Department agrees to extend paintball review period

At the request of lawmakers, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has agreed to extend the review period on a new rule that would ban paintball games on DNR lands. The ban was one part of rule change proposal that addressed numerous unrelated issues, and as a result went largely unnoticed until recently.

"It is unfortunate that the people most affected by this rule were not aware of it earlier on, but I'm glad DNR is willing to work with us to allow further public input," said Representative Lorraine Seratti (R-Spread Eagle), who pressed hard for the extension. "You try not to let anything slip through the cracks, but when something like this happens it's best to take a step back and listen to people."

The proposed rule received a public hearing before the Assembly Natural Resources Committee in November. The committee requested some minor changes at that time, but the public, particularly paintball enthusiasts, had apparently been unaware that the rule restricted access to DNR lands.

Mark Pettis (R-La Follette) who serves on the committee said, "I hadn't heard a peep from anyone on this before last Monday, but I've had around 300 emails since then."

Though it was a little known sport just a decade ago, paintball has grown rapidly over the last ten years. It is now nearly a billion dollar per year industry. It is estimated that 7.1 million people play paintball nationwide.

"One of the oldest manufacturers of paintball equipment in the country is located right across the Menominee River from my home town," said Seratti. "They employ over fifty people from Michigan and Wisconsin, and buy most of their raw materials from Wisconsin companies."

The Natural Resources Committee will hold a second public hearing on the proposed rule some time shortly after New Years, and is expected to request additional changes. While there are a number of businesses in Wisconsin that offer organized paintball games, industry experts estimate nearly 80% of paintball play takes place on public lands.

"I don't think anyone is suggesting we should have people playing paintball in city parks, but it seems a bit unreasonable to ban these games on property where we currently allow hunting," said Seratti.

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