Chapter 29

29.161 History History: 1973 c. 90 s. 538; 1973 c. 315; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 s. 193; Stats. 1997 s. 29.161; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 387; 2009 a. 119; 2011 a. 252.

29.161 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.12, 10.125, and 10.26, Wis. adm. code.

29.164 29.164 Wild turkey hunting approvals.

29.164(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section:

29.164(1)(a) (a) “Family member” means a person who is related to another person as a parent, child, spouse or sibling.

29.164(1)(b) (b) “Landowner” means the owner of record of a parcel of land or the purchaser of land under a land contract who has the right to occupy and the right to use the land.

29.164(1)(c) (c) “Operator” means a resident who is residing on a parcel of land under a rental agreement, lease, agreement or contract and who is engaged in farm activities or other operations on the land.

29.164(1)(d) (d) “Resident applicant” includes a qualified resident landowner who applies for a wild turkey hunting license.

29.164(2) (2) Authorization; restrictions.

29.164(2)(a) (a) Department authority. The department may regulate and limit the hunting of wild turkeys by issuing licenses under this section. The department may not require the possession or validation of a wild turkey carcass tag and may not require that a carcass tag be attached to a lawfully killed wild turkey.

29.164(2)(b) (b) Type of hunting authorized. A license issued under this section authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.164(2)(c) (c) Requirements.

29.164(2)(c)1. 1. No person may hunt wild turkey unless he or she has a valid wild turkey hunting license and a valid wild turkey hunting stamp attached to or imprinted on the person’s wild turkey hunting license in the manner required by the rule promulgated under s. 29.024 (5) (a) 3.

29.164(2)(c)2. 2. If the department establishes a wild turkey hunting zone where or a season time period during which wild turkey hunting is permitted, no person may hunt wild turkeys in that wild turkey hunting zone or during that season time period unless the person has a wild turkey hunting license and a valid wild turkey hunting stamp as required under subd. 1. and unless the person has a wild turkey hunting authorization that is valid for that zone and that time period.

29.164(2)(d) (d) Exception. Any person holding a senior citizen recreation card or a conservation patron license is exempt from the requirements under par. (c) if the person has received a notice of approval under sub. (3) (e) and the person is exempt from paying the fee for the wild turkey hunting license.

29.164(3) (3) Wild turkey hunting licenses.

29.164(3)(a) (a) Cumulative preference system.

29.164(3)(a)1. 1. If the department requires wild turkey hunting licenses under sub. (2) (a) and the number of applications for wild turkey hunting authorizations for a given wild turkey hunting zone or a given wild turkey hunting season time period exceeds the number of available wild turkey hunting authorizations allocated by the department for that zone or that season time period, the department shall issue wild turkey hunting licenses and authorizations for that zone or that season time period according to the cumulative preference system under this subsection.

29.164(3)(a)2. 2. If the department requires wild turkey hunting licenses under sub. (2) (a) and the number of applications for wild turkey hunting authorizations for a given wild turkey hunting zone or a given wild turkey hunting season time period does not exceed the number of available wild turkey hunting authorizations allocated by the department for that zone or that season time period, the department shall issue a wild turkey hunting license and authorization to each applicant.

29.164(3)(b) (b) Qualified resident landowners.

29.164(3)(b)1. 1. The department shall create a first preference category in the issuance of wild turkey hunting licenses to applicants who are qualified resident landowners. The number of licenses issued under this paragraph for a season for an established wild turkey hunting zone may not exceed 30 percent of all licenses issued for that season for that zone.

29.164(3)(b)2. 2. For purposes of subd. 1., a qualified resident landowner is a resident who owns at least 50 acres in one parcel in an established wild turkey hunting zone. If more than one individual is the landowner of a single parcel of land, only one individual may be considered a qualified resident landowner.

