NR 12.15(13)
(13)
Use restrictions. Hunting bear with the aid of dogs under this chapter is prohibited, unless the department determines there are extraordinary conditions which warrant an exemption. When the department grants an exemption, permittees may restrict hunting access of bear hunters using dogs if trespass problems on adjoining private properties are likely to occur.
NR 12.15 History
History:
Cr.
Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro.), (1), (3) and (4), cr. (12),
Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94; renum. (11) to be (11) (a), cr. (11) (b) and (13),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-018: cr. (11) (c)
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 05-017: am. (11) (b)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 05-031: cr. (11) (d)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
EmR1613: emerg. am. (5) (a), eff. 3-12-16;
CR 19-146: am. (2), (11) (b), cr. (11) (e)
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20;
CR 23-025: am. (11) (b) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24. NR 12.16
NR 12.16
Conditions of permits to shoot deer causing damage. In addition to s.
NR 12.15, the following conditions shall apply to all shooting permits for deer causing damage.
NR 12.16(1)
(1)
Shooting hours. Permittees and participants shall comply with shooting hours described in s.
NR 10.06 (5), unless exempted by the department. Exemptions shall be granted to allow hunting of deer one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset during the closed season in situations where permit eligibility is based under s.
NR 12.10 (2) (b) 2. and with permit conditions restricting permit shooting of deer to within the fenced area and restricting shooter presence to one person at any one time.
NR 12.16 Note
Note: Copies of hunting tables showing these hours shall be provided to all permittees for their reference and for distribution to participants.
NR 12.16(2)(a)(a) Harvest objective. The permittee and participants, unless granted an exemption under par. (b) or issued a shooting permit under s.
NR 12.37 (4) (a) 5., shall kill at least 80% of the number of deer authorized for harvest on the permit and shall kill at least 50% of the number of deer authorized for harvest during the first 45 days after permit issuance. If issued a shooting permit under s.
NR 12.37 (4) (a) 5., the permittee shall kill at least 80% of the number of deer authorized for harvest on the permit by September 15 of the same year. The permittee is not eligible for a shooting permit the next year if the permittee fails to comply with these harvest objectives unless a shooting permit is prescribed damage abatement under s.
29.889, Stats.
NR 12.16(2)(b)1.1. The department may exempt the permittee from killing the deer necessary to meet harvest objectives if deer are unavailable for harvest within the authorized area.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.
2. The department may grant an exemption to the harvest objective requirement in par. (a) if there is compelling evidence that deer were unavailable to be shot. The following criteria and procedures shall be used to determine if deer were unavailable to be shot.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.a.
a. Compelling evidence that deer were not available include accurate shooting permit participant hunting logs documenting significant hunter effort. These logs shall include participant names and phone numbers and dates participants hunted. If a significant number of hunters regularly attempted to remove deer, but were unsuccessful this information along with other supporting evidence may establish that deer were unavailable to be shot.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.b.
b. A minimum of 5 hunter days per week for the duration of the permit valid period may be used as an indication of significant hunter effort. A minimum of 5 hunter days per week requirement means any combination of hunters hunting deer a total of 5 days under the permittee's deer damage shooting permit during each week of the valid period of the permit. One day of hunting shall be a total of at least 3 hours hunted in a day or a hunter successfully harvesting at least one deer in a day.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.c.
c. If a permittee had difficulty getting participants, the permittee contacted the department, the county or its agent to seek assistance.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.d.
d. Documents to support the information in the hunting log of significant hunter effort to meet the harvest objective include: written statements by these hunters with descriptions of hunting conditions; aerial photos documenting lack of deer habitat; records that show the permittee was in regular contact with county or its agent and local department staff keeping them informed of the permittee's difficulty; that the permittee implemented reasonable measures prescribed by the county, its agent or the department to improve shooting permit performance; and any other evidence deemed appropriate by the county, its agent and local department staff.
NR 12.16(2)(b)2.e.
e. The county, its agent and the department shall consult before making a recommendation to grant an exemption to the harvest objective requirement under this section. This group shall review the evidence and, if there is consensus that an exemption is warranted, shall recommend that the department grant an exemption allowing eligibility for a permit the subsequent year.
NR 12.16(3)
(3)
Carcass tag distribution. The number of carcass tags provided to the permittee shall be based upon the harvest objective specified under sub. (2) and the expected harvest success rate. The permittee may distribute the carcass tags provided to the permittee to the persons they have authorized to assist or retain them for their use.
NR 12.16(4)
(4)
Effective dates. Authorization to kill deer commences the date of permit receipt by the permittee and continues through the open season for the appropriate zone described in s.
NR 10.01 (3) (e),
(em), and
(ep).
NR 12.16(5)
(5)
Tagging, transportation, and registration of carcasses. No person may possess a deer carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s.
NR 10.086 unless otherwise indicated by the department on the permit.
NR 12.16(6)
(6)
Carcass care and disposition. The department shall offer the permittee and each participant the opportunity to retain at least one deer killed under the deer shooting permit. All deer not retained under this subsection shall be disposed of as directed by the department.
NR 12.16(7)
(7)
Deer type. Unless exempted by the department, only deer without antlers or with an antler less than 3 inches in length may be killed.
NR 12.16(8)
(8)
Weapon use. The following conditions shall apply to the use of firearms and bows on deer shooting permits:
NR 12.16(8)(a)
(a) Permittees, all participants and persons assisting participants, shall comply with the blaze orange clothing regulations of s.
29.301 (2), Stats., unless exempted by the department. Exemptions will be granted where local ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms and bow hunting or a trained sharpshooter during the closed deer gun season are the only methods available to remove deer.
NR 12.16(8)(b)
(b) All participants shall comply with the firearm type restrictions applicable to the permittee's land during the gun-deer season specified under s.
NR 10.01 (3) (e).
NR 12.16 History
History:
Cr.
Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro), (1), (2) and (8) (a), r. and recr. (5),
Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94; am. (8) (intro.), (a), (b),
Register, July, 1995, No. 475, eff. 8-1-95; am. (2) (a), renum. (2) (b) to be (2) (b) 1. and cr. (2) (b) 2.,
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 01-006: am. (1),
Register August 2001 No. 548, eff. 9-1-01;
CR 00-154:am. (2) (a),
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02; corrections made to (2) (a) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2003 No. 576;
CR 04-046: am (8) (b)
Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04;
CR 05-031: am. (8) (b)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 10-051: am. (4), (6)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
EmR1420: emerg. am. (4), eff. 9-12-14;
CR 13-071: am. (4)
Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; correction in (5) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2015 No. 719;
CR 16-037: r. (8) (c)
Register April 2017 No. 735, eff. 5-1-17; correction in (8) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register June 2017 No. 738;
EmR1613: emerg. r. and recr. (5), eff. 3-12-16;
CR 17-061: r. and recr.
Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18;
CR 20-087: am. (5)
Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.
NR 12.17
NR 12.17
Conditions of permits to shoot Canada geese causing damage. In addition to s.
NR 12.15, the following conditions shall apply to all shooting permits for Canada geese causing damage:
NR 12.17(1)
(1)
Goose hunting permit required. All participants other than the permittee shall have been issued a permit to hunt Canada geese under s.
NR 10.125 that is valid for the current license year and goose hunting zone which contains the lands on which the permittee has been authorized to shoot Canada geese causing damage.
NR 12.17(2)
(2)
Carcass tag distribution. The permittee may retain 2 of the carcass tags provided to them by the department for their use. The permittee shall distribute the remaining carcass tags to the hunters he or she has authorized to assist. The permittee may not provide more than 2 carcass tags to each authorized hunter and may not distribute the second carcass tag until they have used their first carcass tag.
