29.503(2)(b)
(b) No producer of fish who holds a commercial fishing license or contract under this chapter shall be required to obtain a license to sell the fish that he or she produces.
29.503(3)
(3) Rock and lake sturgeon. A wholesale fish dealer license does not authorize a person to sell, buy, barter, trade, possess, control or transport rock or lake sturgeon.
29.503(4)
(4) Tagging and labeling requirements. 29.503(4)(a)(a)
Tag, label or receipt required. No wholesale fish dealer may sell, buy, barter, trade, possess, control or transport any fish unless the fish are tagged and labeled in accordance with the law of the state or country where they were taken or, if no label or tag is required under the law of that state or country, unless the fish are accompanied by a receipt from the person from whom the fish were purchased or obtained.
29.503(4)(b)
(b)
Special tagging requirements for lake trout. No wholesale fish dealer or producer of fish may sell, buy, barter, trade, possess, control or transport any lake trout unless the lake trout is tagged with a valid, current commercial fish tag issued or authorized by the department or by a governmental agency of another state or country. If a licensed wholesale fish dealer gives the department at least 12 hours' notice of the date, time and location of arrival at the state line of lawfully possessed, untagged lake trout which are intended for importation into this state by the licensed wholesale fish dealer, the department or its representatives shall meet the shipment of lake trout and attach a "foreign lake trout tag" to each fish or seal the shipment with a department seal which may not be removed prior to delivery to the licensed wholesale fish dealer. The department or its representative shall tag the lake trout in a timely and orderly manner, and so as not to create any damage or spoilage to the fish. The tag shall be attached through the gills and mouth of whole lake trout, or in a manner which results in 2 complete fillets joined by the tag. For tagging of other forms of lake trout, the department shall promulgate rules to determine the manner in which the tag shall be attached to or accompany the trout, and the conditions, if any, under which the tag may be separated from the trout.
29.503(4)(c)
(c)
Failure to tag or label. Fish which are not tagged, labeled or accompanied by a receipt showing the fish were taken in another state or country as required under
par. (a) or
(b) are presumed to have been taken from the waters of this state.
29.503(4)(d)
(d)
Package labeling requirements. No wholesale fish dealer or producer of fish may transport or cause to be transported, or deliver or receive for transportation, any package or box containing any fish unless it is labeled legibly in a manner which discloses the name, address and license number of the consignor which shall be identical to that on the license; the name and address of the consignee; and each kind of fish contained in the package or box. If the shipment of fish is accompanied by an invoice containing the name, address and license number of the consignor, which shall be identical to that on the license; the name, address and license number, if any, of the consignee; the date of shipment from the consignor; the kinds of fish, the pounds of each kind and the description of the fish being shipped; and the signature of the person completing the invoice, the kinds of fish contained may be omitted from the package or box labels. Producers shall only be required to label or provide invoices for packages or boxes of fish being transported by vehicle or boat for purposes of sale. This paragraph does not apply to a producer of fish on the Mississippi River.
29.503(5)(a)(a)
Records. Each wholesale fish dealer shall keep records of all fish purchased or obtained in his or her capacity as a wholesale fish dealer, in the manner required and on forms provided by the department. The record shall include the name, address and fish dealer license number of the purchaser; the name, address and wholesale fish dealer or commercial fishing license number of the person from whom the fish were purchased or obtained; the date of the transaction; the kinds of fish, the pounds of each kind and the description of the fish purchased or obtained; and the signature of the person completing the record.
29.503(5)(b)
(b)
Reports. On or before the 10th day of each month, each wholesale fish dealer shall submit the records for the preceding month to the department. If the records are mailed to the department, the date of the postmark constitutes the date of submission.
29.503(6)(a)(a)
Subjects of inspection. Fish stored or in the possession of a wholesale fish dealer, records and reports of a wholesale fish dealer and buildings, structures, vehicles, boats, equipment and materials related to a wholesale fish dealer's business are subject to inspection by the department as provided in this subsection.
