These sections also allow fisher and otter to be registered in a similar fashion to deer, bear, elk, turkey and sharptailed grouse. It also removes the requirement that the pelts of fisher and otter be tagged once they are separated from the carcass.
SECTIONS 9 AND 15 create a new subsection of code containing all regulations regarding the certification of harvest of certain furbearer species.
SECTIONS 10 AND 12 consolidates requirements that parts of some harvested animals must submitted to the department to a single section of code and also moves it to a more appropriate section.
SECTION 15 creates a new subsection of code containing all regulations regarding the registration of game.
SECTIONS 19 and 20 removes the harvest reporting requirement for fisher and otter and changes the time required to report wolf and bobcat harvest so it is consistent with other species.
6.
Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:States possess inherent authority to manage the wildlife resources located within their boundaries, except insofar as preempted by federal treaties and laws, including regulations established in the Federal Register. In general, hunting and trapping within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore follows state regulations. However, in some instances, there are specific restrictions set in place by the federal government. None of these rule changes violate or conflict with the provisions established in the Federal Code of Regulations.
7.
Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States: Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa require in- person registration of bobcat, fisher and otter. Illinois does not require in-person registration for bobcat or otter and does not have a fisher season. Only Michigan still requires a carcass tag be attached to the hide after harvest.8.
Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:Current rules require individuals who harvest a bobcat, fisher or otter to report the harvest within twenty-four hours. This reporting is typically done either online or over the phone. This proposal will also change the terminology used for reporting and registering furbearer species. The act previously known as harvest reporting will now be referred to as registration so that it is consistent with how it is treated with other game species. This proposal will also change the timing of registration so that it is now required by 5 p.m. the day after harvest which is consistent with other game species.
Currently, individuals who harvest a bobcat, fisher or otter must register the animal in person. The department often required successful bobcat and fisher harvesters to separate the pelt from the carcass and tag both the pelt and the carcass. The individual must meet with a representative of the department within seven days after month of harvest to register the animal and submit the carcass to the department to use for population modeling. Under this proposal , “in-person registration” is called “harvest certification” since registration is now required by 5 p.m. the day after harvest. In-person harvest certification will no longer be required for fisher and otter but will still be required it for bobcat and wolf. Otter harvest certification will still be required but instead of being in-person with a department representative a CITES tag will be mailed to the individual who will be required to attach it to the pelt upon receipt.
Finally, under this proposal fisher harvesters will no longer be issued a permit or be required to attach a pelt tag. Instead the permit is replaced with a harvest authorization similar to otter.
9.
Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report:A notice for solicitation of comments on this analysis was posted on the department’s website in October 2020 for fourteen days. No comments were received and no fiscal effects on small businesses, their associations, or local governments are anticipated.
10.
Effect on Small Business (initial regulatory flexibility analysis): These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses, and no design standards are contained in the rule.12.
Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:Written comments may be submitted at the public hearings, by regular mail, fax or email to: Scott Karel
Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707
608-267-7857 (fax)
Written comments may also be submitted to the Department at DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov. Hearing dates and the comment submission deadline are to be determined.
(See PDF for image)
SECTION 1. NR 8.045 (1) (a) is amended to read:
(a)
For any of the following: hunting licenses, hunting stamps, goose permits, wild turkey harvest authorizations, deer harvest authorizations, fisher harvest authorizations, otter harvest authorizations, and trapping licenses, authorized under subch. III of ch. 29, Stats., as published on January 5, 2017, except licenses and stamps authorized by s. 29.2297, Stats.; fishing licenses and fishing stamps, authorized under subch. III of ch. 29, Stats., as published on January 5, 2017, only while fishing on inland waters that are not boundary waters; disabled trolling, hunting and fishing permits issued under s. 29.193, Stats.; guide licenses authorized under s. 29.512, Stats.; certificates of accomplishment authorized underss. 29.591, 29.595, and 29. 597, Stats.; and wild rice harvest licenses authorized under s. 29.607 (3): SECTION 2. NR 10.01 (4) (dm) is amended to read:
Kind of Animal and Locality | Open season (all dates inclusive) | Limit |
NR 10.01 (4) (dm) Fisher trapping North zone as described in s. NR 10.38 South zone as described in s. NR 10.38 | Beginning on the Saturday nearest October 17 and continuing through the Sunday nearest January 6. Beginning on the Saturday nearest October 17 and continuing through the Sunday nearest January 6. | The possession limit corresponds to the number of pelt tags issued. One fisher for each harvest authorization issued under s. NR 10.145. The possession limit corresponds to the number of pelt tags issued. One fisher for each harvest authorization issued under s. NR 10.145. |
SECTION 3. NR 10.08 (2) (a) 2. is amended to read:
2. If an animal is required to be registered under s. NR 10.085 10.086, no person may gift game to any person until after it has been registered under s. NR 10.085 10.086. SECTION 4. NR 10.08 (3) (b) 3m. is created to read:
3m. Fisher. The possession limit corresponds to the number of harvest authorizations
issued.
SECTION 5. NR 10.08 (7) (e) is amended to read:
NR 10.08 (7) (e) Transport or possess an unskinned bobcat, fisher, or wolf carcass, or a
raw pelt of these species unless it has been tagged in accordance with s. NR 10.085. SECTION 6. NR 10.08 (7) (j), (k) and (L) are renumbered to NR 10.087 (4) d., e., and f. and amended to read:
(d)
(See PDF for image)Possess a raw bobcat, fisher, otter or wolf pelt after the 5th 7th day of the monthfollowing closure of the open season for each species and the respective opening date of the next trapping or hunting season without a registration tag certification seal attached and locked to the
head of the animal.
(e) Transfer, give, trade, sell, or purchase a raw pelt or unskinned carcass of any bobcat, fisher, otter, or wolf without a registration tag certification seal being attached and locked to the head portion of the pelt by the department in accordance with s. NR 10.085 (6) (c). (f) Transport or possess a bobcat, fisher, otter, or wolf pelt without a registration tag
certification seal being attached and locked to the head portion of the pelt by the department
authorized harvester of the animal.
SECTION 7. NR 10.085 (title) (1), and (4) (b) are amended to read:
NR 10.085 Tagging and registration of game
(See PDF for image)(1) Requirements for the tagging and registration of game in this section apply to all of the following species, except that subs. (6), (6m), (7), and (8) also apply to deer; subs. (6), (6m), and (8) also apply to turkey; and subs. (6), (6m), and (8) also apply to otter:
