Chapter 29

29.079(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules necessary to control the conditions and location under which hunting under this section may take place. The department may deny permission for hunting under this section when it determines that a denial is necessary to effectively manage the deer population. The number of deer taken under sub. (1) during any calendar year shall be established by the department, by rule, when necessary to effectively manage the deer population. Hunting privileges under this section may not be exercised during the regular open season for deer.

29.079(3) (3) Nothing in this section may be construed to eliminate any requirement that a landowner’s permission must be obtained prior to hunting on his or her land.

29.079 History History: 1977 c. 242; 1997 a. 248 s. 240; Stats. 1997 s. 29.079.

29.083 29.083 Interference with hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(1) (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 lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping and that are done by a hunter, fisher, or trapper or by a member of a hunting, fishing, or trapping party.

29.083(2) (2) Prohibitions.

29.083(2)(a) (a) No person may interfere or attempt to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping with the intent to prevent the taking of a wild animal, or intentionally interfere with or intentionally attempt to interfere with an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, by doing any of the following:

29.083(2)(a)1. 1. Harassing a wild animal or by engaging in an activity that tends to harass wild animals.

29.083(2)(a)2. 2. Impeding or obstructing a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)3. 3. Impeding or obstructing a person who is engaged in an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)4. 4. Disturbing the personal property of a person engaged in lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.

29.083(2)(a)5. 5. Disturbing a lawfully placed hunting blind or stand.

29.083(2)(a)6. 6. Disturbing lawfully placed bait or other material used to feed or attract a wild animal.

29.083(2)(a)7. 7. Engaging in a series of 2 or more acts carried out over time, however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose and that are intended to impede or obstruct a person who is engaged in lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, or an activity associated with lawful hunting, fishing, or trapping, including any of the following:

29.083(2)(a)7.a. a. Maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the person.

29.083(2)(a)7.b. b. Approaching or confronting the person.

29.083(2)(a)7.c. c. Photographing, videotaping, audiotaping, or through other electronic means, monitoring or recording the activities of the person. This subd. 7. c. applies regardless of where the act occurs.

29.083(2)(a)7.d. d. Causing a person to engage in any of the acts described in subd. 7. a. to c.

29.083 Note NOTE: Subd. 7. was held to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Brown v. Kemp, 86 F.4th 745 (2003).

29.083(2)(a)8. 8. Using a drone, as defined in s. 941.292 (1), to conduct any activity prohibited under subds. 1. to 7.

29.083(2)(b) (b) No person may knowingly fail to obey the order of a warden or other law enforcement officer to desist from conduct in violation of par. (a) if the order is based on any of the following:

29.083(2)(b)1. 1. The warden or other law enforcement officer personally observed such conduct by the person.

29.083(2)(b)2. 2. The warden or other law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has engaged in such conduct that day or that the person intends to engage in such conduct that day.

29.083(3) (3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to actions under sub. (2) (a) 1. to 8. performed by wardens and other law enforcement officers if the actions are authorized by law.

29.083(3m) (3m) Affirmative defense. It is an affirmative defense to the prosecution for violation of this section if the defendant’s conduct is protected by his or her right to freedom of speech under the constitution of this state or of the United States.

29.083(4) (4) Civil actions.

29.083(4)(a) (a) A person who is adversely affected by, or who reasonably may be expected to be adversely affected by, conduct that is in violation of sub. (2) (a) may bring an action in circuit court for an injunction or damages or both.

29.083(4)(b) (b) The circuit court may enter an injunction under ch. 813 against conduct in violation of sub. (2) (a) if the court determines any of the following:

29.083(4)(b)1. 1. The defendant is threatening the conduct.

29.083(4)(b)2. 2. The defendant has engaged in the conduct in the past and that it is reasonable to expect that the defendant will engage in the conduct that will adversely affect the plaintiff in the future.

