Chapter 77

77.83(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c) and subs. (1) and (2m), each owner of managed forest land shall permit public access to the land for the purposes of hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing.

77.83(2)(b) (b) An owner may restrict public access to any area of open managed forest land which is within 300 feet of any building or within 300 feet of a commercial logging operation that conforms to the management plan.

77.83(2)(c) (c) An owner may prohibit the use of motor vehicles, as defined under s. 340.01 (35), or snowmobiles, as defined under s. 340.01 (58a), or both on any open managed forest land. At the request of an owner, the department may provide assistance in enforcing the prohibition.

77.83(2m) (2m) Proposed ferrous mining sites.

77.83(2m)(a) (a) The requirement under sub. (2) (a) that public access be permitted on managed forest land designated as open does not apply to an area of land within a proposed ferrous mining site that is located within 600 feet of fixed sampling equipment or within 600 feet of either side of a road that is used for purposes associated with ferrous mining.

77.83(2m)(b) (b) In addition to any managed forest land for which access is restricted under par. (a), the department may restrict public access to open managed forest land within a proposed ferrous mining site for any of the purposes specified in sub. (2) (a) if the department determines that it is necessary to ensure the safety of the public, the employees and agents of the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining, or the employees and agents of regulatory bodies.

77.83(2m)(c) (c) No restriction under par. (a) or (b) applies after whichever of the following 3 dates occurs first:

77.83(2m)(c)1. 1. The date on which the department approves or denies the application for a ferrous mining permit for the proposed ferrous mining site.

77.83(2m)(c)2. 2. The date on which the department determines that the person who proposed to engage in ferrous mining has ceased to pursue a mining permit for the proposed ferrous mining site.

77.83(2m)(c)3. 3.

77.83(2m)(c)3.a. a. The 730th day after the date on which the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining provides to the department a preapplication notification under s. 295.465, except as provided in subd. 3. b.

77.83(2m)(c)3.b. b. December 14, 2015, if the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining has provided to the department the preapplication notification before December 14, 2013.

77.83(2m)(d) (d) The department may extend the date under par. (c) 3. for a period of up to 2 additional years if the department determines, after consulting with the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining and other regulatory bodies, that it is likely that the person, the department, or another regulatory body will need additional time to conduct evaluation activities at the proposed ferrous mining site during that period.

77.83(2m)(e) (e) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b), public access shall always be permitted on open managed forest land within a proposed ferrous mining site for any of the following:

77.83(2m)(e)1. 1. Fishing that occurs within 50 feet of the water’s edge of a class I or class II trout stream.

77.83(2m)(e)2. 2. Deer hunting during the regular fall open season for hunting deer with firearms that begins on the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November.

77.83(2m)(g) (g) The department shall post information regarding public access to managed forest land located in a proposed ferrous mining site on the department’s Internet site. The information shall include all of the following:

77.83(2m)(g)1. 1. The areas where public access is permitted, and which activities, as specified in sub. (2) (a), are allowed in each area.

77.83(2m)(g)2. 2. The dates and times that each activity allowed under subd. 1. is permitted in a given area.

77.83(3) (3) Signs. An owner may post signs specifying the designation of or restrictions applicable to any area of managed forest land. The department may, by rule, specify design standards for these signs.

77.83(4) (4) Penalty. Any person who fails to comply with sub. (2) (a) or any rule promulgated under sub. (3) shall forfeit not more than $500.

77.83 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 79; 1993 a. 131; 2003 a. 228; 2005 a. 299; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 81; 2015 a. 358; 2021 a. 230.

77.84 77.84 Taxation of managed forest land.

77.84(1) (1) Tax roll. Each clerk of a municipality in which the land is located shall enter in a special column or other appropriate place on the tax roll the description of each parcel of land designated as managed forest land, and shall specify, by the designation “MFL-O” or “MFL-C”, the acreage of each parcel that is designated open or closed under s. 77.83. The land shall be assessed and is subject to review under ch. 70. Except as provided in this subchapter, no tax may be levied on managed forest land, except that any building, improvements, and fixtures on managed forest land is subject to taxation as real property under ch. 70.

77.84(2) (2) Acreage share; payment for closed land.

77.84(2)(a) (a) For managed forest land orders that take effect before April 28, 2004, each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer an acreage share of 74 cents per acre on or before January 31.

77.84(2)(am) (am) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April 28, 2004, each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal to 5 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre of managed forest land.

