Chapter 29 — WILD ANIMALS AND PLANTS
51 sections in this chapter.
Wis. Stat. § 29.001 Definitions
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29.001 Definitions. In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (3) “Address” means a street name and number or post-office box number, the name of the city, village or town, the state and the zip code. (6) “Aircraft” means any contrivance invented, used or designed f…
Wis. Stat. § 29.011 Title to wild animals
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29.011 Title to wild animals. (1) The legal title to, and the custody and protection of, all wild animals within this state is vested in the state for the purposes of regulating the enjoyment, use, disposition, and conservation of these wild animals. May 22, 2026, are designated …
Wis. Stat. § 29.014 Rule-making for this chapter
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29.014 Rule-making for this chapter. (1) The department shall establish and maintain open and closed seasons for fish and game and any bag limits, size limits, rest days and conditions governing the taking of fish and game that will conserve the fish and game supply and ensure th…
Wis. Stat. § 29.016 Department authority; deer hunting seasons and license restrictions
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29.016 Department authority; deer hunting seasons and license restrictions. (1) The department may not do any of the following: (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 an…
Wis. Stat. § 29.020 Deer management assistance program
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29.020 Deer management assistance program. (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 i…
Wis. Stat. § 29.024 Approvals; forms; issuing agents
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29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license. The resident small game hunting license does not authorize the hunting of bear, deer, elk, or wild turkey. (2) A resident small game hunting license authorizes hunting with a firearm, airg…
Wis. Stat. § 29.03 Wildlife violator compact
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29.03 Wildlife violator compact. (1) ARTICLE I — FINDINGS, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND PURPOSE. (a) The participating states find all of the following: 1. Wildlife resources are managed by the respective states for the benefit of all residents and visitors. 2. The protection of wi…
Wis. Stat. § 29.035 Report of department
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29.035 Report of department. On or before March 15 of each even-numbered year, the department shall submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3), to the governor and to the Wisconsin conserv…
Wis. Stat. § 29.036 Sporting heritage council
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29.036 Sporting heritage council. (1) The sporting heritage council shall study, and provide advice and make recommendations to the governor, the natural resources board, and the May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 29.036 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. WILD ANIM…
Wis. Stat. § 29.037 Fish and wildlife restoration
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29.037 Fish and wildlife restoration. This state assents to the provisions of 16 USC 669 to 669i and 777 to 777L. The department is authorized and directed to perform any acts necessary to establish cooperative wildlife restoration projects and cooperative fish restoration and ma…
Wis. Stat. § 29.038 Local regulation of wild animals
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29.038 Local regulation of wild animals. (1) In this section: (a) “Local governmental unit” has the meaning given in s. 16.97 (7). (b) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town or county. (2) No local governmental unit may enact any ordinance or adopt any regulation, re…
Wis. Stat. § 29.039 Nongame species
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29.039 Nongame species. (1) The department may conduct investigations of nongame species to develop scientific information relating to population, distribution, habitat needs, and other biological data to determine necessary conservation measures. The department may develop conse…
Wis. Stat. § 29.040 Deer management report rules
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29.040 Deer management report rules. The department may promulgate rules to implement the recommendations contained in the 2012 final report of the assessment of this state’s deer management plans and policies that was conducted under the terms of a contract between the departmen…
Wis. Stat. § 29.041 Department to regulate hunting and fishing in interstate waters
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29.041 Department to regulate hunting and fishing in interstate waters. The department may regulate hunting and fishing on and in all interstate boundary waters, and outlying waters. History: 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38); 1997 a. 248 s. 118; Stats. 1997 s. 29.041. Cross-reference: See…
Wis. Stat. § 29.042 Agreements to retire licenses
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29.042 Agreements to retire licenses. (1) Beginning on January 1, 1998, the department may not enter into any agreement to make payments to persons holding approvals issued under s. 29.501, 29.503, 29.506, 29.509, 29.512, 29.514, 29.519, 29.523, 29.526, 29.529, 29.531, 29.533, 29…
Wis. Stat. § 29.043 Interstate comity
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29.043 Interstate comity. (1) Whenever any other state confers upon the officers of this state reciprocal powers, any officer of the other state, who is authorized to enforce the laws of that state relating to the protection of wild animals, is designated an agent of that state w…
Wis. Stat. § 29.045 Interstate license privileges
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29.045 Interstate license privileges. (1) FISHING PRIVILEGES. If the state of Michigan, Minnesota or Iowa confers upon the fishing licensees of this state reciprocal rights, privileges and immunities, a fishing license issued by the other state entitles the licensee to the rights…
Wis. Stat. § 29.047 Interstate transportation of game
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29.047 Interstate transportation of game. (1) (a) In this section: 2. “Game” means any wild animal, wild bird or game fish. 3. “Indian land” means all land within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation in this state and all other land in this state that is held in trust…
Wis. Stat. § 29.053 Specific open and closed seasons
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29.053 Specific open and closed seasons. (1) All fishing seasons on inland waters shall open on a Saturday. (2) The department may exercise its authority under s. 29.014 with reference to the state as a whole, or for any specified county or part of a county, or for any lake or st…
Wis. Stat. § 29.055 Wild animals; possession in closed season or in excess of bag limit
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29.055 Wild animals; possession in closed season or in excess of bag limit. Except as expressly provided in this chapter, no person may have in the person’s possession or under the person’s control, or have in storage, any wild animal or carcass that was taken during the closed s…
Wis. Stat. § 29.057 Wild animals; possession in open season
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29.057 Wild animals; possession in open season. It is unlawful to possess or control at any time a protected wild animal or the carcass of any protected wild animal showing that it was taken during the closed season for the protected wild animal. This section does not apply to fa…
Wis. Stat. § 29.059 Reports of hunters
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29.059 Reports of hunters. Each person to whom a hunting or trapping license has been issued shall, upon request by the department, report to the department, on forms furnished by it, the number of the person’s license, the number and kind of each animal taken by the licensee and…
Wis. Stat. § 29.063 Management of chronic wasting disease
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29.063 (3) or (4), 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. (b) The possession, transportation, delivery or receipt of farm-raised deer, farm-raised game b…
Wis. Stat. § 29.071 Wildlife on Indian reservations protected
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29.071 Wildlife on Indian reservations protected. No person may remove or take from any Indian reservation the carcass of any protected wild animal during the closed season for the wild animal except as authorized by the department under this chapter or ch. 169. History: 1997 a. …
Wis. Stat. § 29.075 Hunting, trapping and fishing by American Indians
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29.075 Hunting, trapping and fishing by American Indians. American Indians hunting, trapping or fishing off Indian reservation lands are subject to this chapter. History: 1983 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 s. 92; Stats. 1997 s. 29.075.
Wis. Stat. § 29.079 Deer hunting by practitioners of Ho-Chunk religion
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29.079 Deer hunting by practitioners of Ho-Chunk religion. (1) Persons who are enrolled members of the Ho-Chunk nation and residents and who practice the traditional religion of the Ho-Chunk people may hunt deer during daylight hours for the members’ use in religious ceremonies w…
Wis. Stat. § 29.083 Interference with hunting, fishing or trapping
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29.083 Interference with hunting, fishing or trapping. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping” means travel, camping, scouting, target shooting, dog training, animal baiting or feeding, or other acts that are preparatory to…
Wis. Stat. § 29.084 Incentives for recruitment
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29.084 Incentives for recruitment. The department shall establish a program to recognize people who recruit others as hunters, trappers, and anglers. The program shall include a component under which a person who is issued his or her first hunting, trapping, or fishing approval i…
Wis. Stat. § 29.088 Use of poison and explosives; pole traps
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29.088 Use of poison and explosives; pole traps. (1) Except as provided by s. 29.601 (4), it is unlawful to use baits containing poison of any description in any forests, fields or other places where it might destroy or cause the destruction of wild animals or birds, and the poss…
Wis. Stat. § 29.089 Hunting, fishing, and trapping on land in state parks and state fish hatcheries
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29.089 Hunting, fishing, and trapping on land in state parks and state fish hatcheries. (1) No person may hunt or trap on land located in state fish hatcheries. (1m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), state parks shall be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping by persons who hol…
Wis. Stat. § 29.091 Hunting or trapping in wildlife refuge
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29.091 Hunting or trapping in wildlife refuge. (1) No person may hunt or trap within any wildlife refuge established under s. 23.09 (2) (b) or 29.621 (1), or, except as provided in sub. WILD ANIMALS AND PLANTS 29.164 (2), have possession or control of any gun, firearm, airgun, bo…
Wis. Stat. § 29.095 Hunting on land in a school forest
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29.095 Hunting on land in a school forest. If a school board decides under s. 120.13 (38) that hunting may be allowed in its school forest, as defined in s. 26.39 (1) (a), the department shall establish and maintain open and closed seasons for game located in that school forest t…
Wis. Stat. § 29.161 Resident small game hunting license
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29.161 Resident small game hunting license. (1) A resident small game hunting license shall be issued subject to ss.
