Chapter NR 10

NR 10.24(10)(a) (a) Special use zone hunting post requirement. Hunting shall be restricted to locations assigned by the department in a 300 acre area in the southeast part of the special use zone. In assigned locations, the hunter may assemble a blind using existing natural vegetation at the assigned site or use a portable blind. Individuals are required to hunt within 25 feet of the assigned location. All portable blinds shall be removed at the end of the day.

NR 10.24(10)(b) (b) Blind limitation. No more than 4 people may hunt from any location assigned by the department.

NR 10.24 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1981, No. 308, eff. 9-1-81; r. and recr. (3) (c), (4) (g) and (6) (a) and (b), am. (3) (g), (4) (a), (d), (e) and (f), renum. (6) (c) to (6) (e), cr. (6) (c) and (d), Register, August, 1984, No. 344, eff. 9-1-84; am. (3) (c) 2. and (6) (c) 2. b., r. (6) (c) 3., Register, June, 1987, No. 378, eff. 7-1-87; am. (4) (f), Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; am. (1), Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; am. (6) (b) 2. b. and (d), r. (6) (b) 2. c., Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 1-1-95; am. (8) (a) and (b), Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; CR 02-018: am. (3) (c) 1., 2. and (6) (a) 1. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 05-031: am. (8) (a) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 13-021: am. (5), cr. (10) Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13; EmR1420: emerg. am. (2) (a), r. (2) (b), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071: am. (2) (a), r. (2) (b), am. (2) (c) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; CR 16-037: r. (3) (g), am. (7) (a), r. and recr. (7) (b), am. (10) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; CR 16-028: am. (4) (f), (6) (b), (c) (intro.), (d) Register July 2017, eff. 8-1-17; EmR1902: emerg. am. (3) (b) eff. 1-18-19; CR 19-005: am. (3) (b) Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; (3) (c) (title) created under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., Register January 2020 No. 769; CR 21-078: am. (6) (d) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

NR 10.25 NR 10.25 Wild turkey hunting.

NR 10.25(1) (1) Licenses, stamps and carcass tags.

NR 10.25(1)(a) (a) Authorization to hunt.

NR 10.25(1)(a)1. 1. Except as provided under subd. 2., no person may hunt wild turkey unless he or she possesses a wild turkey hunting license and stamp issued by the department and turkey harvest authorization issued by the department or Ft. McCoy military reservation. All licenses, stamps, and harvest authorizations shall be valid for the current hunting season.

NR 10.25(1)(a)2. 2. Persons possessing a senior citizen recreation card issued prior to January 1, 1992 do not need to possess a turkey hunting license or stamp.

NR 10.25(1)(b) (b) Landowner preference. Qualified Wisconsin resident landowners or persons assigned eligibility under s. 29.164, Stats., may request first preference when applying for authorization to hunt wild turkeys provided the zone applied for:

NR 10.25(1)(b)1. 1. Is open to wild turkey hunting.

NR 10.25(1)(b)2. 2. Contains at least 50 acres in one parcel owned by the Wisconsin resident applicant.

NR 10.25(1)(c) (c) License application procedures. Persons applying to hunt wild turkeys on the Ft. McCoy military reservation shall apply to that facility. During a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, it is not necessary to apply for authorization to purchase a fall turkey hunting license. All other applicants shall apply for an authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license as follows:

NR 10.25(1)(c)1. 1. Application for authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license shall be made on forms provided by the department.

NR 10.25(1)(c)2. 2. All fall and spring hunting season applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection. The annual deadlines may not be sooner than July 1.

NR 10.25 Note Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to any deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, the department web site at http://dnr.wi.gov, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.

NR 10.25(1)(c)3. 3. If a maximum of 10 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual licenses. The group application shall be treated as one application for purposes of random selection or consideration for a license. Landowner preference may be requested by group applicants provided all individuals are eligible under par. (b).

NR 10.25(1)(d) (d) Licensee selection procedures. If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone and time period exceeds the available quota of licenses, successful applicants shall be randomly selected in accordance with any statutorily established landowner preference system.

NR 10.25(1)(e) (e) License purchase requirement. Except for persons who purchase a license in accordance with par. (f) 2. or during a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, no person may purchase a turkey hunting license without presenting the license vendor with the department-issued purchase authorization.

NR 10.25(1)(f) (f) Harvest authorization issuance.

NR 10.25(1)(f)1. 1. ‘Oversubscribed zones and time periods.’ Each successful applicant for a turkey hunting license shall be issued a harvest authorization by the department.

