29.043 Interstate comity.

(1) Whenever any other state confers upon the officers of this state reciprocal powers, any officer of the other state, who is authorized to enforce the laws of that state relating to the protection of wild animals, is designated an agent of that state within this state. The officer may follow any wild animal or carcass unlawfully shipped or taken from the officer's state into this state, and seize and convey it back to the officer's state. The laws of the state concerning the wild animal or carcass from which the wild animal or carcass was brought into this state are adopted as the laws of this state. Transportation companies shall deliver to the officer, upon submission of proper proof of the officer's official capacity, any wild animal or carcass that is seized by the officer. The officer may dispose of a wild animal or carcass within this state, in accordance with the laws of the officer's state, under the supervision of the department. Expenses for the department's assistance shall be a lien upon the wild animal or carcass, or proceeds of the sale.

(2) Except as provided in sub. (1), the department may seize, hold and dispose, according to the laws of this state, of any wild animal or carcass brought or shipped into or through this state, or attempted to be carried through this state, in violation of the laws of any other state.

(3) The officers of every other state charged with enforcing the laws of another state relating to wild animals are designated agents of this state for the taking possession, seizing, holding and disposing, within the other state, of any wild animal or carcass protected by the laws of this state.

(4) If any other state confers upon the officers of this state reciprocal powers, the department may appoint persons who are charged with enforcing the laws of the other state relating to wild animals to act as wardens of this state, but without compensation from this state.

History: 1971 c. 164; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 248 s. 117; Stats. 1997 s. 29.043.