Chapter 29

29.241(6)(a)1. 1. “Contact” has the meaning given in s. 29.324 (1) (a).

29.241(6)(a)2. 2. “Mentee” means a person holding a mentored trapping license who is receiving trapping instruction from a mentor.

29.241(6)(a)3. 3. “Mentor” means a person who provides trapping instruction to a mentee.

29.241(6)(b) (b) A mentored trapping 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 or to any nonresident of this state who applies for this license and who resides in a state that allows nonresidents of that state to trap within that state.

29.241(6)(c) (c) A mentored trapping license authorizes trapping by a mentee while in contact with a mentor who meets the following qualifications:

29.241(6)(c)1. 1. The person is 18 years of age or older.

29.241(6)(c)2. 2. The person is the parent or guardian of the mentee or is authorized by the parent or guardian to serve as a mentor. This requirement does not apply to a person serving as a mentor for a person who is 18 years of age or older.

29.241(6)(c)3. 3. At all times when serving as a mentor, the person is in contact with the mentee.

29.241(6)(c)4. 4. The person holds a current valid trapping license or is authorized to trap without holding a trapping license as provided under s. 29.337.

29.241(6)(d) (d) A person may be issued only 2 mentored trapping licenses in his or her lifetime, and each mentored trapping license shall be valid for only one trapping season.

29.241(6)(e) (e) A mentor under this subsection may take more than one person trapping at a time if the mentor determines he or she can adequately and safely serve as a mentor for all of the persons he or she takes trapping at one time.

29.241(6)(f) (f) A person holding a mentored trapping license is not eligible to receive a harvest tag for trapping purposes for any species for which the department limits the number of available tags but may assist his or her mentor in the trapping of a species for which the department limits the number of available tags.

29.241 History History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 284, 285, 437; 2005 a. 284; 2017 a. 343.

subch. IV of ch. 29 SUBCHAPTER IV

HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATION

29.301 29.301 General restrictions on hunting.

29.301(1) (1) Hunting restricted areas.

29.301(1)(a) (a) In this subsection, “school” means a public or private elementary or secondary school, including a charter school, a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), or a technical college.

29.301(1)(b) (b) No person may hunt within 1,700 feet of any hospital, sanatorium or the grounds of any school. The department may designate the form for or furnish signs designating the restricted area. No person may be convicted of a violation of this paragraph unless the restricted area is designated by the signs.

29.301(1)(c) (c) Notwithstanding par. (b), this subsection does not prohibit hunting in a school forest if the school board allows hunting under s. 120.13 (38).

29.301(2) (2) Color of clothing. In the areas in which there is a season for the hunting of deer with firearms, no person may hunt any game except waterfowl during that season unless at least 50 percent of each article of the person’s outer clothing above the waist, including a cap, hat or other head covering, is of a highly visible color commonly referred to as hunter orange, blaze orange, fluorescent orange, flame orange or fluorescent blaze orange or commonly referred to as bright pink or fluorescent pink. This requirement does not apply to persons hunting from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise during a firearm deer hunting season if the person is hunting for other game that the department authorizes to be hunted during that firearm deer hunting season. Any person violating this subsection shall forfeit not more than $10.

29.301 History History: 1975 c. 360, 365, 421; 1979 c. 39; 1997 a. 151; 1997 a. 248 s. 412; Stats. 1997 s. 29.301; 1999 a. 32; 2005 a. 117, 290; 2009 a. 302; 2015 a. 131, 222.

29.304 29.304 Restrictions on hunting and use of firearms by persons under 16 years of age.

29.304(1) (1) Persons under 12 years of age.

29.304(1)(a) (a) Prohibition on hunting. No person under 12 years of age may hunt with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.304(1)(b) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person under 12 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and he or she is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class under the supervision of his or her parent or guardian, or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian, or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.

29.304(1)(c) (c) Restrictions on obtaining hunting approval. Except as provided under par. (d), no person under 12 years of age may obtain any approval authorizing hunting.

