Classes & Events

Snowmobile and ATV Safety

Who Needs This Class?

The Sheriff's Office recommends that everyone who plans on operating a snowmobile or ATV/UTV take this course. However, some people are required to have it before operation.

Born on or after January 1st, 1985? Then you need to successfully complete an approved Snowmobile Safety Course before riding on public lands. Wisconsin law allows only those 16 years of age or older to take this online course.

Born after January 1st, 1988? Then you need to successfully complete an approved Wisconsin ATV Safety Course before riding on public lands.

The Course

This official Department of Natural Resources training program is taught by certified sheriff's deputies and other highly skilled volunteers. It will give you the fundamentals on the safe and legal operation of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office offers a Snowmobile and ATV combined safety course. Classes run from 4 pm to 7 pm and are held at the Portage County Sheriff's Office Training Room
1500 Strongs Avenue
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

The course cost is $20 and is open to Snowmobile and ATV operators 12 years of age and older. The fee will be collected at the first class. The state requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1985, to hold a valid Snowmobile Safety Certificate to operate and anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, to hold a valid ATV Safety Certificate.

Scheduled Classes

Please check back for future dates or watch the Go Wild Website.

Register at the Department of Natural Resources The Portage County Sheriff's Office does NOT do any registration. It is all handled by DNR.

For More Information/Contact Us

Any questions call the Portage County Sheriff’s Office at 715-346-1443.

Concealed Carry Weapons Class

The Portage County Sheriff's Office hosts a Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) class twice a year.  The course is taught by Sheriff's Deputies who are certified Department of Justice firearms instructors. This class is the actual Department of Justice CCW class developed specifically for the CCW permit application. These classes are held on a Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm  (or on occasion on two consecutive evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm) at the Portage County Annex Building, 1462 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point, in Conference Rooms 1 & 2. The cost of the class is $50 per student. This is strictly an indoor classroom event. Do not bring a weapon to this class. It is illegal for you to bring a firearm into the building.

Basic Handgun Course

The basic Handgun course is the optional second part of the Concealed Carry Course. The Basic Handgun Course is held from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Portage County Law Enforcement Range (3001 Willow Springs Drive, Stevens Point) on the same day as the Saturday class. This class is also taught by deputies who are certified Department of Justice firearms instructors. Topics for this class include shooting stance, grip, sight picture, loading, unloading, malfunctions, and firing. Students will need to bring a firearm and approximately 50 rounds of ammunition for their firearm. The total cost for both courses together is $75. This is a hands-on outdoor class with live shooting. Do not remove your weapon from your vehicle until instructed to do so.

For safety purposes, students can only take the Basic Handgun Course if they attend the morning classroom portion of the course, regardless of whether the student has participated in a classroom-style Conceal Carry course in the past or not.

Directions to Dewey Shooting Range

From Stevens Point

Take Highway 66 to Torun Rd. Turn left on Torun Rd. and stay on Torun Rd. to Dewey Dr. Turn left on Dewey Dr. Go 1 mile to Willow Spring Dr and turn right into range.

From East

Take Highway 66 to County Hwy Y. Turn right on Y to Dewey Drive. Turn left on Dewey Dr. to Willow Spring Dr. Turn right into range.

From North

Take County Hwy X to Dewey Dr. Turn left on Dewey Dr. to Willow Spring Dr. Turn left into range.

Scheduled Classes

Saturday, April 29th, 2023

• 8 am to noon
  Concealed Carry Classroom Course (required) @ Portage County Annex
• 1 pm to 4 pm
  Basic Handgun Hands-On Course (optional) @ Dewey Shooting Range

Saturday, September 16th, 2023

• 8 am to noon
  Concealed Carry Classroom Course (required) @ Portage County Annex
• 1 pm to 4 pm
  Basic Handgun Hands-On Course (optional) @ Dewey Shooting Range

Information & Registration

For more information and to register, call the Portage County Sheriff's Office at 715-346-1444 or Email Sheriff the following information.

• Full Legal Name - This must match exactly as it is printed on your state-issued ID or Driver's License
• Date of Birth
• Address
• Phone number
• Indicate if you're participating in a classroom only or classroom and range

Concealed Carry Law Information

For more information regarding the concealed carry law and permit process.

Hunting Course Requirements

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1973, must have completed a hunter education course and show the certificate to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin. However, if they will be hunting under the hunting mentorship program or they have successfully completed and have proof of completing basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard, they do not need a hunting safety course certificate to purchase a license.

Hunter education graduates receive a certificate that is accepted in every state, Canadian province, and Mexico.

For Wisconsin residents, a first-time graduate may use the Wisconsin hunter education certificate in lieu of a small game hunting license from the date of issuance until March 31 of the following year. Those qualifying do not need to purchase a small game license; the certificate is the license for the established time period.

Course Information

The hunter education course instills in students the knowledge and skill to be responsible and safe hunters. The basic course is taught by certified deputy sheriffs and other highly skilled volunteers. Students learn how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented. Hunter's responsibility and safety are stressed throughout the classes, which consist of lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises, and individual study and activity assignments.