29.164(3)(b)3. 3. A qualified resident landowner may assign his or her eligibility to apply for a wild turkey hunting license under this paragraph as a qualified resident landowner to a family member, to an operator, to a family member of the operator, or to a minor. A qualified resident landowner may not receive any consideration for the assignment of his or her eligibility under this subdivision. The department may specify the procedures and forms which are required to be followed and completed to effect this assignment. After this assignment, the assignee may apply for a wild turkey hunting license under this paragraph as a qualified resident landowner and the qualified resident landowner who assigned his or her eligibility may not so apply.

29.164(3)(c) (c) Second preference. The department shall create a 2nd preference category in issuing wild turkey hunting licenses to resident applicants who in a previous season applied for but were not issued wild turkey hunting licenses:

29.164(3)(c)1. 1. For the previous season if the department establishes one open season per year; or

29.164(3)(c)2. 2. For the previous corresponding season if the department establishes more than one open season per year.

29.164(3)(cg) (cg) Third preference. The department shall create a 3rd preference category in issuing wild turkey hunting licenses to all other resident applicants.

29.164(3)(ci) (ci) Fourth preference. The department shall create a 4th preference category in issuing wild turkey hunting licenses to applicants who are qualified nonresident landowners. For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified nonresident landowner is a person who is not a resident and who owns at least 50 acres in one parcel in an established wild turkey hunting zone and who agrees to allow other persons to hunt wild turkeys on that land if those persons first obtain permission to hunt from the landowner. If more than one individual is the landowner of a single parcel of land, only one individual may be considered a qualified nonresident landowner.

29.164(3)(cm) (cm) Fifth preference. The department shall create a 5th preference category in issuing wild turkey hunting licenses to all other nonresident applicants.

29.164(3)(cr) (cr) Cumulative preference.

29.164(3)(cr)1. 1. In issuing licenses under the 2nd preference category under this subsection, the department shall give, within that preference category, a preference point to each applicant for each previous corresponding season for which the person applied but was not issued a wild turkey hunting license. The department shall create subcategories for each point total and place each applicant in the applicable subcategory. The department shall rank the subcategories according to the number of preference points received, giving higher priority to those subcategories with more points than those with fewer points. Applicants who fail to apply at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points.

29.164(3)(cr)2. 2. If the number of applicants within a preference category or a subcategory under this subsection exceeds the number of wild turkey hunting licenses available in the category or subcategory, the department shall select at random within the category or subcategory the applicants to be issued the licenses.

29.164(3)(d) (d) License limitation. No person may apply for or receive more than one wild turkey hunting license during one season.

29.164(3)(e) (e) Notification; issuance; payment. The department shall issue a notice of approval to those qualified applicants selected to receive a wild turkey hunting license and authorization under par. (a). A person who receives a notice of approval and who pays the license fee in the manner required by the department shall be issued a wild turkey hunting license, subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d., and an authorization. The department may not charge a fee for an authorization that is issued under this paragraph.

29.164(3m) (3m) Wild turkey hunting licenses issued to members of armed forces, disabled veterans, and recipients of the purple heart medal.

29.164(3m)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the department may issue wild turkey hunting licenses and authorizations without requiring that the licenses and authorizations be issued pursuant to the cumulative preference system under sub. (3) to members of the U.S. armed forces who are all of the following:

29.164(3m)(a)1. 1. Residents.

29.164(3m)(a)2. 2. In active service with the U.S. armed forces outside this state.

29.164(3m)(a)3. 3. On furlough or leave within the state.

29.164(3m)(am) (am) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the department shall issue to disabled veterans and to qualified recipients of the purple heart medal wild turkey hunting licenses and tags without requiring that the licenses and tags be issued pursuant to the cumulative preference system under sub. (3). A disabled veteran is a resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC 501. The department shall recognize an annual disabled veteran recreation card issued under s. 29.236 as sufficient evidence that a person is a disabled veteran. A qualified recipient of the purple heart medal is a person who exhibits proof that he or she has received the medal.

29.164(3m)(b) (b) The department may not impose any deadline or other restriction on the timing for applications or issuing licenses or authorizations under this subsection. If a license and authorization under this subsection are issued during the applicable hunting season, the license and authorization shall authorize hunting beginning on the date of issuance.