NR 12.17(3)
(3)
Use of other permits. All persons authorized to participate under this section shall have used any other goose hunting permit and carcass tags issued to them which are valid for the locations and effective dates specified in the permit prior to using the carcass tags issued sub. (2).
NR 12.17(4)
(4)
Reporting. Any person receiving a permit from a permittee under this section shall report the harvest of a Canada goose to the permittee and mail a completed goose harvest report card to the department within 48 hours of the time of harvest.
NR 12.17(5)
(5)
Bag limit. No person may take or possess more than 2 Canada geese under each permit issued under this section.
NR 12.17(6)
(6)
Weekdays only hunting. No person may kill a Canada goose under a permit issued under this section on a Saturday or Sunday during the effective dates of their permit.
NR 12.17 History
History:
Cr.
Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro.),
Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94.
NR 12.30
NR 12.30
Purpose. This subchapter is adopted to implement and administer the beaver damage control provisions under s.
29.885, Stats., deer damage provisions under s.
29.887, Stats., and the wildlife damage abatement and claim program established under s.
29.889, Stats. In its administration of the wildlife damage abatement and claim program the department shall assure that the funds appropriated by the legislature are used in the most cost-effective manner. Wildlife damage abatement measures when determined by the department and the administering county to be cost-effective shall be funded and receive priority in payment over damage claims.
NR 12.30 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am.
Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; am.
Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.75
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 12.305
NR 12.305 Enrollment Eligibility. An enrollee in any wildlife damage program under this subchapter must be a legal adult, 18 years of age or older at the time of enrollment.
NR 12.305 History
History:
CR 19-146: cr.
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.
NR 12.31
NR 12.31
Definitions. For purpose of this subchapter and s.
29.889, Stats.:
NR 12.31(1)
(1) “Contiguous land" means lands under the ownership, lease or control of an applicant for deer, elk, bear, turkey or goose damage payments which are connected to the lands subject to a claim application or separated only by a roadway, easement, license or waterway.
NR 12.31(2)
(2) “County" means a county board of supervisors who has, by resolution, approved application and administration of a program under s.
29.889, Stats.
NR 12.31(3)
(3) “Crops on agricultural lands" includes Christmas trees.
NR 12.31(3m)
(3m) “Enrollee" means a farmer, grower, livestock raiser, beekeeper, nursery operator, orchardist, Christmas tree grower, or other person or corporation or partnership enrolled in the wildlife damage abatement and claims program for services under this program.
NR 12.31(4)
(4) “Lands suitable for hunting" means contiguous land where the conduct of hunting is not likely to result in a violation under s.
29.301 (1),
167.30 or
941.20 (1) (d), Stats., and shall include all areas within the contiguous land under the same ownership, lease or control except those areas identified by the county or its agent pursuant to s.
NR 12.36.
NR 12.31 Note
Note: This definition of “land suitable for hunting" shall be used to determine hunter numbers for access to hunt species other than deer and elk.
NR 12.31 Note
Note: This definition of “land suitable for hunting deer or elk" shall be used to determine hunter numbers for access to hunt deer and elk.
NR 12.31(4m)
(4m) “Livestock holding areas" means barns, pole sheds and other buildings for the protection and sheltering of livestock.
NR 12.31(5)
(5) “Normal agricultural practices" means practices commonly used in the county to grow and harvest crops.
NR 12.31(6)
(6) “Plan" means a plan of administration submitted under s.
29.889, Stats., by a county and approved by the department.
NR 12.31(7)
(7) “Reasonable cause" means a presence of at least 2 hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting or the presence of one hunter on less than 40 acres of land suitable for hunting; the hunter is intoxicated, has caused damage to property, littered, used abusive or threatening language, used a firearm in violation with s.
