0The statement of scope for this rule, SS 083-22 was approved by the Governor on October 20, 2022, published in Register No. 802A4 on October 24, 2022, and approved by the Natural Resources Board on December 14, 2022. This rule was approved by the Governor on June 15, 2023. ORDER OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
REPEALING; AMENDING, AND CREATING RULES
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board proposes an order to repeal NR 10.12 (3) (b); to amend NR 10.01 (1) (b) and (g) 1. c., e., 2. d. and 3. d. and NR 10.12 (3) (c); and to create NR 10.001 (20) relating to establishing the 2023-2024 migratory bird season framework and regulations. |
WM-15-22 (E)
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources
1. Statute Interpreted: Chapter 29 of the Wisconsin Statutes addresses the department’s authority with respect to wild animals and plants. Section 29.014, Stats., confers broad rule-making authority to the department to “establish and maintain open and closed seasons for fish and game and any bag limits, size limits, rest days and conditions governing the taking of fish and game that will conserve the fish and game supply and ensure the citizens of this state continued opportunities for good fishing, hunting and trapping. This grant of rule-making authority allows the department to promulgate rules related to migratory game bird hunting. 2. Statutory Authority: In promulgating these rules, statutes being interpreted or establishing agency authority include s. 29.014, Stats. 3. Explanation of Agency Authority: The chapter on wild animals and plants, in s. 29.014, Stats., “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 hunting regulations. 4. Related Statutes or Rules: There are no active related statutes or rules.
5. Plain Language Analysis:
Section 1 clarifies the boundary of the Open Water Migratory Zone.
Section 2 revises the dates that contain either a one or two daily bag limit for scaup. It also changes the Mississippi River Zone goose zone season dates so they are the same as the Southern Zone.
Sections 3 and 4 simplifies the open water restrictions on all approved inland open water hunting lakes by creating a standard setback of 500 feet.
6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:
Since migratory bird species are managed under federal law, each region of the country is organized in a specific geographic flyway which represents distinct migratory game bird populations. Wisconsin, along with Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, are members of the Mississippi Flyway. Each year the states included in the flyways meet to discuss regulations and guidelines offered to the flyways by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS regulations and guidelines apply to all states within the Flyway, and therefore the regulations in the adjoining states closely resemble the rules established in this rule order, and only differ slightly based on hunter desires, habitat, and population management goals. However, these variations fall within guidelines and sideboards established by the USFWS.
7. If Held, Summary of Comments Received During Preliminary Comment Period
and at Public Hearing on the Statement of Scope: The department did not hold a preliminary hearing for this scope statement.
8. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States: Since migratory bird species are managed under federal law, each region of the country is organized in a specific geographic flyway which represents distinct migratory game bird populations. Wisconsin, along with Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, are members of the Mississippi Flyway. Each year the states included in the flyways meet to discuss regulations and guidelines offered to the flyways by the USFWS. The USFWS regulations and guidelines apply to all states within the Flyway, and therefore the regulations in the adjoining states closely resemble the rules established in this rule order, and only differ slightly based on hunter desires, habitat, and population management goals. However, these variations fall within guidelines and sideboards established by the USFWS.
9. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:
Wisconsin has three Canada goose hunting zones for the regular Canada goose season, the North, South and Mississippi River zones. The North and South zones have traditionally opened the regular season on September 16th whereas the Mississippi River zone opened concurrent with the duck season two weeks later. The department is proposing that the Mississippi River zone open concurrent with the North and South zones to simplify regulations as well as add additional Canada goose hunting opportunity on our overabundant locally nesting Canada geese. While public input statewide indicated slight favorability for opening on September 16th, support among Mississippi River hunters—those most impacted by the proposed change—is notably higher. Although 21 individuals who attended the WDNR public hearing in Lacrosse on March 7, 2023, supported opening concurrently with the duck season, a survey conducted by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Wisconsin Waterfowl Associated in 2023 showed that over 90% Mississippi River hunters who responded preferred opening on September 16th.
This rule also adjusts and simplifies the open water restrictions on all approved inland open water hunting lakes. In 2011 the Department identified several inland lakes that would be open to open water hunting. At that time, the minimum distance from shore where hunters can be without having to adhere to concealment regulations was set to “greater than 1000 feet” as a precaution until the Department had some time to review how this opportunity was utilized. With these regulations having been in place more than a decade, the Department feels that the 1000-foot restriction can be reduced to 500 feet which aligns the definition of open water hunting for both the inland lakes and the Great Lakes. This change simplifies regulations while adding additional open water hunting opportunity on these identified inland lakes. Department biologist staff, law enforcement staff and public input all were in support of this rule simplification. This change was initially made during the 2022 migratory season and will be made permanent in the upcoming companion permanent rule.