29.164(3m)(c) (c) An applicant for a wild turkey hunting license under this subsection is eligible for the same number of wild turkey hunting authorizations for each applicable season time period as an applicant who is issued authorizations under the cumulative preference system under sub. (3).

29.164(4) (4) Wild turkey hunting stamps; additional authorizations.

29.164(4)(a) (a) Issuance. The wild turkey hunting stamp shall be issued by the department subject to s. 29.024.

29.164(4)(b) (b) Additional authorizations. The department may issue the wild turkey hunting authorizations that were allocated for a given wild turkey hunting zone or season time period under sub. (3) (a) 2. but that were not issued. The department shall charge the fee specified in s. 29.563 (2) (f) or (g) for each of these additional authorizations. The issuance of an authorization under this paragraph does not affect the priority that the person receiving the authorization may have under the cumulative preference system.

29.164(5) (5) Use of moneys from fees. The fees collected from the sale of wild turkey hunting stamps shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (ht).

29.164 History History: 1981 c. 262; 1983 a. 27, 192; 1985 a. 332 s. 253; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 31, 73; 1991 a. 39, 77, 269; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 168; 1997 a. 248 ss. 212 to 230; Stats. 1997 s. 29.164; 1997 a. 249 s. 21; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2001 a. 18; 2003 a. 67; 2005 a. 25, 108, 387; 2007 a. 24; 2009 a. 119; 2011 a. 252; 2017 a. 14, 59; 2023 a. 115.

29.164 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.25 and 10.29, Wis. adm. code.

29.171 29.171 Resident archer hunting license.

29.171(1) (1) A resident archer hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license.

29.171(2) (2) A resident archer hunting license authorizes the hunting of all game, except bear, elk, and wild turkey, during the open seasons established by the department for hunting that game with bow and arrow.

29.171(4) (4) 

29.171(4)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (bc), no person may use a crossbow in hunting as authorized by any license or permit issued under this chapter unless the crossbow meets all of the following specifications:

29.171(4)(b)2. 2. Shall have a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds.

29.171(4)(b)4. 4. Shall have a working safety.

29.171(4)(b)5. 5. Shall be used with bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches in length with a broadhead.

29.171(4)(bc) (bc) A compound bow equipped with a device that holds the bow at full draw but that is not constructed with a stock and designed to be shot from the shoulder with one hand is exempt from the specification under par. (b) 2.

29.171 History History: 1973 c. 90 s. 538; 1977 c. 232; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 270; 1987 a. 353; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 77; 1995 a. 293; 1997 a. 27, 168; 1997 a. 248 ss. 231 to 235; Stats. 1997 s. 29.171; 1997 a. 249 s. 25; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 18, 109; 2005 a. 285, 387; 2009 a. 119; 2011 a. 169, 252; 2013 a. 61, 165; 2013 a. 166 s. 77; 2015 a. 89, 222; 2017 a. 59.

29.172 29.172 Resident crossbow hunting license.

29.172(1) (1) A resident crossbow hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license.

29.172(2) (2) A resident crossbow hunting license authorizes the hunting of all game, except bear, elk, and wild turkey, during the open seasons for hunting that game with a crossbow established by the department. This license authorizes hunting with a crossbow only.

29.172 History History: 2013 a. 61; 2015 a. 89, 222; 2017 a. 59.

29.173 29.173 Resident deer hunting license.

29.173(1) (1) Issuance. A resident deer hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license.

29.173(2) (2) Authorization.

29.173(2)(a) (a) A resident deer hunting license authorizes the hunting of deer with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.173(2)(b) (b) A qualified service member holding a current resident deer hunting license may hunt deer of either sex during any season open to hunting of deer with firearms that is established by the department. For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified service member is a member of the armed forces who exhibits proof that he or she is in active service with the armed forces outside this state and proof of one of the following:

29.173(2)(b)1. 1. That he or she is a resident who is on furlough or leave.

29.173(2)(b)2. 2. That he or she was a resident at the time he or she entered active service and that he or she is on furlough or leave.

