Chapter NR 18

Register July 2002 No. 559

Chapter NR 18

FALCONRY

NR 18.01   Definitions.

NR 18.02   Application.

NR 18.03   Permit and license requirements.

NR 18.04   Falconry hunting.

NR 18.05   Examination.

NR 18.06   Application procedure.

NR 18.07   Inspection of facilities and equipment.

NR 18.08   Unsatisfactory conditions.

NR 18.09   Issuance criteria.

NR 18.10   Classes of permits.

NR 18.11   Duration of permits.

NR 18.12   Taking and disposal restrictions.

NR 18.13   Temporary care.

NR 18.14   Transportation.

NR 18.15   Release of marked raptors.

NR 18.16   Permit conditions.

NR 18.17   Other restrictions.

NR 18.01 NR 18.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

NR 18.01(1) (1) “Band” means a numbered, non–reusable USFWS leg band supplied by the department.

NR 18.01(1g) (1g) “Bureau” means the department of natural resources bureau of endangered resources.

NR 18.01(1r) (1r) “Department” means the department of natural resources.

NR 18.01(2) (2) “Disposal” means transfer of the raptor by gift or trade, release, escape, death or any other event that results in the permittee no longer possessing the raptor for falconry. 

NR 18.01(3) (3) “Eyas” means a young raptor not yet capable of flight. 

NR 18.01(4) (4) “Falconry” means caring for and training raptors for the pursuit of wild game, and hunting wild game with raptors. Falconry includes the taking of raptors from the wild to use in the sport, caring for, training, and transporting raptors held for falconry.

NR 18.01(5) (5) “Falconry permit” means a state or tribal permit to allow a resident permittee to take, possess and transport raptors for the purpose of practicing falconry.

NR 18.01(6) (6) “Fish & wildlife service” and “USFWS” mean U. S. department of interior — fish & wildlife service.

NR 18.01(6m) (6m) “Foreign” means any source of wildlife originating from outside the United States.

NR 18.01(7) (7) “Hacking” means the temporary release to the wild, not to exceed 30 days, of a raptor held for falconry so that it must survive on its own.

NR 18.01(7m) (7m) “Hybrid” means offspring of any two species whether or not listed in the federal regulations at 50 CFR 10.13, and any progeny of those birds.

NR 18.01(8) (8) “Imping” means a method of repairing broken flight or tail feathers.

NR 18.01(8m) (8m) “Imprint” means a bird that is hand-raised in isolation from the sight of other raptors from 2 weeks of age until it has fledged. An imprinted bird is considered to be so for its entire lifetime.

NR 18.01(9m) (9m) “Nonresident” means a person other than a resident as defined in s. 29.001 (69), Stats.

NR 18.01(10) (10) “Raptor” means a live, migratory bird of the Orders Accipitriformes, Falconiformes, or Strigiformes, including the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

NR 18.01(11) (11) “Replacement raptor” means a raptor obtained to replace one that has died in captivity, has escaped, or is released to the wild.

NR 18.01(12) (12) “Take” means to trap, capture or pursue or attempt to trap, capture or pursue, a raptor for the purposes of falconry.

NR 18.01(13) (13) “Trapping permit” means a permit obtained by a nonresident from the department to take a raptor for the purposes of falconry. 

NR 18.01(14) (14) “Tribe” means any Wisconsin band of Native Americans recognized by the federal government, and which is authorized by the USFWS to issue a falconry permit to its members.

NR 18.01(15) (15) “Visitor” means anyone from another country.

NR 18.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; r. (1), renum. (2) to (9) to be (4), (12), (9), (8), (7), (11), (1) and (6), cr. (2), (3), (5), (10) and (13), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; CR 01-127: cr. (intro.) and (9m), Register July 2002 No. 559, eff. 8-1-02; CR 13-005: renum. (1) to (1r), cr. (1), (1g), am. (4) to (6), cr. (6m), r. and recr. (7), cr. (7m), (8m), r. (9), am. (10), (11), cr. (14), (15) Register July 2013 No. 691, eff. 8-1-13.

NR 18.02 NR 18.02 Application.

NR 18.02(1) (1) The raptors covered by this chapter include those raptor species whose range extends into any part of Mexico, the United States, or Canada. All individual birds of such species whether or not raised in captivity, and including any subspecies, even if the range of such subspecies does not include parts of the above countries, are covered by these regulations.

