NR 45.09(5)
(5) No person may discharge any firearm or air gun while within the exterior boundary of state-owned lands posted with department signs in Brown, Dane, Dodge, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago counties, or on state forest lands in the Kettle Moraine or Point Beach state forests, fish hatcheries, state parks, state recreation areas, state natural areas, from or across a state campground, picnic area or other special use area designated by the department which is not open to hunting, or on state trails established on railroad grades, except as follows:
NR 45.09(5)(a)
(a) While engaged in hunting or dispatching a lawfully trapped animal in compliance with sub.
(1) and the open seasons established in s.
NR 10.01.
NR 45.09(5)(c)
(c) While engaged in dog trials under department permit.
NR 45.09(5)(d)
(d) While training dogs in designated areas under department permit.
NR 45.09(5)(f)
(f) When authorized by the department upon issuance of a special use permit.
NR 45.09 Note
Note: State park hunting and trapping closures authorized under s.
29.089, Stats. are established on property maps that may be obtained on the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov) keyword “hunting state parks". Additional closures of designated use areas may also be established by posted notice. Hunting and trapping closures may be limited to certain species and seasons. See also s.
NR 10.275.
NR 45.09(6)
(6) No person may shoot any bow or crossbow from or across a campground.
NR 45.09(7)
(7) Unless authorized by the department, no person may pursue, drive or chase animals on lands subject to this chapter that are closed to hunting.
NR 45.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, December, 1983, No. 336, eff. 1-1-84; am. (4) and (5) (intro.),
Register, December, 1987, No. 384, eff. 1-1-88; cr. (6),
Register, May, 1993, No. 449, eff. 6-1-93; am. (2) and (5) (intro.),
Register, December, 1993, No. 456, eff. 1-1-94; am. (2),
Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 12-1-95; corrections in (2) and (4) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, November, 1998, No. 515; am. (1) and (2), cr. (7),
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00;
CR 01-008: am. (5) (intro.),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; emerg. cr. (9), eff. 7-3-02;
CR 03-016: cr. (9)
Register August 2003 No. 572, eff. 9-1-03;
CR 03-035: am. (4),
Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 04-092: am. (5) (intro.) and (a), cr. (10)
Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 5-1-05;
CR 05-017: am. (2)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06;
CR 05-102: r. (10)
Register June 2006 No. 606, eff. 7-1-06;
CR 05-086: am. (4)
Register June 2006 No. 606, eff. 7-1-06;
CR 06-037: am. (2)
Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07;
CR 07-015: r. and recr. (2)
Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 2-1-08;
CR 08-011: cr. (5) (e)
Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09;
CR 10-042: cr. (10), am. (5) (intro.) and (a)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
CR 08-022: am. (1), cr. (11)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11;
CR 11-007: am. (5) (intro.)
Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 2-1-12;
CR 13-108: am. (1), renum. (4) to (4) (intro.) and am., cr. (4) (a) to (c)
Register August 2014 No. 704, eff. 9-1-14;
EmR1420: emerg. am. (1), eff. 9-12-14;
CR 13-071: am. (1), r. (9)
Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15;
CR 16-028: renum. (2) (a) to (a) (intro.) and am., cr. (2) (a) 1. to 4., am. (2) (b)
Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; correction in (2) (a) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats.,
Register July 2017 No. 739;
CR 16-001: am. (1), cr. (4) (d), am. (5) (intro.), (a), (b), cr. (5) (f), r. (6), (10), (11)
Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17;
CR 18-005: am. (2) (c)
Register September 2018 No. 753, eff. 10-1-18;
CR 19-017: am. (5) (intro.)
Register January 2020 No. 769, eff. 2-1-20;
CR 21-078: am. (5) (intro.)
Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22;
CR 23-013: am. (5) (intro.)
Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 3-1-24;
CR 23-060: cr. (6) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.
NR 45.095(1)(1)
General range rules. No person at a shooting range may:
NR 45.095(1)(b)
(b) Discharge or handle any weapon on the range while any part of a person is down range of the firing line.
NR 45.095(1)(c)
(c) Point any weapon in use at the designated firing line in any direction other than down range.
NR 45.095(1)(d)
(d) Fail to comply with a cease fire order called by the range officer or any other person.
NR 45.095(1)(e)
(e) Fail to make reasonable efforts to ensure all discharged projectiles impact the backstop.
NR 45.095(1)(g)
(g) Shoot at targets that are not placed in a designated target area or affixed to target stands, if provided, or move target stands unless the person is sighting or patterning a shotgun with size T or smaller shot.
NR 45.095(1)(h)
(h) Shoot at items placed on the ground or at targets not posted at the designated height, unless the person is sighting or patterning a shotgun with size T or smaller shot.
NR 45.095(1)(i)
(i) Shoot during any time outside the posted hours of operation.
NR 45.095(1)(j)
(j) Shoot, or attempt to shoot structures or objects that are not designated targets, or that are outside designated firing lanes.
NR 45.095(1)(k)
(k) Shoot at archery targets with anything other than a bow or crossbow.
NR 45.095(1)(m)
(m) Except in accordance with a permit issued by the department, use incendiary, exploding, glass, plastic, metal, clay, or other breakable materials as targets.
NR 45.095(1)(n)
(n) Fail to properly dispose of targets other than clay targets used on an established shotgun shooting range.
NR 45.095(1)(o)
(o) Fail to collect and properly remove or dispose of all spent shell casings and cartridges, live ammunition, targets, arrows, bolts, and materials brought onto the range.
NR 45.095(1)(p)
(p) While shooting at a shooting range, possess, consume, or be impaired by an intoxicant or other restricted controlled substance.
NR 45.095(1)(r)
(r) Shoot from anywhere other than the designated firing position or firing line.
NR 45.095(1)(s)
(s) Shoot armor piercing, tracers, incendiary ammunition, or any weapon chambered in .50 BMG.
NR 45.095(2)
(2) In addition to being subject to the penalties set forth in s.
27.98, Stats., a person who violates any provision in this section may be evicted from the shooting range pursuant to s.
NR 45.04 (3) (b).
NR 45.095(3)
(3) This section does not apply to scheduled training activities conducted by the U.S. armed forces, including any reserve component, or of the national guard, or law enforcement agencies.
NR 45.095 History
History: CR 16-001: cr.
Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; correction in (2) made under s.
35.17, Stats.,
Register July 2017 No. 739;
CR 23-060: am. (1) (b), (g), (i), (m), (p), cr. (1) (q) to (s), am. (3) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24. NR 45.10(1)(a)3.
3. On state-owned islands and sandbars in the Lower Wisconsin state riverway.
NR 45.10(1)(a)4.
4. On other state-owned islands outside of state forest boundaries when the island is posted open to camping.
NR 45.10(1)(a)5.
5. In state Ice Age Trail areas as defined in s.
NR 1.29 (3) (d) and on lands purchased for the Ice Age Trail by those hiking the Ice Age Trail where the trail segment is posted open to camping.
NR 45.10(1)(a)6.
6. On properties purchased for the North Country Trail by those hiking the North Country Trail where the trail segment is posted open to camping.
NR 45.10(1)(a)7.
7. On state-owned sandbars on the Lower Chippewa River downstream from County Highway “H" in Dunn County to the confluence with the Mississippi River, excluding the northerly shoreline portion between Dunnville Road and the mouth of the Red Cedar River.
NR 45.10(1)(b)
(b) No person may camp in designated camping areas without a permit and the payment of prescribed daily fees, where required.
NR 45.10(1)(c)
(c) A camping permit shall be obtained prior to setting up camp, where permits are required.
NR 45.10(1)(d)
(d) No camping party may move from its assigned campsite to another campsite without prior approval from the department.
NR 45.10(1)(e)
(e) All camping permits begin at 3:00 p.m. on the first day of the permit and expire at 1:00 p.m. on the last day of the permit period.
NR 45.10(1)(f)
(f) Except by written permission from the department, no camping party may start setting up or taking down its camping unit between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
NR 45.10(1)(g)
(g) Violation of any state law or any rules of the department by a member or guest of a member of a camping party is cause for revocation of the camping permit and eviction from the property as established in s.
NR 45.04 (3) (b).
NR 45.10(1)(h)
(h) Any person without an advance camping reservation who is at a property may request a camping permit for a site to be occupied that day and one additional permit for the same time for another camping party, provided he or she has all the required information for registration to obtain both camping permits. Any person making advance reservations for a camping permit may apply for additional permits for themselves or others, providing he or she has all the required information to obtain the camping permits. Each reservation must have a named occupant. An occupant may not have more than one camping reservation or permit on any overlapping days at any department property. Group leaders and parents of juvenile campers may obtain permits for use by juvenile or adult groups. The person to whom the campsite is registered shall be part of the camping party on that site. A person with an advance camping reservation may not advertise or otherwise present to the public an offer to transfer the reservation to another party, nor may a reserved campsite be transferred to another party resulting in any profit without written permission from the department.
NR 45.10(1)(i)
(i) The department may require on reserved sites that a camping unit occupy the reserved site by 3:00 p.m. on the second day of the reservation and be present for the duration of the reservation. Parties who fail to meet the requirements of this paragraph shall be evicted and forfeit the remainder of their reservation. The camping party is not eligible for any refund of camping fees.
NR 45.10(1)(j)
(j) Reservations must be made directly with the campground reservation system established under s.
27.01 (11) (a), Stats. The department shall establish the information necessary and convenient for administration of the reservation system. No person may provide false or fraudulent information to the campground reservation system, or make reservations using an unauthorized third party, such as a booking service.
NR 45.10(1)(k)
(k) The department reserves the right to reject or cancel camping reservations when necessary to protect either campers or the natural resources, or when registered campers are found to be in violation of any statute or administrative rule.
NR 45.10(1)(L)
(L) If 2 camping parties are inadvertently assigned the same campsite, the department may assign one of the camping parties to another site and adjust the fees charged.
NR 45.10(1)(n)
(n) Camping is restricted to one day at designated stopover boat-in campsites in northern state forests and in properties described in sub.