29.503(6)(b)
(b)
Inspection authority; entry; inspection. For the purpose of enforcing this subsection, a warden or a representative of the department, upon presentation of his or her credentials to a wholesale fish dealer, a person operating a vehicle or boat for a wholesale fish dealer or an employe or person acting on behalf of a wholesale fish dealer, is authorized during any time when business is being conducted on the premises:
29.503(6)(b)1.
1. To enter any building or structure, except a dwelling place, where fish are stored, processed, packed or held, where a wholesale fish dealer's records or reports are kept, where vehicles, boats, equipment or materials used in a wholesale fish dealer's business are located or where activities related to a wholesale fish dealer's business are conducted and to enter any vehicle or boat used to transport or hold fish.
29.503(6)(b)2.
2. To inspect fish stored or in the possession of a wholesale fish dealer, records or reports of a wholesale fish dealer and buildings, structures, vehicles, boats, equipment and materials related to a wholesale fish dealer's business.
29.503(6)(c)
(c)
Failure to permit inspection. No wholesale fish dealer, operator of a vehicle or boat for a wholesale fish dealer or employe or person acting on behalf of a wholesale fish dealer may prohibit entry or prohibit an inspection to be conducted as authorized under this subsection unless a court restrains or enjoins the entry or inspection.
29.503(7)
(7) Exemption. This section does not apply to fish produced in a state or municipal fish hatchery or to farm-raised fish.
29.506(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "taxidermist" means a person who mounts or preserves the carcass of any wild animal for consideration.
29.506(2)
(2) Permit requirements. No person may engage in business as a taxidermist unless he or she is issued a taxidermist permit subject to
s. 29.024 by the department. This subsection does not apply to agents or employes of taxidermists while working under the direct supervision of a taxidermist permit holder.
29.506(3)
(3) Permits. The department may not issue a taxidermist permit to any person unless that person has a seller's permit issued by the department of revenue and the number of the seller's permit is reported on the application form.
29.506(4)
(4) Authorization. Subject to this section, a taxidermist permit authorizes the permit holder to possess and transport wild animals or carcasses in connection with his or her business. This authority supersedes, to the extent permitted under this section, restrictions on the possession and transportation of wild animals and carcasses established under this chapter. A taxidermist permit entitles the permit holder to the same privileges as a Class A fur dealer's license.
29.506(5)
(5) Prohibition on commingling carcasses; carcass identification. 29.506(5)(a)(a)
Commingling. No person may commingle, store, possess or transport carcasses of wild animals received in connection with his or her business with carcasses of wild animals received for any other purpose. This paragraph does not require separate refrigeration units for carcasses of wild animals received in connection with a person's business, if properly identified and recorded under
par. (b), and carcasses of wild animals received for any other purpose.
29.506(5)(b)
(b)
Carcass identification; owner information. A person who receives the carcass of any wild animal in connection with his or her business as a taxidermist shall attach an identification tag to the carcass and record information concerning the owner of the carcass. The identification tag shall remain with the carcass while it is in the possession or under the control of the taxidermist. Each identification tag shall have an identification number which corresponds with the information record of the owner of the carcass. The information record of the owner shall include the owner's name, address and signature, a description of the carcass and the date the carcass is received by the taxidermist. This paragraph does not apply to salvage or spare parts of any carcass owned by a taxidermist that are used for repair or replacement purposes.
29.506(6)
(6) Records. A taxidermist shall maintain records on sales forms, in triplicate, as required by the department. These records shall include information records of the owner as required under
sub. (5) (b), records of all other wild animal carcasses received in his or her place of business and records of deliveries and shipments of wild animal carcasses. Records related to the effective period of a taxidermist permit shall be maintained for 2 years following the end of that effective period. This subsection does not apply to salvage or spare parts of any carcass owned by a taxidermist that are used for repair or replacement purposes.
29.506(7)(a)(a)
Departmental authority; limitations. A warden may enter a taxidermist's place of business for inspection purposes as provided under
par. (b) only:
29.506(7)(a)3.
