MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – In-person hunter education courses are expected to be back in session across Wisconsin in the near future, but a lawsuit against the DNR involving the initial stoppage isn’t going away just yet.
Hunting is included as a right of the people by the Wisconsin state constitution. That’s part of the reason why Lucas Vebber from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty says the DNR wasn’t allowed to just shut down hunters education classes statewide.
“They’re required by state law, no matter what the policy is, to give people a chance to weigh in on that policy before they adopt it. The DNR didn’t do that here. They simply just posted a notice on their website,” Vebber tells the WTAQ Morning News with Matt and Earl, “This meant that a lot of young Wisconsinites who need those in person courses and don’t have any option other than to take in person courses were denied access to that, and subsequently couldn’t prepare to hunt this fall.”
Vebber and WILL are representing Hunter Nation Incorporated in a lawsuit against the DNR. Hunter Nation Incorporated is a hunter’s rights advocacy group that promotes hunting as a way of life and activity for people across the country. They are headquartered in Marathon County.
Vebber argues that state statutes don’t allow agencies like the DNR to simply shut down privately run courses like hunter education.
“To hunt by yourself over the age of 14, you need to have an in person hunter education course. They were being denied their constitutional right to hunt because of the DNR’s decision,” Vebber says, “They were unable to participate in the courses, even though they wanted to and thought they could do so safely. The DNR simply will not allow them to move forward with those…They were telling instructors that if they did have these courses that they could risk being decertified as a hunter education instructor and that they wouldn’t issue the certifications of anybody who graduated.”
It’s not just about hunting season either. Vebber points out that many high school students are participating in trapshooting teams, and the leagues require hunter education certifications to confirm participants have familiarity with firearms. Students who don’t have those certifications have been trying to fit them in before school year so they can join the team.
After the lawsuit was filed, the DNR announced plans to allow courses to resume starting next week Monday, July 13th – with some guidelines and suggestions in place.
“Things like a 50 person class size limitation, mandatory 6 foot distancing between students, square footage requirements, they recommend these courses all be done outside, and removing the minimum hours requirement,” Vebber says, “All of these things are out for public comment, the DNR plans to adopt them this weekend.”
Those suggestions and recommendations will be reviewed by WILL before they make any decision to move forward with the lawsuit. But Vebber thinks it will likely continue, as the basis behind their claims still stand.