A new state bill authored by State Sen. Van Wanggaard would provide a free annual bear tag to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program.
Bear tags are carefully rationed and only so many given out per year.
Many hunters wait upwards of 5-10 years for a tag, with each hunter allowed only one in a lifetime.
The cosponsorship memo is below. Interested individuals who wish for their own legislator to cosponsor the bill should reference the draft bill number (LRB 2017/1) and this cosponsorship memo.
--Anthony Hardie. Veterans advocate Jason Johns contributed to this article.
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TO: Legislative Colleagues
FROM: Senator Van Wanggaard
DEADLINE: Friday, June 10th by 12:00 PM.
RE: Co-sponsorship of LRB 2017/1, relating to: issuance of a bear license to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program.
LRB 2017/1 is being introduced to honor wounded warriors. Currently, DNR has the authority to issue certificates for two Class A bear licenses to the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc. The association is allowed to raffle one of the certificates, and conduct an auction for the other.
This bill would require DNR to issue one certificate for a Class A bear hunting license to the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program. This would honor our wounded veterans, and show well deserved respect for their service.
To co-sponsor this legislation please reply to this email or contact Colleen Moran in Senator Wanggaard’s office (6-1832) by 12:00 PM on Friday, June 10th.
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Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, in addition to the authority of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue Class A and Class B bear licenses, DNR also has the authority to issue certificates for two Class A bear licenses to the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc.
The association is allowed to raffle one of the certificates and conduct an auction for the other certificate. Currently, DNR is required to issue a resident or nonresident Class A bear license to a person who presents the department with the certificate and pays the required fees.
This bill requires DNR to issue one certificate for a Class A bear hunting license to an organization known as the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, if the organization applies for the certificate.
The bill requires the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program to transfer the certificate to a person who receives support under the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program who is a resident and qualified to receive a residential Class A bear hunting license.
If the person who receives a certificate presents the certificate to DNR with the appropriate required fees, the bill requires the department to issue the person a resident Class A bear hunting license and the carcass tag and back tag for that hunting season. A person may be issued only one Class A bear hunting license under this program in his or her lifetime.
<<11-20171.pdf>>
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