Thursday, January 24, 2019

Risser bill would ban wildlife-killing contests in Wisconsin

Outrage over coyote-killing contests in Wisconsin is producing a move to outlaw them.
2009-Coyote-Yosemite.jpg

From: Sen.Risser <Sen.Risser@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2019 4:38 PM
To: *Legislative All Senate; *Legislative All Assembly;
Subject: Co-Sponsorship of LRB-1453/1: relating to wildlife killing contests

TO:               Legislative Colleagues 

FROM:           Senator Fred Risser

DATE:           January 24, 2019

RE:                 LRB 1453/1 relating to: prohibiting contests for killing wild animals and providing a penalty

In Wisconsin, there is no prohibition to wildlife killing contests. These contests use various tactics to attract, manipulate, confuse, and even temporarily blind wildlife in order to kill as many animals as possible. Dogs, semi-automatic weapons, ATVs, traps, snares, and snowmobiles are often used in such contests, including participants chasing animals on snowmobiles to the point of exhaustion and running them over repeatedly. 

Many hunters have condemned these contests as unethical and say they create a bad name for those who hunt ethically. This bill would prohibit all wildlife killing contests, much like laws in California and Vermont which prohibit predator killing contests.

If you would like to sign-on to this bill, please contact Senator Risser’s office (6-1627), or by email, no later than Friday, February 1, 2019.  

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill prohibits the organization of and participation in contests for killing wild animals. “Contest” is defined as an organized or sponsored competition with the objective of taking, capturing, or killing a wild animal for entertainment or for the chance to win designated prizes. “Contest” does not include a lawful fishing tournament. The bill prohibits a person from doing any of the following: 1) organizing, conducting, or sponsoring a contest; 2) providing a venue for a contest; and 3) participating in a contest. A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a forfeiture. 
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

5 comments:

  1. These contests are horrific. They are advertised as good family fun. Killing and terrorizing is not entertainment under any circumstances

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  2. This isn't hunting and is just a sick way of playing with guns. Honest hunting groups should be behind this ban. This type of "fun filled" slaughter reflects badly on legitimate hunters and contributes to anti hunting sentiments.

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    Replies
    1. How is a organized rabbit and squirrel hunt inhumane, when it strictly says that all hunting/ DNR regulations for hunting methids, hunting hours and bag limits apply?
      How is the fact that many clubs and rural establishments have contests for the biggest turkey or deer registered, during normal hunting seasons. How is that so appalling?

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  3. This bill ,in its current form, is poorly conceived, vaguely deceptive and based on predominantly false information or misinformation. It should not be allowed a hearing or vote in its current version.

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  4. This is a 1st shot over the bow to eliminate any type of hunting, 1st it is coyote
    then it is any organized type of dog sporting event/training involving birds, game preserves, big buck contest, fishing tournaments on and on. the proverbial slippery slope

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