Wisconsin Night Vision and Shining Laws Clairified

HTRN57

New member
There has been a lot of confusion regarding use of artificial light for shining in WI as well as usage of IR light in combination with NV systems when hunting species that can be legally taken in WI at night. I just received the most recent interpretation from the WI Officials. It also appears that there will be a conservation congress this spring and this shining issue could be debated and possibly relaxed. Perhaps some of you members from WI should take the lead here and lobby for some changes. I currently don't see why the state would want to prohibit use of artificial light considering proper target ID could significanly compromise safety. Following is the email verbatim from WI Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist Scott Loomans:

"Thank you for writing to request clarification on the use of night vision and other technologies for hunting at night. It is an interesting subject that involves a number of different laws and rules. I have consulted with my counterpart in the bureau of law enforcement and with the attorney who advises them in order to make sure that you will get consistent answers to this question in the future.

In general, night vision gear which does not cast any form of light is legal to use. Night vision gear which utilizes only natural light would be legal to use within the hunting hour restrictions for the species being hunted. Night vision gear itself is currently not regulated and may be used when otherwise legally hunting. Its use does not fall under the definition of shining as long as this gear is not used with any form of artificial light.

The use of an “infrared illuminator” in conjunction with night vision gear for hunting any species is generally not legal and would be prohibited under the state’s shining prohibitions. Infrared light is visible light when used with technology such as night vision gear and therefore its use would be considered shining. However, an “infrared illuminator” would be legal to use “at the point of kill” if the illuminator is designed to be held by hand (although it does not have to be held by hand), operates on batteries and so could be considered a flashlight. Of course, it could only be used while hunting species for which there are no hunting hour restrictions.

Please be aware that there is some potential for changes to regulations in the future. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress, a group which is advisory to our Natural Resources Board and influential in establishing policy, will be considering what is considered if lights other than flashlights should also be allowed to be used at the point of kill for hunting species that can be legally hunted at night, at its 2013 spring meetings. You can learn more about the Conservation Congress by clicking on “Conservation Congress” at the department’s website, http://dnr.wi.gov/

For reference, I have attached Wisconsin’s statutory prohibition of shining. Thank you for writing to request this information. Feel free to contact me for additional information or to check on the status of potential law updates.

Sincerely,
Scott Loomans
Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist
Bureau of Wildlife Management

Copy to: Tom Van Haren LE/8, Mike Kowalkowski LS/8
 
The ability to use a light for scanning in Wisconsin has already been through the Congress process. It is now ready to be handled in the legislature. However the controversy regarding Native Americans using lights to kill deer has deeply confounded and delayed the issue.

There is also another resolution going through the Congress process that was apparently meant to clarify the types of light that can be used while hunting predators at night.

Until several years ago, due to a "glitch" in the law created when coyote hunting was closed in 1980 in the northern counties during deer season, it was technically illegal to use a light of any kind while hunting coyotes at night. That was changed when I wrote the resolution quite a few years ago that allowed lights to be used. The WDNR addded in the language "point of kill" at some point in the process. My current resolution allows "scanning" under certain criteria that can be found on the thread that Mikeyg noted.

This has been a long road that has had a few bumps and potholes we've needed to jump over. Not there yet, but still moving ahead.

Moosetrot
 
Still are not allowed to use IR in Wisconsin with the night vision scopes to scan before the shot though hey?? So the Pulsar and digital scopes like that are also illegal because of the attached IR light??
 
So whom exactly will be watching for your IR illumination and handing out said citation? Game wardens just sitting there for fun with nods on looking in just the right direction to see your infrared illuminator scanning for a target?
 
Still are not allowed to use IR in Wisconsin with the night vision scopes to scan before the shot though hey?? So the Pulsar and digital scopes like that are also illegal because of the attached IR light??
AB313 in Wisconsin legislature. No. Bad news for me to. Coyote hunting
 
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