29.304(1)(d) (d) Restrictions on validity of certificate of accomplishment. A person under 12 years of age may obtain a certificate of accomplishment if he or she complies with the requirements of s. 29.591 (4) but that certificate is not valid for the hunting of small game until that person becomes 12 years of age.

29.304(2) (2) Persons 12 to 14 years of age.

29.304(2)(a) (a) Restrictions on hunting. No person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may hunt unless he or she is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian.

29.304(2)(b) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she:

29.304(2)(b)1. 1. Is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian; or

29.304(2)(b)2. 2. Is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.

29.304(3) (3) Persons 14 to 16 years of age.

29.304(3)(a) (a) Restrictions on hunting. No person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may hunt unless he or she:

29.304(3)(a)1. 1. Is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian; or

29.304(3)(a)2. 2. Is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter education program or has a similar certificate, license, or other evidence satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another state, country, or province a hunter education course recognized by the department.

29.304(3)(b) (b) Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she:

29.304(3)(b)1. 1. Is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian;

29.304(3)(b)2. 2. Is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor; or

29.304(3)(b)3. 3. Is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter education program or has a similar certificate, license, or other evidence satisfactory to the department indicating that he or she has successfully completed in another state, country, or province a hunter education course recognized by the department.

29.304(4) (4) Parental obligation. No parent or guardian of a child under 16 years of age may authorize or knowingly permit the child to violate this section.

29.304(4m) (4m) Hunting mentorship program. The prohibition specified in sub. (1) (a) and the restrictions specified in subs. (1) (b) to (d), (2), and (3) do not apply to a person who is hunting with a mentor and who complies with the requirements specified under s. 29.592.

29.304(5) (5) Exception.

29.304(5)(a) (a) Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (3), a person 12 years of age or older may possess or control a firearm and may hunt with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on land under the ownership of the person or the person’s family if no license is required and if the firing of firearms is permitted on that land.

29.304(5)(b) (b)

29.304(5)(b)1. 1. In this paragraph, “target practice” includes trap shooting or a similar sport shooting activity regardless of whether the activity involves shooting at a fixed or a moving target.

29.304(5)(b)2. 2. The restrictions on the possession and control of a firearm under sub. (1) do not apply to a person using a firearm in target practice if he or she is accompanied by his or her parent or guardian or by a person at least 18 years of age who is designated by the parent or guardian.

29.304 History History: 1983 a. 420; 1997 a. 197; 1997 a. 248 s. 431; Stats. 1997 s. 29.304; 2005 a. 289; 2009 a. 39; 2011 a. 252, 258.

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

29.307 29.307 Hunting with aid of aircraft prohibited.

29.307(1) (1) No person may hunt any animal with the aid of an aircraft, including the use of an aircraft to spot, group or drive, or otherwise attempt to affect the behavior of, animals for hunters on the ground.

29.307(3) (3) Any rules promulgated under s. 29.307 (2), 2009 stats., do not apply after June 30, 2004.

29.307 History History: 1971 c. 151; 1997 a. 248 s. 432; Stats. 1997 s. 29.307; 2001 a. 108; 2011 a. 257.

29.311 29.311 Shotshell restrictions.

29.311(1) (1) No person may hunt waterfowl or coots with any firearm or airgun using any shotshell classified by the federal government as toxic or harmful to wildlife or the environment.

29.311(2) (2) The department may not limit the use, possession, or control of shot shells on the basis of the size of the contained shot for the hunting of a fur-bearing animal during an open season established for that animal by the department or for the hunting of an animal as provided under s. 29.337 (1).

29.311 History History: 1985 a. 155, 332; 1997 a. 248 s. 194; Stats. 1997 s. 29.311; 2021 a. 16; 2023 a. 115.

29.312 29.312 Rules regulating the sighting of a firearm.