3. Upon presentation of his or her credentials to the taxidermist or an employe or agent of the taxidermist.
29.506(7)(b)
(b)
Items subject to inspection. All records required under
subs. (5) (b) and
(6) or related to the taxidermist's business are subject to departmental inspection as provided under
par. (a). A taxidermist or an employe or agent of the taxidermist shall cooperate with and exhibit items subject to inspection to a warden or any other agent of the department.
29.506(7)(c)
(c)
Report. If requested, the department shall issue a report concerning any inspection conducted under this subsection.
29.506(7m)(a)(a) The department shall issue a taxidermy school permit to a person who applies for the permit; who, on August 15, 1991, holds a valid taxidermist permit issued under this section; and who, on August 15, 1991, operates a taxidermy school approved by the educational approval board under
s. 39.51.
29.506(7m)(b)
(b) A taxidermy school permit authorizes the holder of the permit to purchase muskellunge, bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, rock bass or northern pike, or the carcass of these fish, from persons who caught the fish and to resell the fish only to students enrolled in a taxidermy course at the taxidermy school operated by the purchaser. For purposes of this paragraph, a taxidermy course may not include a correspondence course in taxidermy.
29.506(7m)(c)
(c) A taxidermy school permit issued under this subsection shall limit the number of each species of fish that the operator of the taxidermy school may possess on any given date to the number that the taxidermy school needs for its course of instruction for a period of 2 years beginning on that date.
29.506(7m)(d)
(d) For the species of fish specified in
par. (b), a holder of a taxidermy school permit issued under this subsection shall comply with the tagging requirements under
sub. (5) (b) and the recording requirements under
sub. (6) and shall allow inspections as authorized under
sub. (7).
29.506(8)
(8) Penalties. Any person who violates this section is subject to the following penalties:
29.506(8)(a)
(a) For a first conviction for any violation, a forfeiture of not more than $25.
29.506(8)(b)
(b) For a 2nd or subsequent conviction for any violation within 3 years of any previous violation, a forfeiture of not less than $25 nor more than $500.
29.506 History
History: 1985 a. 29;
1991 a. 39;
1995 a. 27 s.
9154 (1);
1997 a. 27;
1997 a. 248 ss.
297 to
300; Stats. 1997 s. 29.506.
29.509
29.509
Bait dealer license. 29.509(1)
(1) In this section, unless the context requires otherwise:
29.509(1)(a)
(a) "Bait" means any species of frog, crayfish or minnow used for fishing purposes.
29.509(1)(b)
(b) "Bait dealer, Class A" means any person who buys for resale, barters, gives or sells bait to the amount of $2,000 or more each year.
29.509(1)(c)
(c) "Bait dealer, Class B" means any person who buys or gives for resale, barters, or sells bait to the amount of less than $2,000 each year.
29.509(2)
(2) A bait dealer license may be issued by the department to any resident.
29.509(3)
(3) No person may engage in the business of bait dealer unless the person is issued a bait dealer license by the department, except that a child under 16 years of age who is a resident may barter or sell bait to consumers without a license or permit and shall be allowed to have a possession limit of 5,000 of each species of bait, but the child may not make bait sales totaling more than $500 annually.
29.509(4)
(4) Each licensee shall keep records as required by the department of all transactions in the production, buying and selling of bait carried on by the licensee, except that retail sales to consumers need not be recorded. This record shall show the name and address of the person from whom bait was purchased and to whom it was sold, together with the date of each transaction and the value of the bait. This record shall be open to the inspection of the department at all reasonable hours. The record shall be kept intact for a period of 2 years after the expiration of any license issued under this section, as to all transactions carried on while the license was effective.
29.509(5)
(5) The department may issue permits for the taking of bait from specified waters and restrict the number of permits that may be issued for any designated body of water. The permits shall be issued in the order of application up to the limit established by the department.
29.509(6)
(6) This section does not apply to bait produced in a state or municipal fish hatchery or to bait that is farm-raised fish.
29.509(7)
(7) Any person who molests, damages, destroys or takes the bait traps of another, regardless of intent, shall forfeit not more than $100.
