29.184 Bear licenses.

482 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-29/29-184

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Definition. In this section, notwithstanding s. 29.001

(42), “hunt bear” means to shoot, shoot at, take, catch, or kill a bear or pursue, with or without the use of dogs, a bear for the purpose of shooting, shooting at, taking, catching, or killing the bear.

(2)Department authority. The department may regulate and limit the number of bear hunters and bear harvested in any area of the state.

(3)Licenses; prohibitions; authorization.

(a)Prohibition. Except as authorized under par.

(br), no person may hunt bear unless the person has been issued a Class A bear license under this section.

(am)Evidence of bear hunting. The fact that a person is observing a bear while possessing a firearm or airgun is not sufficient evidence to prove that the person holding the firearm or airgun is hunting bear.

(br)Authorization to conduct other activities. No license is required for a person to do any of the following:

1. Assist a holder of a Class A bear license in hunting bear by tracking bear, trailing bear or otherwise engaging in an activity that contributes to locating bear and that is authorized by rule by the department.

1m. Pursue a bear, provided that the person does not shoot, shoot at, capture, take, or kill the bear, except as provided under subd. 4.

2. Bait bear.

3. Train a dog to track bear, to trail bear or to otherwise engage in an activity that contributes to locating bear and that is authorized by rule by the department.

4. Shoot, for the purpose of killing, a bear that was shot, but not killed, by a Class A bear license holder if the person shooting the bear was hunting in the same hunting party as the Class A bear license holder at the point of kill, if the Class A bear license holder possesses a current unused bear carcass tag that is authorized for use on the bear killed, and if killing the bear is necessary to protect the safety of the members of the hunting party or others.

(c)Type of hunting authorized. A Class A bear license authorizes hunting with a firearm, airgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow.

(3m)Open season requirements. If the department establishes an open season that includes a period during which a Class A bear license holder is allowed to hunt bear with the use of a dog, the department shall allow a person to engage in the activities specified in sub.

(br)3. during that period.

(4)Use of dogs.

(a)Except at facilities and specified property locations where prohibited by s. NR 45.06 , Wis. Adm. Code, a person may engage in the training of a dog as authorized under sub.

(br)without keeping it on a leash during the period from July 1st through August 31st if all of the following apply: