HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATION
29.301
29.301
General restrictions on hunting. 29.301(1)(a)(a) In this subsection, "school" means a public or private elementary or secondary school, including a charter school, or a technical college.
29.301(1)(b)
(b) No person may hunt within [1700] 1,700 feet of any hospital, sanatorium or the grounds of any school. The department may designate the form for or furnish signs designating the restricted area. No person may be convicted of a violation of this paragraph unless the restricted area is designated by the signs.
29.301 Note
NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as affected by two acts of the 1997 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed language was unintentionally retained by
1997 Wis. Act 248. Corrective legislation is pending.
29.301(2)
(2) Color of clothing. In the areas in which there is a season for the hunting of deer with firearms, no person may hunt any game except waterfowl during that season unless at least 50% of each article of the person's outer clothing above the waist, including a cap, hat or other head covering, is of a highly visible color commonly referred to as hunter orange, blaze orange, fluorescent orange, flame orange or fluorescent blaze orange. Any person violating this subsection shall forfeit not more than $10.
29.301(3)
(3) Back tag, display. No person may hunt deer unless the back tag issued to the person with the license authorizing deer hunting is attached to the center of the person's coat, shirt, jacket or similar outermost garment where it can clearly be seen.
29.301 History
History: 1975 c. 360,
365,
421;
1979 c. 39;
1997 a. 151;
1997 a. 248 s.
412; Stats. 1997 s. 29.301; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
29.304
29.304
Restrictions on hunting and use of firearms by persons under 16 years of age. 29.304(1)(a)(a)
Prohibition on hunting. No person under 12 years of age may hunt with a firearm or bow and arrow.
29.304(1)(b)
(b)
Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person under 12 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and he or she is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class under the supervision of a parent or guardian or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.
29.304(1)(c)
(c)
Restrictions on obtaining hunting approval. Except as provided under
par. (d), no person under 12 years of age may obtain any approval authorizing hunting.
29.304(1)(d)
(d)
Restrictions on validity of certificate of accomplishment. A person under 12 years of age may obtain a certificate of accomplishment if he or she complies with the requirements of
s. 29.591 (4) but that certificate is not valid for the hunting of small game until that person becomes 12 years of age.
29.304(2)(a)(a)
Restrictions on hunting. No person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may hunt unless he or she is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
29.304(2)(b)
(b)
Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person 12 years of age or older but under 14 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she:
29.304(2)(b)2.
2. Is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor.
29.304(3)(a)(a)
Restrictions on hunting. No person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may hunt unless he or she:
29.304(3)(a)2.
2. Is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states that he or she successfully completed the course of instruction under the hunter education program or has a similar certificate issued by another state or province.
29.304(3)(b)
(b)
Restrictions on possession or control of a firearm. No person 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may have in his or her possession or control any firearm unless he or she:
29.304(3)(b)2.
2. Is enrolled in the course of instruction under the hunter education program and is carrying the firearm in a case and unloaded to or from that class or is handling or operating the firearm during that class under the supervision of an instructor; or
29.304(3)(b)3.
3. Is issued a certificate of accomplishment that states that he or she completed the course of instruction under the hunter education program or has a similar certificate issued by another state or province.
29.304(4)
(4) Parental obligation. No parent or guardian of a child under 16 years of age may authorize or knowingly permit the child to violate this section.
29.304(5)
(5) Exception. Notwithstanding
subs. (1) to
(3), a person 12 years of age or older may possess or control a firearm and may hunt with a firearm or bow and arrow on land under the ownership of the person or the person's family if no license is required and if the firing of firearms is permitted on that land.
29.304 History
History: 1983 a. 420;
1997 a. 197;
1997 a. 248 s.
431; Stats. 1997 s. 29.304.
29.307
29.307
Hunting with aid of aircraft prohibited. No person may hunt any animal with the aid of an aircraft, including the use of an aircraft to spot, group or drive, or otherwise attempt to affect the behavior of, animals for hunters on the ground.
29.307 History
History: 1971 c. 151;
1997 a. 248 s.
432; Stats. 1997 s. 29.307.
29.311
29.311
Shotshell restrictions. No person may hunt waterfowl or coots with any firearm using any shotshell classified by the federal government as toxic or harmful to wildlife or the environment.
29.311 History
History: 1985 a. 155,
332;
1997 a. 248 s.
194; Stats. 1997 s. 29.311.
29.314
29.314
Shining animals. 29.314(1)(1)
Definition. As used in this section:
29.314(1)(a)
(a) "Flashlight" means a battery operated light designed to be carried and held by hand.
29.314(1)(b)
(b) "Light" includes flashlights, automobile lights and other lights.
29.314(1)(d)
(d) "Shining" means the casting of rays of a light on a field, forest or other area for the purpose of illuminating, locating or attempting to illuminate or locate wild animals.
29.314(2)
(2) Presumption. A person casting the rays of light on a field, forest or other area which is frequented by wild animals is presumed to be shining wild animals. A person may introduce evidence to rebut this presumption.
29.314(3)
(3) Shining deer or bear while hunting or possessing weapons prohibited. 29.314(3)(a)(a)
Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining deer or bear while the person is hunting deer or bear or in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow.
29.314(3)(b)
(b)
Exceptions. This subsection does not apply:
29.314(3)(b)2.
2. To an employe of the department on official business.
29.314(3)(b)3.
3. To a person authorized by the department to conduct a game census or to observe bear for educational purposes.
29.314(4)
(4) Shining wild animals while hunting or possessing weapons prohibited. 29.314(4)(a)(a)
Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining wild animals while the person is hunting or in possession of a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow.
29.314(4)(b)
(b)
Exceptions. This subsection does not apply:
29.314(4)(b)1.
1. To a peace officer on official business, an employe of the department on official business or a person authorized by the department to conduct a game census.
29.314(4)(b)2.
2. To a person who possesses a flashlight or who uses a flashlight at the point of kill while hunting on foot raccoons, foxes or other unprotected animals during the open season for the animals hunted.
29.314(4)(b)3.
3. To a person who possesses or uses a light while using a bow and arrow for taking rough fish on lakes that are not outlying waters.
29.314(5)
(5) Shining wild animals after 10 p.m. during certain times of the year prohibited. 29.314(5)(a)(a)
Prohibition. No person may use or possess with intent to use a light for shining wild animals between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. from September 15 to December 31.
29.314(5)(b)
(b)
Exceptions. This subsection does not apply:
29.314(5)(b)1.
1. To a peace officer on official business, an employe of the department on official business or a person authorized by the department to conduct a game census or to observe bear for educational purposes.
29.314(5)(b)2.
2. To a person who possesses a flashlight or who uses a flashlight at the point of kill while hunting on foot raccoons, foxes or other unprotected animals during the open season for the animals hunted.
29.314(5)(b)3.
3. To a person who possesses a flashlight or who uses a flashlight while on foot and training a dog to track or hunt raccoons, foxes or other unprotected animals.
29.314(5)(b)4.
4. If rules promulgated by the department specifically permit a person to use or possess a light for shining wild animals during these times.
29.314(6)
(6) County ordinance. A county may regulate or prohibit the use of or possession with intent to use a light for shining wild animals. A county ordinance may not be less restrictive than the prohibition under
sub. (5) (a). The exceptions under
sub. (5) (b) apply to a county ordinance adopted under this subsection. A county may provide for a forfeiture of not more than $1,000 for violation of a county ordinance adopted under this subsection.
29.314(7)(a)(a) A person who violates
sub. (3) shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both and, 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.
29.314(7)(b)
(b) A person who violates
sub. (4) or
(5) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.
29.314 AnnotationShining provisions of this section apply to game, fur and deer farms.
80 Atty. Gen. 7.
29.317
29.317
Taking homing pigeons. Any person who takes, catches, kills or impedes the progress or otherwise interferes with any homing pigeon shall forfeit not more than $50.
29.317 History
History: 1975 c. 365;
1997 a. 248 s.
440; Stats. 1997 s. 29.317.
29.321
29.321
Training of hunting dogs and rules for dog trials. The department may promulgate rules governing the training of hunting dogs and the conduct of dog trials to encourage the use of hunting dogs and to safeguard wildlife in the state, but the rules may not permit the use of dogs for general hunting of small game during general hunting seasons.
29.321 History
History: 1985 a. 332 s.
251 (1), (5);
1997 a. 248 s.
439; Stats. 1997 s. 29.321.
29.324
29.324
Group deer hunting. 29.324(1)(a)
(a) "Contact" means visual or voice contact without the aid of any mechanical or electronic amplifying device other than a hearing aid.
29.324(1)(b)
(b) "Group deer hunting party" means 2 or more hunters hunting in a group all using firearms, each of whom holds an individual license to hunt deer.
29.324(2)
(2) Any member of a group deer hunting party may kill a deer for another member of the group deer hunting party if both of the following conditions exist:
29.324(2)(a)
(a) At the time and place of the kill, the person who kills the deer is in contact with the person for whom the deer is killed.
29.324(2)(b)
(b) The person for whom the deer is killed possesses a current unused deer carcass tag which is authorized for use on the deer killed.
29.324(3)
(3) A person who kills a deer under
sub. (2) shall ensure that a member of his or her group deer hunting party without delay attaches a current validated deer carcass tag to the deer in the manner specified under
s. 29.347 (2). The person who kills the deer may not leave the deer unattended until after it is tagged.
29.324 History
History: 1983 a. 546;
1997 a. 248 s.
506; Stats. 1997 s. 29.324.
29.327
29.327
Regulation of waterfowl blinds. 29.327(1)(a)
(a) "Blind" means a permanent structure used in hunting waterfowl which is not removed at the end of hunting hours each day.
29.327(1)(b)
(b) "Waterfowl" means wild geese, brant, wild ducks, rails, coots, gallinules, snipe, woodcock, plovers, sandpipers and wild swan.
29.327(2)(a)(a) A blind situated on state-owned property and used in hunting waterfowl must bear the name of the owner affixed permanently to the blind in lettering one-inch square or larger.
29.327(2)(b)
(b) A blind on state-owned property may be erected not more than 7 days prior to the opening of the waterfowl hunting season and must be removed by the owner within 7 days after the close of the season unless the department approves an extension of the deadline for removal due to compelling personal needs of the owner. Any owner who erects a blind more than 7 days prior to the opening of the waterfowl hunting season or who does not remove a blind within 7 days after the close of the waterfowl season, or by a later date approved by the department, shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $200.
29.327 Note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as affected by two acts of the 1997 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).