29.083(4)(c) (c) The circuit court may award damages to the plaintiff if the defendant’s conduct in violation of sub. (2) (a) has adversely affected the plaintiff. The damages awarded may include punitive damages and any special damages. Special damages may include approval fees, travel costs, camping fees, costs for guides, and costs for equipment or supplies to the extent that the plaintiff did not receive the full value of any of these expenditures due to the unlawful conduct of the defendant.

29.083 History History: 1989 a. 190; 1997 a. 248 s. 415; Stats. 1997 s. 29.083; 2015 a. 346.

29.083 Annotation The application of this section is limited to physical interference and does not violate the freedom of speech. State v. Bagley, 164 Wis. 2d 255, 474 N.W.2d 761 (Ct. App. 1991).

29.083 Annotation The activities listed under sub. (2) (a) 2., 3., 7., and 8., such as approaching a hunter or photographing, are only prohibited when also “intended to impede or obstruct” another person who is engaged in lawful activities. This section is not unconstitutionally overbroad or vague. Brown v. Kemp, 506 F. Supp. 3d 649 (2020).

29.084 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 in his or her lifetime may designate one person as the person who encouraged the applicant to obtain the license. The program shall provide for all of the following:

29.084(1) (1) A method for maintaining a record of persons designated as provided under this section.

29.084(2) (2) A method for issuing a credit to any resident who is designated as provided under this section a specified number of times, as determined by the department, in any license year. The method shall require the department to allow the recipient of the credit to apply the credit in a manner that reduces the fee for an approval that is listed under s. 29.563 (2) (a) 1., 2., 4. to 5g., or 8. to 9., (3) (a) 1., or (6) (a) 1. by one-half of the fee that would otherwise apply to the approval, rounded up to the nearest dollar, that reduces the fee specified in s. 29.563 (4) (a) 1. for a resident sports license by $20, or that reduces the fee specified in s. 29.563 (4) (a) 2. for a resident conservation patron license by $60. The department may not require a resident to be designated more than 5 times in a license year in order to be eligible for a credit under this subsection. In this subsection, “license year” means the period between April 1 and the following March 31.

29.084 History History: 2011 a. 168; 2015 a. 55.

29.088 29.088 Use of poison and explosives; pole traps.

29.088(1) (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 possession of any poison or poison baits in a hunting or trapping camp or on any person while hunting or trapping shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.

29.088(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), no person may take, capture or kill or attempt to take, capture or kill any wild animal with the aid of any explosive or poison gas, or set any explosive near or on any beaver or muskrat houses. Possession or control of an explosive or a poison gas in places described in sub. (1) is prima facie evidence of intent to violate this subsection. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined not more than $300 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both.

29.088(2g) (2g) 

29.088(2g)(a) (a) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to toxicants placed in the waters of a self-contained fish rearing facility or a state or municipal fish hatchery if the toxicants are necessary to the operation of the fish farm or fish hatchery.

29.088(2g)(b) (b) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to toxicants placed in the waters of a preexisting fish rearing facility that is an artificial body of water if the toxicants are necessary to the operation of the fish farm and the department has issued a permit under s. 283.31 for the preexisting fish rearing facility.

29.088(2m) (2m) 

29.088(2m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), it is unlawful to take, capture, or kill or attempt to take, capture, or kill any bird by setting or operating any trap or device designed, built, or used to capture birds on a pole, post, tree stump, or any other elevated perch more than 3 feet above the ground.

29.088(2m)(b) (b) A person who holds a valid migratory bird depredation permit issued by the U.S. fish and wildlife service under 50 CFR 21.41 that authorizes the trapping of birds may set or operate a trap or device described under par. (a) on an elevated perch no more than 10 feet above the ground.

29.088(3) (3) Nothing in this chapter prevents the department or a person authorized under s. 29.885 from using an explosive or having an explosive near a beaver house or a beaver dam for the purpose of removing a beaver dam or a vacated beaver house when the beavers are causing damage to property.

29.088 History History: 1973 c. 317; 1975 c. 52, 365; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 670 to 672; Stats. 1997 s. 29.088; 2017 a. 169.

29.088 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 19.01, Wis. adm. code.

