Chapter 29

29.971(11) (11) For hunting deer without the required approval, during the closed season, with the aid of artificial light or with the aid of an aircraft, for the snaring of or setting snares for deer, or for the possession or control of a deer carcass in violation of s. 29.055 or 29.347, by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both. In addition, the court shall order the revocation of all approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new approval under this chapter to the person for 3 years.

29.971(11g) (11g) 

29.971(11g)(a) (a) For hunting elk without a valid elk hunting license, for possessing an elk that does not have a validated elk carcass tag, for possessing an elk during the closed season, by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $15,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both for the first violation, or by a fine of not more than $20,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year or both for any subsequent violation. In addition, the court shall revoke all hunting and trapping approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting and trapping approvals under this chapter to the person for 5 years.

29.971(11g)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (a), for the violation of any provision of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter relating to elk hunting or to the validation of an elk carcass tag or registration of an elk, by a forfeiture of not more than $5,000.

29.971(11m) (11m) 

29.971(11m)(a) (a) For shooting, shooting at, killing, taking, catching, or possessing a bear without a valid Class A bear license, or for possessing a bear that does not have a validated carcass tag or possessing a bear during the closed season, by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both for the first violation, or by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 9 months or both for any subsequent violation, and, in addition, the court shall revoke all hunting approvals issued to the person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting approval under this chapter to the person for 3 years. This paragraph does not apply to a person who shoots at or kills a bear as authorized under s. 29.184 (3) (br) 4.

29.971(11m)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (a), for the violation of any provision of this chapter relating to bear hunting, to the activities specified in s. 29.184 (3) (br) 1. to 4., or to the validation of a bear carcass tag or registration of a bear, by a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.

29.971(11m)(c) (c) Any person who is convicted of hunting bear or engaging in any of the activities under s. 29.184 (3) (br) with a dog that is not in compliance with s. 29.184 (4) or the licensing requirements under s. 174.053 or 174.07 may have his or her Class A bear hunting license revoked; and if the license is revoked, no Class A bear hunting license may be issued to the person for a period of 3 years after the date of conviction.

29.971(11p) (11p) 

29.971(11p)(a) (a) For entering the den of a hibernating black bear and harming the bear, by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 9 months or both.

29.971(11p)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the activity subject to the penalty under par. (a) has been specifically approved by the department and is necessary to conduct research activities.

29.971(11r) (11r) 

29.971(11r)(a) (a) For the violation of s. 29.083 (2) (a), by a forfeiture of not more than $500, except as provided in par. (am).

29.971(11r)(am) (am)

29.971(11r)(am)1. 1. For the violation of s. 29.083 (2) (a) by a person who violated s. 29.083 (2) (a) one time within the 5 years immediately preceding the conviction for the current violation, by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days or both.

29.971(11r)(am)2. 2. For the violation of s. 29.083 (2) (a) by a person who violated s. 29.083 (2) (a) 2 or more times within the 5 years immediately preceding the conviction for the current violation, by a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months or both.

29.971(11r)(b) (b) For the violation of s. 29.083 (2) (b), by a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.

29.971(11v) (11v) For failing to reimburse the department as required under s. 29.404 (3), by a forfeiture of not more than $100.

29.971(12) (12) In addition to any other penalty for violation of this chapter or any department order made under this chapter, the court may revoke any or all approvals granted under this chapter for a period of up to 3 years. If a person is convicted of reckless or highly negligent conduct in the operation or handling of a firearm, airgun, or bow and arrow in violation of s. 940.08, 940.24, or 941.20 and either death or bodily harm to another results from that violation, the court shall revoke every approval issued to that person under this chapter and shall provide a fixed period during which no new approval may be issued to the person. If no death or bodily harm to another results from the violation, the court may revoke any approval issued to that person under this chapter and may provide a fixed period during which no new approval may be issued to the person.

29.971(13) (13) No penalty prescribed in any section of this chapter shall be held to be diminished because the violation for which it is prescribed falls also within the scope of a more general prohibition.

29.971(14) (14) In any prosecution under this section it is not necessary for the state to allege or prove that the animals were not farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, wild animals subject to regulation under ch. 169, or domestic animals, that they were not taken for scientific purposes, or that they were taken or in possession or under control without a required approval. The person claiming that these animals were farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, wild animals subject to ch. 169, or domestic animals, that they were taken for scientific purposes or that they were taken or in possession or under control under the required approval, has the burden of proving these facts.

29.971 History History: 1975 c. 365 ss. 45, 50; 1979 c. 34, 150, 175, 190, 355; 1981 c. 20, 236, 243, 391; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 80 s. 9; 1983 a. 114 s. 9; 1983 a. 192, 209, 419, 520, 538; 1985 a. 29, 36, 270, 271, 272, 289, 332; 1987 a. 379; 1989 a. 190, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 137; 1995 a. 59, 79; 1997 a. 1, 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 714 to 722; Stats. 1997 s. 29.971; 1997 a. 283 ss. 20 to 23; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2001 a. 56, 108, 109; 2003 a. 139, 249; 2005 a. 288; 2009 a. 276; 2011 a. 28, 257; 2015 a. 55, 89, 346; 2023 a. 115.

29.971 Annotation All illegal clamming violations under s. 29.38 are punishable by forfeiture under sub. (1m) (a) except violations of the possession provisions of s. 29.38 [now s. 29.537]. State v. Ahrling, 191 Wis. 2d 398, 528 N.W.2d 431 (1995).

29.972 29.972 Revocation; failure to comply.

29.972(1) (1) The department shall deny an application to issue or renew, or suspend if already issued, all hunting, fishing, or trapping approvals issued to a person under this chapter if the person who violates this chapter does any of the following:

29.972(1)(a) (a) Fails to respond to a summons under s. 23.66 (3) or 23.67 (4), or a warrant or summons under s. 968.04.

29.972(1)(b) (b) Fails to appear on the court date set under s. 23.72 or 23.75 unless the person makes a deposit under s. 23.66 or makes a deposit and stipulation under s. 23.67.

29.972(1)(c) (c) Fails to appear before the court and is subject to a bench warrant under s. 968.09.

29.972(2) (2) 

29.972(2)(a) (a) The requirement to deny or suspend an approval under sub. (1) does not apply if the court revokes any or all of the person’s hunting, fishing, or trapping approvals under s. 23.79 (4) or 23.795 (2).

29.972(2)(b) (b) The requirement to deny or suspend an approval under sub. (1) remains in effect until either of the following occurs:

29.972(2)(b)1. 1. The person resolves the matter under sub. (1) that resulted in the denial or suspension.

29.972(2)(b)2. 2. The court revokes or suspends any or all of the person’s hunting, fishing, or trapping approvals under s. 29.971.

29.972(3) (3) The department shall establish procedures for the denial or suspension of approvals under subs. (1) and (2), including all of the following:

29.972(3)(a) (a) The exchange of information among the department, the district attorneys, and the clerks of court.

29.972(3)(b) (b) Notice to the person who is subject to the denial or suspension.

29.972(3)(c) (c) The opportunity for an administrative appeal to the department which shall be limited to the issue of whether the action listed in sub. (1) (a) to (c) is sufficient to require the department to deny an application to issue or renew, or to suspend the approvals.

29.972 History History: 2005 a. 282.

29.973 29.973 Commercial fish reporting system. The department shall establish and maintain a commercial fish reporting system under which the department shall establish specific reporting or record-keeping requirements that apply to all of the following:

29.973(1) (1) Any person who has committed a certain number of violations of subch. VI, as determined by the department.

29.973(2) (2) Any person who holds a license issued under s. 29.519 (1m), and who is convicted of harvesting more than 1,000 pounds of fish above their annual quota, failing to report over 2,000 pounds of catch during a 12-month period, fishing during the closed season, or possessing 200 or more pounds of fish in violation of this chapter.

29.973 History History: 2005 a. 288; 2007 a. 97 s. 50.

29.973 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 25, Wis. adm. code.

29.974 29.974 Penalties; repeaters.

29.974(1) (1) If a person is convicted of any violation of this chapter, of s. 167.31 (2) or (3) or of a rule promulgated under s. 167.31 (4m), and it is alleged in the indictment, information or complaint, and proved or admitted on trial or ascertained by the court after conviction that the person was previously convicted within a period of 5 years for a violation of this chapter, of s. 167.31 (2) or (3) or of a rule promulgated under s. 167.31 (4m) by any court of this state, the person shall be fined not more than $100, or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. In addition, all hunting, fishing and trapping approvals issued to the person shall be revoked and no hunting, fishing or trapping approval may be issued to the person for a period of one year after the 2nd conviction.

29.974(2) (2) 

29.974(2)(a) (a) In this subsection, “wild animal” does not include a farm-raised deer, a farm-raised fish, a farm-raised game bird, or a wild animal subject to regulation under ch. 169.

29.974(2)(b) (b) When any person is convicted and it is alleged in the indictment, information or complaint and proved or admitted on trial or ascertained by the court after conviction that the person had been before convicted 3 times within a period of 3 years for violations of this chapter or department order punishable under s. 29.501 (10), 29.601 (1) or 29.971 (5), or for violation of s. 29.539, or for violation of any statute or department order regulating the taking or possession of any wild animal or carcass during the closed season or any combination of those violations by any court of this state, and that the convictions remain of record and unreversed, the person shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

29.974(3) (3) No penalty for any violation listed in sub. (1) or (2) may be reduced or diminished by reason of this section.

29.974 History History: 1975 c. 365 s. 46; Stats. 1975 s. 29.995; 1981 c. 243 s. 7; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29, 272; 1993 a. 137; 1997 a. 248 s. 723; Stats. 1997 s. 29.974; 2001 a. 56.

29.974 Annotation Criminal prosecution under this section must be commenced by a complaint under s. 968.02; prosecution must be conducted within the statutory and constitutional requirements applicable to other criminal prosecutions. 71 Atty. Gen. 136.

29.977 29.977 Civil actions for damages caused by law violations.

29.977(1) (1) The department may bring a civil action in the name of the state for the recovery of damages against any person killing, wounding, catching, taking, trapping or possessing in violation of this chapter any of the following named protected wild animals, birds, or fish, or any part of an animal, bird or fish, and the sum assessed for damages for each wild animal, bird, or fish shall be not less than the amount stated in this section:

29.977(1)(a) (a) Any endangered species protected under s. 29.604, $875.

29.977(1)(am) (am) Any elk, $2,000.

29.977(1)(b) (b) Any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill crane, $262.50.

29.977(1)(c) (c) Any deer, bear, wild turkey or wild swan, $175.

29.977(1)(d) (d) Any bobcat, fox, wolf, beaver, or otter, $87.50.

29.977(1)(e) (e) Any coyote, raccoon or mink, $43.75.

29.977(1)(f) (f) Any sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse, spruce hen, wild duck, coot, wild goose or brant, $26.25.

29.977(1)(g) (g) Any pheasant, gray partridge, quail, rail, Wilson’s snipe, woodcock or shore bird, or protected song bird or harmless bird, $17.50.

29.977(1)(h) (h) Any muskrat, rabbit or squirrel, $8.75.

29.977(1)(i) (i) Any muskellunge or lake sturgeon, $43.75.

29.977(1)(j) (j) Any largemouth or smallmouth bass, $26.25.

29.977(1)(k) (k) Any brook, rainbow, brown, or steel head trout, $26.25.

29.977(1)(L) (L) Any walleye pike, northern pike, or any other game fish not mentioned in pars. (i) to (k), $8.75.

29.977(1)(m) (m) Any game or fur-bearing animal or bird not mentioned in pars. (am) to (h), $17.50.

29.977(2) (2) Any damages recovered in a civil action under this section shall be paid into the conservation fund. The costs of the action, if the judgment is in favor of the defendant, shall be paid out of the conservation fund.

29.977(3) (3) A civil action brought under this section shall be a bar to a criminal prosecution for the same offense and any criminal prosecution for any offense chargeable under this section shall be a bar to a civil action brought under this section.

29.977 History History: 1975 c. 365; 1977 c. 386; 1979 c. 34; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1995 a. 376; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 691 to 698; Stats. 1997 s. 29.977; 2001 a. 56, 109; 2011 a. 169.

29.977 Annotation The civil remedy is coextensive with the criminal sanctions of the chapter, and since the chapter does not prohibit killing fish by opening a dam unlawfully, there is no civil remedy. DNR v. City of Clintonville, 53 Wis. 2d 1, 191 N.W.2d 866 (1971).

29.977 Annotation The state may recover “civil redress” damages under this section as well as prosecute the perpetrator for the underlying violation punishable only by civil forfeiture. State v. Denk, 117 Wis. 2d 432, 345 N.W.2d 66 (Ct. App. 1984).

29.977 Annotation When a criminal action is brought for a violation of ch. 94, prohibiting deposit of pesticides in public waters of the state, the proceeding is not barred by a civil action to recover the statutory value of the fish killed by the pesticides. 62 Atty. Gen. 130.

29.981 29.981 Parties to a violation.

29.981(1) (1) Whoever is concerned in the commission of a violation of this chapter or of any department order under this chapter for which a forfeiture is imposed is a principal and may be charged with and convicted of the violation although he or she did not directly commit it and although the person who directly committed it has not been convicted of the violation.

29.981(2) (2) A person is concerned in the commission of the violation if the person:

29.981(2)(a) (a) Directly commits the violation;

29.981(2)(b) (b) Aids and abets the commission of it; or

29.981(2)(c) (c) Is a party to a conspiracy with another to commit it or advises, hires or counsels or otherwise procures another to commit it.

29.981 History History: 1975 c. 365; 1987 a. 379; 1997 a. 248 s. 724; Stats. 1997 s. 29.981.

29.983 29.983 Wild animal protection surcharges.

29.983(1) (1) Levy of wild animal protection assessment.

29.983(1)(a) (a) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of a provision of this chapter or an order issued under this chapter for the unlawful killing, wounding, catching, taking, trapping, or possession of a wild animal specified in par. (b), or any part of such a wild animal, the court may impose a wild animal protection surcharge under ch. 814 that equals the amount specified for the wild animal under par. (b).

29.983(1)(b) (b) The amount of the wild animal protection surcharge imposed under ch. 814 shall be as follows:

29.983(1)(b)1. 1. For any wild animal that is an endangered species protected under s. 29.604, $875.

29.983(1)(b)1m. 1m. Any elk, $2,000.

29.983(1)(b)2. 2. For any moose, fisher, prairie chicken, or sand hill crane, $262.50.

29.983(1)(b)3. 3. For any bear, wild turkey or wild swan, $175.

29.983(1)(b)4. 4. For any bobcat, fox, wolf, beaver, or otter, $87.50.