Another item returning from the 2022 emergency rule the clarification of the duck zone boundary for the Open Water Zone. This rule updated the definition of the Open Water Zone boundary as, “waters greater than 500 feet from the mainland shore of Green Bay and Lake Michigan; for the purposes of the Open Water Zone, mainland shore includes all adjacent rooted vegetation, adjacent floating cattail and Long Tail and Little Tail points.
10. Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report: These rules, and the legislation which grants the department rule-making authority, do not have fiscal effects on the private sector or small businesses. No costs to the private sector or small businesses are associated with compliance to these rules.
11. 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 or operational standards are contained in the rule. Because this rule does not add any regulatory requirements for small businesses, the proposed rules will not have an economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses under s. 227.24(3m), Stats. 12. Agency Contact Person: Taylor Finger, Migratory Bird Specialist, 101 South Webster Street, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, (608) 266-8841
13. Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
RULE TEXT
Section 1 NR 10.001 (20) is created to read:
NR 10.001 (20): “Open Water Zone” means waters greater than 500 feet from the mainland shore of Lake Michigan and Green Bay; for the purposes of the Open Water Zone, mainland shore includes all adjacent rooted vegetation, adjacent floating cattail and Long Tail and Little Tail points.
Section 2 NR 10.01 (1) (b). and (g) 1. c., e., 2. d. and 3. d. are amended to read:
Kind of Animal | Locality | Open season (all dates inclusive) | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
(b) All species of wild ducks | Entire state. | As established by zone. | Sept. 25 – Oct. 10 Sept. 23 – 29 and Oct. 20 – Nov. 6: 6 ducks to include not more than 4 mallards of which only 2 may be a hen mallard, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 2 scaup and 3 wood ducks. In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers. | Three times the daily bag limit except opening day when it is the same as the daily bag limit and the second day when it is twice the daily bag limit. |
| | | Oct. 10- 21 Sept. 30 - Oct. 19: 6 ducks to include not more than 4 mallards of which only 2 may be a hen mallard, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup (no more than 1 may be from the Southern or Open water Zones Zone) and 3 wood ducks. In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers. | |
| | | Oct. 22-30 Nov. 7 - 21: 6 ducks to include not more than 4 mallards of which only 2 may be a hen mallard, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup (no more than 1 may be from the Open Water Northern Zone) and 3 wood ducks. In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers. | |
| | | Oct. 31- Dec.14 Nov. 28 – Dec. 12: 6 ducks to include not more than 4 mallards of which only 2 may be a hen mallard, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup (no more than 1 may be from the Open Water Zone) and 3 wood ducks. In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers. | |
| 3. Open Water zone as established in s. NR 10.32. | Beginning on the Saturday nearest October 1 15 and continuing for 7 days, followed by a 7−day closure, and then reopens for 53 60 consecutive days. | | |
(g) Geese. 1. Canada geese and its subspecies. | c. Southern zone as established in s. NR 10.32. | Begins on September 16 continuing until the 5−day closure in the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens continuing until the closure of the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens on Dec. 20 16 continuing for a season total of 92 days. | 3 Canada goose daily bag limit for the period of Sept. 16 – Dec. 5 3. 5 Canada goose daily bag limit for the period of Dec. 20 16– Jan. 4 2. | 9 from Sept. 16 − Dec. 5 3, and 15 from Dec. 20 16− Jan. 4 2, except opening day when it is the same as the daily bag limit and the second day, when it is twice the daily bag limit. |
| e. Mississippi River zone | Begins on Saturday nearest October 1 and continues for 9 days followed by a 5−day closure, and then reopens for a season total of 92 days. Begins on Sept. 16 continuing until the 5−day closure in the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens continuing until the closure of the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens on Dec. 16 continuing for a season total of 92 days. | 3 Canada goose daily bag limit for the period of Sept. 16 – Dec. 3. 5 Canada goose daily bag limit for the period of Dec. 16– Jan. 2. | 9 from Sept. 16 − Dec. 3, and 15 from Dec. 20 16− Jan. 2, except opening day when it is the same as the daily bag limit and the second day when it is twice the daily bag limit. |
2. Snow or blue and Ross’ geese. | d. Mississippi River zone. | Begins on the Saturday nearest October 1 and continues for 9 days, followed by a 5−day closure, and then reopens for a season total of 92 days. Begins on Sept. 16 continuing until the 5−day closure in the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens continuing until the closure of the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens on Dec. 16 continuing for a season total of 92 days. | | |
3. All other geese. | d. Mississippi River zone. | Begins on the Saturday nearest October 1 and continues for 9 days, followed by a 5−day closure, and then reopens for a season total of 92 days. Begins on Sept. 16 continuing until the 5−day closure in the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens continuing until the closure of the southern duck zone hunting season in par. (b) and then reopens on Dec. 16 continuing for a season total of 92 days. | | |