77.84(2)(b) (b) For managed forest land orders that take effect before April 28, 2004, in addition to the payment under par. (a), each owner shall pay $1 for each acre that is designated as closed under s. 77.83 and for each acre that is located in a proposed ferrous mining site and that is not open to all of the outdoor activities specified in s. 77.83 (2) (a) for any part of the previous calendar year. The payment shall be made to each municipal treasurer on or before January 31.

77.84(2)(bm) (bm) For managed forest land orders that take effect on or after April 28, 2004, in addition to the payment under par. (am), each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal to 20 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre that is designated as closed under s. 77.83 and for each acre that is located in a proposed ferrous mining site and that is not open to all of the outdoor activities specified in s. 77.83 (2) (a) for any part of the previous calendar year.

77.84(2)(bp) (bp) For managed forest land orders that take effect before April 28, 2004, in addition to the payments under pars. (a) and (b), each owner of managed forest land shall pay to each municipal treasurer, on or before January 31, an amount that is equal to 15 percent of the average statewide property tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under par. (cm), for each acre that is located in a proposed ferrous mining site, and that is not open to all of the outdoor activities specified in s. 77.83 (2) (a) for any part of the previous calendar year.

77.84(2)(c) (c) In 1992 and each 5th year thereafter, the department of revenue shall adjust the amounts under pars. (a) and (b) by multiplying the amount specified by a ratio using as the denominator the department of revenue’s estimate of the average statewide tax per acre of property classes under s. 70.32 (2) (b) 4., 1993 stats., s. 70.32 (2) (b) 5., 1993 stats., and s. 70.32 (2) (b) 6., 1993 stats., for 1986 and, as the numerator, the department of revenue’s estimate of the average tax per acre for the same classes of property for the year in which the adjustment is made.

77.84(2)(cm) (cm) For purposes of determining the per acre amounts under pars. (am) and (bm), in 2004 and in 2007 and each 5th year thereafter, the department of revenue shall determine the average statewide tax per acre of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6. by multiplying the average equalized value of property classified under s. 70.32 (2) (a) 6., as determined under s. 70.57, by the average tax rate determined under s. 76.126.

77.84(3) (3) Delinquency.

77.84(3)(a) (a) The procedures specified for the collection of delinquent taxes under ch. 74, and for the sale of land for delinquent taxes under ch. 75 apply to taxes returned delinquent under this subsection. Immediately upon the expiration of 2 years after the date the county acquires a tax certificate, the county clerk shall take a tax deed as provided under ch. 75. The county clerk shall certify to the department that a tax deed has been taken and shall include the legal description of the land subject to the tax deed.

77.84(3)(b) (b) Immediately after receiving the certification of the county clerk that a tax deed has been taken, the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land as managed forest land. The notice requirement under s. 77.88 (1) does not apply to the department’s action under this paragraph. The department shall notify the county treasurer of the amount of the withdrawal fee under s. 77.88 (5m) and the withdrawal tax, as determined under s. 77.88 (5). The amount of the tax and the fee shall be payable to the department under s. 75.36 (3) if the property is sold by the county. The amount shall be credited to the conservation fund.

77.84 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 378; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 35; 2003 a. 228; 2005 a. 299; 2013 a. 81; 2023 a. 12.

77.85 77.85 State contribution. The department shall pay before June 30 annually the municipal treasurer, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (5) (bv), 20 cents for each acre of land in the municipality that is designated as managed forest land under this subchapter and for each acre of land in the municipality that has been withdrawn under s. 77.885 but for which payments under s. 77.84 (2) are being made.

77.85 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27; 2009 a. 28.

77.86 77.86 Forestry practices.

77.86(1) (1) Cutting regulated.

77.86(1)(a) (a) Except as provided under sub. (6), no person may cut merchantable timber on managed forest land on which the payment under s. 77.84 (2) is delinquent.

77.86(1)(b) (b)

77.86(1)(b)1. 1. Except as provided under sub. (6), an owner who intends to cut merchantable timber on managed forest land shall, at least 30 days before the cutting is to take place, on a form provided by the department, file a notice of intent to cut and, except as provided under subd. 2., request approval of the proposed cutting from the department.

77.86(1)(b)2. 2. An owner who is required under the terms of an approved management plan to cut merchantable timber on managed forest land is not required to obtain approval of the cutting of that timber before the cutting takes place if any of the following provided the required notice of intent to cut to the department under subd. 1.:

77.86(1)(b)2.a. a. A cooperating forester authorized under s. 28.05 to assist the state in the harvesting and sale of timber.

77.86(1)(b)2.b. b. A forester accredited by the Society of American Foresters, Association of Consulting Foresters, or Wisconsin Consulting Foresters.

77.86(1)(b)2.c. c. A person who holds at least a bachelor’s degree from a forestry program provided by a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education and who has 5 years of experience engaged in the full-time profession of managing forests, including timber harvesting, wildlife management, water quality, and recreation to maintain a healthy and productive forest.

77.86(1)(b)2.d. d. A person who holds a degree or diploma from a 2-year forestry program provided by an accredited technical or vocational school and who has 5 years of experience engaged in the full-time profession of managing forests, including timber harvesting, wildlife management, water quality, and recreation to maintain a healthy and productive forest.

77.86(1)(b)2.e. e. A person who has 5 years of experience engaged in the full-time profession of managing forests, including timber harvesting, wildlife management, water quality, and recreation to maintain a healthy and productive forest.

77.86(1)(c) (c) If the proposed cutting conforms to the management plan and is consistent with sound forestry practices, the department shall approve the request.

77.86(1)(d) (d) If the proposed cutting does not conform to the management plan or is not consistent with sound forestry practices, the department shall assist the owner in developing an acceptable proposal before approving the request.

77.86(1)(e) (e) The department shall not restrict an approved cutting based on standards established under s. 23.27 (3).

77.86(1)(f) (f) The department shall send notice to the person who filed the notice of intention to cut by certified letter or electronic mail no later than the end of the next business day of the department’s decision to deny a cutting notice and the reason for the denial.

77.86(3) (3) Time limit. All cutting specified in the notice under sub. (1) (b) shall be commenced within one year after the date the proposed cutting is approved or, if approval is not required under sub. (1) (b) 2., within one year after the date on which the notice under sub. (1) (b) 1. is filed. The owner shall report to the department the date on which the cutting is commenced.

77.86(4) (4) Reporting. Within 30 days after completion of any cutting under this section, the owner shall report to the department, on a form provided by the department, a description of the species of wood, kind of product and the quantity of each species cut as shown by the scale or measurement made on the ground as cut, skidded, loaded or delivered, or by tree scale certified by a forester acceptable to the department if the wood is sold by tree measurement.

77.86(5) (5) Penalties.

77.86(5)(a) (a) Any person who fails to file the notice required under sub. (1) (b), who fails to file a report as required under sub. (4), or who files a false report under sub. (4) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

77.86(5)(b) (b) Any owner who cuts merchantable timber in violation of this section is subject to a forfeiture equal to 20 percent of the current value of the merchantable timber cut, based on the stumpage value established under s. 77.91 (1).

77.86(6) (6) Exception. This section does not apply to an owner who cuts wood on managed forest land for use as fuel in the owner’s dwelling.

77.86 History History: 1985 a. 29; 2009 a. 365; 2015 a. 55, 358.

77.875 77.875 Grazing restricted. An owner of managed forest land may not permit domesticated animals to graze on managed forest land.

77.875 History History: 1985 a. 29.

77.876 77.876 Noncompliance assessment.

77.876(1) (1) Assessment. The department shall certify to each municipality in which the property is located an owner’s failure to complete a forestry practice during the period of time required under an applicable management plan, and the municipality shall impose a noncompliance assessment of $250 against the owner for each failure. The department shall mail a copy of the certificate of assessment to the owner at the owner’s last-known address and to the municipality.

77.876(2) (2) Payment. An assessment under sub. (1) is due and payable to the municipality on the last day of the month following the date the certificate is mailed to the owner. The municipality shall collect interest at the rate of 12 percent per year on any assessment that is paid later than the due date.

77.876(3) (3) Owner’s liability. The owner is personally liable for an assessment under sub. (1). An unpaid assessment becomes a lien against the merchantable timber cut. If the merchantable timber cut is mingled with other wood products, the unpaid assessment becomes a lien against all of the wood products while they are in the owner’s possession or in the possession of any person other than a purchaser for value without notice in the usual course of business.

77.876(4) (4) Delinquency. If an assessment due under sub. (1) is not paid on or before the last day of the August following the date specified under sub. (2), the municipality shall certify to the taxation district clerk the description of the land and the amount due for the assessment and interest. The taxation district clerk shall enter the delinquent amount on the property tax roll as a special charge.