NR 10.25(1)(f)2. 2. ‘Undersubscribed zones and time periods.’ If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone is less than the available quota of licenses, the department may make available to any person the remaining harvest authorizations for the zone and time period for purchase at a rate of no more than one harvest authorizations per day per person.

NR 10.25(1)(g) (g) License and harvest authorization restrictions.

NR 10.25(1)(g)1. 1. Except for youths participating in the youth turkey hunt established in s. NR 10.01 (2) (f) 4., licenses and harvest authorizations issued under this section are only valid for the zone and time period indicated on the harvest authorization. Harvest authorizations used during the youth turkey hunt are valid only for the zone indicated on the harvest authorization, but are not limited to the time period indicated on the harvest authorization.

NR 10.25(1)(g)2. 2. Licenses or harvest authorizations issued under this section may not be transferred to or used by any person other than licensee.

NR 10.25(2) (2) Tagging and registration. No person may possess a turkey carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s. NR 10.086.

NR 10.25(3) (3) Restrictions. No person may hunt wild turkeys:

NR 10.25(3)(b) (b) By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations thereof, or while in possession of any type of device that produces recorded or electronic amplifications of bird calls or sounds. This paragraph does not apply to hunters possessing a Class A or B disabled hunting permit which authorizes hunting from a stationary vehicle and which is issued for more than one year. This paragraph does not apply to hunters who are unable to proficiently use a turkey call because they are deaf or severely hard of hearing due to some pathological or functional cause as verified by a medical professional.

NR 10.25(3)(c) (c) With the aid of dogs, except during the fall season for hunting turkeys described in s. NR 10.01 (2) (f) 2.

NR 10.25(3)(d) (d) With live or electronic decoys for the purposes of enticing wild turkeys.

NR 10.25(4) (4) Harvest quota. The number of wild turkey hunting licenses or harvest authorizations issued annually for the spring and fall seasons shall be determined by the department. The department shall base its determination for each wild turkey hunting zone upon:

NR 10.25(4)(a) (a) The abundance and distribution of wild turkeys;

NR 10.25(4)(b) (b) Trends in hunter success rates;

NR 10.25(4)(c) (c) Hunter distribution and density; and

NR 10.25(4)(d) (d) Zone size and forested acreage.

NR 10.25 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1966, No. 123, eff. 4-1-66; r. and recr. Register, March, 1967, No. 135, eff. 4-1-67; am. (3), (5) and (7) (a), Register, March, 1968, No. 147, eff. 4-1-68; renum. to be NR 10.25, Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; r. and recr., Register, November, 1982, No. 323, eff. 12-1-82; am. (1) (c) 2. and (3), Register, March, 1985, No. 351, eff. 4-1-85; r. and recr. (1) (c), Register, August, 1986, No. 368, eff. 9-1-86; am. (1) (a), (2) (a) (intro.), (b) and (3), Register, July, 1988, No. 391, eff. 8-1-88; r. and recr. (1) (c) 2. and 3. and (3), cr. (1) (c) 4., Register, October, 1988, No. 394, eff. 1-1-89; am. (1) (a), r. and recr. (1) (c) (intro.), cr. (1) (e) 3., Register, March, 1989, No. 399, eff. 4-1-89; cr. (4) (e), Register, July, 1990, No. 415, eff. 8-1-90; am. (1) (c) 2. and 3., Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; cr. (5) Register, June, 1991, No. 426, eff. 7-1-91; am. (1) (c) (intro.), Register, September, 1991, No. 429, eff. 10-1-91; r. and recr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; am. (1) (c) 3. and (3) (a), Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94; am. (3) (a), r. and recr. (4) (e), Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; CR 02-018: r. (1) (a) 3., am. (1) (c) 3. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 04-046: am (2) (a) 1. and 2., cr. (4) (f) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (4) (d) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06; CR 05-031: am. (1) (c) 2., r. and recr. (2) (b), and r. (4) (e) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 06-012: am. (1) (d), (e), (f) 2. (intro.), (g) 1. and 3., r. (1) (f) 2. a. to c., r. and recr. (4) (b) Register December 2006 No. 612, eff. 2-1-07; CR 07-015: am. (4) (c) Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 10-1-07; CR 08-011: am. (4) (c) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09; CR 09-015: am. (1) (f) 2., (3) (intro.), (4) (b) and (c) Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 11-1-09, except (4) (c), eff. 2-1-10; CR 10-051: r. (4) (f) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 13-071: am. (4) (a) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; CR 16-037: am. (1) (c) 3., (4) (b) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; CR 17-013: am. (1) (c) (intro.), (e), Register February 2018 No. 746 eff. 3-1-18; EmR1613: emerg. am. (2) (a) 1., r. and recr. (2), r. (3), renum. (4) and (5) to (3) and (4), eff. 3-12-16; EmR1712: emerg. am. (2) (a) 1., eff. 6-17-17; CR 17-061: r. and recr. (2), r. (3), renum. (4), (5) to (3), (4) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; EmR1902: emerg. am. (1) (a) 1., (f), (g), (4) (intro.) eff. 1-18-19; CR 19-005: am. (1) (a) 1., (f), (g), (4) (intro.) Register September 2019 No. 765, eff. 10-1-19; CR 19-146: r. (1) (g) 3., (3) (a) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; CR 20-087: am. (2) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 10.26 NR 10.26 Sharp-tailed grouse hunting.