2023 Scheduled Classes

Rosholt Class

• May 1st, 2nd, and 4th from 4 pm to 7 pm each day at Rosholt School
• May 6th from 8 am to 11 am at the Dewey Public Shooting Range
• May 9th from 4 pm to 7 pm at Rosholt School

Stevens Point Class

• June 12th, 13th, and 15th from 4 pm to 7 pm each day at the Sheriff's Office
• June 17th from 8 am to 11 am at the Dewey Public Shooting Range
• June 20th from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Sheriff's Office

Amherst Class

• Amherst 21st, 22nd, and 29th from 4 pm - 7 pm each day at the Jensen Center
• August 26th from 8 am - 11 am at the Dewey Public Shooting Range
• August 29th from 4 pm - 7 pm at the Jensen Center

Register at Go Wild

Register for Class

To register for this class go to the Department of Natural Resources.

Call 715-346-1590 for more information.

About the Academy

The Portage County Sheriff's Office, Stevens Point Police and Fire Departments, and Plover Police Department host an academy to help provide our citizens the opportunity to experience what our law enforcement officers and firefighters do every day.

The academy consists of a basic law enforcement and fire/rescue overview with tours and explanations of our services. The participants will also have the opportunity to participate in firearms familiarization, emergency vehicle operations courses, and arrest tactics, among other police and fire-related training.

The class is limited to 20 people. All applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old and are subject to a background and criminal history check to ensure the integrity of our program.

Next Scheduled Class

Classes will be held from 6 pm to 9 pm on Thursdays unless otherwise noted.

The given topics are covered during the 12 sessions

• Introduction, Force Science and Tour of Sheriff's Office
• Fire Service Training and Tour
• Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)/ Traffic Contacts
• Emergency Vehicle Operations Course
• Detective Bureau, Dispatch, and Jail Presentations
• Range Day
• Deadly Force and Firearm Scenarios
• Fire Training
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Drug Investigator, Defense and Arrest Tactics (DAAT), Pepper Spray (O.C.), Taser, and K-9 Demo
• Tactical Training House
• Graduation!

2022 Citizen Academy Application (Due August 7th, 2022) (PDF)

For More Information/Contact Us

For more information, contact

• Deputy Matt Mcdonald
• Deputy Travis Levandowski

Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act

Weapons Qualification under 18 USC §§926B-926C

What is the LEOSA?

The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) is a United States federal law enacted in 2004, that allows two classes of persons - the "qualified law enforcement officer" and the "qualified retired or separated law enforcement officer" - to carry a concealed firearm in any jurisdiction in the United States or United States Territories, regardless of state or local laws, with certain exceptions. It is sometimes referred to as "HR 218."

If a person meets the criteria, "notwithstanding any provisions of the law of any state or any political subdivision thereof" he or she may carry a concealed firearm in that state or political subdivision. An individual who qualifies under LEOSA does not require a state-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm. The privilege specifically does not extend to machine guns, destructive devices, or silencers.

Although LEOSA preempts state and local laws, there are two exceptions:

1. Any state law that permits private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property (such as bars, private clubs, amusement parks, etc.)
2. Any state law that prohibits or restricts the possession of firearms on any state or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.

This credential does not, in and of itself, grant the bearer any authority to act on behalf of Portage County or to exercise any law enforcement authority.

Retired and Separated Law Enforcement

Former Portage County Officers

Any retired or properly separated sheriff or deputy sheriff from Portage County who wishes to qualify for a Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) credential under 18 USC §§926B-926C (as amended) must annually certify with the Sheriff's Office and complete a WisDOJ firearms qualification.

Former Non-Portage County Officers

Retired and separated officers from agencies other than the Portage County Sheriff's Office may qualify on a space-available basis and will receive a certificate if they qualify. Portage County cannot issue LEOSA cards to these individuals. They must contact their former agency (or WisDOJ for former out-of-state and former federal law enforcement officers) to obtain a LEOSA card from them.

Next Scheduled Qualification

• Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at 11 am

Costs

• Former Portage County sheriffs and deputy sheriffs: no-cost
• Former non-Portage County law enforcement officers: $25

Information & Registration

To ensure available space and adequate staff to properly conduct the course, pre-registration is required.  Contact the Portage County Sheriff's Office at 715-346-1443 for more information or to register.

For more information from the Wisconsin Department of Justice about the LEOSA, and for out-of-state officers applying for an LEOSA qualification card.

Required Documentation

All participants must complete the required LEOSA documentation prior to their qualification.  The participant instructions, waiver of liability, and LEOSA Application Packet (PDF).  Please carefully follow the instructions.

Credentials

Your Portage County retired/separated identification card, along with your LEOSA qualification card, must be obtained from the Emergency Management Division of the Sheriff's Office after you (re-)certify/qualify. There is a nominal fee for obtaining these. Remember that your LEOSA qualification card must be renewed annually.

Former non-Portage County law enforcement officers are not eligible to obtain an identification or LEOSA card from us. You will receive a certificate from us, and you must then contact your former employer (if you are from a Wisconsin law enforcement agency) or from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (for former out-of-state law enforcement officers.)