Bills by subject

Natural Resources, Department of: Hunting and fishing

60 bills and resolutions. 17 became law, 1 was vetoed, and 20 never got a public hearing. They span 3 sessions, from the 2009–10 session to the 2025–26 session.

This is the Legislature's own subject heading, not our category, so a bill is here only if the Legislature filed it under this term. Each count comes from the bill's official history.

Latest activity

The 5 bills on this subject with the newest recorded action.

SB 45 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE)
Became law. Last action May 13, 2026
AB 1076 Sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee. Last action Apr 3, 2026
AB 16 Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms.
Stopped in committee. Last action Mar 23, 2026
AB 50 State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE)
Stopped before the full Assembly voted. Last action Mar 23, 2026
AB 117 Hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Passed the Assembly, then stopped. Last action Mar 23, 2026

Every bill on this subject

2025–26 session: 15

Mar 23, 2026
AB 16: Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
AB 50: State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE)
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
Mar 23, 2026
AB 117: Hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.
Mar 23, 2026
AB 551: Chronic wasting disease sampling and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
AB 553: Deer carcass disposal sites, chronic wasting disease education, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
AB 682: Fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing approvals and nonresident vehicle admission receipts. (FE)
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.
Apr 3, 2026
AB 1076: Sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
May 13, 2026
SB 45: State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE)
Became law.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 49: Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 112: Hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped before the full Senate voted.

Show 5 more

Mar 23, 2026
SB 505: Authorizing resident disabled veterans to hunt deer of either sex in any open firearm season. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 548: Chronic wasting disease sampling and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 550: Deer carcass disposal sites, chronic wasting disease education, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 670: Fees for nonresident hunting, trapping, and fishing approvals and nonresident vehicle admission receipts. (FE)
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2026
SB 1060: Sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee.

2011–12 session: 25

Mar 23, 2012
AB 24: Privileges under a Class A or Class B bear hunting license, and bear carcass tag and back tag requirements.
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.
Jun 7, 2011
AB 35: Culling of bass in a fishing tournament.
Became law.
Aug 2, 2012
AB 40: State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2011 legislature.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 99: Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from establishing certain restrictions on hunting antlered deer and regulating the establishment of fall open seasons for hunting deer with firearms.
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
Apr 5, 2012
AB 176: Minimum harvesting requirements for commercial fishing in the Great Lakes.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 202: Issuance of a bear license to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 231: Civil actions and zoning conditions related to noise that are applicable to bird hunting preserves.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 5, 2012
AB 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.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 325: A catch-and-release only season for bass fishing.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 10, 2012
AB 384: Weapons that may be used to hunt certain animals and requirements for establishing open hunting seasons for those animals.
Became law.

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Mar 23, 2012
AB 502: Hunting and trapping of wolves, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation.
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 589: Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to collect voluntary contributions in addition to fees charged for certain approvals, authorizing the voluntary contributions to be paid to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, and making an appropriation.
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
Apr 12, 2012
AB 613: Hunting of sandhill cranes, wildlife damage abatement assistance and claim payments for damage caused by sandhill cranes, and making an appropriation.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2012
AB 655: The regulation of aquaculture.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 62: Culling of bass in a fishing tournament.
Stopped before the full Senate voted.
Jun 21, 2011
SB 72: Privileges under a Class A or Class B bear hunting license, and bear carcass tag and back tag requirements.
Became law.
Nov 7, 2011
SB 75: Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from establishing certain restrictions on hunting antlered deer and regulating the establishment of fall open seasons for hunting deer with firearms.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 113: Minimum harvesting requirements for commercial fishing in the Great Lakes.
Stopped before the full Senate voted.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 135: Issuance of a bear license to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program.
Stopped in committee.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 226: 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.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 5, 2012
SB 411: Hunting and trapping of wolves, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 415: Buying, selling, bartering, and trading of nonedible parts from upland game birds.
Passed the Senate, then stopped.
Mar 27, 2012
SB 441: Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to collect voluntary contributions in addition to fees charged for certain approvals, authorizing the voluntary contributions to be paid to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, and making an appropriation.
Became law.
Mar 23, 2012
SB 513: Issuance of conservation patron licenses to certain disabled veterans.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 5, 2012
SB 537: The regulation of aquaculture.
Became law.

2009–10 session: 20

Apr 17, 2009
AB 4: Catch and release bass and muskellunge fishing.
Became law.
May 26, 2010
AB 75: State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2009 legislature.
Became law.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 150: The possession of green skins of fur-bearing animals, the tagging of traps, and the sale, purchase, bartering, and trade of wild animals and their carcasses.
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 222: The minimum age for hunting and for possessing a firearm, restrictions on hunting and on possessing a firearm while hunting, establishing a hunting mentorship program, and granting rule-making authority.
Stopped before the full Assembly voted.
May 26, 2010
AB 371: Privileges under a Class A or Class B bear hunting license, and bear carcass tag and back tag requirements.
Vetoed by the governor.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 577: Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to issue one-day fishing licenses.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 595: Hunting permits issued to persons who are terminally ill.
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 618: Regulating certain tree stands used for hunting.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 652: Establishing a deer hunting season for certain persons serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 28, 2010
AB 655: Duplicate hunting licenses issued to persons who are 10 or 11 years old.
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.

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Apr 28, 2010
AB 737: Weapons authorized for use under certain hunting approvals, prohibiting certain persons from obtaining or using hunting approvals, authorizing issuance of archery hunting approvals and nonfirearm hunting approvals for hunting certain animals, and providing a penalty.
Passed the Assembly, then stopped.
Apr 28, 2010
SB 48: Catch and release bass and muskellunge fishing.
Stopped before the full Senate voted.
Aug 18, 2009
SB 112: The possession of green skins of fur-bearing animals, the tagging of traps, and the sale, purchase, bartering, and trade of wild animals and their carcasses.
Became law.
Aug 18, 2009
SB 167: The minimum age for hunting and for possessing a firearm, restrictions on hunting and on possessing a firearm while hunting, establishing a hunting mentorship program, and granting rule-making authority.
Became law.
Apr 28, 2010
SB 254: Privileges under a Class A or Class B bear hunting license, and bear carcass tag and back tag requirements.
Stopped in committee.
May 20, 2010
SB 396: Fishing and trolling in boats with electric motors.
Became law.
May 20, 2010
SB 401: Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to issue one-day fishing licenses.
Became law.
Apr 28, 2010
SB 454: Establishing a deer hunting season for certain persons serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 28, 2010
SB 481: Wild turkey hunting approvals; the regulation of the hunting of wild turkey; and granting rule-making authority.
Stopped in committee.
Apr 28, 2010
SB 683: Transfer of Class A bear licenses to persons awarded a purple heart medal.
Stopped in committee.

Dates are each bill's latest recorded action. Every subject