29.621 Wildlife refuges.

(1) Establishment. The owner of contiguous land comprising in the aggregate not less than 160 acres located outside the limits of any city or village may apply to the department for the establishment of the land as a wildlife refuge. If the department determines that the establishment of the land as a wildlife refuge will promote the conservation of species or varieties native to this state, it may by order establish the land as a wildlife refuge.

(2) Signs. Within 30 days after the date of the order the owner of the land shall post signs or notices as required and furnished by the department, designating the refuge.

(3) Publication. The order is not effective until at least 30 days after issuance and until the department has caused to be published a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the county containing the land. The land shall remain a wildlife refuge for not less than 5 years.

(4) Protection. Except as provided in s. 29.091 (1), no owner of a wildlife refuge, and no other person, may hunt or trap within the boundaries of any wildlife refuge or have in his or her possession or under his or her control in the wildlife refuge a gun, firearm, bow or crossbow, unless the gun or firearm is unloaded, the bow or crossbow is unstrung and the gun, firearm, bow or crossbow is enclosed within a carrying case. This subsection, as it relates to the possession or control of a loaded or unencased firearm, does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

(b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.

(c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.

(d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the gun or firearm is a handgun, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).

(5) Animals procured by department. The department may place wild animals within any wildlife refuge, for the purpose of propagation.

(6) Injurious animals. Nothing in this section may prohibit, prevent, or interfere with the department in the destruction of injurious animals.

History: 1971 c. 42; 1989 a. 214; 1997 a. 248 s. 608; Stats. 1997 s. 29.621; 2011 a. 35.