If you hit an animal while driving, you should be allowed to take it home with you.
Current law allows a motorist who hits a deer to take possession of the carcass. If that driver wants the dead animal, he must report the incident to local law enforcement, and will then be issued a tag at no cost. State Representative Ann Hraychuck’s legislation simply expands the law to include other animals.
“The legislation that I am proposing will allow a driver to call into law enforcement and report that they have struck a bear, a wild turkey, any other kind of wild animal on the road and request that they receive a tag to keep the animal.”
Assuming, of course, that the incident was accidental.
The Balsam Lake Democrat says changing this law will lessen the work load for game wardens who are expected to respond, recover the carcass, and dispose of it.
“It happens more often than you think. Probably up in northern Wisconsin more frequently than the more populated areas of the state.”
Hraychuck is currently seeking cosponsors for the bill.
Jackie Johnson report (1:07 mp3)
