Use of poison and explosives; pole traps

Wis. Stat. § 29.088
in effect
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(1) Except as provided by s. 29.601 (4), it is unlawful to use baits containing poison of any description in any forests, fields or other places where it might destroy or cause the destruction of wild animals or birds, and the possession of any poison or poison baits in a hunting or trapping camp or on any person while hunting or trapping shall be prima facie evidence of a violation. (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), no person may take, capture or kill or attempt to take, capture or kill any wild animal with the aid of any explosive or poison gas, or set any explosive near or on any beaver or muskrat houses. Possession or control of an explosive or a poison gas in places described in sub. (1) is prima facie evidence of intent to violate this subsection. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined not more than $300 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both. (2g) (a) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to toxicants placed in the waters of a self-contained fish rearing facility or a state or municipal fish hatchery if the toxicants are necessary to the operation of the fish farm or fish hatchery. (b) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to toxicants placed in the waters of a preexisting fish rearing facility that is an artificial body of water if the toxicants are necessary to the operation of the fish farm and the department has issued a permit under s. 283.31 for the preexisting fish rearing facility. (2m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), it is unlawful to take, capture, or kill or attempt to take, capture, or kill any bird by setting or operating any trap or device designed, built, or used to capture birds on a pole, post, tree stump, or any other elevated perch more than 3 feet above the ground. (b) A person who holds a valid migratory bird depredation permit issued by the U.S. fish and wildlife service under 50 CFR 21.41 that authorizes the trapping of birds may set or operate a trap or device described under par. (a) on an elevated perch no more than 10 feet above the ground. (3) Nothing in this chapter prevents the department or a person authorized under s. 29.885 from using an explosive or having an explosive near a beaver house or a beaver dam for the purpose of removing a beaver dam or a vacated beaver house when the beavers are causing damage to property.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/29.088Fetched: 10/7/2026