NR 18.02(2) (2) The importation of any wildlife from a foreign source must be in compliance with federal laws or regulations.

NR 18.02 Note Note: Sections ATCP 10.06 and 10.07 establish requirements related to importation of animals into Wisconsin. These provisions establish the responsibility of a person importing a raptor to obtain: a) a certificate of veterinary inspection and b) a Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection import permit. The importer must have copies of the health certificate and import permit before transporting the raptor to Wisconsin.

NR 18.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; CR 13-005: am. (1) Register July 2013 No. 691, eff. 8-1-13.

NR 18.03 NR 18.03 Permit and license requirements.

NR 18.03(1) (1) No person may take, possess, transport, import, export, sell, purchase, barter, offer for sale, or purchase any migratory raptor species, or the parts, nests, or eggs of raptor species, for falconry purposes or to practice falconry in Wisconsin unless a valid falconry permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter or issued by another state or tribe provided that the state or tribe is listed in the federal regulations as a state or tribe meeting federal falconry standards. Tribal permits are only valid when issued to the tribe’s own members. Falconers hunting on state property need to follow state property rules, and it is the falconer’s responsibility to be aware of the state property rules before commencing falconry activities.

NR 18.03(2) (2) Nonresident falconers shall obtain a trapping permit to take raptors in Wisconsin under s. NR 18.12 (2) and shall obtain a valid small game or general hunting license to practice falconry in Wisconsin.

NR 18.03(3) (3) No person may engage in any falconry activity unless the person possesses a falconry permit or a nonresident raptor trapping permit issued under this chapter.

NR 18.03 Note Note: A state of Wisconsin turkey, pheasant, or duck stamp is no longer required to engage in the sport of falconry. A federal duck stamp, however, is required to hunt migratory waterfowl. Federal duck stamps can be purchased through a local post office and at many local DNR offices.

NR 18.03(4) (4) No person may transfer a falconry permit or a falconry band, or allow the use thereof by any other person, nor may any person while engaged in falconry, use or carry any permit or band issued to another.

NR 18.03(5) (5) A visitor to the U. S. possessing a falconry permit or license from their country may practice falconry in Wisconsin and shall abide by nonresident falconer permit and license requirements.

NR 18.03 Note Note: The national forests, consistent with the multiple use-sustained yield act of 1960 (16 USC 528) and the federal land policy management act of 1976 (16 USC 1701-1784), are managed for wildlife purposes. Data regarding the populations and take of the northern goshawk on the national forest is relevant to goshawk management. The Forest Service may implement protection measures for the northern goshawk that may include the closing of areas of land within the national forest to the take of goshawks. Information on the location of national forest land may be obtained from: Chequamegon/Nicolet Forest Supervisor, Federal Building, 68 S. Stevens Street, Rhinelander, WI 54501.

NR 18.03(6) (6) If a falconer takes a raptor from the wild and keeps it overnight, the falconer must report it the bureau Falconry Coordinator within 10 days using the 3-186A form.

NR 18.03 Note Note: Paper copies of the 3-186A form can be obtained by contacting the Falconry Coordinator at the Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921 or online at http://permits.fws.gov/186A.

NR 18.03 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1977, No. 264, eff. 1-1-78; am. (1) (a) and r. and recr. (1) (b), Register, August, 1982, No. 320, eff. 9-1-82; am. (1) (intro.), r. (1) (a) and (b), r. and recr. (2), renum. (3) to be (4) and am., cr. (3) and (5), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; CR 13-005: am. (1), (3), (4), r. and recr. (5), cr. (6) Register July 2013 No. 691, eff. 8-1-13.

NR 18.04 NR 18.04 Falconry hunting.

NR 18.04(1) (1) Established seasons. In addition to the seasons established by ch. NR 10, falconry permit holders may hunt upland game birds and animals described in s. NR 10.01 (2) and (3) September 1 through March 31, except cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel and gray squirrel may be hunted year-round. Hunting of hen pheasants is allowed statewide by the method of falconry.

NR 18.04 Note Note: Falconers are not limited to properties specified under s. NR 10.01 (2) (c) 2. Normal daily bag and possession limits established by s. NR 10.01 (2) apply, except that the daily bag limit for hen pheasants taken by falconry is one.