Section NR 20.07 - Lake sturgeon carcass tags and registration, hook and line fishing and spearing(1) CARCASS TAGS. No person may:(a) Fish for lake sturgeon unless in possession of a valid, unique carcass tag that has not already been used to harvest a sturgeon. A tag is not valid when fishing on waters not authorized by the tag, or if the tag is expired. A tag is not valid when fishing with gear that is not authorized for use with the tag. Fishing for lake sturgeon where hook and line fishing is allowed and when the hook and line season is open, while not in possession of a valid carcass tag, is not a violation of this par. if in compliance with par. (e).(b) Upon harvesting a lake sturgeon, fail to immediately validate the carcass tag that authorized the harvest.(c) Possess or transport the carcass of a lake sturgeon unless also in possession of the validated carcass tag that authorized the harvest.(d) Fail to keep a validated carcass tag in good, legible condition so as to permit meaningful inspection by the department. Carcass tags shall remain intact except that part of a tag may be separated as designated by the department on the tag as a means of validation.(e) Fail to immediately release a lake sturgeon caught by hook and line methods unless the person is in compliance with the requirements of this section.(f) Prior to registration, possess or transport the carcass of a lake sturgeon which is tagged with or possessed under the authority of a validated carcass tag of another person unless accompanied by the person issued the carcass tag.(g) While on any water, bank or shore, or while fishing, possess a validated carcass tag, or any copy of a unique carcass tag already used to harvest a sturgeon, unless the person is also in possession of the legally killed lake sturgeon corresponding to that carcass tag.(h) Validate or attach a carcass tag to a lake sturgeon harvested by another, or taken by unlawful or unknown means.(i) Possess more than one copy of a unique carcass tag while on any water, bank or shore, or while fishing..(j) Purchase more than one hook and line lake sturgeon carcass tag for inland or outlying waters per season except that one additional hook and line lake sturgeon carcass tag may be purchased for Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters per season.(2) TAGGING AND POSSESSION. No person may:(a) Possess a lake sturgeon unless they immediately validate the carcass tag by separating a designated portion of the tag or by marking it as designated by the department on the tag. Failure to completely validate the carcass tag renders possession of the animal illegal and the carcass tag invalid.(b) Possess a lake sturgeon which is being transported in any manner from the time the sturgeon is taken into possession to the time it is lawfully registered pursuant to sub. (6) unless the sturgeon is carried openly exposed.(c) Possess a lake sturgeon speared from Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan or Lake Winneconne under s. NR 20.20(73) (e) 2. b. outside the following area unless the sturgeon has been registered pursuant to sub. (6): from the intersection of highways 45 and 21 in Oshkosh west on highway 21 to highway 116; north on highway 116 to county highway B; west on county highway B to county highway D; west on county highway D to highway 49; north on highway 49 to county highway H; east on county highway H to highway 110; east on highway 110 to county highway II; south on county highway II to county highway M; south on county highway M to highway 116; east on highway 116 to highway 45; south on highway 45 to highway 21.(d) Possess a lake sturgeon speared from Lake Winnebago under s. NR 20.20(73) (e) 2. b. outside the following area unless the sturgeon has been registered pursuant to sub. (6): from the intersection of highways 10 and 114 in Menasha, east on highway 114 to highway 55; south on highway 55 to U.S. highway 151; south on U.S. highway 151 to Winnebago drive in Fond du Lac; west on Winnebago drive to Scott street; west on Scott street to highway 45; north on highway 45 to Main street in Oshkosh; north on Main street to Waugoo avenue; east on Waugoo avenue to Bowen street; north on Bowen street to county highway A; north on county highway A to highway 114 in Neenah; east on highway 114 to the intersection of highways 10 and 114 in Menasha.(3) DISPLAY. No person may refuse or fail to display a validated carcass tag or registration verification number to the department or its wardens upon request.(4) ATTACHMENT. No person who kills a lake sturgeon may leave the carcass unless the tag has been attached to the carcass. Note: Tags may be attached using string, plastic ties, wire or in any manner which results in the tag being secured to the carcass in a visible manner. Carcass tags may be protected from environmental elements in sealed clear plastic bags.
(5) REMOVAL AND RETENTION. A carcass tag attached as required in this section may be removed by the department at the time of registration, except that no person may remove a registration tag attached under sub. (6) prior to butchering or preparation by a taxidermist. The registration tag shall be retained by the person who harvested the sturgeon until the meat is consumed.(6) REGISTRATION. No person who harvests a lake sturgeon may fail to register the fish as follows:(a) In an intact condition.(b) At a lake sturgeon registration station established by the department.(c) By 5:00 p.m. on the day after it was harvested, if taken by hook and line.(d) By 2:00 p.m. on the same day it was harvested, if taken by spearing.(7) RESEARCH. The department may require that any part of a sturgeon shall be collected, sampled, or submitted to the department for research purposes. No person may fail to comply with any collection, sampling, or submission procedure required by the department.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources § NR 20.07
Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 04-024: am. (1) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 09-051: am. (5) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10.Amended by, CR 17-061: r. and recr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3/1/2018Amended by, correction in numbering (4) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 1., Stats., Register March 2018 No. 747, eff. 4/1/2018