Chapter NR 12

NR 12.16(7) (7) Deer type. Unless exempted by the department, only deer without antlers or with an antler less than 3 inches in length may be killed.

NR 12.16(8) (8) Weapon use. The following conditions shall apply to the use of firearms and bows on deer shooting permits:

NR 12.16(8)(a) (a) Permittees, all participants and persons assisting participants, shall comply with the blaze orange clothing regulations of s. 29.301 (2), Stats., unless exempted by the department. Exemptions will be granted where local ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms and bow hunting or a trained sharpshooter during the closed deer gun season are the only methods available to remove deer.

NR 12.16(8)(b) (b) All participants shall comply with the firearm type restrictions applicable to the permittee’s land during the gun-deer season specified under s. NR 10.01 (3) (e).

NR 12.16 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro), (1), (2) and (8) (a), r. and recr. (5), Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94; am. (8) (intro.), (a), (b), Register, July, 1995, No. 475, eff. 8-1-95; am. (2) (a), renum. (2) (b) to be (2) (b) 1. and cr. (2) (b) 2., Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 01-006: am. (1), Register August 2001 No. 548, eff. 9-1-01; CR 00-154:am. (2) (a), Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02; corrections made to (2) (a) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576; CR 04-046: am (8) (b) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 05-031: am. (8) (b) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 10-051: am. (4), (6) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; EmR1420: emerg. am. (4), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071: am. (4) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15; correction in (5) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2015 No. 719; CR 16-037: r. (8) (c) Register April 2017 No. 735, eff. 5-1-17; correction in (8) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2017 No. 738; EmR1613: emerg. r. and recr. (5), eff. 3-12-16; CR 17-061: r. and recr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; CR 20-087: am. (5) Register August 2021 No. 788, eff. 9-1-21.

NR 12.17 NR 12.17 Conditions of permits to shoot Canada geese causing damage. In addition to s. NR 12.15, the following conditions shall apply to all shooting permits for Canada geese causing damage:

NR 12.17(1) (1) Goose hunting permit required. All participants other than the permittee shall have been issued a permit to hunt Canada geese under s. NR 10.125 that is valid for the current license year and goose hunting zone which contains the lands on which the permittee has been authorized to shoot Canada geese causing damage.

NR 12.17(2) (2) Carcass tag distribution. The permittee may retain 2 of the carcass tags provided to them by the department for their use. The permittee shall distribute the remaining carcass tags to the hunters he or she has authorized to assist. The permittee may not provide more than 2 carcass tags to each authorized hunter and may not distribute the second carcass tag until they have used their first carcass tag.

NR 12.17(3) (3) Use of other permits. All persons authorized to participate under this section shall have used any other goose hunting permit and carcass tags issued to them which are valid for the locations and effective dates specified in the permit prior to using the carcass tags issued sub. (2).

NR 12.17(4) (4) Reporting. Any person receiving a permit from a permittee under this section shall report the harvest of a Canada goose to the permittee and mail a completed goose harvest report card to the department within 48 hours of the time of harvest.

NR 12.17(5) (5) Bag limit. No person may take or possess more than 2 Canada geese under each permit issued under this section.

NR 12.17(6) (6) Weekdays only hunting. No person may kill a Canada goose under a permit issued under this section on a Saturday or Sunday during the effective dates of their permit.

NR 12.17 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro.), Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94.

subch. II of ch. NR 12 Subchapter II — Wildlife Damage

NR 12.30 NR 12.30 Purpose. This subchapter is adopted to implement and administer the beaver damage control provisions under s. 29.885, Stats., deer damage provisions under s. 29.887, Stats., and the wildlife damage abatement and claim program established under s. 29.889, Stats. In its administration of the wildlife damage abatement and claim program the department shall assure that the funds appropriated by the legislature are used in the most cost-effective manner. Wildlife damage abatement measures when determined by the department and the administering county to be cost-effective shall be funded and receive priority in payment over damage claims.

NR 12.30 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am. Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; am. Register, June, 1988, No. 390, eff. 7-1-88; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.75 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.

NR 12.305 NR 12.305 Enrollment Eligibility. An enrollee in any wildlife damage program under this subchapter must be a legal adult, 18 years of age or older at the time of enrollment.

NR 12.305 History History: CR 19-146: cr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.

NR 12.31 NR 12.31 Definitions. For purpose of this subchapter and s. 29.889, Stats.:

NR 12.31(1) (1) “Contiguous land” means lands under the ownership, lease or control of an applicant for deer, elk, bear, turkey or goose damage payments which are connected to the lands subject to a claim application or separated only by a roadway, easement, license or waterway.

NR 12.31(2) (2) “County” means a county board of supervisors who has, by resolution, approved application and administration of a program under s. 29.889, Stats.

NR 12.31(3) (3) “Crops on agricultural lands” includes Christmas trees.

NR 12.31(3m) (3m) “Enrollee” means a farmer, grower, livestock raiser, beekeeper, nursery operator, orchardist, Christmas tree grower, or other person or corporation or partnership enrolled in the wildlife damage abatement and claims program for services under this program.

NR 12.31(4) (4) “Lands suitable for hunting” means contiguous land where the conduct of hunting is not likely to result in a violation under s. 29.301 (1), 167.30 or 941.20 (1) (d), Stats., and shall include all areas within the contiguous land under the same ownership, lease or control except those areas identified by the county or its agent pursuant to s. NR 12.36.

NR 12.31 Note Note: This definition of “land suitable for hunting” shall be used to determine hunter numbers for access to hunt species other than deer and elk.

NR 12.31(4e) (4e) “Land suitable for hunting deer and elk” means the deer range calculated under s. NR 10.104 (4) (a) and where the conduct of hunting is not likely to result in a violation under s. 29.301 (1), 167.30 or 941.20 (1) (d), Stats., except those areas identified by the county or its agent pursuant to s. NR 12.36.

NR 12.31 Note Note: This definition of “land suitable for hunting deer or elk” shall be used to determine hunter numbers for access to hunt deer and elk.

NR 12.31(4m) (4m) “Livestock holding areas” means barns, pole sheds and other buildings for the protection and sheltering of livestock.

NR 12.31(5) (5) “Normal agricultural practices” means practices commonly used in the county to grow and harvest crops.

NR 12.31(6) (6) “Plan” means a plan of administration submitted under s. 29.889, Stats., by a county and approved by the department.

NR 12.31(7) (7) “Reasonable cause” means a presence of at least 2 hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting or the presence of one hunter on less than 40 acres of land suitable for hunting; the hunter is intoxicated, has caused damage to property, littered, used abusive or threatening language, used a firearm in violation with s. 941.20 (1), Stats., used a vehicle or a permanent deer stand on enrolled land without being authorized by the enrollee; the hunter has otherwise engaged in, or displayed a propensity to engage in, conduct contrary to public safety or the protection of personal property; the hunter failed to seek permission or register to hunt; or failure of the hunter to comply with any of the conditions he or she certifies by his or her signature on hunting log forms provided by the county, its agent and the department, including failure to record the time of arrival and departure.

NR 12.31(8) (8) “WDACP” means the wildlife damage abatement and claims program under s. 29.889, Stats., and this chapter.

NR 12.31 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; emerg am. (1) and (4), cr. (3m), (4e), (4m), (4t) and (7), eff. 7-1-98; am. (1) and (4), cr. (3m), (4e), (4m), (7) and (8), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: am. (1) and (4e) Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.76 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections in (4) and (4e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576; CR 05-031: am. (4e) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05.

NR 12.32 NR 12.32 County application.

NR 12.32(1) (1) Applications by a county to administer the wildlife damage abatement or claim program shall include a plan completed in accordance with s. 29.889, Stats., and this subchapter and a copy of the resolution of the county board authorizing the application.

