Chapter 29

29.327(1)(a) (a) “Blind” means a permanent structure used in hunting waterfowl which is not removed at the end of hunting hours each day.

29.327(1)(b) (b) “Waterfowl” means wild geese, brant, wild ducks, rails, coots, gallinules, snipe, woodcock, plovers, sandpipers and wild swan.

29.327(2) (2) 

29.327(2)(a) (a) A blind situated on state-owned property and used in hunting waterfowl must bear the name of the owner affixed permanently to the blind in lettering one-inch square or larger.

29.327(2)(b) (b) A blind on state-owned property may be erected not more than 7 days prior to the opening of the waterfowl hunting season and must be removed by the owner within 7 days after the close of the season unless the department approves an extension of the deadline for removal due to compelling personal needs of the owner. Any owner who erects a blind more than 7 days prior to the opening of the waterfowl hunting season or who does not remove a blind within 7 days after the close of the waterfowl season, or by a later date approved by the department, shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $200.

29.327 History History: 1977 c. 443; 1997 a. 248 ss. 441, 442; Stats. 1997 s. 29.327; 1997 a. 249 s. 36; 1999 a. 32.

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

29.331 29.331 Trapping regulation.

29.331(1) (1) Tags.

29.331(1)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), each trap used under a trapping license shall be tagged with a metal tag stamped with the name and address or customer identification number of the operator of the trap. If a trap is operated by more than one licensed trapper, the trap shall be tagged with the metal stamp of each operator of the trap. All untagged traps shall be seized and confiscated, and the owner or person using or attending the untagged traps shall be punished as provided under s. 29.971 (4) and (12). This paragraph does not apply to a person under the age of 16 trapping under the supervision of a licensed trapper as provided in s. 29.241 (5).

29.331(1)(b) (b) Each trap used by a person who is trapping with a qualified mentor as provided under s. 29.241 (6) shall be tagged with a metal tag stamped with the name and address or customer identification number of the person using the trap, the qualified mentor, or both. If the trap is tagged only by a person who is trapping with a qualified mentor, the trap may be operated only by that person or by the mentor and only when both are present.

29.331(2) (2) Shipments. All shipments of hides must be marked showing the number and kinds of hides in the package, the name and address of the shipper, and the number of the shipper’s trapping license.

29.331(3) (3) Report. On or before June 1 annually, the licensee shall report to the department, by affidavit, on forms furnished by the department, the number of the licensee’s license, the number and value of each variety of animals taken during the previous 12 months ending May 1, and other information required on the forms furnished.

29.331(3m) (3m) Use of fees. From the moneys received from the sale of trapping licenses, the department shall credit an amount equal to $2 times the number of trapping licenses issued to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (Lq).

29.331(5) (5) Molesting traps.

29.331(5)(a) (a) No person may molest, take or appropriate a trap belonging to another person when the trap is lawfully placed. No person may take or appropriate the animal or contents of any lawfully placed trap belonging to another person. This paragraph does not apply to a person taking a trap belonging to a supervising trapper or mentor, or taking the contents of that trap, if the person is acting under the direction of a supervising trapper under s. 29.241 (5) or a mentor providing instruction under s. 29.241 (6).

29.331(5)(b) (b) A person who violates this subsection shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both. In addition, if a person violates this subsection, the court shall revoke all licenses issued to the person under this chapter for 5 years.

29.331 History History: 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 365 s. 62; 1979 c. 34; 1979 c. 190 s. 4; 1981 c. 236; 1981 c. 243 s. 7; 1981 c. 391; 1983 a. 27; 1991 a. 254, 316; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 283 to 287, 476; Stats. 1997 s. 29.331; 2001 a. 107; 2009 a. 38; 2017 a. 343.

29.331 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.13 and 10.145, Wis. adm. code.

29.334 29.334 Hunting and trapping; treatment of wild animals.

29.334(1) (1) A person who hunts or traps any game animal or fur-bearing animal shall kill the animal when it is taken and make it part of the daily bag or shall release the game animal or fur-bearing animal.

29.334(2) (2) A person who violates sub. (1) shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.

29.334(3) (3) This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.334 History History: 1997 a. 248 s. 513; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 56 ss. 38 to 40, 69; 2015 a. 196.

29.335 29.335 Feeding wild animals for nonhunting purposes. Subject to s. 29.336, the department shall promulgate rules to regulate the recreational and supplemental feeding of wild animals for purposes other than hunting.

29.335 History History: 2001 a. 108; 2003 a. 240.

29.336 29.336 Feeding deer.

29.336(1) (1) In this section, “feeding deer” means to place any material to feed or attract deer in or from the wild.

29.336(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules that prohibit feeding deer for hunting or viewing purposes in any of the following counties:

29.336(2)(a) (a) A county in which the county or a portion of the county is in a chronic wasting disease control zone designated by the department by rule.

29.336(2)(b) (b) A county in which a positive test for chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed in any captive or free-roaming domestic or wild animal after December 31, 1997. A rule promulgated under this paragraph may not prohibit feeding deer for longer than 36 months after any positive test for chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed.