29.173 History History: 1973 c. 90 s. 538; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 270; 1993 a. 258; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 236 to 239; Stats. 1997 s. 29.173; 2005 a. 387; 2007 a. 51; 2011 a. 252; 2015 a. 89, 222; 2017 a. 59; 2023 a. 115.

29.173 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 10, Wis. adm. code.

29.177 29.177 Special deer hunting permits.

29.177(1) (1) Issuance. The department may issue a hunter’s choice deer hunting permit, a deer hunting party permit or other special deer hunting permit to a person with a valid deer hunting license who applies for the permit and to a person who is exempt from obtaining a deer hunting license under s. 29.063 (5) who applies for a permit.

29.177(2) (2) Authorization. A hunter’s choice deer hunting permit may authorize or require the permit holder to take deer of a sex or type not authorized by a regular deer hunting license. A deer hunting party permit may authorize members of a deer hunting party to take additional deer not authorized by a regular deer hunting license. Except as authorized by rule, a person may not apply for or be issued more than one special deer hunting permit in a single season.

29.177(3) (3) Findings. The department may issue permits authorized under this section and s. 29.181 only in those years in which the department finds that the size or characteristics of the deer population of this state require additional or special types of deer to be taken for proper game management.

29.177(3m) (3m) Deer management rules. For the purposes of permits issued under this section and s. 29.181, the department shall specify by rule the type and number of deer which may be taken, the deer management areas where these permits are valid, the number of permits to be issued, the open seasons during which the permits are valid, the types of weapons authorized to be used under the permits, and other restrictions and conditions concerning these permits.

29.177(4) (4) Cumulative preference system. If the number of qualified applicants for a type of special deer hunting permit in a deer management area exceeds the number of such available special permits, the department shall issue those special permits for that deer management area according to the cumulative preference system.

29.177(5) (5) Preference categories.

29.177(5)(a) (a) First preference. The department shall create a first preference category for applicants who are qualified landowners, but not more than 30 percent of the available special permits for a deer management area for one season may be issued under this preference category.

29.177(5)(b) (b) Second preference. The department shall create a 2nd preference category for resident applicants who applied for but were not issued special permits for a given deer management area for the previous season. Within this preference category, the department shall give a preference point to each applicant for each previous season in which the person applied for but was not issued a special permit for that deer management area. The department shall create subcategories for each point total and place each applicant in the applicable subcategory. The department shall rank the subcategories according to the number of points received, giving higher priority to those subcategories with more points than those with fewer points. Applicants who fail to apply at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points.

29.177(5)(c) (c) Third preference. The department shall create a 3rd preference category for those persons who are not eligible under the 1st or 2nd preference categories.

29.177(5)(d) (d) Random selection. If the number of applicants within a preference category or a subcategory under this subsection exceeds the number of special deer hunting permits available in the category or subcategory, the department shall select at random within the category or subcategory the applicants to be issued the permits.

29.177(6) (6) Qualified landowner. In order to apply for a special deer hunting permit as a qualified landowner a person is required to be a resident and the owner of record or a vendee under a land contract of at least 50 acres in one parcel located in whole or in part in the deer management area for which the special permit is valid. No more than one person may apply as a qualified landowner for one parcel of land in one season and if the parcel of land is located in more than one deer management area, the owner or vendee may apply as a qualified landowner in only one of the deer management areas in which the parcel of land is located in one season.

29.177(7) (7) Exemption from cumulative preference system.

29.177(7)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (4), the department may issue special deer hunting permits without requiring that the permits be issued pursuant to the cumulative preference system under sub. (4) to members of the U.S. armed forces who are all of the following:

29.177(7)(a)1. 1. Residents.

29.177(7)(a)2. 2. In active service with the U.S. armed forces outside this state.

29.177(7)(a)3. 3. On furlough or leave within the state.

29.177(7)(b) (b) The department may not impose any deadline or other restriction on the timing for permit applications or issuing permits under this subsection. If a permit under this subsection is issued during the applicable hunting season, the permit shall authorize hunting beginning on the date of issuance.