(1) (a) 5. and
6., up to 3 days as posted on state-owned islands outside state forest boundaries, up to 3 days on state-owned islands and sandbars in the Lower Wisconsin state riverway and state-owned sandbars on the Lower Chippewa River, up to 10 days at designated campsites on the northern flowage properties and up to 14 days on state-owned islands in the Mississippi River. Campsites on state-owned islands in the Mississippi River shall be occupied daily and associated camping equipment or other property may not be left unattended for over 24 hours.
NR 45.10(1)(o)
(o) No person may use standard campground shower facilities in any state park or forest unless that person is a registered camper.
NR 45.10(1)(p)
(p) When camping at designated campsites at the northern flowage properties, the campsite shall be occupied by the camping party on the first night camping equipment occupies the site, and the campsite may not be left unoccupied by the camping party for more than one night of the permit period.
NR 45.10(1)(q)
(q) The department may terminate the reservation or registration for any site not being occupied in accordance with this subsection.
NR 45.10(1)(s)
(s) A person age 18 or over must obtain the camping permit. That person assumes responsibility for the actions of the camping party. A person age 18 or over must be part of a camping party if a permit is issued on the same day of occupancy.
NR 45.10(1)(t)
(t) Upon occupancy, a camping reservation becomes a camping permit. Reservations may be issued at any time prior to occupancy.
NR 45.10(2)(a)(a)
No more than one camping party may occupy a single campsite. A camping party may not exceed 6 persons. A camping party consisting of a family group may not be comprised of more than a family and two guests.
NR 45.10(2)(b)
(b) No person may camp and no camping unit shall remain for a period greater than 14 days in any 3-week period in the property of registration. After 14 days, the camping unit and camping party shall be removed from the property for at least 7 days before being eligible to return.
NR 45.10(2)(c)
(c) Extension within the 14-day limit may be granted on camping permits if the site is available. Extension may be obtained up to the day prior to expiration of the camping permit during posted office hours at the state park or forest campgrounds. Extensions beyond the 14-day limit, for up to 7 days, may be granted on camping permits in a calendar year when camping prior to Memorial Day weekend or after Labor Day weekend if the site is available. An extension may be obtained up to the day prior to expiration of the camping permit during posted office hours at the state park or forest campgrounds.
NR 45.10(2)(d)
(d) No person may park any motor vehicle outside the parking area designated at each campsite. No person may park more than 2 motor vehicles in the parking area of any standard campsite, except that as many as 6 motorcycles are permitted for members of a camping party registered as a non-family group.
NR 45.10(2)(f)
(f) No more than one recreation trailer, pickup truck camper or motor home may occupy a campsite. Pickup campers or motor homes pulling a trailer shall be treated as a single unit.
NR 45.10(2m)
(2m)
Outdoor group camping, backpack camping and boat-in camping. NR 45.10(2m)(a)
(a)
No person may camp and no camping unit may remain on a group or backpack campsite or in backpack camping areas or on a boat-in campsite for a period exceeding that authorized by the camping permit and in no case for a period exceeding any of the following:
NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.b.
b. 14 days for backpack camping areas as authorized by a special camp registration permit.
NR 45.10(2m)(a)2.c.
c. 14 days for standard boat-in campsites, except for Lakeshore state park which has a 4 day maximum.
NR 45.10(2m)(am)
(am) After a site is occupied, in person or by a camping unit, for the maximum period authorized, the camping unit and camping party shall be removed from the property for at least 7 days before being eligible to return.
NR 45.10(2m)(b)
(b) Juvenile groups shall be accompanied by at least one adult for each 10 members of the group.
NR 45.10(2m)(c)
(c) No more than 10 persons may be permitted at each designated backpack campsite in the Kettle Moraine state forest. A party may not camp for more than one consecutive night at each designated backpack campsite in the Kettle Moraine state forest.
NR 45.10(2m)(d)
(d) No more than one camping party is permitted at a backpack campsite in state parks, recreation areas, other state forests offering these backpack campsites and boat-in campsites. Except as provided in par.
(c), no camping party consisting of a non-family group may exceed 6 persons on a backpack campsite and no family group may exceed a family and two guests.
NR 45.10(2m)(e)
(e) All backpack and boat-in campers shall pack out refuse generated while camping.
NR 45.10(2m)(f)
(f) No more than one camping party may occupy a single group campsite and no camping party may exceed 15 persons on the Willow Flowage scenic waters area or the Turtle-Flambeau scenic waters area.
NR 45.10(3)
(3)
Standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat in campsite reservations. The department may grant reservations for standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat-in campsites and shall upon request provide a list of parks and forests where reservations are accepted. Reservations for standard, outdoor group, backpack, and boat-in campsites may be granted under the following conditions:
NR 45.10(3)(a)
(a) Reservation applications may be accepted for camping up to 11 months before the date of occupancy. The following minimum stays shall apply:
NR 45.10(3)(a)1.
1. Standard campsites including standard boat-in campsites, 1 night except:
