Chapter 29

29.014 History History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 77 to 79, 383, 397, 399; 2011 a. 252; 2013 a. 61; 2017 a. 63, 298; 2023 a. 115.

29.014 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. NR 10 and 11, Wis. adm. code.

29.014 Annotation The Department of Natural Resources has express authority under sub. (1) to adopt a rule allowing an open hunting season for mourning doves. The legislature has granted broad authority to the department to set open and closed seasons for game under sub. (1). Mourning doves fall within the definition of game applicable to this section, although the doves also fall within the definition of nongame species applicable to s. 29.039. Wisconsin Citizens Concerned for Cranes & Doves v. DNR, 2004 WI 40, 270 Wis. 2d 318, 677 N.W.2d 612, 02-1166.

29.016 29.016 Department authority; deer hunting seasons and license restrictions.

29.016(1) (1) The department may not do any of the following:

29.016(1)(a) (a) Require a person who holds a license that authorizes the hunting of deer to take an antlerless deer before the person may take the person’s first antlered deer under that license.

29.016(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), establish a fall open season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns that begins before the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November.

29.016(2) (2) Subsection (1) (b) does not prohibit the department from promulgating a rule that establishes a fall open season for hunting deer with firearms and airguns that begins before the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November if any of the following applies:

29.016(2)(a) (a) The department limits the open season to hunting deer by any of the following persons:

29.016(2)(a)1. 1. Persons who are under 16 years of age.

29.016(2)(a)2. 2. Persons who hold a Class A, Class B, or Class C permit under s. 29.193 (2).

29.016(2)(a)3. 3. Persons who are learning to hunt.

29.016(2)(b) (b) The department establishes the fall open season because a fall open season is necessary to control the spread of chronic wasting disease or other disease in deer and if all of the following apply:

29.016(2)(b)1. 1. The rule authorizes the hunting of only antlerless deer.

29.016(2)(b)2. 2. The rule provides for a closing date for the fall open season that is on or before October 15.

29.016(2)(b)3. 3. The rule provides that the rule does not apply beginning 270 days after the effective date of the rule.

29.016(3) (3) The department may establish a fall open season for hunting deer within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore that begins before the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November if the season is open for hunting deer only with muzzle-loading firearms.

29.016 History History: 2011 a. 50; 2017 a. 298; 2023 a. 115.

29.020 29.020 Deer management assistance program.

29.020(1) (1) The department shall establish a deer management assistance program. Under this program, the department shall provide deer management assistance to participating landowners. The department shall also provide a method for collecting information from participating landowners about deer health and the deer population in this state and for receiving suggestions from participating landowners about managing the deer population. The department shall analyze the information received and use it to improve deer health and manage the deer population in this state. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this program.

29.020(2) (2) The department may establish fees for participation in the deer management assistance program. The department shall credit all fees to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (Lv).

29.020 History History: 2013 a. 20.

29.024 29.024 Approvals; forms; issuing agents.

29.024(1) (1) Approvals required. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, ch. 169, or s. 95.55 (5), no person may hunt or trap in this state, fish in the waters of this state or engage in any of the activities regulated under this chapter unless the appropriate approval is issued to the person. A person shall carry proof of the required approval with him or her at all times while hunting, trapping, or fishing or engaged in regulated activities unless otherwise required by this chapter or unless otherwise authorized or required by the department. A person shall exhibit this proof to the department or its wardens on demand.

29.024(2) (2) Conditions and restrictions on approvals.

29.024(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in s. 29.182 (4), a hunting, trapping, or fishing approval may be issued only to and obtained only by a natural person entitled to the approval.

29.024(2)(b) (b) Except as provided under s. 29.194 (1), a resident hunting, trapping or fishing approval may be issued only to a person who presents to the issuing agent or the department definite proof of his or her identity and that he or she is a resident.

29.024(2)(c) (c) No more than one of the same series of approval may be issued to the same person for the same hunting or fishing season in any year except as authorized by the department.

29.024(2)(d) (d) Except as provided under s. 29.179, 29.180, 29.182 (4), 29.185 (4), or 29.519 (2) (d) or by rule, no person may transfer his or her approval or permit the use of any approval by any other person.

29.024(2)(e) (e) No person while hunting, trapping or fishing may use or carry any approval issued to another person, except that a person who accompanies and is assisting a disabled person may carry the disabled person’s approval.

29.024(2)(f) (f)

29.024(2)(f)1. 1. Except as provided under subd. 2. and as authorized by rules promulgated under sub. (5) (a) 2., no person may obtain a hunting, trapping or fishing approval for another person.

29.024(2)(f)2. 2. A person who assists a disabled person may obtain an approval for a disabled person.

29.024(2)(g) (g) No approval authorizing hunting, trapping, fishing or any other activity regulated by this chapter may be issued to any person who is prohibited from obtaining this type of an approval under this chapter.

29.024(2g) (2g) Denial and revocation of approvals based on child support delinquency.

29.024(2g)(a) (a) Social security numbers required. Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall require an applicant who is an individual to provide his or her social security number as a condition of applying for, or applying to renew, any of the following approvals:

29.024(2g)(a)1. 1. Any license issued under this chapter except for any group fishing license issued under s. 29.193 (5).

29.024(2g)(a)2. 2. Any permit issued under s. 29.403, 29.537, 29.733, 29.735, or 29.736.

29.024(2g)(a)3. 3. A wild rice identification card issued under s. 29.607.

29.024(2g)(am) (am) Social security numbers exceptions. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for, or applying to renew, an approval specified in par. (a) 1. to 3., shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. An approval issued by the department of natural resources in reliance on a false statement submitted by an applicant under this paragraph is invalid.

29.024(2g)(b) (b) Duplicates. For purposes of this subsection, an application for a duplicate of an approval specified in par. (a) shall be considered an application for the issuance of the approval.

29.024(2g)(c) (c) Disclosure of social security numbers. The department of natural resources may not disclose any social security numbers received under par. (a) to any person except to the department of children and families for the sole purpose of administering s. 49.22.

29.024(2g)(d) (d) Denial of approvals.

29.024(2g)(d)1. 1. As provided in the memorandum of understanding required under s. 49.857 (2), the department shall deny an application to issue or renew, suspend if already issued or otherwise withhold or restrict an approval specified in par. (a) 1. to 3. if the applicant for or the holder of the approval is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or if the applicant or holder fails to comply with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and relating to paternity or child support proceedings.

29.024(2g)(d)2. 2. As provided in the memorandum of understanding required under s. 49.857 (2), the department shall deny an application to issue or renew an approval specified in par. (a) 1. to 3. if the applicant for or the holder of the approval fails to provide his or her social security number as required under par. (a), unless the applicant is an individual who does not have a social security number and who submits a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation as required under par. (am).

29.024(2g)(e) (e) Alternative to providing social security numbers. If the federal government allows a method under the system under s. 49.857 (2) for purposes of administering this subsection that does not require the use of social security numbers of individuals applying for or holding approvals, other than the method under par. (am) for submitting a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation that the individual does not have a social security number, the department shall request that the legislative reference bureau prepare legislation that allows compliance with that method and that eliminates the requirement that individuals provide their social security numbers under the system. The secretary shall submit the proposed legislation to the standing committee of each house of the legislature that has jurisdiction over fish and wildlife matters under s. 13.172 (3).

29.024(2r) (2r) Denial and revocation of approvals based on delinquent taxes or unemployment insurance contributions.

29.024(2r)(a) (a) Social security and identification numbers required. Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall require an applicant who is an individual to provide his or her social security number and an applicant who is not an individual to provide the applicant’s federal employer identification number as a condition of applying for, or applying to renew, any of the following approvals:

29.024(2r)(a)1. 1. A license issued under s. 29.501.

29.024(2r)(a)2. 2. A wholesale fish dealer license issued under s. 29.503.

29.024(2r)(a)3. 3. A taxidermist permit issued under s. 29.506 (2).

29.024(2r)(a)4. 4. A bait dealer license issued under s. 29.509.

29.024(2r)(a)5. 5. A guide license issued under s. 29.512.

29.024(2r)(a)6. 6. A sport trolling license issued under s. 29.514.

29.024(2r)(a)7. 7. A commercial fishing license issued under s. 29.519.

29.024(2r)(a)8. 8. A net license issued under s. 29.523.

29.024(2r)(a)9. 9. A slat net license issued under s. 29.526.

29.024(2r)(a)10. 10. A trammel net license issued under s. 29.529.

29.024(2r)(a)11. 11. A set or bank pole license issued under s. 29.531.

29.024(2r)(a)12. 12. A setline license issued under s. 29.533.

