NR 12.39(3)(c) (c) The county and contractors of the county shall preserve and make their records available to the department:

NR 12.39(3)(c)1. 1. Until expiration of 3 years from the date of final settlement, or

NR 12.39(3)(c)2. 2. For such longer periods, if required by applicable statute or lawful requirement; or

NR 12.39(3)(c)3. 3. If a program is terminated completely or partially, the records relating to the work terminated shall be preserved and made available for a period of 3 years from the date of any resulting final termination settlement; or

NR 12.39(3)(c)4. 4. Records which relate to appeals, disputes, litigation on the settlement of claims arising out of the performance of the project for which funds were awarded, or costs and expenses of the project to which exception has been taken by the department or any of its duly authorized representatives, shall be retained for a period of 3 years after any appeals, litigation, claims, or exceptions have been resolved.

NR 12.39(4) (4) 

NR 12.39(4)(a) (a) Preaward or interim audits may be performed on applications and awards.

NR 12.39(4)(b) (b) A final audit shall be conducted after the submission of the final payment request. The time of the final audit shall be determined by the department and may be prior or subsequent to final settlement. Any settlement made prior to the final audit is subject to adjustment based on the audit. Counties and subcontractors of counties shall preserve and make their records available upon request.

NR 12.39 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.82 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 24-055: am. (title), (1), (3) (c) 4. Register April 2025 No. 832, eff. 5-1-25.

NR 12.40 NR 12.40 Termination. The department shall, upon 30 days notice, terminate a county application and plan under s. 29.889, Stats., and this subchapter for any violation of the plan, the statute or rules or failure to properly report costs of the program or claims or comply with recordkeeping or audit procedures.

NR 12.40(1) (1) A county may, upon 30 days notice to the department, terminate its application and plan under s. 29.889, Stats., and this subchapter.

NR 12.40(2) (2) The department is responsible for payment of costs, in accordance with this subchapter, which are incurred for wildlife damage abatement prior to termination and for claims filed and approved by the county prior to that date.

NR 12.40 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337, eff. 2-1-84; CR 03-029: renum. from NR 19.83 Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04.

NR 12.41 NR 12.41 Permits to hunt Canada geese causing spring agricultural damage.

NR 12.41(1) (1) Issuance authority. Contingent upon the establishment of a federal harvest quota and goose season framework valid for Wisconsin and in accordance with this section, the department may issue Canada goose damage shooting permits valid between May 1 and August 31 to agricultural crop land owners or lessees experiencing crop damage by Canada geese. Permittees may issue Canada goose damage hunter permits to other persons and authorize them to assist by hunting Canada geese causing damage.

NR 12.41(2) (2) Definitions. For purpose of this section:

NR 12.41(2)(a) (a) “Goose hunting zone” means those established under s. NR 10.31.

NR 12.41(2)(b) (b) “Lands suitable for hunting” means as defined in s. NR 12.31 (4).

NR 12.41(3) (3) Application requirement. An applicant shall apply for a landowner or lessee permit to hunt Canada geese causing spring agricultural damage under this section on forms supplied by the department. A separate application is required for each parcel of noncontiguous crop lands.

NR 12.41(4) (4) Permit issuance criteria. After determining that issuance or extension of permits under this section will not result in the harvest of Canada geese which exceeds the federally approved quota, the department may issue goose damage hunting permits only to landowners or lessees meeting the following criteria:

NR 12.41(4)(a) (a) Ownership of crops being damaged. The applicant shall be an individual who owns or leases the crop lands being damaged or be one officer of the corporation that owns or leases the crop lands being damaged. No more than one landowner or lessee permit may be issued for a parcel of land at the same time.

NR 12.41(4)(b) (b) Hunting access control. Applicants shall possess the authority to control entry for goose hunting on the damaged crop lands and any contiguous lands under the same ownership which are suitable for hunting;

NR 12.41(4)(c) (c) $1,000 damage extent. Damage to the applicant’s crops shall be ongoing and either exceed or be likely to exceed $1,000 in the current calendar year as determined by the county wildlife damage administrator.

NR 12.41(4)(d) (d) Alternative abatement attempted. The applicant shall comply with all alternative damage abatement techniques recommended by the county or the county’s agent.

NR 12.41(4)(f) (f) Permit and license compliance. The applicant shall have complied with the conditions of any permit to remove Canada geese causing spring agriculture damage issued to him or her within the 12 months immediately preceding application.

NR 12.41(5) (5) Permit conditions. Any landowner or lessee permit issued under this section is subject to the following conditions:

NR 12.41(5)(a) (a) Public goose hunting.

NR 12.41(5)(a)1. 1. The permittee shall keep the damaged crop lands and any contiguous lands under the same ownership which are suitable for hunting open to public goose hunting subject to subd. 2. during the current calendar year’s goose hunting season.

NR 12.41(5)(a)2. 2. Permittees may refuse access to goose hunters for reasonable cause. Reasonable cause may not be based on age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, physical condition, development disability, creed, sexual orientation or national origin. However, the presence of at least 2 hunters per each 40 acres of land suitable for hunting shall constitute reasonable cause for refusal.