29.047 Interstate transportation of game.

(1)

(a) In this section:

2. “Game" means any wild animal, wild bird or game fish.

3. “Indian land" means all land within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation in this state and all other land in this state that is held in trust for an Indian tribe or for a member of an Indian tribe.

4. “Indian tribe" means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.

5. “Transport" includes to cause to be transported, to deliver or offer to deliver for transportation and to receive or offer to receive for transportation.

(b)

1. No person in this state may transport into or through this state any game, or its carcass, from any other state in violation of any law of the other state.

2. No member of an Indian tribe may transport into or through this state any game, or its carcass, from the Indian land of that Indian tribe in violation of the law of that Indian tribe.

(c) No person in this state may transport, possess or control in this state any game, or its carcass, that was taken in another state in violation of any restriction on open and closed seasons established under this chapter or of any bag, possession or size limit established under this chapter unless all of the following apply:

1. The game was lawfully taken in and lawfully transported from the other state.

2. The person holds a license issued by the other state that authorized the person to transport, possess or control the game or its carcass.

3. If the game is a cervid the person transports, possesses, delivers, receives, or controls the carcass of the cervid in compliance with rules promulgated by the department.

4. If the game is a member of a species that the department requires a person holding an approval under this chapter to tag before transporting, the game bears a tag on which is printed, in a manner that cannot be modified or erased, the name of the department or, if the tag was issued by another state, the name of the other state's agency that issued the tag. A tag issued under this subdivision by another state is not valid unless the other state, at the time of issuance, recorded the name and address of the person to whom the tag was issued.

(d) No member of an Indian tribe may transport, possess, or control off of the Indian land of that Indian tribe any game, or its carcass, that was taken on that Indian land in violation of any restriction on open and closed seasons established under this chapter or of any bag, possession, or size limit established under this chapter unless all of the following apply:

1. The game was taken on and transported from the Indian land in accordance with the laws of the Indian tribe.

1m. The member of the Indian tribe holds a license, permit, or other authorization issued by the member's Indian tribe that allows the Indian tribe member to transport, possess, or control the game or its carcass on the Indian land of the member's Indian tribe or holds a tribal membership card or other document that demonstrates proof of membership in that Indian tribe.

2. If the game is a member of a species that the department requires a person holding an approval under this chapter to tag before transporting, the game bears a tag on which is printed, in a manner that cannot be modified or erased, the name of the department or, if the tag was issued by an Indian tribe, the name of the Indian tribe. A tag issued under this paragraph by an Indian tribe is not valid unless the Indian tribe, at the time of issuance, recorded the name and address of the person to whom the tag was issued.

(1k)

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may remove a required tag attached under sub. (1) (c) 4. or (d) 2. from a carcass until the time of butchering, but the person who killed or obtained the game shall retain all required tags until the meat is consumed.

(b) No person may remove a required tag attached under sub. (1) (c) 4. or (d) 2. from the carcass of a fur-bearing animal until the carcass is prepared for preservation, mounting, or tanning.

(c) A person who retains a tag under par. (a) or (b) may give the carcass or any part of the carcass to another person. The person who receives the gift of the carcass or part of the carcass is not required to possess a tag.

(1m) Unless prohibited by the laws of an adjoining state or a rule promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3) or (4), any person who has lawfully killed a cervid in this state may take the cervid or its carcass into the adjoining state and ship the cervid or carcass from any point in the adjoining state to any point in this state.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A person who has a valid taxidermist permit and who, in compliance with rules promulgated by the department under s. 29.063 (3) or (4), possesses, transports, causes to be transported, delivers or receives, or offers to deliver or receive, a wild animal carcass in connection with his or her business.

(b) The possession, transportation, delivery or receipt of farm-raised deer, farm-raised game birds, farm-raised fish, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

History: 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269, 316; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 95, 96, 518 to 521; Stats. 1997 s. 29.047; 2001 a. 56, 109; 2005 a. 286; 2013 a. 85.