Because the fall hunting season is fast approaching, the DNR asked that all hunting groups help them by getting out the word on the rules and fees for the youth mentored hunting program that the Governor signed into law yesterday. Please spread the word to all your hunting friends and family and take a kid hunting.
SUMMARY OF THE HUNTING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Restrictions & Requirements
Rules that apply to the Hunter:
Must be at least 10 years old.
Must have the appropriate valid hunting license, permits and tags.
May only hunt while within arms reach of a mentor - regardless of the hunter?s or the mentor?s age.
Must follow all other hunting laws, seasons and bag limits.
Even if they have already passed a hunter education course, 10 and 11 year olds may only hunt when hunting with a mentor and comply with the hunting mentorship program rules (one weapon, arms reach, etc.).
There is no limitation as to the number of times/years a person hunt as a mentored hunter. Rules that apply to the Mentor:
Must be at least 18 year old.
If born on or after 1-1-73, must be a hunter education course graduate, or have completed basic training with the U.S. Armed Forces,
Must be the hunter?s parent or guardian, or have the permission of the hunter?s parent or guardian before taking a person under age 18 hunting
Must have a current year?s hunting license. Type of hunting license does not matter unless the mentor will also be hunting, in which case they must have the appropriate valid hunting license, permits and tags for species they will be hunting.
Only allowed to serve as a mentor for ONE hunter at a time if the hunter is either:
age 10 or 11, or was born on or after 1-1-73 and has not taken and passed a hunter education course.
Rules that apply to both the Hunter & Mentor:
Only ONE firearm, bow, or crossbow (if eligible for a crossbow permit) can be possessed jointly by the hunter and the mentor.
HOW CAN THE PUBLIC FIND OUT ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM?
Here is a copy of the press release send out today:
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=1386 All the hunting regulations had been printed or sent to the printer before this new law was passed. We are working to direct as much traffic as possible to web and call center. Attached below is a copy of the Mentored Hunting Program Brochure, which will be posted on the DNR's web site at the link to the Mentored Hunting page below.
At the link below, we have created a Mentored Hunting webpage. This page will contain information regarding mentored hunting. We are taking out ads in the September 1 edition of the Outdoor News and On Wisconsin Outdoors that encourage participation and direct people to the web or call center for information. We are also producing a series of short videos that outlines the opportunities the new law presents and the conditions under which mentored hunting must be carried out. The first video should be available next week some time.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/ IDENTIFYING WHO IS HUNTING UNDER THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, AND WHO IS NOT?
When any person age 10 or 11, or any person born on or after January 1, 1973 who is older than 11 but who has not yet completed hunter education, purchases a hunting license, that license and backtag if applicable, will indicate that the hunter is a ?Mentored Only? hunter. This will be printed in the Hunter Ed. Cert. space on the license/backtag. This will identify to the warden that the license holder is someone who must be within arms reach of their mentor and that there should only be one firearm or bow possessed jointly between them. In addition, attached to each "Mentored Only" hunting licenses will be a short list of the key restrictions that apply to the hunter and the mentor. Attached below is what this will look like. It also shows how/where the "Mentored Only" words will be printed on the license/backtag.
NEW FEE SCHEDULE FOR HUNTING LICENSES FOR 10 & 11 YEAR OLDS
Residents & Nonresidents
Small game: $7
Bonus antlerless deer tags (for Regular DMUs): $5 Gun Deer: $7
Herd Control & EAB antlerless deer carcass tags: $2
Class A bear: $7
Each additional wild turkey hunting permit/tag: $5
Archery: $7
Wild turkey: $7
Wild turkey Stamp : $4.50
Non-resident Fur-bearing animal: $7
Pheasant Stamp: $4.50
Class B bear: Not required if under age 12.
Waterfowl Stamp: Not required if under age 16.
Resident Patron: Fess unchanged = $75
Nonresident Patron: Fee unchanged = $77