NR 12.32(2) (2) The department shall review and approve or deny a completed application and plan under this subchapter within 30 days after it is received by the department.

NR 12.32 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.77 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.

NR 12.33 NR 12.33 WDACP technical manual. The department’s WDACP technical manual (Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program Technical Manual, Volume 1/Reference Handbook/134pp., Volume 2/Field Handbook/153pp., Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources, July 1, 1998) shall specify WDACP procedures and requirements including the following:

NR 12.33(1) (1) Authorized wildlife damage abatement measures and methods for implementing and paying for these abatement measures.

NR 12.33(2) (2) Forms and procedures for payment and processing of statement of claims and applications for abatement assistance.

NR 12.33(3) (3) Procedures and standards for determining the amount of wildlife damage.

NR 12.33(4) (4) Procedures for record keeping, audits and inspections.

NR 12.33 Note Note: Copies of any WDACP technical manual may be obtained from the Wildlife Damage Specialist, WDNR, Bureau of Wildlife Management, GEF 2, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

NR 12.33 Note Note: The WDACP technical manual is on file at the offices of the department of natural resources, the secretary of state and the legislative reference bureau.

NR 12.33 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.775 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.

NR 12.34 NR 12.34 Administrative and abatement costs and fund advancement to counties.

NR 12.34(3) (3) Counties shall submit reimbursement requests for administration and abatement costs to the department quarterly according to the following schedule: by May 31 for the first quarter, January 1 through March 31; by August 31 for the second quarter, April 1 through June 30; by November 30 for the third quarter, July 1 through September 30; and no later than March 1 for the final reimbursement request for the fourth quarter, October 1 through December 31.

NR 12.34(4) (4) A county may not be reimbursed for administrative or abatement costs in excess of the estimate contained in the plan without approval of the department.

NR 12.34 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; emerg. am. (1), r. and recr. (3), eff. 7-1-98; am. (1) (a) and (b), r. and recr. (3), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.78 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 19-146: r. (1), (2), (3) (title) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.

NR 12.35 NR 12.35 Wildlife damage abatement.

NR 12.35(1) (1) Costs of wildlife damage abatement measures rendered by a county under the plan are eligible for reimbursement under s. 29.889, Stats., only when rendered to persons owning or controlling land within the county of administration.

NR 12.35(2) (2) Abatement measures rendered by a county under s. 29.889, Stats., are limited to those which are detailed in the WDACP technical manual, or authorized in writing by the department and shall be cost-effective as required by s. 29.889 (5) (bm), Stats.

NR 12.35(3) (3) Woven-wire barrier fences, for which an application has been approved by the county and department, under s. NR 12.38, shall be included in the plan for the calendar year succeeding the fence application, unless otherwise approved by the department.

NR 12.35(4) (4) The county shall, as a condition of providing abatement assistance, require full cooperation and assistance of the enrollee in operating, maintaining and applying all abatement measures. An enrollee who engages in abusive or threatening language shall also be considered uncooperative. Uncooperative enrollees shall be ineligible for program abatement assistance for the remainder of the calendar year in which they were uncooperative and the following calendar year. Upon determining an enrollee is uncooperative and ineligible for further program assistance, the county or its agent shall notify the enrollee in writing that the enrollee’s program participation is terminated.

NR 12.35(5) (5) 

NR 12.35(5)(a) (a) Cost-sharing. In accordance with the WDACP technical manual, the county or its agent shall determine the actual costs of providing wildlife damage abatement assistance to provide 75% cost-sharing. For permanent damage abatement measures, the enrollee shall provide 25% of the cost of materials and installation. For the purpose of determining the total cost of temporary damage abatement measures, cooperation by the enrollee in installation, construction, operation, notification if required, or maintenance of the temporary measure shall be considered 25% of its total costs. Permanent damage abatement measures include barrier woven wire and high-profile electric fences. Temporary damage abatement measures include the use of temporary low-profile electric or barrier snow fencing, scare techniques, repellents, depredation shooting permits, trap and translocation, or other temporary methods determined by the department.

