Section NR 20.14 - Minnow collecting restrictions No bait dealer may take minnows for use as bait from any inland or outlying water without a wild harvest permit from the department under s. NR 19.057. In addition, no person may do any of the following:
(1) Set, use or operate any net, trap or similar device for the taking of minnows other than minnow seines, minnow dip nets and minnow traps as authorized in s. NR 20.20 unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39 pursuant to s. 29.516(1), Stats.(2) Set, use or operate any minnow seine, minnow dip net, minnow trap or similar device for the taking of minnows in any water unless specifically authorized in s. NR 20.20 or 20.39. Minnow seines or minnow dip nets of any type or description may not be set, used or operated in any trout stream unless a non-standard gear permit is issued by the department under s. NR 20.39.(3) Set, use or operate minnow traps in any water that is posted as having been chemically treated to reestablish a trout fishery.(4) Set, use or operate minnow traps unless a label or tag bearing the legible name and address or department of natural resources customer identification number of the operator in the English language is securely attached.(5) Set, use or operate minnow traps unless they are raised and the minnows are removed from them at least once every 48 hours from all waters except trout streams.(6) Set, use or operate minnow traps in trout streams during the closed season for trout unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39. The permit authorizing placement of minnow traps in trout streams during the closed season for trout shall specify conditions on raising the traps and removing minnows.(7) Set, use or operate more than 3 minnow traps in trout streams during the open season for trout except licensed bait dealers. (a) No more than a total of 20 minnow traps may be set, used or operated by licensed bait dealers during the open season for trout when removing minnows from one or more trout streams unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39.(b) Minnow traps set, used or operated on trout streams during the open season for trout shall be raised and the minnows removed from them at least once every 24 hours.(8) Possess or control more than 600 minnows at any time unless licensed as a bait dealer under s. 29.509, Stats. Note: With certain exceptions, s. NR 19.05(3) prohibits the transportation of live fish and live fish eggs, including minnows, taken from any water of the state.
(9) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter or chs. NR 21 to 23, use or operate any net, trap or similar device for the taking of minnows, or fish for minnows except suckers for any purpose using any gear in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, Lake Winnebago, the Fox River from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, or any bay, slough or backwater of these waters, or any water connected to these waters, upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassable to fish, or in any other water where the department has determined that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present based on test results or other empirical evidence. If the department determines that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present in any additional water body, it shall promptly notify the public of its determination by issuing a press release, by publication in the official state newspaper, and by such other means as the department determines are reasonably likely to inform the public.(10) Transport away from the water or its bank or shore any live sucker taken from Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, Lake Winnebago, the Fox River from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, or any bay, slough or backwater of these waters, or any water connected to these waters, upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassable to fish, or from any additional water where the department has determined under sub. (9) that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources § NR 20.14
Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (3) and (6), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; emerg. am. eff. 11-2-07; EmR0808: emerg. cr. (9) and (10), eff. 4-4-08; CR 07-074: am. Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08.Amended by, CR 19-091: am. (4), (9), (10) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4/1/2020