Assembly Bill 384
Weapons that may be used to hunt certain animals and requirements for establishing open hunting seasons for those animals
Topics: Children, Firearms and dangerous weapons, Game, Game bird, Game: Hunting, Natural Resources, Department of: Hunting and fishing
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 6, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Nov 16, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 21, 2012
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 6, 2012
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 252
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 10, 2012: “Published 4-19-2012”
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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
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) issues hunting licenses that authorize the hunting of specified animals such as deer, bear, and small game. Those licenses also specify the type of weapon that may be used when hunting under those licenses. For example, a deer hunting license authorizes the holder of the license to only hunt with a firearm but a Class A bear license authorizes the license holder to hunt with a firearm, a bow and arrow, and under certain circumstances a crossbow. DNR also establishes seasons during which the hunting of certain animals with a specified weapon is allowed.
This bill expands the types of weapons that may be used under the authority of a deer, elk, wild turkey, small game, and Class A bear hunting license. Under the bill, each of these licenses authorizes a person to hunt with a firearm, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow. The bill eliminates the requirement that a person must be at least 65 years old or be disabled and hold a crossbow permit in order to hunt with a crossbow under the authority of any of these licenses. The bill does not change current law, which also allows the use of an airgun under the authority of a small game license. It also does not change current law under which a person who holds an archer hunting license may use a crossbow only if the person has attained the age of 65 or holds a permit that authorizes the use of a crossbow.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill also specifies that, when DNR opens a hunting season for the purpose of hunting deer, elk, wild turkey, small game, or bear with any firearm, DNR must also allow the use of a bow and arrow and a crossbow during that open season by a person who holds the appropriate license. The bill further provides that, if DNR establishes an open season for hunting deer, elk, small game, wild turkey, or bear with a bow and arrow, but not with a firearm, then DNR may not open the season for hunting those animals with a crossbow. This prohibition does not apply under the bill to a person who is authorized under current law to use a crossbow based on age or disability.
Who's behind it
9 lawmakers are its . 8 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 11 names Hide the names
Authors (9)
- David Craig · Republican, Senate
- Mike Endsley · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Scott Krug · Republican, Assembly
- Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
- Roger Rivard · Republican, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
- Gary Tauchen · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (2)
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
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 4 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources vote on an amendment
Passed, 16 to 0 · Feb 7, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 60 to 35 · Feb 21, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Assembly amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 95 to 0 · Feb 21, 2012 · 4 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (95)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
Didn't vote (4)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 95, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment vote to recommend it
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 concurrence recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 10, 2012
The new law was published.
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Apr 6, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 252.
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Apr 5, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Mar 6, 2012
The Senate passed it too.
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Mar 1, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Feb 28, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 22, 2012
Sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
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Feb 22, 2012
The Senate received it.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Assembly passed it, 95 to 0.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Assembly adopted it.
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Feb 7, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 7, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 16 to 0.
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Jan 18, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 13, 2011
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 16, 2011
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.
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Nov 16, 2011
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 16, 2011 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tauchen, Craig, Sinicki, Petryk, Kleefisch, Rivard, Krug, Endsley and Spanbauer;Cosponsored by Senators Schultz and Taylor
- Nov 16, 2011 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources
- Dec 13, 2011 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 17, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representative Tauchen
- Jan 17, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representative Tauchen
- Jan 18, 2012 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Feb 1, 2012 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Feb 7, 2012 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0
- Feb 7, 2012 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0
- Feb 7, 2012 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0
- Feb 7, 2012 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 14, 2012 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-16-2012 by committee on Rules
- Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 3 offered by Representative Milroy
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 2 adopted
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 35
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 95, Noes 0
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 22, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 22, 2012 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Environment
- Feb 28, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 1, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 1, 2012 · Senate
Report concurrence recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Mar 1, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 5, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-6-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Mar 6, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled
- Apr 5, 2012 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-5-2012
- Apr 6, 2012 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-6-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 252
- Apr 10, 2012 · Assembly
Published 4-19-2012
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
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote