Chapter 29

29.354(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may take, needlessly destroy or possess or have under his or her control the nest or eggs of any wild bird for which a closed season is prescribed under this chapter.

29.354(2)(b) (b) A person who has a valid scientific collector permit may take or possess or have under his or her control the nest of a wild bird and may destroy the nest if necessary for a scientific purpose.

29.354(3) (3) Mounted collections. This section does not permit seizure of or prohibit possession or sale of lawfully obtained wild birds and animals which are mounted or in the process of being mounted for a private collection.

29.354(5) (5) Captive wild animals. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, fish produced in a municipal fish hatchery, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.354 History History: 1973 c. 214; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 509 to 511; Stats. 1997 s. 29.354; 2001 a. 56; 2011 a. 251; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.

29.354 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.001, Wis. adm. code.

29.357 29.357 Transportation; general provisions.

29.357(1) (1) During closed season. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, no person may transport or cause to be transported, or deliver or receive or offer to deliver or receive for transportation, any game or game fish or carcass at any time other than during the open season for the game or game fish and 3 days thereafter. Whenever any game or game fish or carcass is offered to any person for transportation at any time other than during the open season therefor and 3 days thereafter, the person shall immediately notify the department or its wardens of the offer and by whom made.

29.357(2) (2) Trunks; valises. No person may carry or control in any trunk, valise, or other package or enclosure, at any time on any common carrier, any game or game fish, or carcass.

29.357(3) (3) Transportation employees. No employee of any railroad, express or other transportation company, and no steward, porter or other employee of any dining, parlor or sleeping car may have possession or control of, at any time while on duty, any game or game fish, or carcass.

29.357(4) (4) Labeling game shipments. No person shall transport or cause to be transported, or deliver or receive for transportation, any package or parcel containing any wild animal or carcass, unless the package or parcel is labeled in plain letters on the address side of the package or parcel with the name and address of the consignor, the name and address of the consignee, and the number of pounds of each kind of fish or the number of each variety of other wild animals; or carcasses contained in the package or parcel; and unless the consignor is the owner of the shipment and delivers to the common carrier with the package or parcel, either personally, or by agent, a writing signed by the consignor personally, stating that the consignor is the owner of the shipment.

29.357(4m) (4m) Control of cervid carcasses. No person may transport, cause to be transported, deliver, receive, offer to deliver or receive, or control the carcass of a cervid in violation of rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3) or (4).

29.357(5) (5) Exemptions.

29.357(5)(a) (a) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply to a person who has a valid taxidermist permit and who possesses, transports, causes to be transported, delivers or receives, or offers to deliver or receive, a wild animal carcass in connection with his or her business.

29.357(5)(b) (b) Subsections (1) to (4m) do not apply to the possession, transportation, delivery, or receipt of farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, fish produced in a municipal fish hatchery, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.357 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269, 316; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 516, 517; Stats. 1997 s. 29.357; 2001 a. 56; 2005 a. 286; 2013 a. 20.

29.361 29.361 Transportation of deer or elk.

29.361(1) (1) No common carrier may receive for transportation or transport or attempt to transport any deer or elk or the carcass of any deer or elk except as provided in this section.

29.361(2m) (2m) Any person may transport an antlerless deer killed under the authority of his or her hunter’s choice, bonus, or other deer hunting permit on any highway, as defined s. 340.01 (22), in order to register the deer in the deer management area where the deer was killed or in an adjoining management area.

29.361(3) (3) The place of delivery of any shipment authorized under this section by a resident shall be within the state and by a nonresident shall be either within the state or at his or her residence outside the state.

29.361(3m) (3m) Notwithstanding subs. (1), (2m), (3), and (5), no person may receive for transportation, transport, or attempt to transport the carcass of a cervid in violation of rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3).

29.361(4) (4) This section does not apply to a bona fide public zoo.

29.361(5) (5) This section does not apply to a person who has a valid taxidermist permit and who is transporting, attempting to transport, or receiving the carcass of a deer or elk in connection with his or her business.

29.361 History History: 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 111; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 248 s. 522; Stats. 1997 s. 29.361; 1997 a. 249 s. 37; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 286; 2015 a. 89; 2017 a. 365.

29.364 29.364 Transportation of game birds.

29.364(1) (1) Transportation. No common carrier may receive for transportation or transport or attempt to transport any game bird or carcass of a game bird except as provided in this section.

29.364(2) (2) Residents. Any resident who has all of the required hunting approvals may transport in the resident’s personal possession the legal daily bag limit or possession limit of any game birds for which an open season has been provided to any point within the state.

29.364(3) (3) Nonresidents. Any nonresident who has all of the required hunting approvals may transport in the nonresident’s personal possession the legal daily bag limit or possession limit of game birds for which an open season has been provided from any point within the state to any point within or without the state.

29.364(4) (4) Migratory birds.

29.364(4)(a) (a) In this subsection “migratory game bird” means any bird defined as such by the secretary of the interior in the code of federal regulations.

29.364(4)(b) (b) No person may transport any migratory game bird for which open seasons are prescribed, unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains attached to each bird while being transported from the place where taken to the personal residence of the possessor or to a commercial preservation facility.

29.364(5) (5) Exemption; taxidermists. Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply to a person who has a valid taxidermist permit and who is transporting the carcass of a game bird in connection with his or her business.

29.364 History History: 1975 c. 360; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 523; Stats. 1997 s. 29.364.

subch. V of ch. 29 SUBCHAPTER V

FISHING REGULATION

Subch. V of ch. 29 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 20, Wis. adm. code.

29.401 29.401 Possession of fishing equipment.

29.401(1) (1) 

29.401(1)(a) (a) No person may possess or control at any time any trammel, gill, or hoop net, or any other kind of net, nets, or fish trap that might take, catch or kill fish in the counties of: Adams, Barron, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Polk, Portage, Price, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood except minnow nets and minnow traps, whitefish and cisco nets, dip nets, crab traps and turtle traps as provided in this chapter or by department order.

29.401(1)(b) (b) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the department or its agents from having in possession, using, or causing the use of, any kind of nets as provided under other sections in the statutes, or prohibits the possession or use of nets by contract fishers who are operating under the supervision of the department.

29.401(1)(c) (c) This subsection does not apply to any net or trap used to take, catch or kill farm-raised fish.

29.401(2m) (2m) The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that prohibits persons from possessing barbed hooks while fishing for trout in inland trout waters, as defined in s. 29.2285 (1) (a), during the period beginning on January 1 and ending on the Friday immediately preceding the first Saturday in the following May.

29.401 History History: 1985 a. 332; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 446, 447; Stats. 1997 s. 29.401; 1999 a. 178; 2005 a. 25.

29.403 29.403 Fishing tournaments.

29.403(1b) (1b) In this section, “live well” means a container designed to hold, and capable of holding, live fish on a boat.

29.403(1g) (1g) The department shall promulgate rules to establish a program to authorize and regulate fishing tournaments. The rules shall establish the scope and applicability of the program.

29.403(1m) (1m) Any person conducting a bass fishing tournament authorized by the department under this section may allow participants to fish for, and cull, both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Any participant in a bass fishing tournament shall ensure that the boat from which he or she is fishing has a functioning live well. Section 29.055 and any rule promulgated pursuant to sub. (3) (L), as they relate to bag and possession limits for bass, do not apply to culling that occurs in a bass fishing tournament authorized by the department under this section.

29.403(2) (2) The department may require a permit under the program to conduct a fishing tournament and may impose terms and conditions that apply to a specific permit. The department may issue a specific permit under terms and conditions that vary from the requirements of the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (1g).

29.403(3) (3) The rules promulgated by the department under sub. (1g) may include any of the following:

29.403(3)(a) (a) Rules governing the circumstances under which a waiver for a permit may be granted under s. 29.197.

29.403(3)(b) (b) Rules establishing training or educational requirements for persons who seek a permit under sub. (2).

29.403(3)(c) (c) Rules for controlling crowding, preventing unsafe conditions, or preventing conflicts among the users of the body of water on which fishing tournaments are held or at facilities for public access to those bodies of water, including boat ramps and parking lots.

29.403(3)(d) (d) Rules relating to the prevention of the waste of a natural resource.

29.403(3)(e) (e) Rules relating to the protection of the bodies of water of this state, fish, and other aquatic resources in those bodies of water.

29.403(3)(f) (f) Rules specifying the number of fishing tournaments that may be held on a body of water.

29.403(3)(g) (g) Rules governing the frequency with which fishing tournaments may be held and the dates on which they may be held.

