persons who take the online course of instruction.

Hunter and trapper recruitment This bill requires DNR to establish a program to recognize people who recruit others as hunters and trappers. The bill requires the program to include a component under which a person who is issued his or her first hunting or trapping approval may designate one person as the person who encouraged the applicant to obtain the approval. The bill establishes requirements for DNR to keep record of these designations and to establish a method for issuing a credit toward future fees or, under certain conditions a donated prize, to a person who receives a designation a specified number of times.

The bill also creates a 15-member sporting recruitment and retention council (council). The bill requires the council to study, and advise and make recommendations to the natural resources board and the legislature on, ways to improve the recruitment and retention of hunters and trappers. The bill requires the council to conduct an initial study of options and recommendations for increasing access to private land for hunting and trapping and options and recommendations for simplifying DNR hunting and trapping rules.

Stewardship program Current law authorizes the state to incur public debt for certain conservation activities under the stewardship program, which is administered by DNR. The state may incur this debt to acquire land for the state and may award grants to certain local governmental units and nonprofit conservation organizations to acquire lands for these conservation activities.

This bill prohibits DNR from awarding a grant under the stewardship program unless DNR first considers whether the grant will benefit local businesses and the economy of this state. It also prohibits DNR from acquiring land under the stewardship program unless hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, and cross-country skiing will be allowed on the land acquired or unless every member of the natural resources board approves the land acquisition.

Other provisions Under current law, a person must have a sturgeon spearing license issued by DNR in order to spear lake sturgeon. Current law requires a person to be at least 14 years old to obtain a sturgeon spearing license. Under this bill, a person may obtain a sturgeon spearing license if the person is at least 12 years old.

This bill also requires DNR to designate the first full weekend in January as a special event weekend during which a person may engage in ice fishing without holding or paying a fee for a fishing license.

Who's behind it

30 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 30 are Republicans.

10 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 40 names

Authors (30)

Signed on in support (10)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 8 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Natural Resources vote on an amendment

Passed, 16 to 0 · Oct 24, 2011

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Natural Resources vote on an amendment

Passed, 16 to 0 · Oct 24, 2011

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Joint Committee on Finance vote on an amendment

Passed, 15 to 0 · Oct 26, 2011

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 85 to 11 · Nov 1, 2011

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 85, Noes 11”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 84 to 12 · Nov 1, 2011 · 2 didn't vote

See how each of the 98 representatives voted

D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican

Yes (84)

Didn't vote (2)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 84, Noes 12”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment vote on an amendment

Passed, 7 to 0 · Mar 1, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report introduction and adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 28 to 5 · Mar 7, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 28, Noes 5”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 32 to 1 · Mar 7, 2012

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

No (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 32, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 5, 2012

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 3, 2012

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 168.

  3. Mar 30, 2012

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 15, 2012

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Mar 9, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Mar 9, 2012

    The Assembly adopted it.

  7. Mar 7, 2012

    The Senate passed it too, 32 to 1.

  8. Mar 7, 2012

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Mar 1, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.

  10. Dec 7, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  11. Nov 2, 2011

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  12. Nov 2, 2011

    “Printed engrossed by the direction of the Senate Chief Clerk” (the official wording)

  13. Nov 2, 2011

    The Senate received it.

  14. Nov 1, 2011

    The Assembly passed it, 84 to 12.

  15. Nov 1, 2011

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  16. Nov 1, 2011

    The Assembly adopted it.

  17. Nov 1, 2011

    The Assembly adopted it, 85 to 11.

  18. Nov 1, 2011

    The Assembly adopted it.

  19. Oct 26, 2011

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  20. Oct 26, 2011

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 15 to 0.

  21. Oct 24, 2011

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  22. Oct 24, 2011

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 14 to 2.

  23. Oct 24, 2011

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  24. Oct 12, 2011 to Oct 19, 2011

    1 more representative and 1 senator signed on in support.

  25. Oct 11, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  26. Oct 6, 2011 to Oct 7, 2011

    4 more representatives and 2 senators signed on in support.

  27. Oct 6, 2011

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

  28. Oct 6, 2011

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Oct 6, 2011 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Steineke, Rivard, Suder, Bies, Bernier, Endsley, Jacque, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kestell, Kleefisch, Knilans, Krug, LeMahieu, Litjens, Marklein, Meyer, Murtha, Nass, Nygren, A. Ott, Petryk, Severson, Spanbauer, Strachota, Stroebel, Tiffany, Tranel, Williams and Mursau;Cosponsored by Senators Galloway, Moulton and Taylor

  2. Oct 6, 2011 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources

  3. Oct 6, 2011 · Assembly

    Representative Brooks added as a coauthor

  4. Oct 7, 2011 · Assembly

    Representatives Pridemore and Ziegelbauer added as coauthors

  5. Oct 7, 2011 · Assembly

    Senator Holperin added as a cosponsor

  6. Oct 7, 2011 · Assembly

    Senator Lazich added as a cosponsor

  7. Oct 7, 2011 · Assembly

    Representative Knodl added as a coauthor

  8. Oct 11, 2011 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  9. Oct 11, 2011 · Assembly

    Senator Taylor withdrawn as a cosponsor

  10. Oct 12, 2011 · Assembly

    Representative Ripp added as a coauthor

  11. Oct 19, 2011 · Assembly

    Senator Lasee added as a cosponsor

  12. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Steineke

  13. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Mursau

  14. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Mursau

  15. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representatives Meyer and Strachota

  16. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Mursau

  17. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 5 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Clark

  18. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 6 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Clark

  19. Oct 20, 2011 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  20. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  21. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  22. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0

  23. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 14, Noes 2

  24. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 12, Noes 4

  25. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0

  26. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 15, Noes 1

  27. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 14, Noes 2

  28. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Referred to joint committee on Finance

  29. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  30. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  31. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  32. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  33. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  34. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  35. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by joint committee on Finance, Ayes 15, Noes 0

  36. Oct 26, 2011 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  37. Oct 27, 2011 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 11-1-2011 by committee on Rules

  38. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  39. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  40. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  41. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 85, Noes 11

  42. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Mursau

  43. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  44. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  45. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 7 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Kaufert

  46. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 7 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  47. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  48. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Representative Vruwink added as a coauthor

  49. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  50. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  51. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 84, Noes 12

  52. Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  53. Nov 2, 2011 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  54. Nov 2, 2011 · Senate

    Printed engrossed by the direction of the Senate Chief Clerk

  55. Nov 2, 2011 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  56. Nov 18, 2011 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1)

  57. Nov 18, 2011 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 7 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1)

  58. Nov 21, 2011 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1)

  59. Nov 28, 2011 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Taylor

  60. Dec 7, 2011 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  61. Feb 28, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 offered by Senator Risser

  62. Mar 1, 2012 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  63. Mar 1, 2012 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  64. Mar 1, 2012 · Senate

    Report concurrence as amended recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  65. Mar 1, 2012 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  66. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-7-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  67. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Read a second time

  68. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Risser

  69. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1 withdrawn and returned to author

  70. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 1 offered by Senator Risser

  71. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 to Senate substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 28, Noes 5

  72. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted

  73. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  74. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  75. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 32, Noes 1

  76. Mar 7, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  77. Mar 9, 2012 · Assembly

    Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate substitute amendment 1 adopted)

  78. Mar 9, 2012 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  79. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 9:04 A.M. on 3-14-2012 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 24

  80. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Senate substitute amendment 1 concurred in

  81. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  82. Mar 23, 2012 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled

  83. Mar 30, 2012 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-30-2012

  84. Apr 3, 2012 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 168

  85. Apr 5, 2012 · Assembly

    Published 4-16-2012

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary