NR 10.08(4)
(4) Field possession limit. No person may possess more than one daily bag limit while at or between the place killed and the place to which the bag limit is taken.
NR 10.08 Note
Note: This rule does not authorize a person to take more than one daily bag limit. Further, it does not prohibit possession of double the daily bag limit when transporting game between a person's temporary abode and his or her permanent abode.
NR 10.08(5)
(5) Killing requirements. Except as otherwise provided, no person may possess any live game. All game taken during the open season shall be killed immediately and made part of the daily bag.
NR 10.08 Note
Note: Pigeons are considered domestic animals by the department and therefore are not subject to this chapter or ch.
29, Stats.
NR 10.08 History
History: 1-2-56; r. (2),
Register, August, 1956, No. 8, eff. 9-1-56; r. and recr. (3),
Register, August, 1968, No. 152, eff. 9-1-68; renum. to be NR 10.21; am. (3) (a) and (b),
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; am. (3) (a),
Register, August, 1973, No. 212, eff. 9-1-73; r. and recr. (3),
Register, August, 1978, No. 272, eff. 9-1-78; renum. from NR 10.21,
Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; r. and recr.
Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; am. (2),
Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90.
NR 10.09
NR 10.09
Guns, ammunition and other devices. NR 10.09(1)(a)1.1. `Slugs or balls.' Possess or have in control, while hunting any gamebird, any shotshells loaded with single slug or ball except during the open gun season for deer, elk or bear.
NR 10.09(1)(a)2.
2. `Size.' Possess or have in control, while hunting, shells containing shot larger than no. BB during the period commencing on June 1 and continuing through the last day of any deer season or hunt established in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (e),
(es), or
(et), whichever season is later, except in any of the following circumstances:
NR 10.09(1)(a)2.a.
a. During the open season established in
s. NR 10.01 (1) (b),
(c) and
(g) when nontoxic shot size BBB and T may be used for hunting migratory game birds listed in
s. NR 10.01 (1) (b),
(c) and
(g).
NR 10.09(1)(a)2.b.
b. A person holding a valid permit to harvest a bobcat and an unfilled pelt tag issued under
s. NR 10.145 may possess and use shotshells containing shot larger than no. BB for the purpose of hunting bobcat during the open season established in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (d).
NR 10.09(1)(a)3.a.a. Hunt any game bird with a rifle or shotgun loaded with single ball, pellet, BB or slug or shot larger than no. BB.
NR 10.09(1)(a)3.b.
b. Use or possess shot or shells containing shot larger than no. 2 steel or no. 4 for lead or other no. 4 non-steel shot while hunting wild turkeys.
NR 10.09(1)(b)
(b) Incendiary shells. Possess or have in control, while hunting, any shell, cartridge or ammunition known as tracer shells, or incendiary shells or cartridges. Distress flares are exempt from this section.
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.1. `Type.' Hunt with any means other than the use of a gun designed to be fired from the shoulder utilizing the energy of gun powder or compressed air, bow and arrow or by falconry except:
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.a.
a. Muzzleloaders may be used for hunting, except that any muzzleloader used in the muzzleloading season described in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (es) shall have a solid breech plug attached with threads, be capable of being loaded only from the muzzle, use black powder or other black powder substitute, and may include a mounted telescopic sight.
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.b.
b. Hare, rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, fox, coyote, bobcat and unprotected wild animals may be hunted with handguns or pellet guns of .17 caliber or larger. Handguns shall have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches measured from the muzzle to the firing pin with the action closed.
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.c.
c. Deer or bear may be hunted with handguns loaded with centerfire cartridges of .22 caliber or larger and that have a minimum barrel length of 5 ½ inches measured from the muzzle to the firing pin with the action closed.
NR 10.09 Note
Note: Hunters using handguns must comply with all state and federal laws respecting handguns, including s.
941.23, Stats., respecting concealment, and s.
29.597, Stats., respecting transportation.
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.d.
d. Deer or bear may be hunted with cylinder loading black powder muzzle-loading handguns which are not less than .44 caliber, do not use cartridges, and have a minimum barrel length of 7 inches measured from muzzle to breech face that fire a single projectile weighing not less than 138 grains.
NR 10.09(1)(c)1.e.
e. Crossbows may be used by disabled individuals issued a permit under ss.
29.171 (4) and
29.193 (2), Stats., which authorize the use of a crossbow and by resident senior citizens to hunt small game, bear, deer, elk and wild turkey with an appropriate license, permit and tag if required.
NR 10.09 Note
Note: In addition, pursuant to ss.
29.164 and
29.171, Stats., crossbows may be used by resident senior citizens for hunting turkey under a license issued under s.
29.164, Stats., bear under a license issued under s.
29.184, Stats., elk under a license issued under s.
29.182, Stats., and for small game and deer under the authority of an archery license issued under s.
29.171, Stats.
NR 10.09(1)(c)2.
2. `Deer or bear hunting.' Hunt any deer or bear with any air rifle, rim-fire rifle, any center-fire rifle less than .22 caliber, any .410 bore or less shotgun or handgun loaded with .410 shotgun shell ammunition or with ammunition loaded with nonexpanding type bullets or ammunition loaded with shot other than a single slug or projectile.
NR 10.09(1)(c)3.
3. `Possession.' Possess any rim-fire rifle larger than .22 caliber or any center-fire rifle .22 caliber or larger in areas wherein there is an open season or hunt specified in
s. NR 10.01 (3) for hunting deer with shotgun only unless the rifle is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case.
NR 10.09(1)(d)
(d) Automatic firearms. Hunt with a fully automatic firearm.
NR 10.09(1)(e)
(e) Handguns. Persons possessing a class A or C disabled permit may use handguns chambered for .410 or larger shot shells for hunting all species except deer, elk, bear, turkey and migratory game birds.
NR 10.09(2)
(2) Special one-day restriction. During the 24-hour period prior to the opening date for the regular gun deer season established in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (e) 1. a., b. and 5., no person may possess a gun wherein there is an open season for deer with guns specified in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (e), unless the gun is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case. Exceptions:
NR 10.09(2)(b)
(b) Hunting on licensed game farms and shooting preserves.
NR 10.09(3)(b)
(b) Special restrictions. Use, possess or have under control while hunting, any poisoned or drugged arrow, arrow with explosive tips or any crossbow unless the crossbow is authorized under
sub. (1) (c) 1. e.
NR 10.09(3)(c)
(c) Arrow standards. Use, possess or have under control while deer or bear hunting, any arrow with a metal broad-head blade less than seven-eights of an inch in width. Such broad-head blades must be well-sharpened.
NR 10.09(3)(d)
(d) Bow size. Hunt deer or bear with a bow having a pull of less than 30 pounds.
NR 10.09 History
History: 1-2-56;
CR 00-154: am. (1) (a) 2.,
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02;
CR 03-015: am. (1) (a) 3. b., (c) 1. d. and 3., (2) (intro.) and (3) (b)
Register July 2003 No. 571, eff. 8-1-03;
CR 03-016: am. (1) (a) 2., (c) 3., and (2) (intro.)
Register August 2003 No. 572, eff. 9-1-03;
CR 03-018: am. (1) (a) 1. and (e)
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 04-020: am. (1) (c) 3.
Register August 2004 No. 584, eff. 9-1-04;
CR 04-046: am. (1) (a) 2., (c) 1. b., d. and 2.
Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04;
CR 05-031: am. (1) (a) 3. a. and (1) (c) 2. and 3., renum. (1) (c) 1. d. to be (1) (c) 1. e. and am., cr. (1) (c) 1. d.
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05;
CR 07-015: am. (1) (a) 1., r. and recr. (1) (a) 2.
Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 2-1-08;
CR 08-021: am. (3) (b)
Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; correction in (1) (a) 2. made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 09-015: am. (1) (c) 1. (intro.)
Register October 2009 No. 646, eff. 2-1-10;
CR 09-024: am. (1) (c) 2. and (2)
Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10;
CR 10-020: am. (1) (c) 1. a.
Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10;
CR 10-051: am. (1) (c) 2.
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.
NR 10.10
NR 10.10
Deer and bear hunting. NR 10.10(1)
(1)
Prohibited methods. No person shall hunt deer or bear by any of the following methods:
NR 10.10(1)(b)
(b) Dogs. With the aid of dogs, except that dogs may be used for hunting bear during the season established in
s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 1. in black bear hunting zones A, B and D as described in
s. NR 10.30.
NR 10.10(2)
(2) Illegal game. Any deer killed during the open season for hunting deer with bow and arrow showing evidence that it was shot with a firearm shall be an illegal game animal and no person may have such animal in possession.
NR 10.10 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (2),
Register, August, 1963, No. 92, eff. 9-1-63; am. (2),
Register, August, 1966, No. 128, eff. 9-1-66; renum to be NR 10.10,
Register, June, 1970, No. 174, eff. 7-1-70; r. and recr.
Register, August, 1972, No. 200, eff. 9-1-72; emerg. am. (2), and cr. (6) to (11), eff. 8-2-74; am. (2), cr. (6) to (11),
Register, December, 1974, No. 228. eff. 1-1-75; am. (7) and r. (9),
Register, May, 1976, No. 245, eff. 8-15-76; am. (1), (7) and (8), r. (5) and (6),
Register, May, 1977, No. 257, eff. 6-1-77; r. and recr.
Register, May, 1978, No. 269, eff. 6-1-78; r. (1) (a),
Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; (2) renum. from NR 10.11 (2),
Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; r. and recr. (1) (b),
Register, September, 1984, No. 345, eff. 10-1-84; am. (2),
Register, September, 1985, No. 357, eff. 10-1-85; am. (1) (b),
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; r. and recr. (1) (b),
Register, August, 1994, No. 464, eff. 9-1-94;
CR 03-018: r. and recr. (1) (b)
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 1-1-04;
CR 05-017: am. (1) (b)
Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 2-1-06;
CR 07-015: am. (1) (b)
Register September 2007 No. 621, eff. 11-1-07.
