WILL SUES DNR FOR ILLEGALLY CANCELING IN-PERSON HUNTER SAFETY COURSES

Case Name: Hunter Nation v. DNR

Type of Case: Individual Liberties

Court: Marathon County Circuit Court

Case Number:

Filed On: June 17, 2020

Current Status: Lawsuit filed June 2020.

WILL filed a lawsuit on behalf of Hunter Nation against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Marathon County Circuit Court, challenging the agency’s policy canceling all in-person hunter education courses during COVID-19.

Background

Wisconsin law requires all hunters born after January 1, 1973 to complete a hunter education course before obtaining a hunting license. The DNR adopted a blanket policy eliminating in-person courses and stated it would not certify anyone completing such training.

Legal Arguments

• The DNR lacked authority to unilaterally eliminate in-person hunter education courses.
• Proper rulemaking procedures were not followed.
• The policy relied on an invalidated Safer at Home order, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Legislature v. Palm.
• The policy violated Wisconsin’s constitutional right to hunt.

Lawyers

Lucas Vebber, Deputy Counsel

CASE DOCUMENTS

• WILL’s Complaint on Behalf of Hunter Nation, June 2020