Wisconsin: Pro-Hunting Crossbow Legislation Scheduled to be Heard Next Week

The state Senate Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a public hearing for Assembly Bill 194 sponsored by state Representative Mary Czaja (R-35) and Senator Paul Farrow (R-33).  This long-awaited legislation will allow all hunters the freedom to use a crossbow during the same time period as the big game archery season.  This bill would help increase hunter participation and preserve Wisconsin’s rich hunting heritage.  AB 194 already passed unanimously on a roll call vote in the state Assembly on June 6 and will continue to need your support to ensure its passage in the state Senate.

Please attend this hearing on Thursday, August 15, at 10:00 a.m. in the State Capitol located at 300 Southeast in Madison to support this important legislation to preserve and increase hunting participation in Wisconsin.

If you are unable to attend, please contact members of the state Senate Natural Resources Committee listed below and urge them to support this important hunting legislation without amendment.

Experience in other states has shown that allowing the unqualified use of crossbows helps retain and recruit hunters.  At a time when hunter numbers are declining, nothing is more important.  Retention of older hunters with diminished physical capabilities is especially critical.  If allowed to use crossbows, these hunters will remain in the field years longer than they otherwise would if restricted to vertical bows only.  As a result, they would be more likely to recruit more family and friends into Wisconsin’s ranks of hunters.  For youngsters who do not yet possess the physical strength to use a vertical bow, crossbows would allow them to go afield earlier and create more lifelong archery hunters.

In addition, experience in other states shows that archer success rates do not increase with the use of a crossbow as compared to a vertical bow.  The goal of all hunters should be to increase participation because greater hunter numbers in the future will bolster defenses against the political attacks initiated by anti-hunting extremists and ensure the continuation of Wisconsin’s hunting heritage.

Senate Natural Resources Committee:

Senator Neal Kedzie (R-11) – Chairman
(608) 266-2635
[email protected]

Senator Terry Moulton (R-23) – Vice-Chairman
(608) 266-7511
[email protected]

Senator Thomas Tiffany (R-12)
(608) 266-2509
[email protected]

Senator Mark Miller (D-16)
(608) 266-9170
[email protected]

Senator Robert Wirch (D-22)
(608) 267-8979
[email protected]