Chapter NR 10

NR 10.10 NR 10.10 Deer and bear hunting.

NR 10.10(1) (1) Hunting with dogs prohibited. No person may hunt deer or bear with the aid of dogs, except that dogs may be used for hunting bear during the season established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 1. in black bear hunting zones A, B and D as described in s. NR 10.30.

NR 10.10(2) (2) Illegal game. Any deer killed during the open season for hunting deer with bow and arrow or crossbow only or that is killed under the authority of an archer or crossbow license and showing evidence that it was shot with a firearm shall be an illegal game animal and no person may have such animal in possession.

NR 10.10 History History: 1-2-56; am. (2), Register, August, 1963, No. 92, eff. 9-1-63; am. (2), Register, August, 1966, No. 128, eff. 9-1-66; renum. to be NR 10.10, Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; r. and recr. Register, August, 1972, No. 200, eff. 9-1-72; emerg. am. (2), and cr. (6) to (11), eff. 8-2-74; am. (2), cr. (6) to (11), Register, December, 1974, No. 228. eff. 1-1-75; am. (7) and r. (9), Register, May, 1976, No. 245, eff. 8-15-76; am. (1), (7) and (8), r. (5) and (6), Register, May, 1977, No. 257, eff. 6-1-77; r. and recr. Register, May, 1978, No. 269, eff. 6-1-78; r. (1) (a), Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; (2) renum. from NR 10.11 (2), Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; r. and recr. (1) (b), Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 10-1-84; am. (2), Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; am. (1) (b), Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; r. and recr. (1) (b), Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; CR 03-018: r. and recr. (1) (b) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (1) (b) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06; CR 07-015: am. (1) (b) Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 11-1-07; EmR1420: emerg. am. (2), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071: am. (2) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; correction in (1) (title) and repeal of (1) (b) (title) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., and (1) (intro.) and (b) cons. and renum. to (1) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769.

NR 10.101 NR 10.101 Bear hunting.

NR 10.101(1) (1) Prohibited methods. No person may:

NR 10.101(1)(a) (a) Denned bear. Hunt or shoot a bear in a den.

NR 10.101(1)(b) (b) Restricted areas. Hunt bear in any dump or sanitary landfill.

NR 10.101(1)(c) (c) Non-adult bears. Shoot, shoot at or kill a bear that is accompanied by a bear that is not an adult bear.

NR 10.101(2) (2) Dog use restrictions.

NR 10.101(2)(a) (a) Identification. No person shall hunt or pursue bear with any dog unless such dog is tattooed or wears a collar with the owner’s name and address attached.

NR 10.101(2)(b) (b) Training. The training of dogs by pursuing wild bear is prohibited except July 1 through August 31, or as authorized by s. 29.184 (3m), Stats.

NR 10.101 Note Note: Bear dog trials and training are regulated by ch. NR 17.

NR 10.101(2)(c) (c) Pack size. No more than 6 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue bear regardless of the number of bear hunters assisting the bear harvest permittee and regardless of the dog ownership.

NR 10.101 Note Note: Only a bear hunting licensee assisting a Class A bear license holder may pursue bear during the open season on bear except when engaged in lawful bear dog training as authorized under s. 29.184 (3m), Stats.

NR 10.101(2)(e) (e) Bait use. Persons hunting bear with dogs may use bait in accordance with s. NR 10.07 (2m) during the season established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 2.

NR 10.101 Note Note: This rule does not permit a person to hunt bear over bait without using dogs as a hunting aid.

NR 10.101(3) (3) Possession. No person may possess a bear carcass in violation of the requirements for possession and transportation established under s. NR 10.08 (7), for tagging established under s. NR 10.085 and registration under s. NR 10.086.

NR 10.101 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1978, No. 269, eff. 6-1-78; cr. (1) (b) 5., Register, August, 1979, No. 284, eff. 9-1-79; r. and recr. (1) (b) and (3) (b), Register, April, 1980, No. 292, eff. 5-1-80; am. (3) (b), Register, July, 1985, No. 355, eff. 8-1-85; am. (intro.), cr. (1) (c), (3) (e) and (4), r. and recr. (3) (c), Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; am. (2) (c) 3., Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; cr. (4) (d), Register, August, 1988, No. 392, eff. 9-1-88; am. (3) (b), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; r. (2), renum. (3) and (4) to be (2) and (3), Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; CR 01-008: am. (1) (c), r. (2) (d), Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 4-1-02; correction in (3) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register September 2002 No. 561; correction in (2) (e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Register April 2005 No. 592; CR 13-021: am. (2) (b) Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13; correction in (3) (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2015 No. 719; EmR1613: emerg. r. and recr. (3), eff. 3-12-16; CR 17-061: r. and recr. (3) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; correction in numbering in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register February 2018 No. 746; CR 20-087: am. (3) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 10.102 NR 10.102 Bear hunting quota and license issuance.

