NR 10.02 Note
Note: The department's conservation program for the timber rattlesnake, under s.
29.039 (1), Stats., includes a department response and assistance element for occupants or owners of land, or other persons, requesting assistance because of the presence of rattlesnakes. In addition, upon complaint, the department may, under s.
29.885, Stats., investigate and authorize removal, relocation or destruction if the species constitutes a nuisance. Requests for assistance, or complaints, should be directed to the Bureau of Endangered Resources, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, telephone 1-888-74SNAKE.
NR 10.02(10)
(10) Gophersnakes
Pituophis catenifer, gray ratsnakes
Pantherophis spiloides, and the North American racers
Coluber constrictor.
NR 10.02(12)
(12) On private land, the landowner, lessee or occupant of the land, or any other person with permission of the landowner, lessee or occupant may shoot and kill any bear in the act of killing, wounding or biting a domestic animal, other than dogs used to hunt or pursue bear during an open bear hunting season or bear dog training season. Shootings shall be reported within 24 hours to a department conservation warden. The carcass of the bear shall be turned over to the department.
NR 10.02(13)
(13) Any other wild animal for which a closed season, bag limit, size limit or possession limit is prescribed.
NR 10.02 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (2),
Register, August, 1956, No. 8, eff. 9-1-56; am. (1),
Register, August, 1957, No. 20, eff. 9-1-57; am. (1) and (2),
Register, August, 1958, No. 32, eff. 9-1-58; am. (1) emerg. eff. 9-20-58; am. (1),
Register, August, 1959, No. 44, eff. 9-1-59; am. (2), cr. (3),
Register, September, 1965, No. 117, eff. 10-1-65; am. (2),
Register, March, 1966, No. 123, eff. 4-1-66; am. (1),
Register, August, 1967, No. 140, eff. 9-1-67; renum. to be NR 10.02; am. (2),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; am. (1),
Register, September, 1972, No. 201, eff. 10-1-72; r. (3),
Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1979, No. 284, eff. 9-1-79; am. (1),
Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; am. (1),
Register, July, 1985, No. 355, eff. 8-1-85; cr. (intro.)
Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; r. and recr. (3),
Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96; cr. (9),
Register, March, 1998, No. 507, eff. 4-1-98; am. (1),
Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; cr. (10),
Register, May, 2000, No. 533, eff. 6-1-00; am. (5),
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 5-1-01;
CR 03-018: am. (1)
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 03-081: am. (1)
Register July 2004 No. 583, eff. 8-1-04;
CR 05-017: rn. (1) to be (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (b)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 05-031: am. (3) and (7)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 08-013: am. (3)
Register August 2008 No. 632, eff. 9-1-08;
CR 11-007: am. (1) (b)
Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 11-1-11;
CR 14-025: am. (9), (10), cr. (11)
Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15;
EmR1405: emerg. am. (3), eff. 2-25-14;
CR 13-071: am. (3)
Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15;
CR 16-037: am. (intro.)
Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17;
CR 18-005: r. (4)
Register September 2018 No. 753, eff. 10-1-18;
CR 23-013: am. (intro.), cr. (12), (13)
Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 3-1-24;
CR 23-025: r. (5) to (7), am. (8) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24. NR 10.04
NR 10.04
Unprotected wild animals. The following wild animals are designated unprotected. No closed season, bag limit, size limit, or possession limit applies to these animals.
NR 10.04(1)
(1) Opossum, porcupine, skunk, weasel, and woodchuck.
NR 10.04(2)
(2) Chukar partridge, coturnix quail, English sparrows, Eurasian collared doves, and starlings.
NR 10.04(3)
(3) Any other wild animal not specified in this chapter.
NR 10.04 Note
Note: Persons taking unprotected animals must possess a hunting or trapping license and comply with all method of taking requirements of this chapter unless otherwise authorized by the department in writing or exempted under ch.
NR 12.
NR 10.04 Note
Note: Pigeons are considered domestic animals by the department and therefore are not subject to this chapter or ch.
29, Stats.
NR 10.04 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (1)
Register, August, 1957, No. 20, eff. 9-1-57; am. (2),
Register, August, 1958, No. 32, eff. 9-1-58; renum. to be NR 10.04; am. (1) and (2),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; am. (1),
Register, August, 1972, No. 200, eff. 9-1-72; r. and recr.
