Chapter 29

29.181 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 1; 1997 a. 248 ss. 248 to 254; Stats. 1997 s. 29.181; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 108; 2013 a. 20.

29.181 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 10.001, Wis. adm. code.

29.182 29.182 Elk hunting licenses.

29.182(1) (1) Department authority. The department may issue elk hunting licenses and may limit the number of elk hunters and elk harvested in any area of the state. The department may establish by rule closed zones where elk hunting is prohibited.

29.182(1m) (1m) Open season requirement. The department may not establish an open season for hunting elk that begins earlier than the Saturday nearest October 15.

29.182(2) (2) Application. A person who applies for an elk hunting license under this section shall pay the processing fee under s. 29.553 at the time of application.

29.182(3) (3) Authorization.

29.182(3)(a) (a) A resident elk hunting license authorizes a resident of this state to hunt elk with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.182(3)(b) (b) A nonresident elk hunting license authorizes a nonresident of this state to hunt elk with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.182(4) (4) Issuance.

29.182(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d) and sub. (4m), if the department issues elk hunting licenses, the department shall issue a resident or nonresident elk hunting license to any person who applies for such a license, and who pays the fees required for the license.

29.182(4)(b) (b) In issuing resident elk hunting licenses and nonresident elk hunting licenses under this section, the department shall determine the number of licenses it will issue in a given elk hunting season and shall allocate the licenses to residents and nonresidents in the following manner:

29.182(4)(b)1. 1. If the total number of licenses to be issued is 100 licenses or less, the licenses shall be allocated for issuance only as resident elk hunting licenses.

29.182(4)(b)2. 2. If the number of licenses to be issued is more than 100 licenses, the first 100 licenses and 95 percent of the amount over 100 shall be allocated for issuance as resident elk hunting licenses and the remaining licenses shall be allocated for issuance as nonresident elk hunting licenses.

29.182(4)(c) (c) If the number of applicants for resident elk hunting licenses exceeds the number of resident elk hunting licenses that are available under par. (b), the department shall select at random the residents to be issued the licenses. If the number of applicants for resident elk hunting licenses is less than the number of resident elk hunting licenses available under par. (b), the department shall reallocate the unissued licenses to be issued as nonresident elk hunting licenses under par. (d).

29.182(4)(d) (d) If the number of applicants for nonresident elk hunting licenses exceeds the number of nonresident elk hunting licenses that are available under par. (b), the department shall select at random the nonresidents to be issued the licenses. If the number of applicants for nonresident elk hunting licenses is less than the number of nonresident elk hunting licenses available under par. (b), the department shall reallocate the unissued licenses to be issued as resident elk hunting licenses.

29.182(4)(e) (e) In addition to any other elk hunting license that the department issues under this subsection, the department shall issue one resident elk hunting license in an elk hunting season to an organization known as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation if the organization applies for the license for that season and pays the required fees for the license. The organization may apply for the license only during the first 5 elk hunting seasons for which licenses are issued under this section.

29.182(4)(f) (f) The organization known as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation shall award the license that is issued under par. (e) as a prize in a raffle conducted by a subunit of the organization that is licensed to conduct raffles under ch. 563.

29.182(4)(g) (g) The organization known as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation shall transfer the license awarded under par. (f) only to a person who is qualified to receive a resident elk hunting license and shall transfer to that person the carcass tag that was issued by the department to the organization under sub. (6).

29.182(4)(h) (h) If the organization known as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation fails to transfer the license under par. (g), the license shall become invalid, and the department may issue another resident elk hunting license under this subsection.

29.182(4)(i) (i) The organization known as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation shall use the proceeds from the raffle under par. (f) in this state to promote elk management, to promote the reintroduction of eastern elk, or to further elk research.

29.182(4m) (4m) Limitation of one license. A person may be issued, or transferred under sub. (4) (g), only one resident elk hunting license in his or her lifetime, and the resident elk hunting license shall be valid for only one elk hunting season. The issuance, or transfer under sub. (4) (g), of the license to the person is subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d.

29.182(5) (5) Fees. Fees received from the issuance of licenses under this section shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (hq).

29.182(6) (6) Carcass tag. The department shall issue an elk carcass tag to each person and organization who is issued an elk hunting license under this section.

29.182 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 321; 2005 a. 387; 2011 a. 252; 2013 a. 20, 165; 2015 a. 222; 2023 a. 115.

29.183 29.183 Deferral of certain approvals.

29.183(1) (1) The department shall defer as provided in sub. (4), upon request from a person who meets the requirements under sub. (2) and who submits a request under sub. (3), any of the following approvals that the department issues to the person under a random or preference selection system:

29.183(1)(a) (a) Hunter’s choice deer hunting permit.

29.183(1)(b) (b) Bonus deer hunting permit.

29.183(1)(c) (c) Bobcat hunting and trapping permit.

29.183(1)(d) (d) Otter trapping permit.

29.183(1)(e) (e) Fisher trapping permit.

29.183(1)(f) (f) Canada goose hunting permit.

29.183(1)(g) (g) Wild turkey hunting license.

29.183(1)(h) (h) Sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit.

29.183(1)(i) (i) Class A bear license.

29.183(1)(j) (j) Elk hunting license.

29.183(1)(k) (k) Sturgeon spearing license.

29.183(2) (2) A person shall meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for the deferral of an approval under sub. (1):

29.183(2)(a) (a) Be selected under a random or preference selection system for the issuance of any of the approvals listed in sub. (1).

29.183(2)(b) (b) Be serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard.

29.183(2)(c) (c) Be unable to exercise his or her privilege to fish, hunt, or trap as permitted by that approval due to his or her service on active duty in the U. S. armed forces or national guard.

29.183(3) (3) A person who meets the requirements under sub. (2) may request, or have a request made on his or her behalf, that the department defer the person’s approval.

29.183(4) (4) If the department receives a request for a deferral of an approval under sub. (3) and any approval and tags that have already been issued before the day prior to the beginning of that hunting or trapping season, the department shall defer the person’s approval.

29.183(5) (5) The department shall notify the person whose approval was deferred under sub. (4) that he or she may receive that deferred approval after his or her active duty ends without applying under the random or preference selection system. A person whose approval was deferred under sub. (4) may apply for that approval during the calendar year that the person ceased serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard, during the calendar year following the calendar year that the person ceased serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard, or earlier if he or she is able to exercise his or her privilege to fish, hunt, or trap. Upon receipt of the appropriate fees and the application form prescribed by the department, the department shall issue the person his or her approval that was deferred.

29.183 History History: 2005 a. 53; 2007 a. 66.

29.184 29.184 Bear licenses.

29.184(1) (1) Definition. In this section, notwithstanding s. 29.001 (42), “hunt bear” means to shoot, shoot at, take, catch, or kill a bear or pursue, with or without the use of dogs, a bear for the purpose of shooting, shooting at, taking, catching, or killing the bear.

29.184(2) (2) Department authority. The department may regulate and limit the number of bear hunters and bear harvested in any area of the state.

29.184(3) (3) Licenses; prohibitions; authorization.

29.184(3)(a) (a) Prohibition. Except as authorized under par. (br), no person may hunt bear unless the person has been issued a Class A bear license under this section.

29.184(3)(am) (am) Evidence of bear hunting. The fact that a person is observing a bear while possessing a firearm or airgun is not sufficient evidence to prove that the person holding the firearm or airgun is hunting bear.

29.184(3)(br) (br) Authorization to conduct other activities. No license is required for a person to do any of the following:

29.184(3)(br)1. 1. Assist a holder of a Class A bear license in hunting bear by tracking bear, trailing bear or otherwise engaging in an activity that contributes to locating bear and that is authorized by rule by the department.

29.184(3)(br)1m. 1m. Pursue a bear, provided that the person does not shoot, shoot at, capture, take, or kill the bear, except as provided under subd. 4.

29.184(3)(br)2. 2. Bait bear.

29.184(3)(br)3. 3. Train a dog to track bear, to trail bear or to otherwise engage in an activity that contributes to locating bear and that is authorized by rule by the department.

29.184(3)(br)4. 4. Shoot, for the purpose of killing, a bear that was shot, but not killed, by a Class A bear license holder if the person shooting the bear was hunting in the same hunting party as the Class A bear license holder at the point of kill, if the Class A bear license holder possesses a current unused bear carcass tag that is authorized for use on the bear killed, and if killing the bear is necessary to protect the safety of the members of the hunting party or others.

29.184(3)(c) (c) Type of hunting authorized. A Class A bear license authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.184(3m) (3m) Open season requirements. If the department establishes an open season that includes a period during which a Class A bear license holder is allowed to hunt bear with the use of a dog, the department shall allow a person to engage in the activities specified in sub. (3) (br) 3. during that period.

29.184(4) (4) Use of dogs.

29.184(4)(a) (a) Except at facilities and specified property locations where prohibited by s. NR 45.06, Wis. Adm. Code, a person may engage in the training of a dog as authorized under sub. (3) (br) without keeping it on a leash during the period from July 1st through August 31st if all of the following apply:

29.184(4)(a)1. 1. The dog is uniquely tattooed or wears a collar with the owner’s name and address attached.

29.184(4)(a)2. 2. The person holds a Class A bear license issued under this section or is authorized under sub. (3) (br) to engage in the training of a dog without holding a license.

29.184(4)(a)3. 3. The dog is being trained in a single pack of dogs that complies with the size requirement under par. (c).