NR 10.102(1) (1) Bear quotas. The department shall establish black bear quotas based on the status of zone black bear populations in relation to population management goals. Quotas shall be approved by the Natural Resources Board.

NR 10.102 Note Note: Population management goals may take into account annual data regarding agricultural damage, nuisance complaints, hunter crowding or conflict, hunter success, hunter satisfaction, and bear disease/health issues.

NR 10.102(1)(b) (b) Quota formula. In each black bear management zone, the number of Class A bear licenses to be issued to harvest the desired numbers of bear shall be based on hunter success rates from previous seasons. In establishing licenses for a zone without an adequate history of licenses, the average success rates of similar zones shall be applied or the department shall estimate an anticipated success rate. The license number formula is:

NR 10.102(1)(c) (c) Success rate formula. Hunter success rates used to compute the number of Class A bear licenses to be issued for each zone shall be those calculated by the department from annual bear season harvest reports except where no previous history of success rates exist. The license rate formula is:

NR 10.102(1)(e) (e) Temporary bear harvest subzones.

NR 10.102(1)(e)1. 1. The department may establish temporary bear harvest subzones within each black bear management zone to increase or decrease harvest within specific subzones to assure maintenance of bear populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management zone.

NR 10.102(1)(e)2. 2. The department may require that a portion of the Class A bear licenses available within a bear management zone be specific to a temporary bear harvest subzone to assure maintenance of bear populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management zone.

NR 10.102(1)(e)3. 3. Class A bear licenses for the temporary subzones shall be used only within the subzone.

NR 10.102(1)(e)4. 4. Temporary subzone boundaries shall follow game management unit boundaries as identified in s. NR 10.285.

NR 10.102(1)(e)5. 5. Temporary subzones may be established to increase bear harvest when either of the following 2 conditions exist within the area considered for a subzone:

NR 10.102(1)(e)5.a. a. The bear population density within the subzone for the previous 3 year period exceeds by 20% the zone population density goal as indicated by indexes or models, or both.

NR 10.102(1)(e)5.b. b. Bear nuisance or agricultural damage complaints per square mile within the subzone exceed the zone average by 20% or more for the previous 3 year period.

NR 10.102(1)(e)6. 6. Temporary subzones may be established to decrease harvest when either one of the following conditions exist:

NR 10.102(1)(e)6.a. a. The mortality rate of adult bears within the subzone exceeds 22% for the previous 3 year period.

NR 10.102(1)(e)6.b. b. The bear population density within the subzone for the previous 3 year period is below the zone population density goal by 20% or more as indicated by indexes or models, or both.

NR 10.102(1)(e)7. 7. Each temporary bear harvest subzone may be established for a period not to exceed 2 years.

NR 10.102(1)(f) (f) Permanent bear harvest subzones. Class A bear licenses for subzones shall be used only in the subzone.

NR 10.102(2) (2) Application procedure.

NR 10.102(2)(a) (a) Application submittal. Application for Class A bear licenses shall be on forms provided by the department. Applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline date indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on the deadline date to be considered for selection. The annual deadline may not be sooner than December 1 each year.

NR 10.102 Note Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to the deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.

NR 10.102(2)(b) (b) Group applications. Group applications for a maximum of 4 hunters may be submitted for Class A bear hunting licenses provided each applicant completes the application form. The group’s preference standing shall be that of the member with the lowest number of preference points. If the group is selected, the group shall accept or reject Class A bear licenses for all members of their group.

NR 10.102(3) (3) License issuance. The department shall select successful applicants and issue Class A bear license approval notices no later than February 15 of each year. The department may reissue a Class A bear license if the license is returned or if the applicant fails to or cannot comply with s. 29.184, Stats. Selection shall be by random drawing.

