Chapter NR 10

NR 10.24(1) (1) Description. The area described in s. NR 45.13 (17) (a) 1., shall be called the hunting zone.

NR 10.24(2) (2) Restrictions.

NR 10.24(2)(a) (a) General prohibition. No person may take, catch, kill, hunt, trap or pursue any species of wild animal at any time, or have in possession or under control any firearm unless it is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case, crossbow unless it is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case, or any bow unless it is unstrung or enclosed within a carrying case in the hunting zone except as provided in this section. 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 10.24(2)(c) (c) Other hunting methods. Methods of hunting shall comply with those established in this chapter.

NR 10.24(3) (3) Permit and tags.

NR 10.24(3)(a) (a) General prohibition. No person may hunt or trap within the hunting zone without first obtaining a permit issued by the department.

NR 10.24(3)(b) (b) Limitations. Permits and associated carcass tags and harvest authorizations are not transferable or replaceable and are valid only for the date and area specified on the permit or harvest authorization.

NR 10.24(3)(c) (c) Permit issuance. Daily hunting permits shall be issued as follows:

NR 10.24(3)(c)1. 1. During the first 2 days of the pheasant season, the number of daily hunting permits issued to individuals may not exceed 300.

NR 10.24(3)(c)2. 2. Beginning with the 3rd day of the pheasant season, the number of daily hunting permits issued to individuals may not exceed 300 until 11:30 a.m. After 11:30 a.m., additional hunting permits may be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

NR 10.24(3)(c)3. 3. During the pheasant season, a maximum of 250 permits may be reserved for pheasant hunting.

NR 10.24(3)(d) (d) Waterfowl. Until the pheasant season opens, no more than 16 waterfowl permits may be issued each day for the area north of state highway 142.

NR 10.24(3)(e) (e) Trapping. The number of seasonal trapping permits may not exceed 10.

NR 10.24(3)(f) (f) Legal game. Permits are only valid for hunting or trapping the species specified on the permit.

NR 10.24(4) (4) Reservations.

NR 10.24(4)(a) (a) Application period. Hunting and trapping permit reservations may be obtained by applying on department forms between August 1 and August 31 each year.

NR 10.24(4)(b) (b) Application limit. No one may submit more than one application for a single date.

NR 10.24(4)(c) (c) Random selection. If the number of applications exceeds the number of permits available, a random drawing shall select successful applicants.

NR 10.24(4)(d) (d) Application after deadline. Applications received after August 31 shall be approved on a first-come, first-served basis if permits are available. Applications may be made in person, by mail or by telephone a minimum of 2 days prior to the desired hunting date.

NR 10.24(4)(e) (e) Reservation limit. No person may receive more than 5 waterfowl and 5 pheasant hunting reservations per season.

NR 10.24(4)(f) (f) Check-in deadline. Any person who obtains a hunting permit reservation and arrives at the department’s check-in station after the opening of shooting hours shall forfeit such reservation. Any person with a waterfowl hunting permit reservation shall report at the department’s check-in station no later than one-half hour before the opening of shooting hours or forfeit the reservation. Any person may obtain a daily permit on a first-come, first-served basis provided a permit is available.

NR 10.24(4)(g) (g) Other standards. All hunting permits are reservable and nontransferable.

NR 10.24(5) (5) Hunter identification. The department may require that armbands or other means of identification issued with permits be worn on the outermost garment at all times and be returned to a department check-out station immediately upon termination of hunting.

NR 10.24(6) (6) Season and hours.

NR 10.24(6)(a) (a) General restrictions. The open season and limits for hunting and trapping are established in s. NR 10.01, except the pheasant limits which shall be:

NR 10.24(6)(a)1. 1. Daily bag — one, either sex for the first 2 days; 2, either sex, thereafter.

NR 10.24(6)(a)2. 2. Possession — one the first day and double the daily bag limit thereafter.

NR 10.24(6)(b) (b) Waterfowl and deer hours. The daily opening of shooting hours for waterfowl and deer are established in s. NR 10.06.

NR 10.24(6)(c) (c) Pheasant season exception. The daily opening of shooting hours shall be in accordance with ss. NR 10.01 and 10.06 except during the pheasant season. During the pheasant season the daily opening of shooting hours shall be as follows:

NR 10.24(6)(c)1. 1. Waterfowl and deer hunting shall be in accordance with ss. NR 10.01 and 10.06.

NR 10.24(6)(c)2. 2. Pheasant hunting and all other species except waterfowl and deer hunting:

NR 10.24(6)(c)2.a. a. The Saturday nearest October 17 — in accordance with ss. NR 10.01 and 10.06.

NR 10.24(6)(c)2.b. b. The Sunday nearest October 17 and continuing through the end of the pheasant season as established in s. NR 10.01 (2) (c) — 9:00 a.m.

NR 10.24(6)(d) (d) Special closure. The daily closing of shooting hours for all species is established in s. NR 10.06 except during pheasant season when all shooting except for waterfowl south of state highway 142, falconry and archery deer shall end at 2:00 p.m. after the Saturday nearest October 17.

NR 10.24(6)(e) (e) Trapping hours. Trapping hours shall be the hours established in s. NR 10.13 (3).

NR 10.24(7) (7) Pheasant hunting.

NR 10.24(7)(a) (a) Permit validation. When a pheasant is killed and before it is carried by hand or transported in any manner, the hunter shall validate their daily pheasant hunting permit by slitting, tearing, or punching holes according to instructions on the permit. Failure to properly validate the permit renders any pheasant in the person’s possession illegal.

NR 10.24(7)(b) (b) Permit information. No person may hunt pheasants unless they are in possession of a permit which bears the customer information number of the holder and the date of permit issuance.

NR 10.24(8) (8) Waterfowl hunting south of state highway 142.

NR 10.24(8)(a) (a) Blind requirement. Hunting shall be restricted to blinds or locations assigned by the department except for the retrieval of crippled waterfowl. In assigned locations without a department blind, the hunter may assemble a blind using existing natural vegetation at the assigned site or use a portable blind. Individuals are required to hunt within 20 feet of the blind. All portable blinds shall be removed at the end of the day.

NR 10.24(8)(b) (b) Blind limitation. No more than 2 persons may hunt from any blind or location assigned by the department.

NR 10.24(9) (9) Trapping.

NR 10.24(9)(a) (a) Permit duration. Trapping permits are valid for the entire season.

NR 10.24(9)(b) (b) Other limitations. Areas shall be determined by the department and no more than one permittee or helper may trap in any one area.

NR 10.24(10) (10) Dove hunting in the special use zone.

NR 10.24(10)(a) (a) Special use zone hunting post requirement. Hunting shall be restricted to locations assigned by the department in a 300 acre area in the southeast part of the special use zone. In assigned locations, the hunter may assemble a blind using existing natural vegetation at the assigned site or use a portable blind. Individuals are required to hunt within 25 feet of the assigned location. All portable blinds shall be removed at the end of the day.

NR 10.24(10)(b) (b) Blind limitation. No more than 4 people may hunt from any location assigned by the department.

NR 10.24 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1981, No. 308, eff. 9-1-81; r. and recr. (3) (c), (4) (g) and (6) (a) and (b), am. (3) (g), (4) (a), (d), (e) and (f), renum. (6) (c) to (6) (e), cr. (6) (c) and (d), Register, August, 1984, No. 344, eff. 9-1-84; am. (3) (c) 2. and (6) (c) 2. b., r. (6) (c) 3., Register, June, 1987, No. 378, eff. 7-1-87; am. (4) (f), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; am. (1), Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; am. (6) (b) 2. b. and (d), r. (6) (b) 2. c., Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 1-1-95; am. (8) (a) and (b), Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; CR 02-018: am. (3) (c) 1., 2. and (6) (a) 1. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 05-031: am. (8) (a) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 13-021: am. (5), cr. (10) Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13; EmR1420: emerg. am. (2) (a), r. (2) (b), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071: am. (2) (a), r. (2) (b), am. (2) (c) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; CR 16-037: r. (3) (g), am. (7) (a), r. and recr. (7) (b), am. (10) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; CR 16-028: am. (4) (f), (6) (b), (c) (intro.), (d) Register July 2017, eff. 8-1-17; EmR1902: emerg. am. (3) (b) eff. 1-18-19; CR 19-005: am. (3) (b) Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; (3) (c) (title) created under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769; CR 21-078: am. (6) (d) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

NR 10.25 NR 10.25 Wild turkey hunting.

NR 10.25(1) (1) Licenses, stamps and carcass tags.

NR 10.25(1)(a) (a) Authorization to hunt.

NR 10.25(1)(a)1. 1. Except as provided under subd. 2., no person may hunt wild turkey unless he or she possesses a wild turkey hunting license and stamp issued by the department and turkey harvest authorization issued by the department or Ft. McCoy military reservation. All licenses, stamps, and harvest authorizations shall be valid for the current hunting season.

NR 10.25(1)(a)2. 2. Persons possessing a senior citizen recreation card issued prior to January 1, 1992 do not need to possess a turkey hunting license or stamp.

NR 10.25(1)(b) (b) Landowner preference. Qualified Wisconsin resident landowners or persons assigned eligibility under s. 29.164, Stats., may request first preference when applying for authorization to hunt wild turkeys provided the zone applied for:

NR 10.25(1)(b)1. 1. Is open to wild turkey hunting.

NR 10.25(1)(b)2. 2. Contains at least 50 acres in one parcel owned by the Wisconsin resident applicant.

NR 10.25(1)(c) (c) License application procedures. Persons applying to hunt wild turkeys on the Ft. McCoy military reservation shall apply to that facility. During a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, it is not necessary to apply for authorization to purchase a fall turkey hunting license. All other applicants shall apply for an authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license as follows:

NR 10.25(1)(c)1. 1. Application for authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license shall be made on forms provided by the department.

NR 10.25(1)(c)2. 2. All fall and spring hunting season 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 deadlines may not be sooner than July 1.

NR 10.25 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 10.25(1)(c)3. 3. If a maximum of 10 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual licenses. The group application shall be treated as one application for purposes of random selection or consideration for a license. Landowner preference may be requested by group applicants provided all individuals are eligible under par. (b).

NR 10.25(1)(d) (d) Licensee selection procedures. If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone and time period exceeds the available quota of licenses, successful applicants shall be randomly selected in accordance with any statutorily established landowner preference system.

NR 10.25(1)(e) (e) License purchase requirement. Except for persons who purchase a license in accordance with par. (f) 2. or during a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, no person may purchase a turkey hunting license without presenting the license vendor with the department-issued purchase authorization.

NR 10.25(1)(f) (f) Harvest authorization issuance.

NR 10.25(1)(f)1. 1. ‘Oversubscribed zones and time periods.’ Each successful applicant for a turkey hunting license shall be issued a harvest authorization by the department.

NR 10.25(1)(f)2. 2. ‘Undersubscribed zones and time periods.’ If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone is less than the available quota of licenses, the department may make available to any person the remaining harvest authorizations for the zone and time period for purchase at a rate of no more than one harvest authorizations per day per person.

NR 10.25(1)(g) (g) License and harvest authorization restrictions.

NR 10.25(1)(g)1. 1. Except for youths participating in the youth turkey hunt established in s. NR 10.01 (2) (f) 4., licenses and harvest authorizations issued under this section are only valid for the zone and time period indicated on the harvest authorization. Harvest authorizations used during the youth turkey hunt are valid only for the zone indicated on the harvest authorization, but are not limited to the time period indicated on the harvest authorization.

NR 10.25(1)(g)2. 2. Licenses or harvest authorizations issued under this section may not be transferred to or used by any person other than licensee.

NR 10.25(2) (2) Tagging and registration. No person may possess a turkey carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s. NR 10.086.

NR 10.25(3) (3) Restrictions. No person may hunt wild turkeys:

NR 10.25(3)(b) (b) By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations thereof, or while in possession of any type of device that produces recorded or electronic amplifications of bird calls or sounds. This paragraph does not apply to hunters possessing a Class A or B disabled hunting permit which authorizes hunting from a stationary vehicle and which is issued for more than one year. This paragraph does not apply to hunters who are unable to proficiently use a turkey call because they are deaf or severely hard of hearing due to some pathological or functional cause as verified by a medical professional.

NR 10.25(3)(c) (c) With the aid of dogs, except during the fall season for hunting turkeys described in s. NR 10.01 (2) (f) 2.

NR 10.25(3)(d) (d) With live or electronic decoys for the purposes of enticing wild turkeys.

NR 10.25(4) (4) Harvest quota. The number of wild turkey hunting licenses or harvest authorizations issued annually for the spring and fall seasons shall be determined by the department. The department shall base its determination for each wild turkey hunting zone upon:

NR 10.25(4)(a) (a) The abundance and distribution of wild turkeys;

NR 10.25(4)(b) (b) Trends in hunter success rates;

NR 10.25(4)(c) (c) Hunter distribution and density; and

NR 10.25(4)(d) (d) Zone size and forested acreage.

