The chapter on wild animals and plants, in s. 29.014, “rule making for this chapter”, establishes that the department shall maintain open and closed seasons for fish and game and any limits, rest days, and conditions for taking fish and game. This grant of rule-making authority allows the department to make changes related to deer, turkey, pheasant, and fisher seasons as well as allow hunting of collared doves. Additionally, this authority allows the department to simplify the zone configurations for fisher and otter management. Finally, this authority allows the department to establish or eliminate restrictions for education activities commonly referred to as learn-to-hunt events. Related to learn to hunt events, the department’s proposal may also interperet s. 29.197 which is the statute that establishes special educational events where certain hunting regulations may be waived. Sections 23.095, 23.11 and 29.014, Stats. allow for the protection of natural resources, establish general department powers, and authority to establish hunting regulations on department managed lands and managing refuge areas. The ability to establish, modify or eliminate game refuges is authorized in s. 23.09 (b) relating to the department’s ability to designate locations reasonably necessary for the purpose of providing safe retreats in which birds may rest and replenish adjacent hunting grounds. 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
160 hours.
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
Hunters and trappers are the principal groups that will be affected by this rulemaking. If extended archery deer hunting opportunities result in a better ability to address deer impacts to agriculture and forestry, people involved in those industries may also be impacted.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
Federal regulations allow states to manage the wildlife resources located within their boundaries provided they do not conflict with regulations established in the Federal Register. None of these rule changes violate or conflict with the provisions established in the Federal Code of Regulations.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
Based on our preliminary analysis, we do not anticipate an economic impact to individuals or groups. If there were to be any economic impact resulting from this rule, we anticipate that it would be very minimal. These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.
9. Anticipated number, month and locations of public hearings:
The department hold a public hearing in each county on the second Monday in April, 2017.
These hearings will be held in conjunction with the annual Conservation Congress spring meeting, which will immediately follow the department’s administrative rule hearing at each hearing location.
