MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill that would dramatically increase penalties for poaching trophy deer.
Current state law allows judges to impose a $43 surcharge on top of poaching fines if they choose. The Republican bill would require judges to impose surcharges ranging from $43 to $10,000 according to antler spread and forbid anyone convicted of poaching deer from holding a hunting, fishing or trapping license for three years.
The idea for the bill came from the Taylor County Sportsmen’s Club. The club’s members were angry that someone illegally shot a buck with a 175-inch spread at night two weeks before the 2012 gun deer season opener.
The Assembly passed the bill on a voice vote Tuesday. It now goes to the state Senate.
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