Chapter NR 12

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) (5) 

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)1. 1. The costs of abatement equipment, supplies and services.

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:

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.a. a. The acreage of land suitable for hunting as defined in s. NR 12.31 (4) or (4e), depending on the species causing damage.

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.b. b. Enrollees may prohibit or restrict discharge of firearms within 100 yards of livestock holding areas.

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.c. c. Permanent barrier woven-wire and high-profile electric fences. Land inside a permanent barrier fence, which meets construction and maintenance standards in the WDACP technical manual, may not be considered land suitable for hunting.

NR 12.36(3)(b)2. 2. ‘Hunting access map.’ The county or its agent shall provide property maps to enrollees using aerial photos or plat maps to identify property boundaries and land suitable for hunting. The county, in consultation with the enrollee and in accordance with the WDACP technical manual, may delineate hunting zones for parcels of the property to assist the enrollee in distributing hunting effort to promote distribution of hunting effort and safety. The enrollee shall use these maps to explain to hunters boundaries and hunting constraints on the enrolled property.

NR 12.36(3)(b)3. 3. ‘Registration.’ To register for hunting access, hunters shall contact the program enrollee after obtaining the county’s list. The county or its agent shall provide the current year’s list and a fact-sheet which describes the WDACP hunting access system and the obligations of the hunter under this system. The hunter shall arrange a meeting with the enrollee. The enrollee shall describe the registration process, including completion of a hunting log, where the log will be located on the property, any hunting constraints on the property, and any information necessary to promote safety and prevent trespass. The registration form shall be provided to the enrollee by the county or its agent and be in the form of a log book following the format in the WDACP technical manual. The enrollee shall keep his or her hunting log current, recording hunters under this section and shooting permit participant hunters under ch. NR 12 to show compliance with the hunting access requirement. Enrollees shall make these records available for review by the county, its agent and department staff as required by s. 29.889 (8r) (a), Stats.

NR 12.36(3)(b)4. 4. ‘Hunting access.’ Hunting access shall be on a first come, first serve basis. Hunters may contact enrollees before the dates they intend to hunt, but may not register until their intended hunting date. Hunters shall register by signing in on the hunting log every time they arrive to hunt and signing out on the hunting log every time they leave.

NR 12.36(3)(b)5. 5. ‘Hunter densities.’ The enrollee shall allow at least 2 hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting at any given time of the appropriate hunting season. The enrollee and hunting members of the immediate family that reside in the enrollee’s household may be counted towards this hunter density restriction.

NR 12.36(3)(b)6. 6. ‘Refusal.’ Enrollees may refuse hunting access for reasonable cause as defined in s. NR 12.31 (7).

NR 12.36(3)(b)7. 7. ‘Complaints.’ Upon receiving a written complaint from a hunter denied access, the county, its agent or the department shall review hunting access records required under this chapter to verify compliance. Verification that access requirements have been violated shall require the county or its agent to deny further abatement and claims assistance to the enrollee for calendar year in which the violation occurred and the following calendar year. In addition, an enrollee may be subject to the penalties in s. 29.889 (10), Stats.

NR 12.36(3)(b)8. 8. ‘Enrollee registration.’ An enrollee and his or her immediate family who live year round on the enrollee’s property shall register by signing in on the daily hunting access log when they hunt.

NR 12.36(3)(b)9. 9. ‘Parking.’ Enrollees shall ensure adequate parking exists with enough parking area to accommodate the minimum required number of hunters and shall clearly describe these arrangements to the hunters.

NR 12.36(4) (4) The county shall maintain the current year’s list of all enrollees and make the list available upon request for public inspection.

NR 12.36(5) (5) Hunters may hunt only the species causing damage unless the enrollee or landowner has granted permission to hunt other species.

NR 12.36 Note Note: Hunting other species or engaging in other activities not authorized by the enrollee or landowner may be considered trespass in violation of s. 943.13, Stats.