29.336(2)(c) (c) A county in which the county or a portion of the county is within a 10-mile radius of the known location of a captive or free-roaming domestic or wild animal that has been tested and confirmed to be positive for chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis after December 31, 1997. A rule promulgated under this paragraph may not prohibit feeding deer for longer than 24 months after any positive test for chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed.

29.336(3) (3) A person may feed deer for viewing purposes in counties not included in the rules promulgated under sub. (2) if all of the following apply:

29.336(3)(a) (a) The feeding site is within 50 yards of an owner-occupied residence or of a person’s business, if the business is one that is generally open to the public.

29.336(3)(b) (b) The feeding site is not less than 100 yards from a roadway, as defined in s. 340.01 (54), having a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or more.

29.336(3)(c) (c) Not more than 2 gallons of material are at the feeding site.

29.336(3)(d) (d) The material used to feed deer does not contain any animal part or animal byproduct.

29.336(4) (4) A person may feed deer for hunting purposes in counties not included in the rules promulgated under sub. (2) during any season open for hunting deer if all of the following apply:

29.336(4)(a) (a) Not more than 2 gallons of material are at the feeding site.

29.336(4)(b) (b) No feeding site is closer than 100 yards of another feeding site.

29.336(4)(c) (c) The person does not place more than 2 gallons of material in any area comprising 40 acres or less.

29.336(4)(d) (d) The material used to feed deer does not contain any animal part or animal byproduct.

29.336 History History: 2003 a. 240; 2017 a. 41.

29.337 29.337 Hunting and trapping by landowners and occupants.

29.337(1) (1) The owner or occupant of any land, and any member of his or her family, may hunt or trap beaver, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels on the land without a license issued under this chapter or ch. 169 at any time, except as follows:

29.337(1)(a) (a) An owner or occupant may not hunt any of these wild animals during the period of 24 hours before the time for commencement of the deer hunting season in any area where an open season for hunting deer with firearms is established.

29.337(1)(b) (b) Such persons may not hunt coyotes during an open season for hunting deer with firearms in an area that is closed by the department by rule to coyote hunting.

29.337(2) (2) The owner or occupant of any land, any member of the owner or occupant’s family, and any individual with the owner or occupant’s consent may take beaver, rabbits, raccoons, woodchucks, and squirrels on the land at any time by means of live trapping with box traps in areas where the discharge of a firearm is illegal.

29.337 History History: 1979 c. 142; 1987 a. 27; 1993 a. 246; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 433 to 436; Stats. 1997 s. 29.337; 2001 a. 56, 105; 2017 a. 64.

29.337 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 12 and ss. NR 10.13 and 10.145, Wis. adm. code.

29.341 29.341 Duties on accidental shooting.

29.341(1) (1) Any person who, while hunting any wild animal or bird, discharges a firearm, airgun, or arrow, and by that discharge injures or kills another person, shall immediately give his or her name and address to the injured person, render assistance to the injured person and obtain immediate medical or hospital care for the injured person, and immediately report the injury or death to the sheriff or police of the locality in which the shooting took place.

29.341(2) (2) Any person intentionally failing to comply with sub. (1) shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year, or both. Any person who neglects to comply with sub. (1) shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both.

29.341 History History: 1975 c. 365; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 413; Stats. 1997 s. 29.341; 2023 a. 115.

29.345 29.345 Hunting, fishing or trapping accident; failure to report.

29.345(1) (1) Every person who has caused or been involved in an accident in which a person has been injured by discharge of a firearm, airgun, or arrow while hunting, fishing, or trapping, or inflicted an injury upon himself or herself with a firearm, airgun, or arrow while hunting, fishing, or trapping, shall render a report to the department at any of its field offices within 10 days after the injury unless the person is physically incapable of making the required report, in which event the person or persons involved in the accident shall designate an agent to file the report within the specified time.

29.345(2) (2) Any person who is involved in an accident with a firearm, airgun, or arrow while hunting, fishing, or trapping, and who fails to submit the report required by this section, shall forfeit not more than $50. In addition, the court may revoke any license issued to the person under this chapter and may further provide that no license shall be issued to the person under this chapter for a fixed period of time specified by the court.

29.345 History History: 1975 c. 365; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 414; Stats. 1997 s. 29.345; 2023 a. 115.

29.346 29.346 Registration information. If the department requires a person who kills an animal to register that animal with the department, the department shall, at the time of registration, make a record of the type of weapon that was used to kill the animal.

29.346 History History: 2013 a. 61.

29.347 29.347 Possession of deer and elk; heads and skins.

29.347(2) (2) Elk carcass tags; deer and elk registration. Any person who kills an elk shall immediately validate an elk carcass tag. Except as provided under sub. (2m), no person may possess, control, store, transport, transfer, or dispose of an elk carcass unless an elk carcass tag has been validated in the manner required by the department. A person who kills a deer or an elk shall register the deer or elk in the manner required by the department. No person may possess, control, store, transport, transfer, or dispose of a deer or elk carcass unless in compliance with rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3).

