Friday, October 23, 2015

WI may outlaw hunting observing, filming on public land

It could soon be a crime to observe hunting and certain training practices in Wisconsin, expanding what constitutes already-illegal, common sense prohibitions against hunter harassment while keeping the lid on certain hunting and hound-training practices not widely known, such as the use of caged animals.

Maybe we can have a debate about that.

Read the text. The bill gets gets a hearing next week. An excerpt:

October 15, 2015 - Introduced by Senators MoultonGudexHarsdorfOlsen and
Kapenga, cosponsored by Representatives JarchowAllenBallwegBorn,
CzajaEdmingGannonHorlacherHuttonJaglerKleefischKnodl,
KremerKulpT. LarsonMurphyMursauA. OttPetrykQuinnTittl and
Sinicki. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry.
1An Act to amend 29.083 (1), 29.083 (2) (a) (intro.), 29.083 (2) (a) 5., 29.083 (3)
2and 29.971 (11r) (a); and to create 29.083 (2) (a) 6., 29.083 (2) (a) 7., 29.083 (2)
3(a) 8. and 29.971 (11r) (am) of the statutes; relating to: interfering with
4hunting, fishing, and trapping and providing criminal penalties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes changes to the laws prohibiting certain activities that interfere
with hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Current law prohibits a person from engaging in certain intentional conduct
that interferes with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. The conduct prohibited
under current law (prohibited conduct) includes harassing a wild animal,
impeding or obstructing a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, 
trapping, or impeding a person who is engaged in an activity associated with 
lawful hunting,fishing, or trapping. Current law generally defines an activity 
associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, as travel, camping, or other 
acts that are preparatory to lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. This bill expands 
this definition so that it also

includes scouting, target shooting, dog training, and animal baiting or feeding.
The bill also expands the prohibitions in current law so that a person may not
interfere or attempt to interfere with an activity associated with lawful hunting,
fishing, or trapping by engaging in prohibited conduct. The bill also expands the 
types of conduct prohibited to include disturbing a lawfully placed hunting stand,
disturbing lawfully placed bait or other feed, using a drone under certain
circumstances, and engaging in a series of acts (serial conduct) that are intended
to impede or obstruct a person engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping an
activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping. The types of serial
conduct prohibited include maintaining a visual or physical proximity to person,
approaching or confronting the person, or photographing the person.

I'm not advocating harassing anyone; I can't imagine the First Amendment goes this far.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What if you want to film a warden doing something they shouldn't be?

Anonymous said...

So does that mean you can only take a weapon into the wood to shoot wildlife? Can I shoot wildlife with my Canon?