NR 12.15(10)(10) Authorized area. The permit applies to all lands subject to public use under sub. (1) and may extend 1/4-mile onto adjoining lands of consenting landowners.

NR 12.15(11)(a)(a) Except as provided under s. 29.337, Stats., and excluding the permittee, all participants shall possess the appropriate state and federal hunting or trapping license, and stamps for hunting or trapping for that animal.

NR 12.15(11)(b)(b) Bear damage shooting permits. Participants shall possess a current Class A hunting license or any valid license authorizing hunting with a firearm when engaged in bear damage shooting permit activities, such as hunting or baiting.

NR 12.15(11)(c)(c) Elk damage shooting permits. Participation of others under elk damage shooting permits shall be restricted to those persons who have applied for an elk hunting license under application procedures described in s. NR 10.111 (2), and who have indicated on their elk hunting applications their willingness to assist farmers having elk damage problems. Unless as authorized by the department, participants shall possess a valid elk license and a valid shooting permit when engaged in elk damage shooting permit activities.

NR 12.15(11)(d)(d) Turkey damage shooting permits. Others participating under a turkey damage shooting permit shall possess a license authorizing small game or turkey hunting, during that license year, and a valid shooting permit when engaged in turkey damage shooting permit activities.

NR 12.15(11)(e)(e) Spring goose shooting permits. Others participating under a goose damage shooting permit shall possess a license authorizing small game when engaged in goose damage shooting permit activities. No state or federal migratory bird stamps are required.

NR 12.15(13)(13) Use restrictions. Hunting bear with the aid of dogs under this chapter is prohibited, unless the department determines there are extraordinary conditions which warrant an exemption. When the department grants an exemption, permittees may restrict hunting access of bear hunters using dogs if trespass problems on adjoining private properties are likely to occur.

NR 12.15 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro.), (1), (3) and (4), cr. (12), Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94; renum. (11) to be (11) (a), cr. (11) (b) and (13), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: cr. (11) (c) Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (11) (b) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 05-031: cr. (11) (d) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; EmR1613: emerg. am. (5) (a), eff. 3-12-16; CR 19-146: am. (2), (11) (b), cr. (11) (e) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; CR 23-025: am. (11) (b) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24.

NR 12.16NR 12.16 Conditions of permits to shoot deer causing damage. In addition to s. NR 12.15, the following conditions shall apply to all shooting permits for deer causing damage.

NR 12.16(1)(1) Shooting hours. Permittees and participants shall comply with shooting hours described in s. NR 10.06 (5), unless exempted by the department. Exemptions shall be granted to allow hunting of deer one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset during the closed season in situations where permit eligibility is based under s. NR 12.10 (2) (b) 2. and with permit conditions restricting permit shooting of deer to within the fenced area and restricting shooter presence to one person at any one time.

NR 12.16 NoteNote: Copies of hunting tables showing these hours shall be provided to all permittees for their reference and for distribution to participants.

NR 12.16(2)(a)(a) Harvest objective. The permittee and participants, unless granted an exemption under par. (b) or issued a shooting permit under s. NR 12.37 (4) (a) 5., shall kill at least 80% of the number of deer authorized for harvest on the permit and shall kill at least 50% of the number of deer authorized for harvest during the first 45 days after permit issuance. If issued a shooting permit under s. NR 12.37 (4) (a) 5., the permittee shall kill at least 80% of the number of deer authorized for harvest on the permit by September 15 of the same year. The permittee is not eligible for a shooting permit the next year if the permittee fails to comply with these harvest objectives unless a shooting permit is prescribed damage abatement under s. 29.889, Stats.

NR 12.16(2)(b)(b) Harvest objective exemption.

NR 12.16(2)(b)1.1. The department may exempt the permittee from killing the deer necessary to meet harvest objectives if deer are unavailable for harvest within the authorized area.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.2. The department may grant an exemption to the harvest objective requirement in par. (a) if there is compelling evidence that deer were unavailable to be shot. The following criteria and procedures shall be used to determine if deer were unavailable to be shot.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.a.a. Compelling evidence that deer were not available include accurate shooting permit participant hunting logs documenting significant hunter effort. These logs shall include participant names and phone numbers and dates participants hunted. If a significant number of hunters regularly attempted to remove deer, but were unsuccessful this information along with other supporting evidence may establish that deer were unavailable to be shot.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.b.b. A minimum of 5 hunter days per week for the duration of the permit valid period may be used as an indication of significant hunter effort. A minimum of 5 hunter days per week requirement means any combination of hunters hunting deer a total of 5 days under the permittee’s deer damage shooting permit during each week of the valid period of the permit. One day of hunting shall be a total of at least 3 hours hunted in a day or a hunter successfully harvesting at least one deer in a day.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.c.c. If a permittee had difficulty getting participants, the permittee contacted the department, the county or its agent to seek assistance.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.d.d. Documents to support the information in the hunting log of significant hunter effort to meet the harvest objective include: written statements by these hunters with descriptions of hunting conditions; aerial photos documenting lack of deer habitat; records that show the permittee was in regular contact with county or its agent and local department staff keeping them informed of the permittee’s difficulty; that the permittee implemented reasonable measures prescribed by the county, its agent or the department to improve shooting permit performance; and any other evidence deemed appropriate by the county, its agent and local department staff.

NR 12.16(2)(b)2.e.e. The county, its agent and the department shall consult before making a recommendation to grant an exemption to the harvest objective requirement under this section. This group shall review the evidence and, if there is consensus that an exemption is warranted, shall recommend that the department grant an exemption allowing eligibility for a permit the subsequent year.

NR 12.16(3)(3) Carcass tag distribution. The number of carcass tags provided to the permittee shall be based upon the harvest objective specified under sub. (2) and the expected harvest success rate. The permittee may distribute the carcass tags provided to the permittee to the persons they have authorized to assist or retain them for their use.

NR 12.16(4)(4) Effective dates. Authorization to kill deer commences the date of permit receipt by the permittee and continues through the open season for the appropriate zone described in s. NR 10.01 (3) (e), (em), and (ep).

NR 12.16(5)(5) Tagging, transportation, and registration of carcasses. No person may possess a deer carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s. NR 10.086 unless otherwise indicated by the department on the permit.

NR 12.16(6)(6) Carcass care and disposition. The department shall offer the permittee and each participant the opportunity to retain at least one deer killed under the deer shooting permit. All deer not retained under this subsection shall be disposed of as directed by the department.