NR 10.13(1)(a)2.
2. Agents or employees possessing written authorization from the landowner, land lessee or responsible governmental body may use firearms to shoot beaver under s.
NR 12.10.
NR 10.13(1)(b)1.1. `Traps.' Set out or place traps, snares or cable restraints, whether set or sprung, during the closed season.
NR 10.13(1)(b)2.
2. `Bait or scent.' Set out or place any bait or scent for attracting furbearing animals during the closed season, except for individuals conducting nuisance wildlife control work. During the open season, no person may use sight exposed bait consisting of feathers, animal flesh, fur, hide or entrails within 25 feet of any trap, snare or cable restraint, except for enclosed trigger traps or cage traps as defined in s.
NR 10.001 (5j) and
(9c).
NR 10.13(1)(b)4.
4. `Watersets.' Take, capture or kill, or attempt to take, capture, or kill any furbearing animals at any time by means of watersets except during that period when and in those areas where there is an open season for trapping muskrat, beaver, or otter or when using a commercially manufactured, enclosed trigger trap. In addition, persons removing beaver under s.
NR 12.10 may use watersets.
NR 10.13(1)(b)6.
6. `Trap, snare, and cable restraint use.' Set, place, operate or possess while trapping, any trap other than a steel jawed trap, enclosed trigger trap, cage or box trap, body gripping trap, colony trap, snare or cable restraint for the purpose of taking, capturing, or killing furbearing animals. Cage or box traps shall be constructed so that after an animal has been captured, no additional animals may enter the trap until the captured animal is removed and the trap is reset.
NR 10.13(1)(b)7.
7. `Artificial structures.' Construct or place on the ice of any of the waters of this state any artificial house or den for the purpose of taking, catching, or killing any fur-bearing animals, or place or set therein any trap or traps of any kind which might take, catch, or kill fur-bearing animals.
NR 10.13(1)(b)8.a.a. Set, place, or operate any body-gripping type trap greater than 75 square inches measured from the maximum outside points on the width and height of the jaws of a trap that has not been set, unless one-half of the set trap is located underwater at all times.
NR 10.13(1)(b)8.b.
b. Set, place or operate any body-gripping type traps greater than 60 square inches or less than 75 square inches measured from the maximum outside points on the width and height of the jaws of a trap that has not been set: as a water set unless one-half of the trap is located underwater at all times; as an elevated set unless the trap is placed at least 5 feet above the surface; as a baited and/or scented set in or on the ground unless the trap trigger is within an enclosure that provides openings no greater than 50 square inches for a 7 inch minimum recess or an 8 inch height x 10 inch width opening with a 10 inch minimum recess from the enclosure openings; as an unbaited and/or unscented trail set in or on the ground unless the trap is within an enclosure that provides openings no greater than 10 inches in height and 10 inches in width and is recessed a minimum of 15 inches from the enclosure openings; or as a bottom entry enclosure set unless the entire opening of the enclosure is no more than 7 inches above the surface. The measurement to the surface is the distance to the first surface beneath the trap or opening, where the surface is ground, ice, crusted or packed snow or any other hard material. For the purposes of this paragraph, an enclosure means any device that creates a barrier to the trap allowing entry only through designated openings.
NR 10.13(1)(b)8.c.
c. Set, place, or operate any body-gripping type trap less than or equal to 60 square inches with a vertical measurement of greater than 7
1/2 inches when set. The vertical measurement is taken between the widest vertical points on the trap in the set position.
NR 10.13(1)(b)9.
9. `Steel jawed traps.' Set, place, or operate any steel jaw trap with a spread width of more than 8 inches.
NR 10.13(1)(b)10.
10. `Toothed traps.' Set, place, or operate any steel jawed trap with teeth unless it is located completely underwater at all times.
NR 10.13(1)(b)11.
11. `Minimum waterset.' Except when the muskrat or mink season is open, set, place or operate any waterset smaller than 5
1/2 inches jaw spread for steel jaw traps or less than or equal to 60 square inches measured from the maximum outside points on the width and height of the jaws of a trap that has not been set, for body-gripping type traps.
NR 10.13(1)(b)12.
12. `Trap placement.' Set, place or operate any body-gripping type trap greater than 60 square inches measured from the maximum outside points on the width and height of the jaws of a trap that has not been set, or any snare or cable restraint regardless of the size of the noose, in the following locations:
NR 10.13(1)(b)12.a.
a. Within 3 feet of any federal, state, or county road rights-of-way culvert unless completely submerged in water.
NR 10.13(1)(b)12.c.
c. Within 100 yards of any building devoted to human occupancy without the owner's consent.
NR 10.13(1)(b)13.
13. `Snare and cable restraint specifications.' Set, place, or operate any snare or cable restraint unless they are non-spring activated, constructed of galvanized aircraft cable and include a swivel, except that a cable restraint which is designed and placed so that it can only be activated by an animal's foot may be spring activated.
NR 10.13(1)(b)14.
14. `Snare specifications.' Set, place or operate any snare unless the noose cable and noose attachments conform to the following specifications and as authorized under subd. 13.:
NR 10.13(1)(b)14.a.
a. Cable length shall be 5 feet or less with a diameter not exceeding 1/8 inch.
NR 10.13(1)(b)15.
15. `Cable restraints specifications.' Set, place, or operate any cable restraint, except for bobcat from the Saturday nearest October 17 to January 31 and fox and coyotes from the Saturday nearest October 17 to February 15, dates inclusive, provided the cable restraint conforms to the following specifications, or the specifications established in subd. 18 if the device is a foot activated cable restraint, in addition to those under subd. 13.
NR 10.13(1)(b)15.a.
a. Cable length of 7 feet or less, with a diameter of 3/32 inch or larger, consisting of multiple strands of wire.
NR 10.13(1)(b)15.b.
b. Cable stops shall be affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the cable which makes up the noose loop may not be longer than 38 inches when fully open, or less than 8 inches when fully closed.
NR 10.13(1)(b)15.c.
c. The bottom of the set restraint cable loop may not be less than 6 inches nor greater than 12 inches above the surface. The measurement to the surface is the distance to the first surface beneath the bottom of the set cable restraint where the surface is ground, ice, crusted or packed snow or any other hard material.
NR 10.13(1)(b)15.d.
d. A cable restraint shall include a breakaway device or stop rated at 350 pounds or less; a reverse-bend washer lock with a minimum outside diameter of 1 1/4 inches; and staked in a manner that does not allow the restraint device to reach any part of a fence, rooted woody vegetation greater than 1/2 inch in diameter or any other immovable object or stake that could cause entanglement.
NR 10.13(1)(b)16.
16. `Incidental take of raccoons and mink.' Retain any raccoon taken incidentally with a cable restraint during the period when the use of cable restraints is authorized under subd. 15. a. unless it is during the open season for raccoons listed in s.
NR 10.01 (3) (b). No person may retain any mink taken incidentally with a colony trap unless it is during the open season for mink listed in s.
NR 10.01 (4) (e).
NR 10.13(1)(b)17.
17. `Colony trap use.' Set, place, or operate any colony trap except for muskrat and only if all of the following apply:
NR 10.13(1)(b)17.d.
d. The trap is not used in conjunction with any fencing, netting or other material that creates an underwater obstruction designed to force or channel any wild animal into the trap.
NR 10.13(1)(b)18.
18. `Foot-activated cable restraint specifications.' Set, place or operate any cable restraint which is designed and placed so that it can only be activated by an animal's foot except for bobcat from December to January 31 and fox and coyote from December 1 to February 15, dates inclusive, provided the foot activated cable restraint conforms to the following specifications:
NR 10.13(1)(b)18.a.
a. Cable length of 7 feet or less, with a diameter of 3/32 inch or larger, consisting of multiple strands of wire.
NR 10.13(1)(b)18.b.
b. Cable stops shall be affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the cable which makes up the foot loop may not be longer than 22 inches when fully open.
NR 10.13(1)(b)18.c.
c. A cable restraint shall include a breakaway device or stop rated at 350 pounds or less; a roller (or barrel) in-line swivel that acts as the maximum opening cable stop; an in-line shock spring; and staked in a manner that does not allow the restraint device to reach any part of a fence, rooted woody vegetation greater than one-half inch in diameter or any other immovable object or stake that could cause entanglement.
NR 10.13(2)
(2)
Molesting. While hunting or trapping, no person shall:
NR 10.13(2)(c)
(c) Muskrat and beaver. Molest any muskrat house, muskrat feeding house, or beaver dam. However, beaver dams may be altered by persons removing beaver causing damage under s.
NR 12.10.
NR 10.13(3)(a)(a) Non-submersion sets shall be tended at least once each day and any animal captured shall be removed from the set.
NR 10.13(3)(b)
(b) Submersion sets shall be tended within a 4-day period following the last tending of the set. Any animal captured shall be removed from the set. Water levels shall be monitored to ensure effective submersion sets.
NR 10.13(3)(c)
(c) Under ice sets are exempt from the checking periods.
NR 10.13(3)(d)
(d) Sets placed for weasels consisting of body gripping traps placed entirely in enclosures, with no opening larger than 1 3/8 inch in diameter, and anchored to an immovable object shall be tended within a 4-day period following the last tending of the set. Any animal captured shall be removed from the set each time the trap is tended.
NR 10.13(4)
(4)
Trap placement. “Lawfully placed" for the purposes of s.
29.331 (5) (a), Stats., refers to when the trap was initially placed by the owner or operator of the trap.
NR 10.13 Note
Note: Additional restrictions on trapping furbearing animals on department managed lands that are part of the Wisconsin state parks or state park trails are established in s.
NR 10.275 (5). This section limits upland trapping activities to the use of pull-activated enclosed trigger traps.
NR 10.13 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (1),
Register, August, 1962, No. 80, eff. 9-1-62; r. and recr. (1) and (3),
Register, August, 1964, No. 104, eff. 9-1-64; r. and recr. (3),
Register, August, 1966, No. 128, eff. 9-1-66; renum. to be NR 10.13; am. (3),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; am. (1),
Register, July, 1971, No. 187, eff. 8-1-71; am. (3),
Register, August, 1975, No. 236, eff. 9-1-75; emerg. am. (1), eff. 4-3-76; r. and recr.
Register, September, 1979, No. 285, eff. 10-1-79; r. and recr. (1) (b) 5.,
Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 11-1-80; am. (1) (b) 2.,
Register, May, 1983, No. 329, eff. 6-1-83; am. (1) (intro.) and (b) 2.,
Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; (1) (b) 6. to 12. renum. from NR 10.14 (2) to (8),
Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 12-1-84; am. (1) (a) and r. and recr. (1) (b) 5.,
Register, August, 1986, No. 368, eff. 9-1-86; r. and recr. (1) (a), am. (1) (b) 4., 5., 11. and (2) (c),
Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; am. (1) (b) 8. and 10.,
Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; am. (1) (a) 2., (b) 1., 3. to 6., 8., 12. intro., (2) (c) and (3) (b), cr. (1) (b) 13.,
Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (1) (b) 8., 12. intro. and 13. b.,
Register, October, 1991, No. 430, eff. 11-1-91; r. and recr. (3) (c),
Register, July, 1993, No. 451, eff. 8-1-93; am. (1) (b) 13. b.,
Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96; r. (1) (b) 3.,
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 5-1-98; renum. (1) (b) 8. to be 8. a., cr. (1) (b) 8. b.,
Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; correction in (1) (b) 8. b. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats.,
Register, June, 1999, No. 522; am. (1) (b) 8 a.,
Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; am. (1) (b) 8. a., cr. (4),
Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; emerg. r. and recr. eff. 8-4-00; am. (3) (a),
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 5-1-01;
CR 01-006: am. (1) (b) 11.,
Register August 2001 No. 548, eff. 9-1-01;
CR 01-008: am. (1) (b) 4. and 5.,
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 02-018: am. (3) (a) and (b)
Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02;
CR 03-018: am. (1) (b) 1., 5., 6., 8., 12. (intro.) and 13., cr. (1) (b) 14. to 16.
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 04-046: am. (1) (b) 6., r. and recr. (3) (c)
Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04;
CR 05-031: am. (1) (b) 8. b., 15. a. and d.
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 06-012: am. (1) (b) 6., 8. a. and b., 11., and 12. (intro.), cr. (1) (b) 8. c.
Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 4-1-07, except (1) (b) 6. eff. 2-1-07;
CR 06-037: am. (1) (b) 2.
Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07;
CR 07-015: am. (1) (b) 15. (intro.) and a.
Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 2-1-08;
CR 07-035: am. (1) (b) 15.
Register April 2008 No. 628, eff. 5-1-08;
CR 08-011: am. (1) (b) 6.
Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09;
CR 09-015: am. (1) (b) 15. (intro.)
Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 2-1-10;
CR 09-024: am. (1) (b) 6., 12. (intro.) and 13. a.
Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10;
CR 10-020: am. (1) (b) 5. and 6., r. and recr. (1) (b) 16., cr. (1) (b) 17.
Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 2-1-11;
CR 11-030: am. (1) (b) 13.
Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12;
CR 13-021: cr. (3) (c) 4.
Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13;
CR 15-024: am. (1) (b) 7., 9., 10., 13., 15. (intro.), d., 16., 17. (intro.), cr. (1) (b) 18., r. (3) (title), (a), (b), renum. (3) (c) to (3)
Register November 2015 No. 719, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) (b) 15. d. made under s. 35.17, Stats.,
Register November 2015 No. 719;
CR 16-037: am. (3) (a), (b)
Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17;
CR 19-017: r. (1) (b) 5.
Register January 2019 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20;
CR 19-146: am. (1) (b) 2.
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20;
CR 21-078: am. (1) (b) 15.
Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.
NR 10.145
NR 10.145 Bobcat, fisher, and otter. Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may hunt or trap, or attempt to hunt or trap, any bobcat unless he or she possesses a current and valid permit from the department and any associated pelt tags for the area or unit in which he or she is hunting or trapping, or for fisher and otter, unless he or she possesses a current and valid harvest authorization issued by the department.
NR 10.145(1)
(1)
Harvest quotas. The number of bobcat permits and fisher and otter harvest authorizations issued annually shall be determined by the department. The department shall base its determination upon:
NR 10.145(1)(b)
(b) The population goal established in sub. (2) if a goal has been established.
NR 10.145(2)(a)(a) Fisher. The preharvest population goal for the north and south fisher management zones described under s.
NR 10.38 is one fisher per 2 square miles of fisher range.
NR 10.145(2)(b)
(b) Bobcat. The preharvest population goal north of the state highway 64 is 2,500 bobcat plus-or-minus 20%.
NR 10.145(3)(a)
(a) Forms. Applications for permits shall be made on forms provided by the department.
NR 10.145(3)(b)
(b) Deadlines. All permit applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection. The annual application deadlines may not be sooner than July 1.
NR 10.145 Note
Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to any deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, the department web site at
http://dnr.wi.gov, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.
NR 10.145(3)(c)
(c) Application limit. No person may apply for more than 1 permit for each species.
NR 10.145(3)(d)
(d) Random selection. If the number of applications for permits exceeds the number of permits available, successful applicants shall be randomly selected.
NR 10.145(3)(e)
(e) Pelt tag issuance. The department shall issue pelt tags to successful permit applicants as follows:
NR 10.145(3)(e)1.
1. `Oversubscribed zones.' If the number of applications for permits is equal to or more than the number of permits available, each successful applicant shall be issued a pelt tag.
NR 10.145(3)(e)2.
2. `Undersubscribed zones.' If the number of applications for permits is less than the number of permits available, the department may:
NR 10.145(3)(e)2.b.
b. Make available to any person the remaining permits on a first-come, first-served basis; or
NR 10.145(3)(f)
(f) Validity. All permits are valid only in the area and for the time period specified on the permit during the open season established for bobcat.
NR 10.145(4)
(4)
Trapping assistance. A person that holds a current class A, B, C or D hunting permit under s.
29.193 (2), Stats., may be accompanied, as defined in s.
29.193 (2) (a) 1., Stats., by and receive assistance from a person who possesses a valid trapping authorization. The assistance rendered by an accompanying person who possess a valid trapping authorization may include assisting with trap setting, trap tending, tagging and registration of these species if the disabled person has been issued the appropriate approval to do so. The accompanying person shall comply with all trapping rules and laws.
NR 10.145(5)
(5)
Season closure. The secretary of the department may close a portion or all of any bobcat, otter or fisher season established in s.
NR 10.01, upon a finding by the department that the harvest for that season will exceed the level authorized by the department under sub. (1). Closure shall become effective upon issuance of an order and publication in the official state newspaper.
NR 10.145 History
History: Cr.
Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; am.
Register, March, 1975, No. 231, eff. 3-1-75; am.
Register, May, 1976, No. 245, eff. 8-15-76; r. and recr.,
Register, April, 1980, No. 292, eff. 5-1-80; renum. (1) to (3) to be (3) to (5) and cr. (1) and (2),
Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 11-1-80; renum. from NR 10.201,
Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; am. (1) (b),
Register, October, 1983, No. 334, eff. 11-1-83; r. and recr. (3),
Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; r. and recr. (1) (b),
Register, August, 1986, No. 368, eff. 9-1-86; r. and recr. (1) (c),
Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; r. and recr.
Register, February, 1993, No. 446, eff. 3-1-93; r. and recr. (5) (a),
Register, July, 1995, No. 475, eff. 8-1-95; am. (intro.), (3) (e) (intro.), 1., 2. a., (4) (a) and (c),
Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96; am. (5) (a) 1.,
Register, October, 1997, No. 502 eff. 11-1-97; r. and recr. (2) (a),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 5-1-98; cr. (2) (c) and (7),
Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; except (7), eff. 3-1-00; am. (5) (a) 1., (d) and (6) (b), r. (5) (a) 2.,
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 5-1-01 except (6) (b), eff. 3-1-01;
CR 03-015: am. (2)
Register July 2003 No. 571, eff. 8-1-03;
CR 04-046: am. (4) (c)
Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04;
CR 05-031: am. (intro.), (3) (b), (4) (b), (5) (a) 1. and (c) and (6) (b)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 06-037: am. (4) (a)
Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07;
CR 08-011: am. (2) (b)
Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09;
CR 09-015: cr. (3) (f) and (8)
Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 2-1-10;
CR 10-051: am. (8)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
CR 13-021: am. (8) (a)
Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13;
CR 13-067: am. (1) (b)
Register August 2014 No. 704, eff. 9-1-14;
CR 17-013: am. (2) (a), r. (2) (c),
Register February 2018 No. 746 eff. 3-1-18;
EmR1613: emerg. r. and recr. (4), r. (5), (6), renum. (7) and (8) to (5) and (6), eff. 3-12-16;
CR 17-061: r. and recr. (4), r. (5), (6), renum. (7), (8) to (5), (6)
Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; correction in (4) made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register February 2018 No. 746;
CR 19-017: am. (intro.), (1) (intro.), r. (4), r. and recr. (6)
Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20 except (intro.) and (1) (intro.), eff. 5-1-20;
CR 20-087: am. (intro.), (1) (intro.), r. (6)
Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21;
CR 23-013: am. (intro.), cr. (4)
Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 3-1-24; correction in (intro.) made under s.
35.17, Stats., and (4) (title) created under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats.,
Register February 2024 No. 818.
NR 10.15
NR 10.15
Horicon national wildlife refuge. NR 10.15(1)(a)
(a) Firearm, crossbow, and bow possession. Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or trap any wild animal or have in possession or under control any firearm unless the same is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case, crossbow unless it is unloaded and enclosed within a case, or any bow and arrow unless the same is unstrung or enclosed in a carrying case, upon the area known as the Horicon national wildlife refuge. The loaded uncased firearm restriction of this paragraph does not apply to a handgun possessed by a person who is authorized by law to possess a concealed handgun in Wisconsin.
NR 10.15(1)(b)
(b) Unprotected animal control. Nothing in this section shall prohibit, prevent, or interfere with the U.S. fish and wildlife service, its deputies, agents, or employees in the destruction of unprotected wild animals as listed in s.
NR 10.04.
NR 10.15(2)
(2)
Deer season. A firearm season shall be established for hunting deer except for posted closed areas, pursuant to s.
NR 10.01 (3).
NR 10.15(3)
(3)
Bow and arrow season. An open season for hunting deer with bow and arrow in areas designated by posted notice shall be established pursuant to s.
NR 10.01 (3).
NR 10.15(3m)
(3m)
Crossbow season. An open season for hunting deer with a crossbow in areas designated by posted notice shall be established pursuant to s.
NR 10.01 (3) (ep).
NR 10.15(4)(a)(a) Game birds and rabbits. The open season for hunting upland game birds and rabbits shall begin as established by s.
NR 10.01 (2) and
(3), and continue through the end of the pheasant season each year pursuant to s.
NR 10.01 (2) (c), and shall be subject to all other rules covering hunting set forth in this chapter.
NR 10.15(4)(b)
(b) Season closure. With the written approval of the department, such season may be closed at any time upon request by the U.S. fish and wildlife service.
NR 10.15(5)(a)(a) Furbearers. With the written approval of the department, an open season may be declared for trapping fur bearing animals.
NR 10.15(5)(b)
(b) Permits. If permits are required, they shall be issued by the U.S. fish and wildlife service.
NR 10.15(5)(c)
(c) Trap limits. The legal number of traps allowed for each trapper shall be prescribed by the U.S. fish and wildlife service.
NR 10.15(5)(d)
(d) Other restrictions. All other rules covering trapping are set forth in this chapter.
NR 10.15(6)
(6)
Waterfowl season. No person may hunt waterfowl within 75 yards of the south boundary of the Horicon national wildlife refuge during the open season for hunting waterfowl. For purposes of this section, the placement of decoys or shooting at waterfowl which are located within the 75-yard zone immediately outside of the refuge are allowed as long as the hunter does not discharge a firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow from within that area when shooting at waterfowl. Legally killed or crippled waterfowl may be retrieved by dog or hand within the closed area.