NR 10.26(1) (1) Permits and carcass tags.

NR 10.26(1)(a) (a) Authorization to hunt. No person may hunt sharp-tailed grouse unless he or she possesses a valid sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit and carcass tag issued by the department, in addition to an approval authorizing small game hunting.

NR 10.26(1)(b) (b) Permit application procedures. Persons applying to hunt sharp-tailed grouse shall apply for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit as follows:

NR 10.26(1)(b)1. 1. Application for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit shall be made on an application form provided by the department.

NR 10.26(1)(b)2. 2. All applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the application form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection.

NR 10.26 Note Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to any deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, the department web site at http://dnr.wi.gov, hunting license outlet handouts, and pertinent hunting regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.

NR 10.26(1)(b)3. 3. If a maximum of 4 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual permits and submit them together in a single envelope clearly marked “group application” on the outside. The group application shall be treated as one application for purpose of random selection or consideration for a permit. If a group contains persons who unsuccessfully applied for sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits in the previous year, and persons who successfully applied or did not apply for sharp-tailed grouse permits the previous year, the group will be placed in the preference category of those who successfully applied in the previous year.

NR 10.26(1)(c) (c) Permittee selection procedures for oversubscribed units. If the number of applications for permits for a management unit exceeds the number of available permits in that unit, successful applicants shall be randomly selected according to the preference system established in s. 29.192 (2), Stats.

NR 10.26(1)(d) (d) Carcass tag issuance.

NR 10.26(1)(d)1. 1. ‘Oversubscribed units.’ Each successful applicant for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit shall be issued a carcass tag by the department.

NR 10.26(1)(d)2. 2. ‘Undersubscribed units.’ If the number of applications is less than the available permits for a management unit, the department may:

NR 10.26(1)(d)2.a. a. Randomly issue successful applicants additional carcass tags; or

NR 10.26(1)(d)2.b. b. Make available to any person the remaining permits for the unit on a first-come, first-serve basis; or

NR 10.26(1)(d)2.c. c. Use both procedures described in subd. 2. a. and b.

NR 10.26(1)(e) (e) Permit and carcass tag restrictions.

NR 10.26(1)(e)1. 1. Permits and carcass tags issued under this section are only valid for the unit indicated on the permit during the open season established for sharp-tailed grouse.

NR 10.26(1)(e)2. 2. Permits or carcass tags issued under this section may not be transferred to or used by any person other than the permittee.

NR 10.26(2) (2) Tagging procedure. No person may possess a sharp-tailed grouse in violation of the requirements for possession and transportation established under s. NR 10.08 (7) and for tagging established under s. NR 10.085.

NR 10.26(3) (3) Harvest quota. The number of sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits or carcass tags issued annually for units described in s. NR 10.28 shall be based on the annual sharp-tailed grouse harvest quotas established for these units. The department shall base its determination of the annual harvest quota for each unit upon:

NR 10.26(3)(a) (a) The estimated size and distribution of sharp-tailed grouse populations.

NR 10.26(3)(b) (b) Trends in sharp-tailed grouse hunter numbers and hunter success rates.

NR 10.26(3)(c) (c) A maximum allowable harvest of no more than 25% of the projected fall population.

NR 10.26 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 05-031: am. (1) (b) 2. Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; EmR1613: emerg. r. and recr. (2), eff. 3-12-16; CR 17-061: r. and recr. (2) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18.

NR 10.275 NR 10.275 State park trapping, small game and migratory game bird hunting. No person may hunt game species listed in s. NR 10.01 (1), (2) (a), (c), (e), (g), (3) (a), (bt), (c), (f) or (h) on the state owned or managed portions of Governor Dodge, Mill Bluff, or Mirror Lake state parks except as provided in this section and as established under s. 29.089 (1m), Stats. No person may trap on the state owned portions of state parks except as provided in this section and as established under s. 29.089 (1m), Stats. Portions of the properties listed may be posted closed to trapping and, small game and migratory bird hunting.

