Wis. Stat. § 29.219 — WI Code / Chapter 29 / Section 29.219
Resident fishing licenses.
Status: in_force

(1) Fishing license requirement; exceptions.

(a) Requirement. Except as specifically provided otherwise by another section of this chapter, no resident may fish in the waters of this state unless the person has a valid resident fishing license or unless the person has a valid approval which authorizes fishing or entitles the holder to the rights and privileges of a fishing license.

(b) Exception; residents under 16 years of age and certain senior citizens.

1. No fishing license is required for any resident under the age of 16 years to fish for fish subject to all other provisions of law.

2. No fishing license is required for any resident born before January 1, 1927, to fish subject to all other provisions of law.

(c) Exception; residents using nets for nongame fish. No fishing license is required for any resident to set, place or use any landing net, dip net, minnow seine or minnow dip net in order to fish for fish other than game fish.

(d) Exception; fishing in private ponds. No fishing license is required for a resident to fish in a pond that is a self-contained body of water and that is located entirely on private property owned by a person who gives permission to the resident to fish in the pond.

(2) Annual fishing license.

(a) The department shall issue a resident annual fishing license, subject to s. 29.024 , to any resident who applies for this license.

(b) A resident annual fishing license issued to any resident who is 16 or 17 years of age shall be issued at the reduced fee under s. 29.563 (3) (a) 4.

(c) A resident annual fishing license issued to any resident who is a member of a Wisconsin veterans home under s. 45.50 shall be issued at no charge.

(d) A resident annual fishing license issued to any resident who holds a one-day fishing license under sub. (2m) that is valid during the same year for which the resident applies for a resident annual fishing license shall be issued at the reduced fee under s. 29.563 (3r) .

(2m) One-day fishing license. The department shall issue a resident one-day fishing license, subject to s. 29.024 , to any resident who applies for this license.

(3) Two-day sports fishing license.

(a) Issuance. The department shall issue a resident 2-day sports fishing license, subject to s. 29.024 , to any resident who applies for this license.

(b) Authorization. Unless otherwise specifically prohibited, a resident 2-day sports fishing license only authorizes fishing in outlying trout and salmon waters, as defined in s. 29.2285 (2) (a) .

(c) Use of fees. The department shall deposit receipts from the sale of resident 2-day sports fishing licenses under this subsection in the conservation fund. The department shall credit 50 percent of these receipts to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (ku) .

(3m) Two-day inland lake trout fishing license.

(a) Issuance. The department shall issue a 2-day inland lake trout fishing license, subject to s. 29.024 , to any resident who applies for this license.

(b) Authorization. Unless otherwise specifically prohibited, a 2-day inland lake trout fishing license only authorizes fishing for lake trout in inland lakes.

(c) Use of fees. The department shall deposit receipts from the sale of 2-day inland lake trout fishing licenses under this subsection in the conservation fund. The department shall credit 50 percent of these receipts to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (kv) .

(4) Husband and wife resident licenses. A combined husband and wife resident fishing license shall be issued subject to s. 29.024 by the department to residents applying for this license. This license confers upon both husband and wife the privileges of resident fishing licenses.

History: 1971 c. 22 , 282 ; 1973 c. 90 s. 538 ; 1975 c. 39 ; 1975 c. 189 s. 99 (2) ; 1975 c. 216 , 421 ; 1977 c. 29 , 418 ; 1979 c. 34 , 221 ; 1981 c. 130 ; 1983 a. 27 ss. 749 to 761 ; 1985 a. 326 ; 1987 a. 27 ; 1991 a. 39 , 269 ; 1993 a. 16 , 153 , 217 ; 1995 a. 27 ; 1997 a. 1 , 27 , 191 ; 1997 a. 248 ss. 318 to 332 ; Stats. 1997 s. 29.219; 1999 a. 63 ; 2005 a. 22 , 25 ; 2009 a. 364 ; 2013 a. 20 ; 2017 a. 59 .