Chapter 29

29.053 29.053 Specific open and closed seasons.

29.053(1) (1) All fishing seasons on inland waters shall open on a Saturday.

29.053(2) (2) The department may exercise its authority under s. 29.014 with reference to the state as a whole, or for any specified county or part of a county, or for any lake or stream or part of a lake or stream.

29.053(2)(a) (a) The department may establish a fishing season on specified bodies of water in certain urban areas, as determined by rule by the department, that allows fishing only by persons who are under 16 years old or who are disabled and can produce the evidence specified in s. 29.193 (3) (a), (b) or (c), subject to all of the following conditions:

29.053(2)(a)1. 1. The department may not designate a body of water under this subsection that is 25 acres or greater in area.

29.053(2)(a)2. 2. The department may not designate a body of water under this subsection without the written agreement of each private owner of shoreline and of each city, village, town, county, federal agency or other state agency that owns shoreline.

29.053(2)(a)3. 3. The department shall post notice of the restricted fishing season at each designated body of water.

29.053(2)(b) (b) Section 227.16 (2) (e) does not apply to a rule promulgated under this subsection and, when the department proposes to add a body of water to or delete a body of water from a rule under this subsection, the department shall hold a hearing, as required under s. 227.16 (1), either in the county in which the body of water is located or within 50 miles of the body of water.

29.053(3) (3) The department may modify any requirement of this chapter or rules promulgated under it, establish special seasons, authorize the use of special equipment or take any other action in order to provide additional hunting and fishing opportunities for persons who are physically disabled or visually handicapped. The department may limit the number of persons involved, except that if the department establishes a special season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns for persons who are physically disabled, the season shall be open to persons who have been issued a Class D permit under s. 29.193 (2).

29.053 History History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 112, 384, 388 to 392; 1999 a. 32; 2011 a. 168; 2023 a. 115.

29.053 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.01, 10.40, 19.01, and 20.33, Wis. adm. code.

29.055 29.055 Wild animals; possession in closed season or in excess of bag limit. Except as expressly provided in this chapter, no person may have in the person’s possession or under the person’s control, or have in storage, any wild animal or carcass that was taken during the closed season for that wild animal or that is in excess of the bag or possession limit or contrary to the size limits for that wild animal. The open and closed seasons and the bag, possession and size limits of the state, province or country in which a wild animal was taken shall apply to the wild animal or the carcass if it was lawfully killed outside of this state. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.055 History History: 1975 c. 360, 421; 1993 a. 410; 1997 a. 248 s. 502; Stats. 1997 s. 29.055; 2001 a. 56.

29.057 29.057 Wild animals; possession in open season. It is unlawful to possess or control at any time a protected wild animal or the carcass of any protected wild animal showing that it was taken during the closed season for the protected wild animal. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.057 History History: 1997 a. 248 s. 503; Stats. 1997 s. 29.057; 2001 a. 56.

29.059 29.059 Reports of hunters. Each person to whom a hunting or trapping license has been issued shall, upon request by the department, report to the department, on forms furnished by it, the number of the person’s license, the number and kind of each animal taken by the licensee and other information that the department requires.

29.059 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 282; Stats. 1997 s. 29.059.

29.063 29.063 Management of chronic wasting disease.

29.063(1) (1) The department may manage, and provide funding to conduct testing for, chronic wasting disease in cervids.

29.063(2) (2) If the department designates an area as a chronic wasting disease eradication zone, the department shall provide notice and information to the public that is adequate to inform the public prior to the commencement of hunting that hunting of cervids to control the spread of the disease will occur in that zone.

29.063(3) (3) To control chronic wasting disease, the department may promulgate rules regulating the transportation, possession, control, storage, or disposal of the carcass of a cervid in this state, except that the rules may not apply to any of the following:

29.063(3)(a) (a) Meat that is cut and wrapped, either commercially or privately.

29.063(3)(b) (b) Quarters or other portions of meat to which no part of the spinal column or head is attached.

29.063(3)(c) (c) Meat that has been deboned.

29.063(3)(d) (d) Hides with no heads attached.

29.063(3)(e) (e) Finished taxidermy heads.

29.063(3)(f) (f) Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.

29.063(3)(g) (g) Skulls with antlers attached and with no meat or tissue attached.

29.063(3)(h) (h) Upper canine teeth.

29.063(4) (4) The department may promulgate rules prohibiting the transportation of the carcass of a cervid from another state or country in which chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a cervid, except that the rules may not apply to any of the following:

29.063(4)(a) (a) Meat that is cut and wrapped, either commercially or privately.

29.063(4)(b) (b) Quarters or other portions of meat to which no part of the spinal column or head is attached.

29.063(4)(c) (c) Meat that has been deboned.

29.063(4)(d) (d) Hides with no heads attached.

29.063(4)(e) (e) Finished taxidermy heads.

29.063(4)(f) (f) Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.

29.063(4)(g) (g) Skulls with antlers attached and with no meat or tissue attached.

29.063(4)(h) (h) Upper canine teeth.

29.063(5) (5) The department may exempt deer hunters from obtaining a license under this chapter for the hunting of deer in an area that the department has designated by rule as a chronic wasting disease control zone. Deer hunters that are exempted under this subsection shall be at least 10 years of age, except that a person born on or after January 1, 1973, may not hunt deer under this subsection unless he or she complies with ss. 29.304 and 29.593. A deer hunter exempted under this subsection who is under 12 years of age is subject to the restrictions specified under s. 29.592. The department shall by rule establish eligibility criteria and application procedures for receipt of an exemption under this subsection, including a method for obtaining a permit to hunt deer without a license under this subsection.

29.063(6) (6) 

29.063(6)(a) (a) In this subsection:

29.063(6)(a)1. 1. “Landfill” means a solid waste facility, as defined in s. 289.01 (35), for solid waste disposal, as defined in s. 289.01 (34), licensed under s. 289.31.

29.063(6)(a)2. 2. “Meat processing facility” means a plant or premises where animals are slaughtered for human consumption, or where meat or meat products are processed, but does not include rendering plants.

29.063(6)(a)3. 3. “Wastewater treatment facility” means a plant or premises used to treat industrial wastewater or domestic wastewater or any combination of industrial wastewater and domestic wastewater and permitted pursuant to ch. 283.

29.063(6)(b) (b) Subject to par. (c), the department or the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may enter into agreements with persons who own or operate landfills, meat processing facilities, or wastewater treatment facilities in which this state agrees to indemnify those persons and their employees, officers, and agents against liability for damage to persons, property, or the environment resulting from the processing or disposal of carcasses of cervids and farm-raised deer that have chronic wasting disease.

29.063(6)(c) (c) The department or the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may enter into an agreement under par. (b) only if all of the following apply:

29.063(6)(c)1. 1. The governor approves the agreement.

29.063(6)(c)2. 2. The agreement specifies a method for determining whether the landfill, meat processing facility, or wastewater treatment facility is liable for damage described in par. (b).

29.063(6)(c)3. 3. The agreement requires the landfill, meat processing facility, or wastewater treatment facility to notify the department that entered into the agreement and the attorney general when a claim or lawsuit to which the agreement may apply is filed.

29.063(6)(c)4. 4. The agreement authorizes the attorney general to intervene on behalf of the landfill, meat processing facility, or wastewater treatment facility and this state in any lawsuit to which the agreement may apply.

29.063(6)(c)5. 5. The agreement requires the owner or operator of the landfill, meat processing facility, or wastewater treatment facility to minimize risks related to processing or disposal of carcasses of cervids and farm-raised deer that have chronic wasting disease.

29.063(6)(c)6. 6. The agreement authorizes the department that entered into the agreement to require the owner or operator of the landfill, meat processing facility, or wastewater treatment facility to operate in a manner specified in writing by that department to minimize risks related to processing or disposal of carcasses of cervids and farm-raised deer that have chronic wasting disease.

29.063(6)(d) (d) This subsection and any agreement entered into under par. (b) may not be construed as consent to sue this state.

29.063(6)(e) (e) If a claim is filed under an agreement under par. (b), the department that entered into the agreement shall review the claim to determine whether it is valid. A valid claim shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (hc).

29.063 History History: 2001 a. 108; 2005 a. 286; 2009 a. 39.

29.071 29.071 Wildlife on Indian reservations protected. No person may remove or take from any Indian reservation the carcass of any protected wild animal during the closed season for the wild animal except as authorized by the department under this chapter or ch. 169.