NR 12.36(6) (6) Enrollees may restrict hunting access of bear hunters using dogs if trespass on adjoining private properties is likely to occur.

NR 12.36(7) (7) Motorized vehicles may not be used anywhere but the designated drive-way and parking location on the enrollee’s land unless authorized by the enrollee.

NR 12.36(8) (8) Access hunters may not use permanent deer stands on enrolled properties unless authorized by the enrollee. An access hunter may use his or her own portable stand, but it shall be removed daily at the end of shooting hours, unless otherwise authorized by the enrollee. When registering on the hunting log, the hunter shall certify that he or she holds the enrollee and landowner harmless from any injuries associated with the hunter’s hunting activity on the enrolled property, including any authorized use of hunting stands.

NR 12.36(9) (9) Exemption. The hunting access requirement does not apply to enrollees where the damage is to apiaries on lands where the applicant does not have hunting access control, pursuant to s. 29.889 (7m) (am), Stats.

NR 12.36(10) (10) Posting. Enrollees may not post the enrolled land “no hunting” or “no trespassing” and shall remove any such existing signs. Enrollees may post their lands “hunting by permission only”.

NR 12.36 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: am. (3) (b) 1. c. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.795 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections in (3) (b) 1. a. and 6. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576; CR 08-021: am. (1), cr. (1m) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; correction in (1m) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 10-020: am. (3) (b) 7. Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10.

NR 12.37 NR 12.37 Wildlife damage claims.

NR 12.37(1) (1) 

NR 12.37(1)(a) (a) Wildlife damage claims may be paid only to persons owning or controlling land within the county of administration who also have authority to control entry on those lands for purposes of hunting.

NR 12.37(1)(b) (b) Row crops which are stranded by weather catastrophe over winter are not eligible for wildlife damage claims.

NR 12.37(1)(c) (c) Row and forage crops remaining unharvested after 90% of these crops have been harvested in the county are not in compliance with normal agricultural practices, as required by s. 29.889 (6) (dm), Stats.

NR 12.37(1)(d) (d) Wildlife damage claims shall be paid only to persons owning the eligible types of damaged crops stated in s. 29.889 (6) (em), Stats., if caused by any species included under s. 29.889, Stats.

NR 12.37(2) (2) 

NR 12.37(2)(a) (a) All wildlife damage claims approved by the county shall be filed with the department no later than March 1 following the calendar year in which the damage occurred.

NR 12.37(2)(b) (b) The department shall review and act on properly filed claims no later than June 1 following the calendar year in which the damage occurred.

NR 12.37(3) (3) If the approved claims exceed the funds available, claims shall be paid on a prorated basis. When prorating claims, the department shall pay a percent of each eligible claim equivalent to the percent of the total approved claim amount that can be paid with the total available funds.

NR 12.37(4) (4) 

NR 12.37(4)(a) (a) All claimants for damage payments, recognized and included in the county plan, shall meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

NR 12.37(4)(a)1. 1. The lands subject to the claim shall have been in cultivation, a Christmas tree plantation or in an approved agriculture stabilization and conservation service set-aside program for at least 5 consecutive years prior to the application.

NR 12.37(4)(a)2. 2. The crops subject to the claim were not planted or manipulated to attract deer, elk, turkey, bear or geese.

NR 12.37(4)(a)3. 3. Unless otherwise provided by the county, the claimant shall have notified the county of his or her intent to harvest crops subject to damage but not less than 10 days prior to the harvest.

NR 12.37(4)(a)4. 4.

NR 12.37(4)(a)4.a. a. If a claimant has been issued a deer shooting permit under s. NR 12.16, the claimant has complied with the deer harvest objectives in s. NR 12.16 (2).

NR 12.37(4)(a)4.b. b. The county may adopt an exemption recommendation resulting from procedures described in s. NR 12.16 (2) (b) 2. for a permittee enrolled in the WDACP.