29.512(1)(1) No person may engage or be employed for any compensation or reward to guide, direct or assist any other person in hunting, fishing or trapping unless the person is issued a guide license by the department subject to
s. 29.024. No guide license for hunting or trapping may be issued to or obtained by any person who is not a resident of this state. No guide license may be issued to any person under the age of 18 years. The holder of a guide license shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter.
29.512(2)
(2) Any person violating this section shall forfeit not more than $100 and upon such conviction the person's guide license shall be revoked for one year.
29.512 History
History: 1975 c. 365;
1981 c. 390 s.
252;
1983 a. 27;
1991 a. 39;
1997 a. 248 s.
379; Stats. 1997 s. 29.512.
29.514
29.514
Outlying water sport trolling licenses. 29.514(1)
(1) No person may be engaged or be employed for any compensation to guide any other person in sport trolling for trout or salmon in and upon the outlying waters unless the person is issued a sport trolling license by the department subject to
s. 29.024. No sport trolling license may be issued to any person under the age of 18 years. The application shall include the name and address of the applicant, the name of the home port from which the applicant will operate, the applicant's valid U.S. coast guard operator's license number and other information as required by the department for statistical purposes. The licensee and all persons on board the licensee's boat shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter. Boats used by the licensee shall meet minimum U.S. coast guard and this state's boat licensing and safety requirements.
29.514(2)
(2) Each licensee shall keep records of the number of each variety of fish taken under his or her sport trolling license and other information that the department requires, and shall report to the department on forms provided by the department on or before the 10th day of each month on the records for the preceding calendar month. The licensee is responsible for the number of fish taken and shall be held to account for the number.
29.516
29.516
Fishing with nets and setlines. 29.516(1)
(1)
License required. Nets and setlines may be used for the purpose of taking, catching, or killing fish, subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions prescribed in this chapter; but no person may set, place or use in any waters of this state any net, trap, snare, set hook, or setline, which is intended to or might take, catch or kill fish of any variety, other than a landing net, dip net, minnow seine or minnow dip net, unless a license authorizing the use of nets, setlines, traps or snares has been issued to the person by the department.
29.516(2)
(2) Restrictions on the use of licensed nets and setlines. The use of licensed nets and setlines is subject to the following conditions:
29.516(2)(a)
(a) No apron or other device shall be used in any pound net, which might prevent the escape of small fish through the meshes of the net when it is set or raised.
29.516(2)(b)
(b) No net of any kind shall be set so as to shut off more than 50% of any channel or passageway of any stream, or set within 1,000 feet of any other net in the stream.
29.516(2)(c)
(c) No licensee may join a net to that of any other licensee.
29.516(2)(d)
(d) All nets or set hooks, when set or placed in any waters, shall be marked with a number corresponding to the license number authorizing the use of the nets or set hooks. The method of marking the nets shall be as follows:
29.516(2)(d)1.
1. On drop nets, submarine trap nets and fyke nets, when set below the surface of the water, there shall be a buoy attached to the pot rope, on all gill nets and set hooks there shall be a buoy on each end of the gang, the buoys shall have a staff extending at least 3 feet above the surface of the water, upon the upper end of the staff there shall be a flag at least 10 inches square. Upon the bowl of the buoys there shall be maintained in plain figures the license number authorizing the use of the nets or set hooks.
29.516(2)(d)2.
2. On pound nets and stake fyke nets there shall be maintained at least 3 feet above the surface of the water, or the surface of the ice, when set through the ice, a board or similar material, which shall bear the license number authorizing the use of the nets.
29.516(2)(d)3.
3. On gill nets or set hooks when set through the ice there shall be maintained on each end of the gang a board or similar material which shall bear the license number authorizing the use of the nets or set hooks.
29.516(2)(e)
(e) The licensees of licensed nets or setlines used in outlying waters while engaged in the regular process of lifting nets or setlines shall, on their boats, carry the department's agents to and from their nets or setlines when set and, on demand of the agent, shall raise the nets or setlines for inspection. Any agent may, in the presence or absence of the licensees, at any time, raise any setline or nets, in any waters, with as little damage as may be, for inspection. If a licensee refuses to carry an agent the license shall be revoked.
29.516(2)(f)
(f) No licensed net may be drawn or lifted at any time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise of the following morning, except as otherwise approved by the department or, in the case of an emergency, following notice to the nearest U.S. coast guard station.
29.516(2)(g)
(g) Except as provided in
s. 29.519 (4m), no fish of any kind shall be taken or retained in any net, when drawn or lifted, other than the kind or kinds expressly authorized to be taken or retained in the net, as provided in this chapter; and except as provided by department order any other kind or kinds of fish coming into or taken in the nets shall be immediately returned, carefully and with as little injury as possible, to the waters from which they were taken.
29.516(3)
(3) Exemption. This section does not apply to any net, trap, snare, hook, setline or other device used to take, catch or kill farm-raised fish.
29.519
29.519
Commercial fishing in outlying waters. 29.519(1)(a)(a) No person may conduct commercial fishing operations on any of the outlying waters unless the person is issued a commercial fishing license by the department.
29.519(1)(b)
(b) The department may limit the number of licenses issued under this section and designate the areas in the outlying waters under the jurisdiction of this state where commercial fishing operations shall be restricted. After giving due consideration to the recommendations made by the commercial fishing boards under
sub. (7), the department may establish species harvest limits and promulgate rules to establish formulas for the allocation of the species harvest limits among commercial fishing licensees or for the allotment of individual licensee catch quotas. The department may allocate the harvest limits among commercial fishing licensees. The department may designate the kind, size and amount of gear to be used in the harvest. The limitations on licenses, restricted fishing areas, harvests and gear shall be based on the available harvestable population of fish and in the wise use and conservation of the fish so as to prevent overexploitation.
29.519 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).
29.519(1)(c)
(c) The department may promulgate rules defining the qualifications of licensees in the reasonable exercise of this authority, giving due consideration to residency, past record including compliance with the reporting requirements of
sub. (5), fishing and navigation ability and quantity and quality of equipment possessed. Rules relating to licensing commercial fishers shall be based on criteria provided by the commercial fishing boards under
sub. (7).
29.519(1)(d)
(d) The application for the license shall be made to the department, accompanied by the fee specified in
s. 29.563 (7). The application shall state the name, birthdate, description and address of the residence of the applicant, the manner in which he or she proposes to fish, the name or number and overall length of his or her boats, the name of the hailing port from which the boats will operate, and the number and kind of nets or other gear he or she intends to use in connection with commercial fishing and any other information required by the department for statistical purposes. The applicant shall provide an itemized listing of commercial fishing gear and equipment with the current values of those items of commercial fishing equipment, sufficient to meet the investment requirements for licensing as established in rules promulgated under this section. "Overall length" means the minimum distance between the extreme outside end of the bow and the stern using the nearest whole number of feet.
29.519(1)(e)
(e) No outlying waters commercial fishing license may be issued to a person under the age of 18 years.
29.519(2)
(2) Residency; transfers; catch fees. 29.519(2)(c)(c)
Nonresident defined. In this section, "nonresident" includes any individual who is not a resident, any individual applying for a license for use of nets on a boat registered or of record at a port outside of the state, or any partnership, association, corporation or limited liability company any of whose stock, boats, nets and fishing equipment has been owned by a nonresident at any time during the 2 years immediately prior to the application for a license.
29.519(2)(d)
(d)
Transfer of license. The department may, upon application, permit the transfer of a license to any similar boat during the time a licensed boat is disabled or undergoing repairs or upon the sale of a licensed boat. The department shall promulgate rules governing the transfer of commercial fishing licenses between individuals equally qualified to hold the licenses and to members of a licensee's immediate family provided the rules assure the wise use and conservation of the fish resources being harvested under the license. The rules shall relate only to those waters in which the number of licenses is limited. The commercial fishing boards, under
sub. (7), shall approve or deny transfers of commercial fishing licenses in accordance with the rules promulgated under this section. For purposes of
s. 29.09 (11m) and
(11r) [29.024 (2g) and (2r)], a transfer of a license under this section shall be considered an issuance of a license to the transferee.
