29.192 Regulation of takings of certain wild animals.

(1) The department may regulate and limit the number of hunters and the maximum harvest of Canada geese in any area, by doing any of the following:

(a) Requiring hunters to tag each goose killed with a tag issued by the department.

(b) Requiring registration of each farm on which Canada goose hunting is allowed.

(c) Prohibiting the hunting of Canada geese without a valid permit issued by the department.

(1m) The department may not do any of the following:

(a) Require a person to indicate on his or her hunting permit or otherwise record each Canada goose killed by the person.

(b) Require a person to report to the department more than once annually each Canada goose killed by the person.

(2) The department may establish by rule sharp-tailed grouse hunting zones where sharp-tailed grouse hunting is permitted. The department may establish by rule closed zones where sharp-tailed grouse hunting is prohibited. The department may regulate and limit the number of hunters and the maximum harvest of sharp-tailed grouse in any sharp-tailed grouse hunting zone or any other area, by doing any of the following:

(a) Requiring hunters to validate a carcass tag in the manner required by the department for each sharp-tailed grouse killed.

(b) Prohibiting the hunting of sharp-tailed grouse without a valid permit issued by the department.

(3) The department may limit the number of trappers and the maximum harvest of wild fisher or otters in any area. The department may limit the number of hunters or trappers, or both, and may limit the maximum harvest of bobcats or beaver in any area. The department may limit the number of persons fishing for sturgeon by hook and line or by spear, or both, and may limit the maximum harvest of sturgeon in any area. The department may impose any limitation under this subsection by establishing a permit system.

(4)

(a) If the department decides to limit the number of persons taking Canada geese or sharp-tailed grouse by issuing permits and if the number of persons seeking the permits exceeds the number of available permits, the department shall issue the permits according to a cumulative preference system established by the department. The department shall give a preference point to each applicant for each previous season for which the applicant applied but was not issued a permit. The system shall establish preference categories for these applicants, with higher priority given to those categories with more points than those with fewer points. Applicants who fail to apply at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points. If the number of applicants within a preference category or subcategory exceeds the number of permits available in the category or subcategory, the department shall select at random within the category or subcategory the applicants to be issued the permits.

(b)

1. If the department decides to issue permits to limit the number of persons taking fishers, otters, bobcats, or sturgeon and if the number of persons seeking the permits exceeds the number of available permits, the department shall issue the permits according to a cumulative preference system established by the department. The system shall establish preference categories for those applicants who applied for but were not issued the applicable permits, with higher priority given to those categories with more points than those with fewer preference points. For each season, the department shall allow each applicant under the system to apply for a preference point or for a permit. The department shall give a preference point to each applicant who applies for a preference point and to each applicant who applies for a permit but who is not issued a permit. Applicants who fail to apply for either a preference point or a permit at least once during any 3 consecutive years shall lose all previously accumulated preference points. If the number of applicants within a preference category or subcategory exceeds the number of permits available in the category or subcategory, the department shall select at random within the category or subcategory the applicants to be issued the permits.

2. A person who applies for a preference point or a permit under subd. 1. shall pay the processing fee under s. 29.553 at the time of application.

3. The department shall issue a permit to those qualified applicants selected to receive a permit under subd. 1.

(4c)

(a) Notwithstanding sub. (4), the department may issue permits authorizing the hunting of Canada geese without requiring that the permits be issued pursuant to a cumulative preference system under sub. (4) to members of the U.S. armed forces who are all of the following:

1. Residents.

2. In active service with the U.S. armed forces outside this state.

3. On furlough or leave within the state.

(b) The department may not impose any deadline or other restriction on the timing for permit applications or issuing permits under this subsection. If a permit under this subsection is issued during the applicable hunting season, the permit shall authorize hunting beginning on the date of issuance.

(c) An applicant for a Canada goose hunting permit under this subsection shall be eligible for the same number of tags, if any are required, for each season as an applicant who is issued a Canada goose hunting permit under the cumulative preference system under sub. (4).

(4m) If the department establishes a permit system under sub. (3) or (4) (b) that affects the trapping of bobcats, fishers, or otters, the department may do any of the following:

(a) Impose greater or stricter limitations on trapping by nonresidents than on trapping by residents.

(b) Give greater preference to residents over nonresidents in issuing permits.

(5) The department shall establish the open season for hunting raccoon 2 weeks earlier for persons with resident licenses than for persons with nonresident licenses.

(6) The department shall establish a year-round open season for hunting and trapping woodchucks. The department may not impose a bag or possession limit for this season.

History: 1997 a. 248 ss. 385 to 387, 403, 409; 2005 a. 25, 284; 2007 a. 24, 66; 2013 a. 64; 2015 a. 89; 2017 a. 59, 64.