29.403(3)(h) (h) Rules specifying the number of days over which fishing tournaments, or practices for fishing tournaments, may be held.

29.403(3)(i) (i) Rules governing the hours during which fishing tournaments may be held.

29.403(3)(j) (j) Rules specifying the location of the bodies of water on which fishing tournaments may be held.

29.403(3)(k) (k) Rules specifying the species of fish that may be targeted by fishing tournaments.

29.403(3)(L) (L) Rules specifying bag and size limits for fish that are caught at fishing tournaments.

29.403(3)(m) (m) Rules governing the time of year when fishing tournaments may be held.

29.403(3)(n) (n) Rules specifying the qualities that the bodies of water on which fishing tournaments may be held must have.

29.403(3)(o) (o) Rules governing the reporting of the results of fishing tournaments.

29.403(3)(p) (p) Rules specifying fees for fishing tournament permits and for training or educational programs, including rules specifying reduced fees in appropriate circumstances.

29.403(4) (4) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), the department may not, under the program established under sub. (1g), allow a participant in a fishing tournament to engage in any activity in which the department would not allow an angler who is not a participant to engage at the same time on the same body of water. This subsection does not apply to participants in a bass fishing tournament authorized by the department under this section.

29.403(5) (5) 

29.403(5)(a) (a) The department shall deny an application for a fishing tournament permit or suspend or revoke a fishing tournament permit if the permit applicant or holder does any of the following:

29.403(5)(a)1. 1. Makes a material misrepresentation on a permit application.

29.403(5)(a)2. 2. Violates this section, a rule promulgated under this section, or a term or condition of a permit.

29.403(5)(a)3. 3. Violates this chapter as it relates to fishing in connection with a fishing tournament.

29.403(5)(a)4. 4. Fails to adequately supervise a fishing tournament.

29.403(5)(b) (b) If the department denies a person’s application for a fishing tournament permit or if the permit is revoked under par. (a), the department may not issue a fishing tournament permit to that person for a period of 2 years after the denial or revocation.

29.403(6) (6) Any person who participates in a fishing tournament shall comply with the terms and conditions imposed by any permit issued for that fishing tournament under sub. (2).

29.403(7) (7) This section does not apply to any fishing tournament that is conducted on a body of water where persons who are normally required to have fishing approvals are exempt from having such approvals.

29.403 History History: 2003 a. 249; 2011 a. 24.

29.403 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 20.40, Wis. adm. code.

29.404 29.404 Fishing shanties on ice, regulation.

29.404(1) (1) Public nuisance; removal. Any building, vehicle, tent, fish shanty or similar shelter that is used or left on the ice in violation of any department order or that has fallen through the ice is a public nuisance. The department shall notify the owner, if known. If after the expiration of 10 days after notice is given the owner does not claim the nuisance, the department may destroy or sell the nuisance in the name of the state.

29.404(2) (2) Reimbursement for department costs. If the department destroys or sells the building, vehicle, tent, fish shanty or similar shelter that is a public nuisance, the owner shall reimburse the department for all costs associated with the seizure and destruction or sale of the public nuisance. The department shall give the owner written notice containing the amount of costs to be reimbursed and a statement that the owner must reimburse these costs to the department within 20 days after the notice is given.

29.404(3) (3) Forfeiture. If the owner does not reimburse these costs to the department within 20 days after the notice is given under sub. (2), the owner shall forfeit not more than $100.

29.404 History History: 1989 a. 359; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 248 ss. 443 to 445; Stats. 1997 s. 29.404.

29.404 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 20.11, Wis. adm. code.

29.405 29.405 Fishing with bow and arrow or crossbow.

29.405(1) (1) No person may do any of the following:

29.405(1)(a) (a) Take rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or take rough fish or catfish with a bolt from a crossbow unless the arrow or bolt is equipped with a metal barbed tip and is attached to the bow or crossbow with a tethered line that allows for the retrieval of the arrow or bolt and the fish.

29.405(1)(b) (b) Release or return any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, to the waters of this state.

29.405(1)(c) (c) Leave any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, on the ice or banks of any waters of this state.

29.405(2) (2) Any person who takes rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow in any waters of this state shall remove the fish from those waters and use or dispose of the fish in an appropriate manner as determined by the department.