NR 10.275(1) (1) Small game and migratory game bird hunting seasons.

NR 10.275(1)(a) (a) Small game. Hunting is allowed for small game in Governor Dodge, Mill Bluff, and Mirror Lake state parks during the seasons specified in s. NR 10.01 (2) (a), (c), (e), (g), (3) (a), (bt), (c), (f) and (h).

NR 10.275(1)(b) (b) Migratory game birds.

NR 10.275(1)(b)1. 1. Migratory game bird hunting with firearms for the species specified in s. NR 10.01 (1) is allowed in Governor Dodge and Mill Bluff state parks from November 1 through December 15 or until the seasons established in s. NR 10.01 (1) conclude, whichever occurs first.

NR 10.275(1)(b)2. 2. Migratory game bird hunting is allowed in Mirror Lake state park during the seasons specified in s. NR 10.01 (1).

NR 10.275(2) (2) Shooting hours.

NR 10.275(2)(a) (a) Except as provided under pars. (b) and (c), the shooting hours for pursuing small game at Governor Dodge, Mill Bluff and Mirror Lake state parks shall be the same as the hours established in s. NR 10.06 (5) except that shooting hours will close at 12:00 noon daily at times when the Natural Resources Board has made a determination to generally prohibit hunting at other state parks under s. 29.089 (1m) (b) 2., Stats. Hunting is allowed under the specific season frameworks for these parks established in s. NR 10.01.

NR 10.275(2)(b) (b) The shooting hours for pursuing migratory game birds at Governor Dodge and Mill Bluff state parks shall be the same as the hours established in s. NR 10.06 (5) except that shooting hours shall close at 12:00 noon daily at times when the Natural Resources Board has made a determination to generally prohibit hunting under s. 29.089 (1m) (b) 2., Stats. Hunting is allowed under the specific season frameworks for these parks established in s. NR 10.01.

NR 10.275(2)(c) (c) The shooting hours for pursuing migratory game birds at Mirror Lake state park shall be the same as the hours established in s. NR 10.06 (5).

NR 10.275(5) (5) Trapping.

NR 10.275(5)(a) (a) Purpose. Section 29.089 (1m) (a), Stats., establishes that trapping is generally allowed in state parks. This subsection is created because prohibiting trapping by certain methods and in certain locations is necessary to protect public safety.

NR 10.275(5)(b) (b) Applicability. The provisions of this subsection apply to state parks and state park trails as established in ss. 23.17 (2), 23.175 (2) (a), 23.293 (1) (c), 27.01, and 29.089, Stats., when the property is owned by the department. When traversing another type of department property established under s. 23.09 (2), Stats., portions of state trails and other state park related properties are subject to the hunting and trapping rules of that property type unless otherwise posted.

NR 10.275(5)(c) (c) Upland trapping. No person may place any trap that is not completely submerged under water on the state owned portions of state parks except if the trap is an enclosed trigger trap.

NR 10.275 History History: CR 02-089: cr. Register February 2003 No. 566, eff. 3-1-03; CR 04-046: am (1) (b) 1. and (2) (b) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 05-102: am. (1) (a), (b) 1., (2) (c) and (3) (a) Register June 2006 No. 606, eff. 7-1-06; CR 07-035: am. (1) (b) 1., (2) (b) 1. and 2. Register April 2008 No. 628, eff. 5-1-08; CR 08-022: cr. (4) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; cr. (4) (c) (title), (d) (title) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., Register December 2010 No. 660; correction in (4) (c), (d) 1. under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2012 No. 680; CR 13-108: am. (title), (intro.), (1) (b) 1., r. (2) (title), (a), r. (2) (c), renum. (2) 1. to 3. to (a) to (c), r. (3), (4), cr. (5) Register August 2014 No. 704, eff. 9-1-14; correction in (2) (title) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., correction in numbering in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1. Register August 2014 No. 704, eff. 9-1-14; CR 16-028: am. (2) Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17.

NR 10.28 NR 10.28 Deer population management units. Deer population management units are established as designated on the following maps:

NR 10.28(1) (1) Statewide deer management units.

NR 10.28(2) (2) Metropolitan deer management units.

NR 10.28(2)(a) (a) La Crosse area.

NR 10.28(2)(b) (b) Madison area.

NR 10.28(2)(c) (c) Milwaukee area.

NR 10.28(2)(d) (d) Hudson area.

NR 10.28(2)(e) (e) Green Bay area.

NR 10.28(2)(f) (f) Superior area.