29.024(2r)(a)13. 13. A clamming license or permit issued under s. 29.537.

29.024(2r)(a)14. 14. A fish farm permit issued under s. 29.733.

29.024(2r)(a)14m. 14m. A fish importation permit under s. 29.735.

29.024(2r)(a)14r. 14r. A fish stocking permit under s. 29.736.

29.024(2r)(a)15. 15. A wild rice dealer license issued under s. 29.607 (4) (b).

29.024(2r)(a)16. 16. A wild ginseng dealer license issued under s. 29.611 (7).

29.024(2r)(am) (am) Social security and identification numbers exceptions. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for, or applying to renew, any of the approvals specified in par. (a) 1. to 16., shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. An approval issued by the department of natural resources in reliance on a false statement submitted by an applicant under this paragraph is invalid.

29.024(2r)(b) (b) Duplicates. For purposes of this subsection, an application for a duplicate of an approval specified in par. (a) shall be considered an application for the issuance of the approval.

29.024(2r)(c) (c) Disclosure of numbers. The department of natural resources may not disclose any information received under par. (a) to any person except to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of making certifications required under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of making certifications required under s. 108.227.

29.024(2r)(d) (d) Denial and revocation.

29.024(2r)(d)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the department shall deny an application to issue or renew, or revoke if already issued, an approval specified in par. (a) if the applicant for or the holder of the approval fails to provide the information required under par. (a), if the department of revenue certifies that the applicant or approval holder is liable for delinquent taxes under s. 73.0301, or if the department of workforce development certifies that the applicant or approval holder is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions under s. 108.227.

29.024(2r)(d)2. 2. The department may not deny an application under subd. 1. for the reason that the applicant failed to provide his or her social security number, if the applicant is an individual who submitted a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation as required under par. (am).

29.024(2u) (2u) Revocation of hunting licenses based on incompetency. The department shall revoke any license authorizing hunting issued to an individual for whom the department receives a record of a declaration under s. 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. stating that the individual is incompetent to apply for a hunting license under this chapter.

29.024(3) (3) Form of application. The application for an approval shall be on the form and contain the information required by the department and no approval may be issued until the applicant complies with these requirements.

29.024(4) (4) Form of approval.

29.024(4)(a) (a) Date; expiration. Each approval issued under this chapter shall state for what period the approval is effective and the date of expiration.

29.024(4)(b) (b) Name; description; signature. Each license or permit issued shall contain the name and address of the holder, a description of the holder and other information required by the department. Each license or permit shall, if required by the department under sub. (5) (a) 1., bear upon its face the signature of the holder and the date of issuance and shall be signed by the issuing agent. Each stamp shall, if required by the department under sub. (5) (a) 1., bear upon its face the signature of the holder. The department may apply any of the requirements of this subsection to other forms or approvals.

29.024(5) (5) Forms of approvals.

29.024(5)(a) (a) Department rules. The department shall promulgate rules regulating the issuance of approvals. The rules shall include all of the following:

29.024(5)(a)1. 1. The signature requirements, if any, for each type of approval.

29.024(5)(a)2. 2. The conditions, if any, under which a person may be issued an approval for another person.

29.024(5)(a)3. 3. The authorized forms for stamps, which may include facsimiles, and the methods of attaching stamps to or imprinting stamps on other approvals issued under this chapter.

29.024(5)(b) (b) Forms. The department shall prepare, procure the printing of, and supply all necessary forms for applications and approvals issued under this chapter and related applications for approvals.

29.024(5)(e) (e) Identification numbers. The department may issue customer identification numbers as part of its statewide automated system for issuing approvals.

29.024(5)(f) (f) Anatomical gift. The form for an application for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license shall include all of the following:

29.024(5)(f)1. 1. A question as to whether the applicant wishes to include his or her name as a donor of an anatomical gift in the record of potential donors maintained by the department of transportation and, if so, a space where the applicant must provide his or her middle initial.

29.024(5)(f)2. 2. A statement that an affirmative response to the question under subd. 1. authorizes an anatomical gift under s. 157.06, but that an applicant may also comply with sub. (12).

29.024(5)(f)3. 3. A method by which the applicant may elect to receive a donor card that is separate from any license.

29.024(5)(f)4. 4. A statement that the applicant is not required to respond to the question under subd. 1. in order to obtain a license.