Fishing with bow and arrow or crossbow
Wis. Stat. § 29.405
in effect(1) No person may do any of the following:
(a) Take rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or take rough fish or catfish with a bolt from a crossbow unless the arrow or bolt is equipped with a metal barbed tip and is attached to the bow or crossbow with a tethered line that allows for the retrieval of the arrow or bolt and the fish.
(b) Release or return any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, to the waters of this state.
(c) Leave any rough fish or catfish taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow, whether dead or alive, on the ice or banks of any waters of this state.
(2) Any person who takes rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow in any waters of this state shall remove the fish from those waters and use or dispose of the fish in an appropriate manner as determined by the department.
(3) If the department establishes an open season for taking rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow on a particular body of water, the department shall allow the taking of rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow on that body of water from sunset to sunrise during that open season.
(4) If the department establishes an open season for taking rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow on a particular body of water, the department shall also allow the use of a crossbow to take rough fish or catfish on that body of water under the same conditions that apply to the use of a bow and arrow to take rough fish or catfish on that body of water.
(5) The department may not promulgate or enforce a rule that prohibits a person from taking rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or a crossbow. This subsection does not prohibit the department from promulgating or enforcing a rule that establishes bag or length limits, season dates, zones, or any other limitations applicable to rough fish or catfish if the rule is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/29.405Fetched: 10/7/2026