Chapter 29

29.736(3) (3) The department may not introduce, stock or plant any fish in the waters of the state unless the fish have been certified by a qualified inspector to meet the fish health standards and requirements promulgated under s. 95.60 (4s) (b).

29.736(4) (4) For the purposes of issuing permits under this section and for introducing, stocking or planting of fish by the department, the department:

29.736(4)(a) (a) Shall accept the certification by a qualified inspector that the fish meet the fish health standards and requirements promulgated under s. 95.60 (4s) (b) and may not require that any additional testing, inspection or investigation be performed concerning the health of the fish.

29.736(4)(b) (b) May regulate the species of fish, the number of fish and the sites where the fish will be introduced, planted or stocked.

29.736(5) (5) The requirement of being issued a permit under this section does not apply to civic organizations, organizations operating newspapers or television stations or promoters of sport shows when and in connection with publicly showing or exhibiting, giving demonstrations with or providing fishing of fish for periods of not to exceed 10 days if the fish are placed in a tank or an artificially constructed pond that is a self-contained body of water. Fish used for these purposes shall have been certified by a qualified inspector to meet the fish health standards and requirements promulgated under s. 95.60 (4s) (b).

29.736 History History: 1997 a. 27, 237; 1997 a. 248 ss. 583, 584; Stats. 1997 s. 29.736; 2003 a. 136; 2015 a. 55; 2021 a. 238 s. 44.

29.736 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.05, Wis. adm. code.

29.737 29.737 Permit for private management.

29.737(1) (1) Any person or persons owning all of the land bordering a navigable lake that is completely landlocked may apply to the department for a permit to remove, destroy or introduce fish in the lake.

29.737(2) (2) The department shall hold a public hearing on the permit application in the vicinity of the lake, and if the department determines that the hearing is favorable the department may issue a permit authorizing the applicant to remove, destroy or introduce fish in the lake.

29.737(3) (3) The department shall impose appropriate terms, conditions and limitations on the permit. All work done under the permit shall be under the supervision of employees or agents of the department, who shall have free access to the lake at all times for that purpose. The permittee shall pay the expenses of the supervision.

29.737(4) (4) All fish removed from the lake under a permit shall be disposed of as directed by the department.

29.737(5) (5) A person who is using a navigable lake that is a freeze-out pond as a fish farm, or as part of a fish farm, is exempt from obtaining a permit under this section.

29.737 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 576 to 578; Stats. 1997 s. 29.737.

29.738 29.738 Private fishing preserves.

29.738(1) (1) A single person may register with the department a natural, navigable, self-contained body of water as a private fishing preserve if all of the following apply:

29.738(1)(a) (a) All of the use and occupancy rights in the land that is riparian to the body of water are owned or leased by the registrant.

29.738(1)(b) (b) The registrant and any owner of the riparian land do not provide access to the body of water to the public by means of an easement or other right-of-way or by means of a business open to the public.

29.738(1)(c) (c) The registrant held a private fish hatchery license under s. 29.52, 1995 stats., on December 31, 1997, that applied to the body of water being registered as a private fishing preserve.

29.738(2) (2) No lake association, corporation or other association that is formed to establish a private fishing preserve is eligible to register under this section.

29.738(3) (3) A registration under this section is valid for one year.

29.738(4) (4) A person who is fishing in a private fishing preserve is exempt from having any sport fishing approval issued under this chapter. No person may sell or trade fish that are caught in a private fishing preserve. No person may charge a fee for fishing in a private fishing preserve or a fee for an activity that includes the privilege of fishing in a private fishing preserve.

29.738 History History: 1997 a. 27, 237; 1997 a. 248 s. 579; Stats. 1997 s. 29.738.

29.739 29.739 Grants for walleye production.

29.739(1) (1) The department shall establish a grant program to award grants on a competitive basis to cities, villages, towns, and counties; to federally recognized Indian tribes or bands located in this state; and to fish farms.

29.739(2) (2) Grants awarded under this section shall be used for the purpose of increasing the grantee’s capacity to raise walleye for stocking in the waters of the state. The grants may be used to build, improve, or repair any of the following:

29.739(2)(a) (a) Buildings and structures used as fish hatcheries or for fish rearing.

29.739(2)(b) (b) Fish rearing ponds.

29.739(2)(c) (c) Wells or water recirculation systems.

29.739(2)(d) (d) Biosecurity systems to ensure fish health.

29.739(2)(e) (e) Holding facilities and equipment used for fish brood stock.

29.739(2)(f) (f) Equipment used for the distribution of fish or for the collection of fish spawn.

29.739(3) (3) For a fish farm to be eligible for a grant under this section, the fish farm shall meet all of the following requirements:

29.739(3)(a) (a) The fish farm is registered with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 95.60.

29.739(3)(b) (b) The fish farm is in compliance with all applicable state and federal environmental laws and all applicable state and federal laws related to fish health.

29.739(4) (4) A contract awarding a grant under this section shall state the number of fingerlings that will be reared as a result of the increased capacity and the purchase price the grantee shall charge for the fingerlings when the construction, improvement, or repair is completed.

29.739(5) (5) The department shall promulgate rules to implement the program to be established under this section.

29.739 History History: 2013 a. 20.

29.740 29.740 Contracts for walleye production.

29.740(1) (1) In this section, “local governmental unit” means a city, village, town, or county.

29.740(2) (2) The department may enter into contracts with local governmental units, federally recognized Indian tribes or bands located in this state, and fish farms for the purpose of increasing the amount of walleye available for stocking in the waters of the state.

29.740(3) (3) The terms of a contract entered into under this section may include all of the following:

29.740(3)(a) (a) Authorization for the department to furnish fish eggs and fish for free or at cost to a local governmental unit, tribe, band, or fish farm that is a party to the contract.

29.740(3)(b) (b) Authorization for the department to purchase fish from a local governmental unit, tribe, band, or fish farm that is a party to the contract.

29.740(4) (4) No contract entered into under this section may have a term that is more than 5 years.

29.740 History History: 2013 a. 20.

29.741 29.741 Food in the wild for game birds. No person may, from the public waters of this state, take, remove, sell, or transport any duck potato, wild celery, or any other plant or plant product except wild rice, that is native to these waters and that is commonly known to furnish food for game birds.

29.741 History History: 1989 a. 359; 1997 a. 248 s. 593; Stats. 1997 s. 29.741; 2001 a. 16, 56.

29.749 29.749 Horicon marsh fur farm and dam.

29.749(1) (1) The department shall establish a fur farm on the Horicon marsh in Dodge County under the supervision of the department.

29.749(2) (2) The department may maintain a dam in or near the city of Horicon, to control and regulate the flood waters on the Rock River, and to restore the Rock River on Horicon marsh to the natural levels existing prior to drainage of the marsh.

29.749 History History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 609 to 612; Stats. 1997 s. 29.749.

29.753 29.753 Importation of wild elk. Notwithstanding ss. 95.20 and 95.55 (6) and rules promulgated under those provisions, the department may import and move elk and introduce the elk into Ashland, Bayfield, Jackson, Price, or Sawyer county if all of the following apply:

29.753(1) (1) The elk are taken from the wild and not raised on a farm.

29.753(2) (2) The purpose of importing or moving the elk is to protect, develop, or manage wildlife resources in this state.

29.753(3) (3) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines that the applicable requirements related to chronic wasting disease under ss. 95.20 and 95.55 (6) are met to the fullest extent possible and practical with wild and free-roaming elk.

29.753(4) (4) The department tests each elk for tuberculosis and brucellosis before importing or moving the elk in accordance with the applicable disease testing requirements of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

29.753(5) (5) The department does not seek a reduction of road access to public lands in connection with importing, moving, or introducing the elk.

29.753 History History: 2013 a. 20.

subch. XI of ch. 29 SUBCHAPTER XI

CAPTIVE ANIMALS

Subch. XI of ch. 29 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.01, Wis. adm. code.

29.875 29.875 Disposal of escaped deer or elk.

29.875(1g) (1g) In this section, “deer” means any species of deer.

29.875(1r) (1r) The department may seize and dispose of or may authorize the disposal of any deer that has escaped from land owned by a person registered under s. 95.55 or by a person who is subject to s. 169.04 (5m) if the escaped deer has traveled more than 3 miles from the land or if the licensee or person has not had the deer returned to the land within 24 hours of the discovery of the escape.

29.875(2) (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1r), the department may dispose of the deer immediately if the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines that the deer poses a risk to public safety or to the health of other domestic or wild animals.

29.875 History History: 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 248 s. 631; Stats. 1997 s. 29.875; 2001 a. 56, 109; 2003 a. 179.

subch. XII of ch. 29 SUBCHAPTER XII

WILDLIFE DAMAGE

Subch. XII of ch. 29 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.01, Wis. adm. code.

29.885 29.885 Removal of wild animals.

29.885(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

29.885(1)(a) (a) “Damage” means physical harm to forest products; streams; roads; dams; buildings; orchards; apiaries; livestock; and commercial agricultural crops, including Christmas trees and nursery stock. “Damage” includes flooding and culvert blockages caused by a beaver or muskrat.

29.885(1)(c) (c) “Private property holder” means an owner, lessee or occupant of private property.

29.885(1)(d) (d) “Removal activity” means removing or authorizing the removal of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance or the removal of a structure of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance.

29.885(1)(e) (e) “Remove” means capture, shoot, set a trap for, relocate, or otherwise destroy or dispose of.

29.885(1)(f) (f) Notwithstanding s. 29.001 (90), “wild animal” means any undomesticated mammal or bird, but does not include farm-raised deer, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.885(2) (2) Department authority. The department may remove or authorize the removal of all of the following:

29.885(2)(a) (a) A wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance.

29.885(2)(b) (b) A structure of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a nuisance.

29.885(3) (3) Damage complaints.

29.885(3)(a) (a) Within 48 hours after receipt of a written complaint from a person who owns, leases or occupies property on which a wild animal or a structure of a wild animal is allegedly causing damage, the department shall both investigate the complaint and determine whether or not to authorize removal.

29.885(3)(b) (b) The department may remove or authorize removal of the wild animal or the structure of the wild animal if it finds that the wild animal or the structure is causing damage on the property.

29.885(3)(c) (c) A person who owns, leases or occupies property outside an incorporated municipality on which a wild animal or a structure of a wild animal is allegedly causing damage and who has made a complaint under par. (a), may remove the wild animal or the structure at any time from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset if all of the following conditions apply:

29.885(3)(c)1. 1. The department has failed, within 48 hours after the receipt of the complaint, to investigate the complaint and to determine whether or not to authorize removal.

29.885(3)(c)2. 2. The department has not refused to investigate as permitted under sub. (5) (a).

29.885(3)(c)3. 3. The wild animal is not of an endangered or threatened species under s. 29.604 and is not a migratory bird on the list in 50 CFR 10.13 that is promulgated under 16 USC 701.

29.885(3)(d) (d) A person who owns, leases or occupies property located within an incorporated municipality on which a wild animal or the structure of a wild animal is allegedly causing damage may capture and relocate the wild animal or may relocate its structure if the person has made a complaint under par. (a) and all the conditions under par. (c) 1. to 3. apply.

29.885(4) (4) Nuisance complaints.