941.20 (1), Stats., used a vehicle or a permanent deer stand on enrolled land without being authorized by the enrollee; the hunter has otherwise engaged in, or displayed a propensity to engage in, conduct contrary to public safety or the protection of personal property; the hunter failed to seek permission or register to hunt; or failure of the hunter to comply with any of the conditions he or she certifies by his or her signature on hunting log forms provided by the county, its agent and the department, including failure to record the time of arrival and departure.
NR 12.31(8)
(8) “WDACP" means the wildlife damage abatement and claims program under s.
29.889, Stats., and this chapter.
NR 12.31 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; emerg am. (1) and (4), cr. (3m), (4e), (4m), (4t) and (7), eff. 7-1-98; am. (1) and (4), cr. (3m), (4e), (4m), (7) and (8),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-018: am. (1) and (4e)
Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.76
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections in (4) and (4e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2003 No. 576;
CR 05-031: am. (4e)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05.
NR 12.32(1)(1)
Applications by a county to administer the wildlife damage abatement or claim program shall include a plan completed in accordance with s.
29.889, Stats., and this subchapter and a copy of the resolution of the county board authorizing the application.
NR 12.32(2)
(2) The department shall review and approve or deny a completed application and plan under this subchapter within 30 days after it is received by the department.
NR 12.32 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.77
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 12.33
NR 12.33 WDACP technical manual. The department's WDACP technical manual (Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program Technical Manual, Volume 1/Reference Handbook/134pp., Volume 2/Field Handbook/153pp., Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources, July 1, 1998) shall specify WDACP procedures and requirements including the following:
NR 12.33(1)
(1) Authorized wildlife damage abatement measures and methods for implementing and paying for these abatement measures.
NR 12.33(2)
(2) Forms and procedures for payment and processing of statement of claims and applications for abatement assistance.
NR 12.33(3)
(3) Procedures and standards for determining the amount of wildlife damage.
NR 12.33(4)
(4) Procedures for record keeping, audits and inspections.
NR 12.33 Note
Note: Copies of any WDACP technical manual may be obtained from the Wildlife Damage Specialist, WDNR, Bureau of Wildlife Management, GEF 2, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.
NR 12.33 Note
Note: The WDACP technical manual is on file at the offices of the department of natural resources, the secretary of state and the legislative reference bureau.
NR 12.33 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.775
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.
NR 12.34
NR 12.34
Administrative and abatement costs and fund advancement to counties. NR 12.34(3)
(3) Counties shall submit reimbursement requests for administration and abatement costs to the department quarterly according to the following schedule: by May 31 for the first quarter, January 1 through March 31; by August 31 for the second quarter, April 1 through June 30; by November 30 for the third quarter, July 1 through September 30; and no later than March 1 for the final reimbursement request for the fourth quarter, October 1 through December 31.
NR 12.34(4)
(4) A county may not be reimbursed for administrative or abatement costs in excess of the estimate contained in the plan without approval of the department.
NR 12.34 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; emerg. am. (1), r. and recr. (3), eff. 7-1-98; am. (1) (a) and (b), r. and recr. (3),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.78
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 19-146: r. (1), (2), (3) (title)
Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.
NR 12.35
NR 12.35
Wildlife damage abatement. NR 12.35(1)(1)
Costs of wildlife damage abatement measures rendered by a county under the plan are eligible for reimbursement under s.
29.889, Stats., only when rendered to persons owning or controlling land within the county of administration.
NR 12.35(2)
(2) Abatement measures rendered by a county under s.
29.889, Stats., are limited to those which are detailed in the WDACP technical manual, or authorized in writing by the department and shall be cost-effective as required by s.
29.889 (5) (bm), Stats.
NR 12.35(3)
(3) Woven-wire barrier fences, for which an application has been approved by the county and department, under s.
NR 12.38, shall be included in the plan for the calendar year succeeding the fence application, unless otherwise approved by the department.
