Chapter 29, WILD ANIMALS AND PLANTS

29.627 Domestic fur-bearing animal farms. The breeding, raising and producing in captivity, and the marketing, by the producer, of foxes, fitch, nutria, marten, fisher, mink, chinchilla, rabbit or caracul, as live animals, or as animal pelts or carcasses shall be considered an ag…

29.630 Raffling lake sturgeon from state fish hatcheries. (1) The organization known as Sturgeon for Tomorrow, Inc., may annually request that the department transfer not more than 15 carcasses of lake sturgeon from state fish hatcheries to be awarded as prizes in a raffle, subje…

29.701 Propagation of fish; protected wild animals. (1) Nothing in this chapter concerning the protection of wild animals applies to any of the following: (a) The operation of state fish hatcheries. (b) The removal of fish which have died from natural causes or the removal of det…

29.705 Propagation of fish; removal of fish. (1) TRANSPLANTATION OF FISH. The department may take or authorize to be taken fish at any time of the year from any waters of the state for stocking other waters or for the purpose of securing eggs for propagation. These fish or eggs m…

29.707 Propagation of fish; department rules. (1) The department shall promulgate rules that do all of the following: (a) Define the role and extent that genetics is involved in the department’s fish stocking strategies. (b) Standardize the department’s fish donation procedures. …

29.709 State fish hatcheries. The department may operate state fish hatcheries and may do all of the following: (1) Breed and propagate fish of such species and varieties as it determines to be of value. (2) Distribute information regarding the propagation and conservation of fis…

29.713 Trespass to state fish hatchery. Whoever does any of the following without proper authority shall be subject to the penalties under s. 29.971 (1): (1) Enters upon the grounds of a state fish hatchery for the purpose of killing or taking fish. (2) Kills or takes fish from a…

29.717 Trespass on riparian land. In an action against a person for damages sustained from trespassing on lands bordering streams stocked by the consent of the owner of the lands, with fish received from a state hatchery, where the damage exceeds $2, the trespasser is liable for …

29.733 Natural waters used in fish farms. (1d) In this section: (a) “Artificial water body” has the meaning given in s. 30.19 (1b) (a). (b) “Natural body of water” means a spring, stream, pond, lake, or wetland that was historically present in a natural state but may have been ph…

29.734 Barriers required for fish farms. No person may use any body of water as a fish farm or as part of a fish farm unless the body of water is equipped with barriers that prevent the passage of fish between it and the other waters of the state. History: 1997 a. 237; 1999 a. 32…

29.735 Importation of fish. (1) No person may bring into this state any fish, or fish eggs, of a species that is not native to this state for the purpose of introduction into the waters of the state, as defined in s. 281.01 (18), of use as bait or of rearing in a fish farm withou…

29.736 Stocking of fish. (1) In this section: (a) “Fish” includes fish eggs. (b) “Qualified inspector” means a veterinarian licensed under ch. 89 or a person who is qualified to provide evidence of fish health under s. 95.60 (4s) (c). (c) “Waters of the state” does not include pr…

29.737 Permit for private management. (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. (2) The department shall hold a public hearin…

29.738 Private fishing preserves. (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: (a) All of the use and occupancy rights in the land that is riparian to the body …

29.739 Grants for walleye production. (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. (2) Grants awarded un…

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…

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 f…

29.749 Horicon marsh fur farm and dam. (1) The department shall establish a fur farm on the Horicon marsh in Dodge County under the supervision of the department. (2) The department may maintain a dam in or near the city of Horicon, to control and regulate the flood waters on the…

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: (1) The elk a…

29.875 Disposal of escaped deer or elk. (1g) In this section, “deer” means any species of deer. (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 subj…

29.885 Removal of wild animals. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (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…

29.886 Management of double-crested cormorants. (1) In this section: (a) “U.S. depredation order” means the depredation order for double-crested cormorants to protect public resources that was issued by the U.S. department of interior, fish and wildlife service, in 50 CFR 21.48, …

29.887 Wildlife control in urban communities. (1) The department shall establish a program to award matching grants to any city, village, or town with a population density of not less than 125 persons per square mile for up to 50 percent of the costs for projects to plan wildlife…

29.888 Wolf depredation program; wolf damage claims. (1b) In this section: (a) “Federal endangered list” has the meaning given in s. 29.185 (1b) (a). (b) “State endangered list” has the meaning given in s. 29.185 (1b) (b). (1m) The department shall administer a wolf depredation p…

29.889 Wildlife damage abatement program; wildlife damage claim program. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “wildlife damage” means damage caused by any of the following wild animals that are not subject to regulation under ch. 169: (a) Deer that are not farm-raised deer. (b) Bear.…

29.89 Venison and wild turkey processing and donation program. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “charitable organization” means a nonprofit corporation, charitable trust or other nonprofit association that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that …

29.921 Warrants; arrests; police powers. (1) GENERALLY. The department and its wardens may execute and serve warrants and processes issued under any law enumerated in ss. 23.50 (1), 167.31, 346.19, 940.24, 941.20, 948.60, 948.605 and 948.61 in the same manner as any constable may…

29.924 Investigations; searches. (1) INVESTIGATIONS. The department and its wardens shall, upon receiving notice or information of the violation of any laws cited in s. 29.921 (1), as soon as possible make a thorough investigation and institute proceedings if the evidence warrant…

29.927 Public nuisances. The following are declared public nuisances: (1) Any unlicensed, untagged or unmarked net of any kind, or other unlicensed, untagged or unmarked device for fishing. (1m) Any licensed, tagged or marked net or other device for fishing set, placed, or found …

29.931 Seizures. (1) SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF WILD ANIMALS OR PLANTS. The department and its wardens shall seize and confiscate any wild animal, carcass or plant caught, killed, taken, had in possession or under control, sold or transported in violation of any of the laws for …

29.934 Sale of confiscated game and objects. (1) (a) All wild animals, carcasses, plants, vehicles, boats, or objects that are confiscated by the department for a violation of any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 shal…

29.936 Distribution of fish and game to food distribution services. (1) Notwithstanding s. 29.934, the department may distribute for free carcasses from fish and game seized or confiscated under s. 29.931 that are suitable for eating to food distribution services. The department …

29.938 Use by the department of unclaimed, seized, or confiscated property. The department may receive, retain, and use for the hunter education programs under ss. 29.591 and 29.595, the trapper education program under s. 29.597, or other educational hunting, fishing, trapping, o…

29.941 Assistance of law enforcement officers. All sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and other law enforcement officers are deputy conservation wardens, and shall assist the department and its wardens in the enforcement of this chapter whenever notice of a violation is given to them by t…

29.944 Exemption from liability. Members of the natural resources board, and each warden, in the performance of official duties, are exempt from liability to any person for acts done or permitted or property destroyed by authority of law. No taxable costs or attorney fees shall b…

29.947 Law enforcement aid program; spearfishing. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section: (a) “Additional law enforcement services” means an extraordinary type or level of service which is not normally provided or budgeted for by a law enforcement agency. (p) “Municipality” mea…

29.951 Resisting a warden. Any person who assaults or otherwise resists or obstructs any warden in the performance of duty shall be subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a). History: 1975 c. 365, 421; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 20; 1993 a. 137; 1997 a. 248 s. 683; Stats. 19…

29.954 False impersonation of warden. Any person who falsely represents himself or herself to be a warden or who assumes to act as a warden without having been first duly appointed shall be subject to the penalty specified in s. 939.51 (3) (a). History: 1975 c. 365; 1979 c. 34; 1…

29.957 Breaking seals of department. No person may break, remove, or interfere with any seal or tag issued by the department. No person may interfere with any animal, carcass, or object with a seal or tag attached or for which a tag has been validated. Any person who violates thi…

29.961 Incorrect information. (1) (b) No person may provide incorrect information in order to obtain an approval issued under this chapter to which the person is not entitled. (c) Any person who violates par. (b) shall forfeit not more than $200 and shall pay a natural resources …

29.962 Worthless checks for approvals. If a person tenders a check or other order for payment to an issuing agent appointed under s. 29.024 (6) (a) 3. to make payment for an approval issued under this chapter to an issuing agent, and the check is drawn on an account that does not…

29.964 Falsification or illegal possession of approvals. (1m) ALTERATION OF APPROVALS. (a) No person may alter an approval or proof of an approval in any manner or falsely represent that the person holds an approval. (b) Any person who violates par. (a) shall forfeit not less tha…

29.967 Prohibitions during periods of suspension or revocation. (1) Any person who has had an approval or a privilege under this chapter revoked or suspended and who engages in the activity authorized by the approval or in the privilege during the period of revocation or suspensi…

29.969 Larceny of wild animals. A person who, without permission of the owner, disturbs or appropriates any wild animal or its carcass that has been lawfully reduced to possession by another shall forfeit not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000. This section does not apply to f…

29.971 General penalty provisions. Any person who, for himself or herself, or by his or her agent or employee, or who, as agent or employee for another, violates this chapter shall be punished as follows: (1) (a) For the violation of any requirement of this chapter relating to fi…

29.972 Revocation; failure to comply. (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:…

29.973 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: (1) Any person who has committe…

29.974 Penalties; repeaters. (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 …

29.977 Civil actions for damages caused by law violations. (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 follo…

29.981 Parties to a violation. (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 no…