Section 19.27. Seasons, limits, restrictions on taking crayfish.

  There is a closed season established for taking crayfish except when taken during the open season by the following methods: - See PDF for table

(4)   Additional restrictions.

(a) Crayfish.

1. `Prohibitions.' No person may:

a. Use live crayfish as bait on the inland waters except on the Mississippi river.

b. Possess live crayfish while on any inland waters of the state, except the Mississippi river, unless that person is engaged in crayfish removal. Simultaneous possession of live crayfish and hook and line fishing equipment while on the inland waters, except the Mississippi river, shall be considered prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection.

c. Place, deposit, throw or otherwise introduce live crayfish into any waters of the state unless a permit authorizing introduction has been issued by the department.

d. Take, possess or control a crayfish unless the person is in possession of a valid approval which authorizes the hunting of small game or which authorize fishing, unless otherwise exempt from the need to possess one of more of these approvals to hunt or fish under ch. 29 , Stats.

2. `Bait.'

a. Crayfish may not be taken with use of bait consisting of fish, including parts of fish lawfully taken, fish by-products including fish meal or prepared parts of fish, except in the same body of water from which the fish was obtained, or if the fish are minnows obtained from a Wisconsin bait dealer, or with written approval of the department.

b. Bait or parts of bait authorized in this subdivision may not be deposited in the waters of this state unless they are enclosed within the trap.

3. `Floats or markers.' Floats or markers used to locate traps for the taking of crayfish:

a. May not exceed 5 inches in size at its greatest dimension;

b. May not extend more than 4 inches above the surface of the water.

c. Shall plainly and clearly display in the English language the name and address of the owner or operator; and

d. Shall be of a color other than orange or fluorescent colorations.

4. `Traps.' Crayfish traps placed in trout streams shall conform to the dimensions of minnow traps described in s. NR 20.03 (26) unless otherwise authorized by the department.

Cr. Register, December, 1982, No. 324 , eff. 1-1-83; r. and recr. Register, June, 1984, No. 342 , eff. 7-1-84; cr. (4) (a) 4., Register, December, 1984, No. 348 , eff. 1-1-85; am. (1), Register, July, 1988, No. 391 , eff. 8-1-88; am. (intro.), r. (3), Register, February, 1997, No. 494 , eff. 3-1-97; correction in (4) (a) 4. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1999, No. 525 ; am. (intro.), r. (2) and (4) (b), Register, May, 2000, No. 533 , eff. 6-1-00; emerg. am. (4) (a) 2. a., eff. 11-2-07; CR 07-074 : am. (4) (a) 2. a. Register May 2008 No. 629 , eff. 6-1-08; CR 09-018 : cr. (4) (a) 1. d. Register February 2010 No. 650 , eff. 3-1-10.