29.184(4)(c) (c) No more than 6 dogs may be in a single pack regardless of the number of individuals involved in the training and regardless of whether there is more than one owner of the dogs.

29.184(6) (6) Issuance.

29.184(6)(a) (a) Application. A person who seeks a Class A bear hunting license shall apply to the department.

29.184(6)(b) (b) Cumulative preference system; random selection. If the number of qualified applications for Class A bear licenses exceeds the number of available licenses, the department shall select applicants to be issued Class A bear licenses based upon a cumulative preference system. This system shall establish preference categories for those applicants who applied for but who were not issued Class A bear licenses or bear harvest permits under s. 29.1085 (3) (b), 1993 stats., in the previous season, with higher priority given to those categories with more preference points than those with fewer preference points. For each season, the department shall allow each applicant under the system to apply for a preference point or for a license. The department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a preference point and to each applicant who applies for a license but who is not selected. Applicants who fail to apply for either a preference point or a license at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points. If the number of applicants within a preference category exceeds the number of Class A bear licenses available in the category, the department shall select at random the applicants to be issued licenses within the preference category. A person of any age may apply for a preference point.

29.184(6)(c) (c) Notification, issuance; fees.

29.184(6)(c)1g. 1g. A person who applies for a preference point or a license under par. (a) shall pay the processing fee under s. 29.553 at the time of application.

29.184(6)(c)1r. 1r. Subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d., the department shall issue a Class A bear license to those qualified applicants selected to receive a license under par. (b).

29.184(6g) (6g) Issuance of additional Class A bear licenses.

29.184(6g)(a) (a) In addition to any other Class A bear hunting license that the department issues under this section, the department shall issue 2 certificates for Class A bear hunting licenses in a Class A bear hunting season to an organization known as the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc., if the organization applies for the certificates for that season.

29.184(6g)(b) (b) The organization known as the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc., shall award one of the certificates that is issued under par. (a) as a prize in a raffle conducted by a subunit of the organization that is licensed to conduct raffles under ch. 563 and shall award the other to the person who places the highest bid in a public auction.

29.184(6g)(c) (c) The organization known as the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc., shall transfer the certificate awarded under par. (b) only to persons who are qualified to receive a Class A bear hunting license. A person who receives a certificate may present that certificate to the department and request a resident or nonresident Class A bear hunting license. Upon receipt of the certificate and the appropriate required fees, the department shall issue the holder of the certificate a resident or nonresident Class A bear hunting license and the carcass tag under sub. (8).

29.184(6g)(d) (d) If the organization known as the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc., fails to transfer the certificates under par. (c), the certificates shall become invalid.

29.184(6g)(e) (e) The organization known as the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Inc., shall use the proceeds from the raffle and auction under par. (b) in this state to promote bear management and education and to further bear research.

29.184(6g)(f) (f) A Class A bear hunting license issued to a person under par. (c) shall be valid for only one Class A bear hunting season. The issuance under par. (c) of a license to the person is subject to s. 29.024 (2g).

29.184(7) (7) Use of fees. Fees received from the issuance of licenses under this section shall be paid into the conservation fund to be used for administering bear licenses and for bear management activities.

29.184(8) (8) Carcass tag.

29.184(8)(a) (a) The department shall issue a bear carcass tag to each person who is issued a Class A bear license. Except as provided under par. (b) and s. 29.349 (2), a person who kills a bear shall immediately validate the carcass tag. No person may possess, control, store, or transport a bear carcass unless the carcass tag has been validated in the manner required by the department.

29.184(8)(b) (b) A person who kills a bear under sub. (3) (br) 4. shall ensure that the person for whom the bear is killed validates the bear carcass tag in the manner required by the department.

29.184 History History: 1985 a. 270; 1997 a. 1 ss. 57 to 74, 77; 1997 a. 27, 191; 1997 a. 248 ss. 255 to 269; Stats. 1997 s. 29.184; 1997 a. 249 ss. 28 to 32; 1999 a. 9, 32, 186; 2001 a. 55; 2003 a. 59; 2005 a. 25, 387; 2007 a. 65, 66; 2009 a. 39, 119; 2011 a. 28, 251, 252; 2013 a. 20; 2013 a. 166 s. 76; 2015 a. 55, 89, 222; 2017 a. 44, 245; 2021 a. 15; 2023 a. 115.

29.184 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.001, 10.05, 10.10, 10.101, 10.102, 10.106, and 10.30, Wis. adm. code.

29.185 29.185 Wolf harvesting licenses.

29.185(1b) (1b) Definitions. In this section:

29.185(1b)(a) (a) “Federal endangered list” means the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species, as it applies to this state.

29.185(1b)(b) (b) “State endangered list” means the list of endangered and threatened Wisconsin species that is established under s. 29.604 (3) (a).