Wis. Stat. § 29.621
This is the official text of Wis. Stat. § 29.621, part of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Statutes — the complete compiled statutory law of Wisconsin, organized into numbered chapters by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Wildlife refuges.
Official statutory text
(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, airgun, bow, or crossbow, unless the gun, firearm, or airgun is unloaded, the bow or crossbow is unstrung, and the gun, firearm, airgun, 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 or airgun, 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.
(am) A person who is certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional under s. 165.85 (3) while acting in the line of duty.
(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 ; 2023 a. 115 , 218 .
(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, airgun, bow, or crossbow, unless the gun, firearm, or airgun is unloaded, the bow or crossbow is unstrung, and the gun, firearm, airgun, 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 or airgun, 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.
(am) A person who is certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional under s. 165.85 (3) while acting in the line of duty.
(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 ; 2023 a. 115 , 218 .
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Wisconsin?
Find a Wisconsin lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.