77.876 History History: 2003 a. 228; 2005 a. 299.

77.88 77.88 Withdrawal; transfer of ownership; nonrenewal.

77.88(1) (1) Withdrawal by department order.

77.88(1)(a) (a) The department may, at the request of the owner of managed forest land or of the governing body of any municipality in which any managed forest land is located, or at its own discretion, investigate to determine whether the designation as managed forest land should be withdrawn. Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall notify the owner of the land and the mayor of the city, the chairperson of the town, or the president of the village in which the land is located of the investigation.

77.88(1)(am) (am) If a city or village is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the department shall notify the president of the city council or village board of any investigation under par. (a).

77.88(1)(b) (b) Following an investigation under par. (a), the department may order the withdrawal of all or any part of a parcel of managed forest land for any of the following reasons:

77.88(1)(b)1. 1. Failure of the land to conform to an eligibility requirement under s. 77.82 (1).

77.88(1)(b)2. 2. The owner’s failure to comply with this subchapter or the management plan.

77.88(1)(b)3. 3. Cutting by the owner in violation of s. 77.86.

77.88(1)(b)4. 4. The owner’s development or use of any part of the parcel for a purpose which is incompatible with the purposes specified in s. 77.80.

77.88(1)(b)5. 5. The owner’s posting of signs or otherwise denying access to open managed forest land.

77.88(1)(c) (c) If the department determines that land should be withdrawn, it shall issue an order withdrawing the land as managed forest land and shall assess against the owner the tax under sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under sub. (5m).

77.88(2) (2) Sale or transfer of ownership.

77.88(2)(a) (a) Authority to transfer. An owner may sell or otherwise transfer ownership of all or part of a parcel of the owner’s managed forest land.

77.88(2)(ac) (ac) Transferred land; requirements met.

77.88(2)(ac)1. 1. If the land transferred under par. (a) meets the eligibility requirements under s. 77.82 (1) (a), (ag), and (b), the land shall continue to be designated as managed forest land if the transferee, within 30 days after a transfer of ownership, files a form provided by the department signed by the transferee. By signing the form, the transferee certifies to the department an intent to comply with the existing management plan for the land and any amendments to the plan. The transferee shall provide proof that each person holding any encumbrance on the land agrees to the designation. The transferee may designate an area of the transferred land closed to public access as provided under s. 77.83. The department shall issue an order continuing the designation of the land as managed forest land under the new ownership. The transferee shall pay a $100 fee that will accompany the report. The fee shall be deposited in the conservation fund. Twenty dollars of the fee or a different amount of the fee as may be established under subd. 2. shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (2) (cr). The department shall immediately notify each person entitled to notice under s. 77.82 (8).

77.88(2)(ac)2. 2. The department may establish by rule a different amount of each fee under subd. 1. that will be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (2) (cr). The amount shall be equal to the average expense to the department of recording an order issued under this subchapter.

77.88(2)(ac)3. 3. If the transferee does not provide the department with the certification required under subd. 1., the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land and shall assess against the transferee the withdrawal tax under sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under sub. (5m). Notwithstanding s. 77.90, the transferee is not entitled to a hearing on an order withdrawing land under this subdivision.

77.88(2)(am) (am) Transferred land; requirements not met. If the land transferred under par. (a) does not meet the eligibility requirements under s. 77.82 (1) (a), (ag), and (b), the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land from managed forest land designation and may assess against the owner a withdrawal tax under sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under sub. (5m).

77.88(2)(b) (b) Remaining land; requirements met. If the land remaining after a transfer under par. (a) meets the eligibility requirements under s. 77.82 (1) (a), (ag), and (b), the remaining land shall continue to be designated as managed forest land.

77.88(2)(c) (c) Remaining land; requirements not met. If the land remaining after a transfer under par. (a) does not meet the eligibility requirements under s. 77.82 (1) (a), (ag), and (b), the department shall issue an order withdrawing the land and may assess against the owner the withdrawal tax under sub. (5) and the withdrawal fee under sub. (5m). Notwithstanding s. 77.90, the owner is not entitled to a hearing on an order withdrawing land under this paragraph.

77.88(2)(d) (d) Transfer of unenrolled land. If the owner of a tract of land under s. 77.82 (1) (ag) 1. b. sells or otherwise transfers land within the tract that is not subject to a managed forest land order, the transferee shall notify the department of the transfer.