NR 20.40(10)(gm)8. 8. A participant shall count muskellunge transported to a weigh-in site towards the participant’s daily bag limit and that person may not fish for muskellunge during the remainder of that day.

NR 20.40 Note Note: Section 23.095 (1g), Stats., states that no person may damage or attempt to damage any natural resource within the state. “Damage” means to commit a physical act that unreasonably destroys, molests, defaces, removes, or wastes.

NR 20.40(10)(h) (h) All permits for fishing tournaments shall do the following:

NR 20.40(10)(h)1. 1. Identify areas where competitive fishing is prohibited for the following reasons:

NR 20.40(10)(h)1.a. a. To protect critical habitat, including areas designated by local ordinance for aquatic vegetation preservation or areas where habitat enhancement activity is underway.

NR 20.40(10)(h)1.b. b. To protect public rights, interests or safety, including designated swimming areas, mooring areas, access areas, navigational channels, staging areas, beaches or other special use areas.

NR 20.40(10)(h)2. 2. Prohibit the use of tagged fish, except when approved by the department for any of the following reasons:

NR 20.40(10)(h)2.a. a. To enhance collection of data for management purposes as part of a scientific study.

NR 20.40(10)(h)2.b. b. The tagged fish are legally obtained from a licensed private fish hatchery and are planted under a stocking or introduction permit issued by the department under s. 29.736, Stats., and s. NR 19.05.

NR 20.40(10)(h)2.c. c. Specific authorization is granted by the department to capture, tag and immediately release fish from the wild using lawful methods for purposes of a fishing contest.

NR 20.40(10)(i) (i) Pursuant to s. NR 20.05 (7), any fish taken into possession by an individual and not released immediately shall be included as part of the individual’s daily bag limit.

NR 20.40(10)(j) (j) The time limitations upon the length of a fishing tournament under this section do not include fishing activities by tournament participants carried out prior to the time when the tournament begins.

NR 20.40(10)(k) (k) Except for tournaments on the Great Lakes and tournaments exempt from a permit under s. NR 20.40 (3m) (c), the fishing portion of any tournament may not run for more than 10 consecutive hours each day or more than 4 consecutive days.

NR 20.40(10)(L) (L) The fishing portion of tournaments on the Great Lakes is not limited in duration.

NR 20.40(10)(m) (m) Upon permit approval, tournament organizers shall notify the county and city, village, or town within which the access site, weigh-in site, or headquarters for the tournament is located of the date, time, location and size of tournament.

NR 20.40(11) (11) Aquatic invasive species.

NR 20.40(11)(a) (a) All tournament participants shall comply with s. 30.07, Stats., and all department rules pertaining to control of aquatic invasive species.

NR 20.40(11)(b) (b) Fishing tournament organizers shall inform all tournament participants of procedures recommended by the department to clean and decontaminate boats and equipment of aquatic plants and invasive species prior to the tournament.

NR 20.40(11)(c) (c) The department may include permit conditions necessary to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

NR 20.40(12) (12) Reporting. Each organizer shall report the results of the organizer’s tournament and other information which the department deems necessary on forms available from the department no later than 30 days following the last day of the tournament.

NR 20.40 Note Note: Reporting forms will be issued with permits.

NR 20.40 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (4) (b) and (5), r. (9), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; except (9) eff. 12-31-01; correction in (6) (c) 4. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register September 2002 No. 561; CR 04-112: cr. (1) (am), (d), and (6m), am. (6) (d) and (f) Register June 2005 No. 594, eff. 7-1-05; CR 06-108: r. and recr. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; correction in (7) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register April 2009 No. 640; corrections in (2) (b) and (11) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2010 No. 650; CR 10-053: am. (1) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 13-079: cr. (2) (dm), am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (e), (3m) (intro.), am. (3m) (a), (b), cr. (3m) (c), am. (4) (b) 2., 3., (c) 2., (d) 2., r. and recr. (5), am. (7) (intro.), (a) (table), cr. (7) (f) 2m., am. (10) (g) 3., cr. (10) (g) 3m., am. (10) (g) 4., 7. (intro.), r. (10) (g) 7. c., cr. (10) (g) 8., 9., (gm) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14; correction in (10) (g) 4. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register May 2014 No. 701; correction in (10) (g) 8. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2014 No. 701; correction in (10) 9. (gm) (intro.) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2015 No. 714; CR 19-016: am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (f), am. (3m) (intro.), cr. (10) (g) (10), Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-016: am. (3) (intro.), cr. (3) (f), am. (3m) (intro.) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-091: am. (3m) (a), cr. (10) (h) 2. c. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-078: am. (2) (a) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; CR 21-058: am. (2) (j), (3) (f), r. and recr. (3m) (c), am. (9), (10) (c) 1., (d), (g) 10., (k) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22; CR 23-009: cr. (3s) Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 4-1-24; CR 23-058: am. (10) (c) 1. Register June 2024 No. 822, eff. 7-1-24.

NR 20.41 NR 20.41 Experimental waters.

NR 20.41(1) (1) Designated. The following waters are designated as experimental waters: Nebish, Spruce, Mystery, Escanaba and Pallette lakes situated in sections 34 and 35, township 42 north, range 7 east, and sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12, township 41 north, range 7 east, Vilas county.

NR 20.41(2) (2) Permit required.

NR 20.41(2)(a) (a) No person may fish in experimental waters unless a permit has been issued to the person by the department.

NR 20.41 Note Note: Permits may be obtained at the checking station indicated by posted signs in the immediate area of these experimental waters.

NR 20.41(2)(b) (b) Permits issued under this section are valid only for the date issued.

NR 20.41(3) (3) Reporting.