NR 10.102(4) (4) Fees. A successful applicant shall submit the appropriate license fee established by s. 29.563 (2) (a) 6. or (b) 4., Stats., to the department before receiving a Class A bear license.

NR 10.102(6) (6) Educational permit issuance. Upon receipt of proper application, the department shall issue an educational permit for bear observation. The applicant shall include the location to the quarter section, times and dates of the activity, name of person and bear eco-tourism business or educational institution they are representing. The educational permit authorizes the permittee to observe or shine bear for educational purposes only pursuant to s. 29.314 (3) (b) 3. and (5) (b) 1., Stats.

NR 10.102(6)(a) (a) No person may be engaged in shining bear for educational purposes without being in possession of an educational permit.

NR 10.102(6)(b) (b) Only the named person on the permit may possess a firearm when participating in the actions authorized by the permit.

NR 10.102(6)(c) (c) The permit is restricted to use in a ground blind or elevated stand.

NR 10.102(6)(d) (d) The permit is not valid during the seasons established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (e) and (g) and the 7 consecutive days prior to those seasons.

NR 10.102 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; am. (1) (a) to (d), Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; am. (1), Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; r. and recr. (1) (a), renum. (1) (b) to (e) and (2) to be (2) to (6), Register, October, 1988, No. 394, eff. 1-1-89; am. (1) (b), Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; am. (1) (d), Register, February, 1993, No. 446, eff. 3-1-93; cr. (1) (e), Register, December, 1993, No. 456, eff. 1-1-94; am. (1) (d), cr. (1) (f), Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96; am. (1) (a) to (c), (e) 2., 3., (f), (3) and (4), renum. (2) to be (2) (a), cr. (2) (b), r. and recr. (5) and (6), Register, July, 1998, No. 511, eff. 8-1-98; CR 02-017: am. (1) (d) Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 1-5-03; CR 02-018: am. (2) (b) and (4) Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 04-011: am (4) Register September 2004 No 585, eff. 11-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (2) (a) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06; CR 06-012: am. (4), cr. (4m) Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 2-1-07; CR 07-015: am. (1) (d) Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 11-1-07; CR 09-024: am. (4m) (c) 2. Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; CR 13-071: am. (1) (e) 4. Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; correction in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2015 No. 719; CR 16-037: r. (5) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; CR 19-133: am. (1) (intro.), r. (1) (a), (d), (4m) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.

NR 10.103 NR 10.103 Deer hunting.

NR 10.103(1) (1) Harvest authorizations. A harvest authorization shall be issued with each hunting license except when an archer license is issued to a person who has already been issued a crossbow license or when a crossbow license is issued to a person who has already been issued an archer license.

NR 10.103(2) (2) Possession. No person may possess a deer carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s. NR 10.086.

NR 10.103 History History: Cr. Register, Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; r. and recr. Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; renum. from NR 10.102, Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; am. (1), Register, October, 1991, No. 430, eff. 11-1-91; am. (2), Register, May, 1993, No. 449, eff. 6-1-93; am. (2), Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; emerg. am. (2), eff. 8-12-96; am. (1) and (2), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; CR 01-006: am. (1), Register August 2001 No. 548, eff. 9-1-01; EmR1420: emerg. am. (1), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071: am. (1) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; EmR1613: emerg. am. (1), r. and recr. (2), eff. 3-12-16; CR 17-061: am. (1), r. and recr. (2) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; EmR1902: emerg. am. (1) eff. 1-18-19; CR 19-005: am. (1) Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; CR 20-087: am. (2) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 10.104 NR 10.104 Deer population management.

NR 10.104(1) (1) Deer management system. The department shall manage the state deer population by all of the following:

NR 10.104(1)(a) (a) Establishing deer management unit boundaries within the state.

NR 10.104(1)(b) (b) Establishing deer population objectives for each deer management unit.

NR 10.104(1)(c) (c) Monitoring the performance of the deer populations within each deer management unit.

NR 10.104(1)(d) (d) Establishing deer hunting seasons and quotas with the appropriate antlerless deer permit levels to move the deer population in the direction of the established deer population objective for each deer management unit.

NR 10.104(2) (2) Deer management units; where established. The deer management unit boundaries are the boundaries established in s. NR 10.28 (1) except for areas that are subdivided as:

NR 10.104(2)(a) (a) Metropolitan deer management subunits.

NR 10.104(2)(b) (b) Islands of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

NR 10.104(2)(c) (c) Madeline Island in Ashland County.