Wis. Stat. § 29.164 Wild turkey hunting approvals
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29.164 Wild turkey hunting approvals. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section: (a) “Family member” means a person who is related to another person as a parent, child, spouse or sibling. (b) “Landowner” means the owner of record of a parcel of land or the purchaser of land under …
Wis. Stat. § 29.171 Resident archer hunting license
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29.171 Resident archer hunting license. (1) A resident archer hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license. (2) A resident archer hunting license authorizes the hunting of all game, excep…
Wis. Stat. § 29.172 Resident crossbow hunting license
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29.172 Resident crossbow hunting license. (1) A resident crossbow hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license. (2) A resident crossbow hunting license authorizes the hunting of all game,…
Wis. Stat. § 29.173 Resident deer hunting license
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29.173 Resident deer hunting license. (1) ISSUANCE. A resident deer hunting license shall be issued subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. by the department to any resident applying for this license. (2) AUTHORIZATION. (a) A resident deer hunting license authorizes the hun…
Wis. Stat. § 29.177 Special deer hunting permits
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29.177 Special deer hunting permits. (1) ISSUANCE. The department may issue a hunter’s choice deer hunting permit, a deer hunting party permit or other special deer hunting permit to a person with a valid deer hunting license who applies for the permit and to a person who is exem…
Wis. Stat. § 29.179 Transfer of approvals to minors and disabled persons
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29.179 Transfer of approvals to minors and disabled persons. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Approval” means any of the following that the department issues to a resident or a nonresident under a random or preference selection system: 1. A hunter’s choice deer hunting perm…
Wis. Stat. § 29.180 Transfers of approvals upon death
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29.180 Transfers of approvals upon death. (1) In this section: (a) “Approval” means any of the following approvals that the department issues to the resident or nonresident under a random or preference selection system: 1. Hunter’s choice deer hunting permit. 2. Bonus deer huntin…
Wis. Stat. § 29.181 Bonus deer hunting permits
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29.181 Bonus deer hunting permits. (1b) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Agricultural purpose” means beekeeping, dairying, egg production, feedlots, grazing, arboriculture, horticulture, floriculture, plant nurseries and green houses, raising of livestock, WILD ANIMALS AND PLAN…
Wis. Stat. § 29.182 Elk hunting licenses
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29.182 Elk hunting licenses. (1) DEPARTMENT AUTHORITY. The department may issue elk hunting licenses and may limit the number of elk hunters and elk harvested in any area of the state. The department may establish by rule closed zones where elk hunting is prohibited. (1m) OPEN SE…
Wis. Stat. § 29.183 Deferral of certain approvals
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29.183 Deferral of certain approvals. (1) The department shall defer as provided in sub. (4), upon request from a person who meets the requirements under sub. (2) and who submits a request under sub. (3), any of the following approvals that the department issues to the person und…
Wis. Stat. § 29.184 Bear licenses
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29.184 Bear licenses. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, notwithstanding s. 29.001 (42), “hunt bear” means to shoot, shoot at, take, catch, or kill a bear or pursue, with or without the use of dogs, a bear for the purpose of shooting, shooting at, taking, catching, or killing the b…
Wis. Stat. § 29.185 Wolf harvesting licenses
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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. (e) No person while hunting, trapping or fishing may use or carry any approval issued to another person, except that a person who accompanie…
Wis. Stat. § 29.191 Hunting stamps
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29.191 Hunting stamps. (1) WATERFOWL HUNTING STAMP. (a) Requirement; issuance; exceptions. 1. Except as provided in subd. 3., no person may hunt waterfowl unless he or she is issued a conservation patron license or unless he or she is issued a waterfowl hunting stamp which, in th…
Wis. Stat. § 29.192 Regulation of takings of certain wild animals
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29.192 Regulation of takings of certain wild animals. (1) The department may regulate and limit the number of hunters and the maximum harvest of Canada geese in any area, by doing any of the following: (a) Requiring hunters to tag each goose killed with a tag issued by the depart…
Wis. Stat. § 29.193 Approvals for disabled persons
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29.193 Approvals for disabled persons. (1b) DEFINITION. In this section, “nongovernmental issuing agent” means a person who is appointed under s. 29.024 (6) (a) 3. (1m) TROLLING PERMITS. (a) The department shall, after an investigation and without charging a fee, issue a trolling…
Wis. Stat. § 29.194 Resident approvals for certain nonresidents and members of the armed forces
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29.194 Resident approvals for certain nonresidents and members of the armed forces. (1) RESIDENT APPROVALS FOR CERTAIN NONRESIDENTS. (a) Notwithstanding ss. 29.024 (2) and 29.228 (1) (a), the department shall issue a resident fishing license, resident small game hunting license o…
Wis. Stat. § 29.1945 Approvals for veterans and military members
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29.1945 Approvals for veterans and military members. (1) In this section, “war period” means any of the following: (a) A period between September 11, 2001, and the ending date of Operation Enduring Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Enduring Freedom, as esta…