WI: challenging private-property rights.

Post date: Mar 29, 2012 12:38:00 AM

The trap that killed Phillip.

Wisconsin State Senate Bill 226 seems to propose a challenge to private-property rights and State land-acquisition rights regarding hunting and trapping.

This bill creates a 15-member sporting recruitment and retention council. The bill requires the council to study, and advise and make recommendations to the natural resources board and the legislature on, ways to improve the recruitment and retention of hunters and trappers. The bill requires the council to conduct an initial study of options and recommendations for increasing access to private land for hunting and trapping and options and recommendations for simplifying DNR hunting and trapping rules.

This bill prohibits DNR from awarding a grant under the stewardship program unless DNR first considers whether the grant will benefit local businesses and the economy of this state. It also prohibits DNR from acquiring land under the stewardship program unless hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, and cross-country skiing will be allowed on the land acquired or unless every member of the natural resources board approves the land acquisition.