NR 12.37(4)(a)5. 5. If an enrollee has participated in the WDACP the previous year, and had in excess of $1,000 of appraised deer or elk damage losses in the previous year on contiguous land or land within the same section, as documented by the enrollee’s previous claims appraisal conducted by the respective county, or the county’s agent, to be eligible for claims the enrollee shall implement a deer damage shooting permit that shall automatically be issued by the department to the enrollee by February 15 and shall comply with subd. 4.

NR 12.37(4)(a)6. 6. The county shall, as a condition of providing claims assistance, require full cooperation and assistance of the enrollee in operating, maintaining and applying appraisal equipment as deemed needed by the county or its agent. An enrollee who engages in abusive or threatening language shall also be considered uncooperative. Uncooperative enrollees shall be ineligible for program claims 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 12.37(4)(b) (b) The county, in addition to requirements in par. (a), may establish further requirements deemed reasonable and necessary to administer this subchapter.

NR 12.37(5) (5) Crops subject to claims and payments under this subchapter and s. 29.889, Stats., shall be described in the plan.

NR 12.37(6) (6) In order to be eligible for claims, a claimant shall comply with the hunting access provisions described in s. NR 12.36.

NR 12.37 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am. (4) (a) (intro.) and 2., cr. (4) (a) 4., Register, May, 1994, No. 461 eff. 6-1-94; (1) renum. to be (1) (a), and (4) (a) 4. to be (4) (a) 4. a., cr. (1) (b), (c), (4) (a) 4. b., 5., 6. and (6), am. (3), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 00-154: am. (4) (a) 5., Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02; CR 03-018: am. (4) (a) 2. and 5. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.80 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections made to (6) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576; CR 05-031: cr. (1) (d) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 10-020: am. (4) (a) 6. Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10.

NR 12.38 NR 12.38 Woven-wire and electric barrier fence construction.

NR 12.38(1) (1) Specific applications and funding for woven-wire and electric barrier fences shall be approved by the department and county and included in the county plan. Woven-wire and electric barrier fences are permanent, high-profile fences built to function 15 years or more.

NR 12.38(2) (2) Prior to granting its approval, the department shall assure:

NR 12.38(2)(a) (a) Deer or elk damage has occurred or is occurring on the lands of the applicant and is likely to occur in the future; and

NR 12.38(2)(b) (b) The applicant is eligible to receive deer or elk damage claim payments.

NR 12.38(3) (3) Should it appear that the cost of providing woven-wire fences to applicants will exceed the funds available for abatement and claims, the department, in reviewing applications, shall grant priority after considering:

NR 12.38(3)(a) (a) The crops to be protected are continuing and long-term in nature, and the costs of future damage claims may exceed the cost of fence construction over the lifetime of the fence.

NR 12.38(3)(b) (b) The applicant has fully cooperated and assisted in applying recommended damage abatement measures.

NR 12.38(3)(c) (c) The landowner agrees to construct and maintain the fence for a period of time determined reasonable in the county plan.

NR 12.38(4) (4) The department, exercising reasonable judgment, shall base its decision on priority under sub. (3) on the criteria listed in sub. (3) and the best interest of the state, considering the costs of constructing the barrier fence, the projected amount of damages without the fence and the available funding.

NR 12.38(5) (5) 

NR 12.38(5)(a) (a) The county and its agent shall follow permanent barrier fence project development, contracting, bidding, funding, billing, and contract term inspection procedures detailed in the WDACP technical manual.

NR 12.38(5)(b) (b) A permanent fence contract approved by the department shall be used by the county and its agent for any WDACP funded fence. In addition, the county and its agent may not solicit bids for a fence contract without written approval of the department. This contract shall be signed by the enrollee, the county and its agent, and the department prior to expenditure of program funds for fence costs.

NR 12.38 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am. (1), cr. (5), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: am. (1), (2) (a), (b), (4) and (5) (a) Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.81 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.

NR 12.39 NR 12.39 County recordkeeping.