NR 12.35(4)
(4) The county shall, as a condition of providing abatement assistance, require full cooperation and assistance of the enrollee in operating, maintaining and applying all abatement measures. An enrollee who engages in abusive or threatening language shall also be considered uncooperative. Uncooperative enrollees shall be ineligible for program abatement assistance for the remainder of the calendar year in which they were uncooperative and the following calendar year. Upon determining an enrollee is uncooperative and ineligible for further program assistance, the county or its agent shall notify the enrollee in writing that the enrollee's program participation is terminated.
NR 12.35(5)(a)(a)
Cost-sharing. In accordance with the WDACP technical manual, the county or its agent shall determine the actual costs of providing wildlife damage abatement assistance to provide 75% cost-sharing. For permanent damage abatement measures, the enrollee shall provide 25% of the cost of materials and installation. For the purpose of determining the total cost of temporary damage abatement measures, cooperation by the enrollee in installation, construction, operation, notification if required, or maintenance of the temporary measure shall be considered 25% of its total costs. Permanent damage abatement measures include barrier woven wire and high-profile electric fences. Temporary damage abatement measures include the use of temporary low-profile electric or barrier snow fencing, scare techniques, repellents, depredation shooting permits, trap and translocation, or other temporary methods determined by the department.
NR 12.35(5)(b)
(b) All of the following costs of abatement measures are eligible for reimbursement to the county:
NR 12.35(5)(b)2.
2. Installation costs that are part of the of 75% WDACP cost-share.
NR 12.35 History
History:
Cr.
Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am. (2) and (3), r. and recr. (4) and cr. (5),
Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99;
CR 03-018: am. (3) and (5) (a)
Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.79
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections made to (3) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2003 No. 576;
CR 10-020: am. (4)
Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10
.
NR 12.36
NR 12.36
Open hunting access requirement. NR 12.36(1)(1)
Enrollees shall have hunting access control over all contiguous land on which they seek wildlife damage abatement assistance or claims. Enrollees shall open their land to hunting, using one of the access options in sub. (3), during the regular hunting seasons for the species causing the damage for which they have enrolled in the WDACP as required by s.
29.889 (7m), Stats. Enrollees may not charge any fees for hunting, hunting access or any other activity that includes hunting the species causing damage. This hunting access requirement shall also apply to enrollees who have also been issued a shooting permit under the authority of s.
29.885, Stats., and this chapter, except as provided in sub. (1m).
NR 12.36(1m)
(1m) The requirements under sub. (1) do not apply to a person to whom the department grants a shooting permit for deer causing damage that is issued as an abatement measure recommended under s.
29.889, Stats., if all of the following apply:
NR 12.36(1m)(a)
(a) The permit is the only abatement measure the person receives under s.
29.889, Stats., for damage caused by deer.
NR 12.36(1m)(b)
(b) The person waives any eligibility to receive a wildlife damage claim payment under s.
29.889 (7), Stats., for damage caused by deer.
NR 12.36(2)
(2) Enrollees shall enroll with the county by completing an agreement which certifies their hunting access control for all contiguous lands of the same ownership or control where wildlife damage is occurring and for which they are seeking program services under this chapter.
NR 12.36(3)
(3) Enrollees shall choose one of the 2 following hunting access options:
NR 12.36(3)(a)
(a)
Open public hunting for the species causing damage. The enrollee may not place limitations on which hunters or how many hunters may access the property enrolled by the enrollee. The enrollee may not require registration of hunters, but the hunter shall establish an acceptable arrangement with the enrollee for notifying the enrollee of the hunter's intent to hunt prior to hunting. The enrollee may choose how often notification is required and that notification be made in writing, by phone or in person each day the hunter intends to hunt or otherwise.
NR 12.36(3)(b)
(b)
Managed hunting access. Enrollee notification and hunter registration with the enrollee is required. The following provisions shall apply to the managed hunting access option:
NR 12.36(3)(b)1.
1. `Land suitable for hunting.' The county, or its agent, shall determine the area of land suitable for hunting in accordance with the WDACP technical manual and this chapter. The following criteria shall be used to determine land suitable for hunting:
