For those of you that will be hunting Wi this coming fall the 2011 regs are now posted at the following link: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/regs/deer.pdf Early Oct gun season for CWD zones blows! T
I'm interested to see how they handle the upcoming conceal carry law this year. Right now the Reg's still say no conceal carry. So if they don't issue a press release or an amendment to the reg's you still won't be able to carry while hunting. Hopefully this gets noticed.
Brad I had just read somewhere the new conceal carry only applies to pistols. I will see if I can find that read again and post the link here.
It's pistols and knifes. It won't apply to bows. But I would like to start carrying in the north woods while bowhunting.
Yes you will be able to carry a pistol out to the woods with you while bowhunting. Rifles, bows and muzzleloader must still be cased in your vehicle but the pistol no.
They will have to change the reg's then because the interpretation could be made that any conceal carry weapon while hunting is against the DNR rules. Here is from the current rule book. Handguns > * To be legal for deer hunting, handguns must use center-fire cartridges of .22 caliber > or larger and have a 5½" minimum barrel length measured from the firing pin to the > muzzle with the action closed. > * You may not possess a concealed handgun. > * Muzzleloading handguns, see "Muzzleloaders," above. > * It is illegal to hunt with a handgun if under age 18. > > > > And > > > > It is illegal to: > * Possess any firearm, bow, or other weapons unless engaged in legal hunting. > Note: Concealed weapons, including those approved by permit, are illegal anytime. > * Possess lead shot. Note: only non-toxic shot may be possessed for hunting game > birds and animals, including wild turkey, on WPAs, Horicon NWR, Necedah NWR, > and Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges (UMRNWFR). This > rule does not apply to hunting small game mammals or deer with rifles and shotguns > with a single projectile (slug). > * Leave spent shells on the ground. Spent shells are considered litter and must be > removed. The federal citation for littering is $125.00. > * Build or use a ground blind or any elevated device, unless it does not damage the tree > (i.e., no use of screws, nails, etc.) and it is completely removed from the property > each day at the close of hunting hours.
Very interesting for sure and I will email my DNR buddy and get her thoughts. Here is the link to what I had read earlier: http://outdoornews.com/wisconsin/news/article_07c11e9c-a333-11e0-826b-001cc4c03286.html Crap the more I read what you have typed we will not be able to carry one during bow hunting. Kind of conflict of interest if you ask me.
I have little doubt that the final result will be to amend the regulations at some point. Probably next year. But if you consider how the Reg's were posted today it would technically still be illegal to carry while hunting the way i see it. Let me know what you find out.
Update 7/15/11 Brad here is my dnr wardens friends reply: Tony Without this law you can carry a pistol while bow hunting. It will just have to be on the outer most portion of your garment until the law is passed. Hope this helps - Jen Of course when I replied to thank her for the response I had to give her a GO PACKERS! She is a bear fan.....grrrr
My whole concern with open carry is if just your jacket covers the sidearm for just a second they can nail you. I watched a guy get ticketed at a festival in Eagle River last year. All he did is bend over and the firearm was covered for a split second and the cop busted him for conceal carry. I guess I didn't know you could open carry while bowhunting but that is good to know.
Brad the DNR has posted some Q & A at the following link: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/concealed_carry_q&a.htm