29.312(1) (1) In this section, “immediate family” means persons who are related as spouses, as siblings, or as parent and child.

29.312(2) (2) The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that prohibits a person from sighting a firearm or airgun on land owned or leased by that person or a member of that person’s immediate family during the 24-hour period prior to the opening date for hunting deer with firearms in any area where there is an open season for hunting deer with firearms.

29.312 History History: 2003 a. 244; 2023 a. 115.

29.314 29.314 Shining animals.

29.314(1) (1) Definition. As used in this section:

29.314(1)(ac) (ac) “Firearm-mounted light” means a light that is battery operated and designed to be mounted on a firearm, but does not include a laser sighting device.

29.314(1)(ag) (ag) “Flashlight” means a battery operated light designed to be carried and held by hand or attached to clothing or a part of the body.

29.314(1)(am) (am) “Laser sighting device” means a device for sighting a firearm that uses light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation to emit a beam of light that is visible to the human eye.

29.314(1)(b) (b) “Light” includes flashlights, automobile lights and other lights.

29.314(1)(c) (c) “Peace officer” has the meaning designated under s. 939.22 (22).

29.314(1)(d) (d) “Shining” means the casting of rays of a light on a field, forest or other area for the purpose of illuminating, locating or attempting to illuminate or locate wild animals.

29.314(2) (2) Presumption. A person casting the rays of light on a field, forest or other area which is frequented by wild animals is presumed to be shining wild animals. A person may introduce evidence to rebut this presumption.

29.314(3) (3) Shining deer, elk, or bear while hunting or possessing weapons prohibited.

29.314(3)(a) (a) Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining deer, elk, or bear while the person is hunting deer, elk, or bear or in possession of a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.314(3)(b) (b) Exceptions. This subsection does not apply:

29.314(3)(b)1. 1. To a peace officer on official business.

29.314(3)(b)2. 2. To an employee of the department on official business.

29.314(3)(b)3. 3. To a person authorized by the department to conduct a game census or to observe bear for educational purposes.

29.314(3)(b)4. 4. To the holder of a Class C permit issued under s. 29.193 (2) (c) 4. who uses a laser sighting device while hunting with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.314(3)(b)5. 5. To designated personnel at a public-use airport, as defined in s. 114.002 (18m), or an airport under the exclusive control of the national guard or U.S. department of defense, for the purposes of nuisance wildlife management and control when authorized by state or federal permits. “Designated personnel” includes any person who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or employer and who is an employee or contractor of the airport or the local government that operates the airport or a federal employee or agent.

29.314(4) (4) Shining wild animals while hunting or possessing weapons prohibited.

29.314(4)(a) (a) Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining wild animals while the person is hunting or in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow.

29.314(4)(b) (b) Exceptions. This subsection does not apply:

29.314(4)(b)1. 1. To a peace officer on official business, an employee of the department on official business or a person authorized by the department to conduct a game census.

29.314(4)(b)2. 2. To a person who possesses a flashlight or firearm-mounted light or who uses a flashlight or firearm-mounted light at the point of kill while hunting on foot for raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or other unprotected animals during the open season for the animals hunted.

29.314(4)(b)3. 3. To a person who possesses or uses a light while using a bow and arrow or crossbow for taking rough fish or catfish.

29.314(4)(b)4. 4. To the holder of a Class C permit issued under s. 29.193 (2) (c) 4. who uses a laser sighting device while hunting with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.314(4)(b)5. 5. To designated personnel at a public-use airport, as defined in s. 114.002 (18m), or an airport under the exclusive control of the national guard or U.S. department of defense, for the purposes of nuisance wildlife management and control when authorized by state or federal permits. “Designated personnel” includes any person who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or employer and who is an employee or contractor of the airport or the local government that operates the airport or a federal employee or agent.

29.314(5) (5) Shining wild animals after 10 p.m. during certain times of the year prohibited.

29.314(5)(a) (a) Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining wild animals between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from September 15 to December 31.