UPDATE: Wisconsin Assembly passes hunting booster bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly has passed bill designed to boost participation in hunting and fishing.

The sweeping legislation would create steep discounts for first-time license applicants, set up high school credits for students who complete a DNR hunter safety program and create adult-only hunting and trapping education courses.

Under the bill, license fees for first-time resident hunters would drop to $5. Depending on the type of license, those now cost between $7 and $24. Fees for non-resident hunters would also drop about 50 percent.

States and outdoor groups have been stepping up efforts to retain and recruit hunters as open land gives way to suburbs, the population ages and video games, social media and sports consume children’s time.

The bill passed on a bipartisan 84-12 vote.