Register, No. 251, eff. 12-1-76; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1979, No. 284, eff. 9-1-79; am. (1),
Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 11-1-80; cr. (intro.),
Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85;
CR 16-037: am. (1)
Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17;
CR 17-013: r. and recr. (2),
Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18;
CR 18-005: am. (1)
Register September 2018 No. 753, eff. 10-1-18.
NR 10.05
NR 10.05
Highways. No person may hunt within 50 feet of a roadway's center except as provided in s.
167.31, Stats.
NR 10.05 Note
Note: The exceptions provided in s.
167.31 (4) (e), Stats., allow any person who is legally hunting small game with a muzzle-loading firearm or shotgun loaded with shotshells containing shot size BB or smaller, to hunt within 50 feet of the roadway's center, if the roadway is surfaced with anything other than concrete or blacktop. Additionally, Class A and B disabled hunting permit holders may also hunt within 50 feet of certain roadways under conditions listed in s.
167.31 (4) (cg), Stats.
NR 10.05 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (1) and (2),
Register, August, 1956, No. 8, eff. 9-1-56; am. (1) and (2),
Register, August, 1957, No. 20, eff. 9-1-57; r. (1) and (2) and recr. (1),
Register, August, 1958, No. 32, eff. 9-1-58; cr. (2),
Register, September, 1960, No. 57, eff. 10-1-60; cr. (3),
Register, August, 1963, No. 92, eff. 9-1-63; r. and recr. (2),
Register, September, 1966, No. 129, eff. 10-1-66; emerg. am. (2), eff. 9-1-67; emerg. am. (2), eff. 9-30-68; emerg. am. (2), eff. 8-30-69; am. (2),
Register, November, 1969, No. 167, eff. 12-1-69; renum. to be NR 10.05; cr. (4) and (5),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; emerg. am. (2), eff. 9-19-73; emerg. am. (2), eff. 9-24-75; am. (2),
Register, May, 1976, No. 245, eff. 6-1-76; r. and recr. (1) am. (2) and r. (3), (4) and (5),
Register, May, 1977, No. 257, eff. 6-1-77; am. (2),
Register, February, 1978, No. 266, eff. 3-1-78; am. (1),
Register, September, 1979, No. 285, eff. 10-1-79; am. (2),
Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; am. (2),
Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; EmR 1914: emerg. r. (2), eff. 9-5-19;
CR 19-068: r. (2)
Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20; renum. (1) to NR 10.05 under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., and am. (title) under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats.,
Register January 2020 No. 769.
NR 10.06(1)(1)
General hunting. All shooting hours, when specified in this chapter, mean Central Standard Time, and the daily opening (a.m.) and closing (p.m.) hours listed shall apply to the entire state.
NR 10.06(2)(a)(a) General. Two general shooting hour areas are established as follows: Northern area: all of the following counties and all counties north of them; Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Clark, Marathon, Shawano, Oconto, and Door. Southern area: remainder of state. In addition, the following zones are established across the northern and southern areas:
Zone
A—all that part of the state lying east of 88°-00F longitude.
B—all that part of the state lying between 88°-00F and 89°-00F long.
C—all that part of the state lying between 89°-00F and 90°-00F long.
D—all that part of the state lying between 90°-00F and 91°-00F long.
E—all that part of the state lying between 91°-00F and 92°-00F long.
F—all that part of the state lying west of 92°-00F longitude.
NR 10.06(2)(b)
(b) General prohibition. Except as provided in subs. (6) to (9), no person may shoot or shoot at any game species for which an open season is prescribed on any day during the open season before the a.m. times or after the p.m. times established in sub. (5).
NR 10.06(5)
(5)
Shooting hours. Shooting hours for bear, bow deer, deer with firearms, elk and small game are 30 minutes before sunrise through 20 minutes after sunset. Shooting hours for migratory game birds are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset except for teal during a season for hunting teal species only. The hours for shooting teal during the season established in s.
NR 10.01 (1) (c) shall be sunrise through sunset. Shooting hours for the first day of the pheasant hunting season established in s.
NR 10.01 (2) (c) begin at 9:00 a.m. The department shall establish the specific opening and closing times annually in the hunting regulations pamphlets. Opening and closing times for zone A southern and northern areas shall be based on astronomical data collected by the U.S. naval observatory, Washington D.C., 20392-5420 for Sheboygan, Wisconsin and Powers, Michigan, respectively. The shooting hours for the other zones shall be obtained by adding minutes to the Zone A a.m. and p.m. columns as follows:
-
See PDF for table 
NR 10.06(6)
(6)
Pheasant hunting. Except as provided in this subsection, pheasant shooting hours are those hunting hours established for small game in sub. (5). Pheasant shooting hours shall close at 12:00 p.m. on weekdays within the posted boundaries of the following state wildlife areas beginning the third day of the pheasant hunting season established in s.
NR 10.01 (2) (c) and continuing through November 3:
NR 10.06(7)
(7)
Wild turkey hunting. The shooting hours for pursuing wild turkeys shall be the same as the hours established in sub. (5) except that spring season shooting hours shall close at sunset daily.
NR 10.06(8)
(8)
Exceptions. There are no shooting hour restrictions for pursuing coyote, fox, raccoon and all wild animals for which no closed season is established except that shooting hours established in sub. (5) shall apply to archers and crossbow hunters pursuing any species during the black bear season established in s.
NR 10.01 (3) (g), during the archery and crossbow deer seasons established in s.
NR 10.01 (3) (em) and
(ep), and during the elk season established in s.
NR 10.01 (3) (i).
NR 10.06(9)(a)
(a) Shooting hours for certain species shall close at 1:00 p.m. daily within the posted boundaries of the following state wildlife areas on the following dates:
NR 10.06(9)(a)1.
1. George W. Mead Wildlife Area (Wood, Portage, and Marathon Counties) for waterfowl beginning on the third day of the duck hunting season in s.
NR 10.01 and continuing for 16 days.
NR 10.06(9)(a)2.
2. Zeloski Unit of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area (Jefferson County) for migratory birds beginning on Sept 1 and continuing through the 16th day after the opening weekend of the duck season established in s.
NR 10.01 except that normal statewide shooting hours apply on the opening weekend of the duck season.
NR 10.06(10)
(10)
Trapping exemption. The shooting hour restrictions established in this section do not apply to the dispatch of lawfully trapped animals.
NR 10.06 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (2); cr. (2m),
Register, August, 1956, No. 8, eff. 9-1-56; am. (2m),
Register, August, 1957, No. 20, eff. 9-1-57; am. (2), (2m) and (3),
Register, August, 1958, No. 32, eff. 9-1-58; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1959, No. 44, eff. 9-1-59, am. (2), cr. (2m) Register, Sept. 1959, No. 45, eff. 10-1-59; am. (2) and r. (2m),
Register, September 1960, No. 57, eff. 10-1-60; am. (2), cr. (2m),
Register, September, 1961, No. 69, eff. 10-1-61; r. and recr. (2) and (2m),
Register, August, 1962, No. 80, eff. 9-1-62; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1965, No. 116, eff. 9-1-65; am. (3), emerg. eff. 9-5-65; am. (2),
Register, March, 1966, No. 123, eff. 4-1-66; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1966, No. 128. eff. 9-1-66; r. cr. (2); cr. (4)
Register, September, 1966, No. 129, eff. 10-1-66; r. and recr. (2) and (3),
Register, August, 1967, No. 140. eff. 9-1-67; renum. to be NR 10.06; r. (4),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; am.(3),
Register, August, 1971, No. 188, eff. 9-1-71; am. (3).
Register, September, 1972, No. 201, eff. 10-1-72; am. (2), (3),
Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; am. (2),
Register, September, 1973, No 213, eff. 10-1-73; am. (3),
Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 4-1-75; emerg. am. (2) (d), eff. 9-24-75; am. (3),
Register, October, 1975, No. 238, eff. 11-1-75; am. (2) (d) (eff. 6-1-76), am. (2) (c),
Register, May, 1975, No. 245, eff. 8-15-76; am. (2) (d) and (3),
Register, November, 1976, No. 251, eff. 12-1-76; am. (2) (a),
Register, May, 1977, No. 257, eff. 6-1-77; r. and recr. (2) (d),
Register, February, 1978, No. 266, eff. 3-1-78; am. (2) (c) and (e),
Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 11-1-80; am. (2) (c) and cr. (4) and (5),
Register, November, 1982, No. 323, eff. 12-1-82; am. (2) (c) and cr. (6),
Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; am. (2) (d),
Register, April 1985, No. 352, eff. 5-1-85; cr. (6) (jm),
Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86; emerg. am. (2) (d), eff. 9-25-97; am. (2) (d),
Register, December, 1987, No. 384, eff. 1-1-88; r. and recr. (2) (b), (3) to (5), r. (2) (d), renum. (2) (e) to be (3) (b), cr. (7) and (8),
Register, October, 1988, No. 394, eff. 1-1-89; r. and recr. (4),
Register, January 1989 No. 397 eff. 2-1-89; r. and recr. (2) (b), (3) (b), (7) and (8) (a) to (c), r. (2) (c) and (5), am. (3) (a),
Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; r. and recr. (4),
Register, March, 1990, No. 411, eff. 4-1-90; am. (8) (b),
Register, September, 1990, No. 417, eff. 10-1-90; am. (2) (b) and (3) (a),
Register, August, 1991, No. 428, eff. 9-1-91; r. and recr. (4) (intro.),
Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; cr. (5),
Register, January, 1992, No. 433, eff. 2-1-92; r. (4) (b),
Register, April, 1992, No. 436, eff. 5-1-92; r. (6) (jm),
Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; emerg. cr. (4) (b), r. (4) (c), eff. 9-1-92; cr. (4) (b), r. (4) (c),
Register, February, 1993, No. 446, eff. 3-1-93; r. and recr. (6),
Register, December, 1993, No. 456, eff. 1-1-94; r. and recr. (4) and (6), am. (8) (b),
Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; r. and recr. (6),
Register, July, 1995, No. 475, eff. 8-1-95; emerg. am. (8) (b), eff. 8-12-96; am. (6),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 3-1-98; emerg. am. (8) (b), eff. 10-1-98; am. (7),
Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98;emerg. am. (4), eff. 9-10-99; am. (4),
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; emerg. am. (8) (b), eff. 8-4-00; am. (2) (a), (b), (6), (7), (8) (a) and (b), r. (3) and (4), r. and recr. (5),
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 11-18-00; r. Table in (5),
Register August 2001 No. 548;
CR 03-016: am. (8) (a)
Register August 2003 No. 572, eff. 9-1-03;
CR 03-018: am. (5) and (8) (a)
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 04-020: am. (8) (a)
Register August 2004 No. 584, eff. 9-1-04;
CR 04-046: am. (8) (b)
Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04;
CR 06-012: am. (7)
Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 2-1-07;
CR 07-015: renum. (6) (m) to (t) to be (6) (n) to (p) and (r) to (v), cr. (6) (m) and (q)
Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 2-1-08;
CR 08-021: am. (8) (b)
Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08;
EmR0824: emerg. am. (5), eff. 8-30-08;
CR 08-061: am. (5)
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09;
CR 09-015: cr. (9)
Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 2-1-10;
CR 10-020: r. (6) (r)
Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 2-1-11;
CR 10-051: am. (2) (b)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
CR 11-007: am. (6) (intro.)
Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 2-1-12;
EmR1313: emerg. r. (9) (b), eff. 9-6-13;
CR 13-052: r. (9) (b)
Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14;
EmR1420: emerg. am. (5), (8) (a), (b), eff. 9-12-14;
CR 13-071: am. (5), (8) (a), (b)
Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15;
CR 15-024: am. (5)
Register November 2015 No. 719, eff. 2-1-16;
CR 15-052: am. (5)
Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16;
CR 16-028: am. (title), (1), (2), (5), (6) (intro.), (7), (8), (9) (a) (intro.), 2.
Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17;
EmR1914: emerg. am. (5), eff. 9-5-19;
CR 19-017: am. (6) (intro.)
Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20;
CR 19-068: am. (5)
Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20; correction in (5) made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register January 2020 No. 769;
CR 19-123: r. and recr. (8)
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20;
CR 19-146: am. (5), cr. (10)
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; merger of (5) treatments by
CR 19-068 and
CR 19-146 made under s.
13.92 (4) (bm), Stats.,
Register September 2023 No. 813;
CR 23-048: am. (5) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24.
NR 10.07(1)(a)
(a) Aircraft. Hunt with the aid of an aircraft, including the use of an aircraft to spot, rally or drive wild animals for hunters on the ground.
