29.354 Possession of game birds and animals.

(1) Approval necessary. No person may possess or have under his or her control any game bird or game animal or the carcass of any game bird or game animal unless the person has a valid hunting license, sports license, conservation patron license, taxidermist permit, or scientific collector permit. This subsection does not apply to a person who takes possession of a bear, deer, or wild turkey under s. 29.349 (2) (a) and who complies with the requirements under s. 29.349 (2) (b) or (bm), as applicable.

(2) Nests and eggs.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may take, needlessly destroy or possess or have under his or her control the nest or eggs of any wild bird for which a closed season is prescribed under this chapter.

(b) A person who has a valid scientific collector permit may take or possess or have under his or her control the nest of a wild bird and may destroy the nest if necessary for a scientific purpose.

(3) Mounted collections. This section does not permit seizure of or prohibit possession or sale of lawfully obtained wild birds and animals which are mounted or in the process of being mounted for a private collection.

(5) Captive wild animals. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised fish, fish produced in a municipal fish hatchery, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

History: 1973 c. 214; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 79; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 509 to 511; Stats. 1997 s. 29.354; 2001 a. 56; 2011 a. 251; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.