NR 10.104(2)(d) (d) Being within the exterior boundaries of the Bad River, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau, Menominee, and Red Cliff reservations.

NR 10.104(3) (3) Three year reviews. The department shall review, and seek public comment, regarding the need to modify the boundaries and population objectives for all deer management units every 3 years. For deer management units in the ceded territory as defined by s. NR 13.02 (1), the department shall also provide the Wisconsin Chippewa bands those opportunities for tribal input described in and required by the parties’ stipulations in the case of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Indians, et al., v. State of Wisconsin, et al., Case No. 74-C-313-C in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

NR 10.104(4) (4) Deer population objectives. A deer population objective shall be established for each management unit except for tribal reservation units identified in s. NR 10.28 (1). The department may establish a separate deer population objective and issue unique antlerless permits for areas which are subdivided into metropolitan deer management subunits and lands within the tribal reservation units identified in s. NR 10.28 (1) which are not owned by Indian tribal members or held in trust for the Indian tribe or for members of an Indian tribe. Deer population objectives will be expressed as a goal statement to do one of the following:

NR 10.104(4)(a) (a) Increase the deer population.

NR 10.104(4)(b) (b) Maintain the current deer population.

NR 10.104(4)(c) (c) Decrease the deer population.

NR 10.104(5) (5) Deer population monitoring.

NR 10.104(5)(a) (a) Metrics. The department shall monitor progress towards each management unit’s objective of increasing, maintaining, or decreasing the deer population. The department shall consider all of the following:

NR 10.104(5)(a)1. 1. Deer health.

NR 10.104(5)(a)2. 2. Deer impacts on natural resources.

NR 10.104(5)(a)3. 3. Deer impacts on society.

NR 10.104(5)(a)4. 4. Deer hunter success.

NR 10.104(5)(a)5. 5. Car killed deer information.

NR 10.104(5)(a)6. 6. Deer population trends and public perception of population trends.

NR 10.104(5)(a)6.a. a. In 2014 and continuing until the department determines that evaluation of the metrics are providing information that is comparable, the department shall utilize the sex-age-kill method for calculating deer densities. The sex-age-kill method uses the following quantitative data for each deer management unit: proportion of yearling bucks in the harvest, proportion of yearling does in the harvest, proportion of males and females at birth, the number of fawns seen per doe during the summer, the proportion of total buck mortality due to hunting harvest, and the harvest by sex as registered during the hunting seasons.

NR 10.104(5)(a)6.b. b. The department may make a determination that alternative methods of population evaluation are comparable, which shall become effective in lieu of or in addition to the sex-age-kill method after approval by the Natural Resources Board, and upon issuance of an order and publication in the official state newspaper.

NR 10.104 Note Note: A determination under this paragraph does not prevent continued utilization of the sex-age-kill method as the department determines is valuable or necessary.

NR 10.104(5)(b) (b) County deer management advisory councils. The department shall establish county deer management advisory councils for the purpose of seeking comment from members of the public on the status of the deer herd at the county level. The council shall be chaired by the chairperson for the county delegation of the Conservation Congress established under s. 15.348, Stats., or a designee who shall be approved by the department. At least 3 members shall be individuals who held an annual license authorizing deer hunting in this state or another state in at least 7 of the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated, except if the individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard during the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated. If the individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or National Guard, the number of years in which he or she is required to have held a deer hunting license equals 7 minus the number of years of active duty served during those 10 years. The advisory council may also be comprised of a representative of any of the following entities:

NR 10.104(5)(b)1. 1. For deer management units in the ceded territory as defined by s. NR 13.02 (1), the department shall provide the Wisconsin Chippewa bands those opportunities for tribal input into the department’s deer management decisions described in and required by the parties’ stipulations in the case of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Indians, et al., v. State of Wisconsin, et al., Case No. 74-C-313-C in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

NR 10.104(5)(b)2. 2. Agriculture.

NR 10.104(5)(b)3. 3. Forestry.

NR 10.104(5)(b)4. 4. Tourism.

NR 10.104(5)(b)5. 5. Transportation.

NR 10.104(5)(b)6. 6. Local government.

NR 10.104(5)(b)7. 7. A local organization representing hunting interests.

NR 10.104(5)(b)8. 8. A person who is enrolled as a participant in the Deer Management Assistance Program as established under subch. II.