NR 10.07(1)(b)1.1. Place, operate or attend, spread, or set any net, pitfall, snare, spring gun, pivot gun, swivel gun, or other similar contrivance for the purpose of catching or which might catch, take or ensnare wild animals.
NR 10.07(1)(b)2.
2. Use or possess any snare, cable restraint, trap or device designed or used for the purpose of driving rabbits or hares out of their holes or dens and capturing them.
NR 10.07(1)(b)3.
3. While hunting with a firearm, bow, or crossbow, possess or accompany a person possessing any turkey decoy or device which may be used to call or attract wild turkeys during the spring hunting season for wild turkeys described in s.
NR 10.01 (2) (f) unless that person possesses a valid turkey hunting license and valid, unused harvest authorization.
NR 10.07(1)(f)
(f) Retrieval. Fail to make every reasonable effort to retrieve all wild animals killed or crippled; and until such effort is made, such wild animals shall be included in the daily bag.
NR 10.07(1)(i)
(i) Dog use. Hunt or pursue any free-roaming wild animal with the aid of dog or dogs May 1 to June 30 in that portion of the state north of the highways shown on the following map except for dog trials and training under permit as established by ch.
NR 17: -
See PDF for diagram
NR 10.07(1)(k)
(k) Marking. Capture and tag, collar or mark and release any game taken from the wild unless issued a permit by the department pursuant to s.
NR 19.11, or as authorized under a federal migratory bird banding permit, or a license issued under s.
169.25, Stats. The normal uses of archery equipment for hunting such as lighted, reflective, or glowing nocks are not a violation of this paragraph.
NR 10.07 Note
Note: Section
29.614, Stats., states: Scientific collector permit. (1) Application for a scientific collector permit shall be submitted to the department. The department may issue a scientific collector permit if the department determines that the applicant is a natural person and is engaged in a bona fide program leading to increased, useful scientific knowledge.
NR 10.07 Note
Note: Section
169.25, Stats., states: Scientific research license. (1) Issuance. (a) The department shall issue a scientific research license to any person who is engaged in a study or in research that the department determines will lead to increased, useful scientific knowledge and who files a proper application and who pays the applicable fee.
NR 10.07(2)(a)2.
2. No person may hunt or train dogs over bait or a feeding site that is in violation of s.
29.336 (4), Stats., this section, or in violation of the feeding prohibitions of s.
NR 19.60, unless the feeding site is completely free of bait or feed material for at least 10 consecutive days prior to hunting, pursuing animals or dog training.
NR 10.07 Note
Note: Section
29.336 (4), Stats., states that a person may feed deer for hunting purposes in counties not included in the rules promulgated under sub. (2) during any season open for hunting deer if all of the following apply:
NR 10.07 Note
(a) Not more than 2 gallons of material are at the feeding site.
NR 10.07 Note
(b) No feeding site is closer than 100 yards of another feeding site.
NR 10.07 Note
(c) The person does not place more than 2 gallons of material in any area comprising 40 acres or less.
NR 10.07 Note
(d) The material used to feed deer does not contain any animal part or animal byproduct.
NR 10.07 Note
Note: Removal of unlawfully placed bait or feed material does not preclude the issuance of a citation for the original placement of the unlawful baiting or feeding material.
NR 10.07(2)(b)
(b) General exceptions. A person may place, use or hunt over bait or feed as follows:
NR 10.07(2)(b)1.
1. For the purpose of hunting bear and bear dog training in compliance with sub. (2m).
NR 10.07(2)(b)2.
2. For the purpose of hunting deer in compliance with sub. (2m).
NR 10.07(2)(b)3.
3. Scent may be used for hunting game and, except as allowed under subd. 4., the scent may not be placed or deposited in a manner in which it is accessible for consumption by deer or elk, and scents shall be removed daily at the end of shooting hours for deer established in s.
NR 10.06 (5).
NR 10.07(2)(b)4.
4. Two ounces or less of scent may be placed, used or deposited in any manner for hunting game and does not need to be removed daily at the end of shooting hours.
NR 10.07(2)(b)5.
5. With the aid of material deposited by natural vegetation or material found solely as a result of normal agricultural or gardening practices.