NR 10.25 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1966, No. 123, eff. 4-1-66; r. and recr. Register, March, 1967, No. 135, eff. 4-1-67; am. (3), (5) and (7) (a), Register, March, 1968, No. 147, eff. 4-1-68; renum. to be NR 10.25, Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; r. and recr., Register, November, 1982, No. 323, eff. 12-1-82; am. (1) (c) 2. and (3), Register, March, 1985, No. 351, eff. 4-1-85; r. and recr. (1) (c), Register, August, 1986, No. 368, eff. 9-1-86; am. (1) (a), (2) (a) (intro.), (b) and (3), Register, July, 1988, No. 391, eff. 8-1-88; r. and recr. (1) (c) 2. and 3. and (3), cr. (1) (c) 4., Register, October, 1988, No. 394, eff. 1-1-89; am. (1) (a), r. and recr. (1) (c) (intro.), cr. (1) (e) 3., Register, March, 1989, No. 399, eff. 4-1-89; cr. (4) (e), Register, July, 1990, No. 415, eff. 8-1-90; am. (1) (c) 2. and 3., Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; cr. (5) Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; am. (1) (c) (intro.), Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; r. and recr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; am. (1) (c) 3. and (3) (a), Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; am. (3) (a), r. and recr. (4) (e), Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; CR 02-018: r. (1) (a) 3., am. (1) (c) 3. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 04-046: am (2) (a) 1. and 2., cr. (4) (f) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (4) (d) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06; CR 05-031: am. (1) (c) 2., r. and recr. (2) (b), and r. (4) (e) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 06-012: am. (1) (d), (e), (f) 2. (intro.), (g) 1. and 3., r. (1) (f) 2. a. to c., r. and recr. (4) (b) Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 2-1-07; CR 07-015: am. (4) (c) Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 10-1-07; CR 08-011: am. (4) (c) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09; CR 09-015: am. (1) (f) 2., (3) (intro.), (4) (b) and (c) Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 11-1-09, except (4) (c), eff. 2-1-10; CR 10-051: r. (4) (f) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 13-071: am. (4) (a) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; CR 16-037: am. (1) (c) 3., (4) (b) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; CR 17-013: am. (1) (c) (intro.), (e), Register February 2018 No. 746 eff. 3-1-18; EmR1613: emerg. am. (2) (a) 1., r. and recr. (2), r. (3), renum. (4) and (5) to (3) and (4), eff. 3-12-16; EmR1712: emerg. am. (2) (a) 1., eff. 6-17-17; CR 17-061: r. and recr. (2), r. (3), renum. (4), (5) to (3), (4) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; EmR1902: emerg. am. (1) (a) 1., (f), (g), (4) (intro.) eff. 1-18-19; CR 19-005: am. (1) (a) 1., (f), (g), (4) (intro.) Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; CR 19-146: r. (1) (g) 3., (3) (a) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; CR 20-087: am. (2) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 10.26 NR 10.26 Sharp-tailed grouse hunting.

NR 10.26(1) (1) Permits and carcass tags.

NR 10.26(1)(a) (a) Authorization to hunt. No person may hunt sharp-tailed grouse unless he or she possesses a valid sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit and carcass tag issued by the department, in addition to an approval authorizing small game hunting.

NR 10.26(1)(b) (b) Permit application procedures. Persons applying to hunt sharp-tailed grouse shall apply for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit as follows:

NR 10.26(1)(b)1. 1. Application for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit shall be made on an application form provided by the department.

NR 10.26(1)(b)2. 2. All applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the application form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection.

NR 10.26 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, hunting license outlet handouts, and pertinent hunting regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.

NR 10.26(1)(b)3. 3. If a maximum of 4 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual permits and submit them together in a single envelope clearly marked “group application” on the outside. The group application shall be treated as one application for purpose of random selection or consideration for a permit. If a group contains persons who unsuccessfully applied for sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits in the previous year, and persons who successfully applied or did not apply for sharp-tailed grouse permits the previous year, the group will be placed in the preference category of those who successfully applied in the previous year.

NR 10.26(1)(c) (c) Permittee selection procedures for oversubscribed units. If the number of applications for permits for a management unit exceeds the number of available permits in that unit, successful applicants shall be randomly selected according to the preference system established in s. 29.192 (2), Stats.