Title to wild animals.

(1) The legal title to, and the custody and protection of, all wild animals within this state is vested in the state for the purposes of regulating the enjoyment, use, disposition, and conservation of these wild animals.

(2) The legal title to a wild animal or carcass, taken or reduced to possession in violation of this chapter, remains in the state. The title to a wild animal or carcass, lawfully acquired, is subject to the condition that upon the violation of this chapter relating to the possession, use, giving, sale, barter or transportation of a wild animal or carcass by the owner, the ownership shall revert, as a result of the violation, to the state.

(3) This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game birds, farm-raised fish, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169 .

History: 1997 a. 248 s. 87 ; 2001 a. 56 .