29.089 29.089 Hunting, fishing, and trapping on land in state parks and state fish hatcheries.

29.089(1) (1) No person may hunt or trap on land located in state fish hatcheries.

29.089(1m) (1m) 

29.089(1m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), state parks shall be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping by persons who hold the appropriate approvals required under this chapter.

29.089(1m)(b) (b) The department may prohibit hunting, fishing, or trapping in a state park or a portion of a state park if any of the following applies:

29.089(1m)(b)1. 1. The department prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping within 100 yards of a designated use area.

29.089(1m)(b)2. 2. The natural resources board determines that prohibiting hunting, fishing, or trapping is necessary to protect public safety or to protect a unique animal or plant community. A determination to prohibit hunting, fishing, or trapping in a state park or a portion of a state park under this subdivision requires 4 or more members of the natural resources board to concur in that determination.

29.089(2) (2) No person may have in his or her possession or under his or her control a firearm or airgun on land located in state fish hatcheries unless the firearm or airgun is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

29.089(2)(a) (a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

29.089(2)(am) (am) A person who is certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional under s. 165.85 (3) while acting in the line of duty.

29.089(2)(b) (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

29.089(2)(c) (c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.

29.089(2)(d) (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the firearm is a handgun, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).

29.089 History History: 1989 a. 214; 1997 a. 237; 1997 a. 248 s. 599; Stats. 1997 s. 29.089; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 286; 2011 a. 35, 168; 2023 a. 115, 218.

29.089 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.001 and 10.28, Wis. adm. code.

29.091 29.091 Hunting or trapping in wildlife refuge.

29.091(1) (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. (2), have possession or control of any gun, firearm, airgun, bow, or crossbow unless the gun, firearm, or airgun is unloaded, the bow or crossbow is unstrung, and the gun, firearm, airgun, bow, or crossbow is enclosed within a carrying case. The taking of predatory game birds and animals shall be done as the department directs. All state wildlife refuge boundary lines shall be marked by posts placed at intervals of not over 500 feet and bearing signs with the words “Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge”.

29.091(2) (2) The prohibition in sub. (1), as it relates to the possession or control of a loaded or unencased gun, firearm, or airgun within a refuge established under s. 23.09 (2) (b), does not apply to any of the following:

29.091(2)(a) (a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

29.091(2)(am) (am) A person who is certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional under s. 165.85 (3) while acting in the line of duty.

29.091(2)(b) (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

29.091(2)(c) (c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.

29.091(2)(d) (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the gun or firearm is a handgun, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).

29.091 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 600; Stats. 1997 s. 29.091; 2011 a. 35; 2023 a. 115, 218.

29.091 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 10.001, Wis. adm. code.

29.095 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 that are consistent with the open and closed seasons for game located on the lands adjacent to the school forest.

29.095 History History: 2005 a. 290.

subch. III of ch. 29 SUBCHAPTER III

HUNTING, TRAPPING AND FISHING APPROVALS

29.161 29.161 Resident small game hunting license.

29.161(1) (1) A resident small game 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. The resident small game hunting license does not authorize the hunting of bear, deer, elk, or wild turkey.

29.161(2) (2) A resident small game hunting license authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

29.161 History History: 1973 c. 90 s. 538; 1973 c. 315; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 s. 193; Stats. 1997 s. 29.161; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 387; 2009 a. 119; 2011 a. 252.

29.161 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 10.12, 10.125, and 10.26, Wis. adm. code.

29.164 29.164 Wild turkey hunting approvals.

29.164(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section:

29.164(1)(a) (a) “Family member” means a person who is related to another person as a parent, child, spouse or sibling.

29.164(1)(b) (b) “Landowner” means the owner of record of a parcel of land or the purchaser of land under a land contract who has the right to occupy and the right to use the land.

29.164(1)(c) (c) “Operator” means a resident who is residing on a parcel of land under a rental agreement, lease, agreement or contract and who is engaged in farm activities or other operations on the land.