29.071 History History: 1997 a. 248 s. 538; Stats. 1997 s. 29.071; 2001 a. 56.

29.071 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.12, Wis. adm. code.

29.075 29.075 Hunting, trapping and fishing by American Indians. American Indians hunting, trapping or fishing off Indian reservation lands are subject to this chapter.

29.075 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 s. 92; Stats. 1997 s. 29.075.

29.079 29.079 Deer hunting by practitioners of Ho-Chunk religion.

29.079(1) (1) Persons who are enrolled members of the Ho-Chunk nation and residents and who practice the traditional religion of the Ho-Chunk people may hunt deer during daylight hours for the members’ use in religious ceremonies without obtaining licenses under this chapter. Each hunting party shall be designated by the respective clan. Each clan leader shall obtain permission for deer hunting under this section from the department not less than 24 hours prior to each hunt.

29.079(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules necessary to control the conditions and location under which hunting under this section may take place. The department may deny permission for hunting under this section when it determines that a denial is necessary to effectively manage the deer population. The number of deer taken under sub. (1) during any calendar year shall be established by the department, by rule, when necessary to effectively manage the deer population. Hunting privileges under this section may not be exercised during the regular open season for deer.

29.079(3) (3) Nothing in this section may be construed to eliminate any requirement that a landowner’s permission must be obtained prior to hunting on his or her land.

29.079 History History: 1977 c. 242; 1997 a. 248 s. 240; Stats. 1997 s. 29.079.

29.083 29.083 Interference with hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping” means travel, camping, scouting, target shooting, dog training, animal baiting or feeding, or other acts that are preparatory to lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping and that are done by a hunter, fisher, or trapper or by a member of a hunting, fishing, or trapping party.

29.083(2) (2) Prohibitions.

29.083(2)(a) (a) No person may interfere or attempt to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping with the intent to prevent the taking of a wild animal, or intentionally interfere with or intentionally attempt to interfere with an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, by doing any of the following:

29.083(2)(a)1. 1. Harassing a wild animal or by engaging in an activity that tends to harass wild animals.

29.083(2)(a)2. 2. Impeding or obstructing a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)3. 3. Impeding or obstructing a person who is engaged in an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)4. 4. Disturbing the personal property of a person engaged in lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)5. 5. Disturbing a lawfully placed hunting blind or stand.

29.083(2)(a)6. 6. Disturbing lawfully placed bait or other material used to feed or attract a wild animal.

29.083(2)(a)7. 7. Engaging in a series of 2 or more acts carried out over time, however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose and that are intended to impede or obstruct a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, or an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, including any of the following:

29.083(2)(a)7.a. a. Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person.

29.083(2)(a)7.b. b. Approaching or confronting the person.

29.083(2)(a)7.c. c. Photographing, videotaping, audiotaping, or through other electronic means, monitoring or recording the activities of the person. This subd. 7. c. applies regardless of where the act occurs.

29.083(2)(a)7.d. d. Causing a person to engage in any of the acts described in subd. 7. a. to c.

29.083 Note NOTE: Subd. 7. was held to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Brown v. Kemp, 86 F.4th 745 (2003).

29.083(2)(a)8. 8. Using a drone, as defined in s. 941.292 (1), to conduct any activity prohibited under subds. 1. to 7.

29.083(2)(b) (b) No person may knowingly fail to obey the order of a warden or other law enforcement officer to desist from conduct in violation of par. (a) if the order is based on any of the following:

29.083(2)(b)1. 1. The warden or other law enforcement officer personally observed such conduct by the person.

29.083(2)(b)2. 2. The warden or other law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has engaged in such conduct that day or that the person intends to engage in such conduct that day.

29.083(3) (3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to actions under sub. (2) (a) 1. to 8. performed by wardens and other law enforcement officers if the actions are authorized by law.

29.083(3m) (3m) Affirmative defense. It is an affirmative defense to the prosecution for violation of this section if the defendant’s conduct is protected by his or her right to freedom of speech under the constitution of this state or of the United States.

29.083(4) (4) Civil actions.

29.083(4)(a) (a) A person who is adversely affected by, or who reasonably may be expected to be adversely affected by, conduct that is in violation of sub. (2) (a) may bring an action in circuit court for an injunction or damages or both.