NR 12.35(5)(b) (b) All of the following costs of abatement measures are eligible for reimbursement to the county:

NR 12.35(5)(b)1. 1. The costs of abatement equipment, supplies and services.

NR 12.35(5)(b)2. 2. Installation costs that are part of the of 75% WDACP cost-share.

NR 12.35 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; am. (2) and (3), r. and recr. (4) and cr. (5), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: am. (3) and (5) (a) Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 1-1-04; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.79 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; corrections made to (3) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2003 No. 576; CR 10-020: am. (4) Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10.

NR 12.36 NR 12.36 Open hunting access requirement.

NR 12.36(1) (1) Enrollees shall have hunting access control over all contiguous land on which they seek wildlife damage abatement assistance or claims. Enrollees shall open their land to hunting, using one of the access options in sub. (3), during the regular hunting seasons for the species causing the damage for which they have enrolled in the WDACP as required by s. 29.889 (7m), Stats. Enrollees may not charge any fees for hunting, hunting access or any other activity that includes hunting the species causing damage. This hunting access requirement shall also apply to enrollees who have also been issued a shooting permit under the authority of s. 29.885, Stats., and this chapter, except as provided in sub. (1m).

NR 12.36(1m) (1m) The requirements under sub. (1) do not apply to a person to whom the department grants a shooting permit for deer causing damage that is issued as an abatement measure recommended under s. 29.889, Stats., if all of the following apply:

NR 12.36(1m)(a) (a) The permit is the only abatement measure the person receives under s. 29.889, Stats., for damage caused by deer.

NR 12.36(1m)(b) (b) The person waives any eligibility to receive a wildlife damage claim payment under s. 29.889 (7), Stats., for damage caused by deer.

NR 12.36(2) (2) Enrollees shall enroll with the county by completing an agreement which certifies their hunting access control for all contiguous lands of the same ownership or control where wildlife damage is occurring and for which they are seeking program services under this chapter.

NR 12.36(3) (3) Enrollees shall choose one of the 2 following hunting access options:

NR 12.36(3)(a) (a) Open public hunting for the species causing damage. The enrollee may not place limitations on which hunters or how many hunters may access the property enrolled by the enrollee. The enrollee may not require registration of hunters, but the hunter shall establish an acceptable arrangement with the enrollee for notifying the enrollee of the hunter’s intent to hunt prior to hunting. The enrollee may choose how often notification is required and that notification be made in writing, by phone or in person each day the hunter intends to hunt or otherwise.

NR 12.36(3)(b) (b) Managed hunting access. Enrollee notification and hunter registration with the enrollee is required. The following provisions shall apply to the managed hunting access option:

NR 12.36(3)(b)1. 1. ‘Land suitable for hunting.’ The county, or its agent, shall determine the area of land suitable for hunting in accordance with the WDACP technical manual and this chapter. The following criteria shall be used to determine land suitable for hunting:

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.a. a. The acreage of land suitable for hunting as defined in s. NR 12.31 (4) or (4e), depending on the species causing damage.

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.b. b. Enrollees may prohibit or restrict discharge of firearms within 100 yards of livestock holding areas.

NR 12.36(3)(b)1.c. c. Permanent barrier woven-wire and high-profile electric fences. Land inside a permanent barrier fence, which meets construction and maintenance standards in the WDACP technical manual, may not be considered land suitable for hunting.

NR 12.36(3)(b)2. 2. ‘Hunting access map.’ The county or its agent shall provide property maps to enrollees using aerial photos or plat maps to identify property boundaries and land suitable for hunting. The county, in consultation with the enrollee and in accordance with the WDACP technical manual, may delineate hunting zones for parcels of the property to assist the enrollee in distributing hunting effort to promote distribution of hunting effort and safety. The enrollee shall use these maps to explain to hunters boundaries and hunting constraints on the enrolled property.

NR 12.36(3)(b)3. 3. ‘Registration.’ To register for hunting access, hunters shall contact the program enrollee after obtaining the county’s list. The county or its agent shall provide the current year’s list and a fact-sheet which describes the WDACP hunting access system and the obligations of the hunter under this system. The hunter shall arrange a meeting with the enrollee. The enrollee shall describe the registration process, including completion of a hunting log, where the log will be located on the property, any hunting constraints on the property, and any information necessary to promote safety and prevent trespass. The registration form shall be provided to the enrollee by the county or its agent and be in the form of a log book following the format in the WDACP technical manual. The enrollee shall keep his or her hunting log current, recording hunters under this section and shooting permit participant hunters under ch. NR 12 to show compliance with the hunting access requirement. Enrollees shall make these records available for review by the county, its agent and department staff as required by s. 29.889 (8r) (a), Stats.

NR 12.36(3)(b)4. 4. ‘Hunting access.’ Hunting access shall be on a first come, first serve basis. Hunters may contact enrollees before the dates they intend to hunt, but may not register until their intended hunting date. Hunters shall register by signing in on the hunting log every time they arrive to hunt and signing out on the hunting log every time they leave.

NR 12.36(3)(b)5. 5. ‘Hunter densities.’ The enrollee shall allow at least 2 hunters per 40 acres of land suitable for hunting at any given time of the appropriate hunting season. The enrollee and hunting members of the immediate family that reside in the enrollee’s household may be counted towards this hunter density restriction.

NR 12.36(3)(b)6. 6. ‘Refusal.’ Enrollees may refuse hunting access for reasonable cause as defined in s. NR 12.31 (7).

NR 12.36(3)(b)7. 7. ‘Complaints.’ Upon receiving a written complaint from a hunter denied access, the county, its agent or the department shall review hunting access records required under this chapter to verify compliance. Verification that access requirements have been violated shall require the county or its agent to deny further abatement and claims assistance to the enrollee for calendar year in which the violation occurred and the following calendar year. In addition, an enrollee may be subject to the penalties in s. 29.889 (10), Stats.

NR 12.36(3)(b)8. 8. ‘Enrollee registration.’ An enrollee and his or her immediate family who live year round on the enrollee’s property shall register by signing in on the daily hunting access log when they hunt.

NR 12.36(3)(b)9. 9. ‘Parking.’ Enrollees shall ensure adequate parking exists with enough parking area to accommodate the minimum required number of hunters and shall clearly describe these arrangements to the hunters.

NR 12.36(4) (4) The county shall maintain the current year’s list of all enrollees and make the list available upon request for public inspection.

NR 12.36(5) (5) Hunters may hunt only the species causing damage unless the enrollee or landowner has granted permission to hunt other species.

NR 12.36 Note Note: Hunting other species or engaging in other activities not authorized by the enrollee or landowner may be considered trespass in violation of s. 943.13, Stats.

NR 12.36(6) (6) Enrollees may restrict hunting access of bear hunters using dogs if trespass on adjoining private properties is likely to occur.

NR 12.36(7) (7) Motorized vehicles may not be used anywhere but the designated drive-way and parking location on the enrollee’s land unless authorized by the enrollee.

NR 12.36(8) (8) Access hunters may not use permanent deer stands on enrolled properties unless authorized by the enrollee. An access hunter may use his or her own portable stand, but it shall be removed daily at the end of shooting hours, unless otherwise authorized by the enrollee. When registering on the hunting log, the hunter shall certify that he or she holds the enrollee and landowner harmless from any injuries associated with the hunter’s hunting activity on the enrolled property, including any authorized use of hunting stands.

NR 12.36(9) (9) Exemption. The hunting access requirement does not apply to enrollees where the damage is to apiaries on lands where the applicant does not have hunting access control, pursuant to s. 29.889 (7m) (am), Stats.

NR 12.36(10) (10) Posting. Enrollees may not post the enrolled land “no hunting” or “no trespassing” and shall remove any such existing signs. Enrollees may post their lands “hunting by permission only”.