29.347(2m) (2m) Removal and retention of tags.

29.347(2m)(a) (a) The person who killed or obtained an animal shall ensure that the validated carcass tag under sub. (2) and a registration tag or confirmation number issued by the department accompany the carcass until the time of butchering. After butchering, the person who killed or obtained the animal shall retain all tags and the confirmation number until the meat is consumed.

29.347(2m)(b) (b) Subject to sub. (6), any person who retains a tag under par. (a) or who complies with s. 29.349 (2) (bm), if applicable, may give deer or elk meat to another person. The person who receives a gift of elk meat is not required to possess a tag.

29.347(3) (3) Heads and skins. Except as provided in sub. (6), the control or possession of the head or skin of any deer or elk lawfully killed, when severed from the rest of the carcass, are not subject to this chapter.

29.347(4) (4) Antlers removed or broken. Any deer from which the antlers have been removed, broken, shed, or altered so as to make determination of the legality of the deer impossible is an illegal deer if the deer is taken during an open season for hunting only antlered deer or during an open season for hunting only antlerless deer. Any elk from which the antlers have been removed, broken, shed, or altered so as to make determination of the legality of the elk impossible is an illegal elk if the elk is taken during an open season for hunting only antlered elk or during an open season for hunting antlerless elk.

29.347(6) (6) Control of carcasses. No person may transport, possess, store, butcher, or control the carcass of a cervid in violation of rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3) or (4).

29.347 History History: 1975 c. 97, 199; 1983 a. 546; 1991 a. 269, 316; 1995 a. 79, 126; 1997 a. 248 s. 504; Stats. 1997 s. 29.347; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 56, 109; 2003 a. 247, 321; 2005 a. 286; 2011 a. 251; 2015 a. 55, 89; 2017 a. 59; 2017 a. 365 s. 110.

29.347 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.001 and 19.13, Wis. adm. code.

29.347 Annotation Only the tag of the person who kills the deer may be attached under sub. (2). State v. Skow, 141 Wis. 2d 49, 413 N.W.2d 650 (Ct. App. 1987).

29.349 29.349 Animals killed by motor vehicles.

29.349(1) (1) In this section, “law enforcement officer” means a warden or any other law enforcement officer authorized by the department to issue tags for an animal killed by a vehicle.

29.349(2) (2) 

29.349(2)(a) (a) Subject to s. 29.347 (6), any person who while operating a motor vehicle on a highway accidentally collides with and kills a bear, deer, or wild turkey may take possession of the carcass. Subject to s. 29.347 (6), if the motor vehicle operator does not want to take the carcass, the carcass may be taken by any other person who is present at the scene of the accident at the time the collision occurs or at any time after the collision occurs.

29.349(2)(b) (b) No person may take possession of the carcass of a bear killed in the manner specified in par. (a) and remove the carcass from the scene of the accident unless one of the following applies:

29.349(2)(b)1. 1. The person has the carcass tagged by a law enforcement officer.

29.349(2)(b)2. 2. The person contacts a law enforcement officer and gives his or her name, the location of the carcass and the date and the time, and the law enforcement officer approves the removal and gives the person the instructions and location for having the carcass tagged at a later time.

29.349(2)(bm) (bm) No person may take possession of the carcass of a deer killed in the manner specified in par. (a) and remove the carcass from the scene of the accident unless the person has complied with rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3) and has, prior to taking possession of the carcass, notified the department in a manner prescribed by the department of the name and address of the person taking possession of the carcass and the location of the carcass.

29.349(2)(c) (c) The person removing the carcass under the procedure specified in par. (b) 2. shall have the carcass tagged within 24 hours after receiving the instructions under par. (b) 2.

29.349(2)(d) (d) No fee may be charged for a tag issued under this subsection.

29.349(3) (3) 

29.349(3)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (b) or as authorized under s. 29.614, no person may take possession of the carcass of a small game animal killed by a person who accidentally collides with the small game animal while operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless all of the following apply:

29.349(3)(a)1. 1. The small game animal is killed during the open season for hunting or trapping that animal.

29.349(3)(a)2. 2. The small game animal is not a bobcat, fisher, or otter.

29.349(3)(a)3. 3. The person possesses an approval issued under this chapter that authorizes the hunting or trapping of the kind of small game animal killed.

29.349(3)(a)4. 4. The person is the operator of the motor vehicle.

29.349(3)(b) (b) If an operator of a motor vehicle who is authorized under par. (a) to take possession of the carcass of a small game animal does not want to take possession of the carcass, any other person may take possession of the carcass and remove it from the scene of the accident if the person possesses an approval issued under this chapter that authorizes the hunting or trapping of the kind of small game animal killed by the operator of the motor vehicle and the person takes the carcass during the open season for that animal.

29.349(3)(c) (c) The department may not charge a person a fee to take possession of the carcass of a small game animal if the person is authorized to possess the carcass under this subsection.