NR 10.101(1)(b)
(b) Restricted areas. Hunt bear in any dump or sanitary landfill.
NR 10.101(1)(c)
(c) Non-adult bears. Shoot, shoot at or kill a bear that is accompanied by a bear that is not an adult bear.
NR 10.101(2)(a)(a) Identification. No person shall hunt or pursue bear with any dog unless such dog is tattooed or wears a collar with the owner's name and address attached.
NR 10.101(2)(b)
(b) Training. The training of dogs by pursuing wild bear is prohibited except July 1 through August 31.
NR 10.101 Note
Note: Bear dog trials and training are regulated by ch.
NR 17.
NR 10.101(2)(c)
(c) Pack size. No more than 6 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue bear regardless of the number of bear hunters assisting the bear harvest permittee and regardless of the dog ownership.
NR 10.101 Note
Note: Only a bear hunting licensee with a bear harvest permittee may pursue bear during the open season on bear.
NR 10.101 Note
Note: This rule does not permit a person to hunt bear over bait without using dogs as a hunting aid.
NR 10.101(3)(a)(a) Validation. Any person killing a bear shall immediately validate the carcass tag by slitting the mark designating the month, day, time of kill and bear sex.
NR 10.101(3)(b)
(b) Attachment. Immediately following validation, the carcass tag shall be attached to the bear at any location on the bear.
NR 10.101(3)(c)
(c) Removal and retention. A bear carcass tag attached under
par. (b) and department registration tag may be removed from a gutted carcass at the time of butchering or when prepared by a licensed taxidermist, but the person who killed or obtained the bear shall retain all tags until the meat is consumed.
NR 10.101(3)(d)
(d) Exceptions. Except as provided under
par. (c), no person may possess, control, store or transport a bear carcass unless it is tagged as required under s.
29.184 (5), Stats., and
pars. (a) and
(b).
NR 10.101 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1978, No. 269, eff. 6-1-78; cr. (1) (b) 5.,
Register, August, 1979, No. 284, eff. 9-1-79; r. and recr. (1) (b) and (3) (b),
Register, April, 1980, No. 292, eff. 5-1-80; am. (3) (b),
Register, July, 1985, No. 355, eff. 8-1-85; am. (intro.), cr. (1) (c), (3) (e) and (4), r. and recr. (3) (c),
Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; am. (2) (c) 3.,
Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; cr. (4) (d),
Register, August, 1988, No. 392, eff. 9-1-88; am. (3) (b),
Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89; r. (2), renum. (3) and (4) to be (2) and (3),
Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90;
CR 01-008: am. (1) (c), r. (2) (d),
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 4-1-02; correction in (3) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register September 2002 No. 561; correction in (2) (e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7.,
Register April 2005 No. 592.
NR 10.102
NR 10.102
Bear hunting quota and license issuance. NR 10.102(1)(1)
Bear quotas. Bear quotas are based on the status of zone black bear populations in relation to established population goals as determined by inventories.
NR 10.102(1)(a)
(a) Purpose. The department shall issue Class A bear licenses in sufficient numbers to assure maintenance of bear populations for each zone indicated in
par. (d).
NR 10.102(1)(b)
(b) Quota formula. In each black bear management zone, the number of Class A bear licenses to be issued to harvest the desired numbers of bear shall be based on hunter success rates from previous seasons. In establishing licenses for a zone without an adequate history of licenses, the average success rates of similar zones shall be applied or the department shall estimate an anticipated success rate. The license number formula is: -
See PDF for diagram 
NR 10.102(1)(c)
(c) Success rate formula. Hunter success rates used to compute the number of Class A bear licenses to be issued for each zone shall be those calculated by the department from annual bear season harvest reports except where no previous history of success rates exist. The license rate formula is: -
See PDF for diagram
NR 10.102(1)(e)1.1. The department may establish temporary bear harvest subzones within each black bear management zone to increase or decrease harvest within specific subzones to assure maintenance of bear populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management zone.
NR 10.102(1)(e)2.
2. The department may require that a portion of the Class A bear licenses available within a bear management zone be specific to a temporary bear harvest subzone to assure maintenance of bear populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management zone.
NR 10.102(1)(e)3.
3. Class A bear licenses for the temporary subzones shall be used only within the subzone.
NR 10.102(1)(e)5.
5. Temporary subzones may be established to increase bear harvest when either of the following 2 conditions exist within the area considered for a subzone:
NR 10.102(1)(e)5.a.
a. The bear population density within the subzone for the previous 3 year period exceeds by 20% the zone population density goal as indicated by indexes or models, or both.
NR 10.102(1)(e)5.b.
b. Bear nuisance or agricultural damage complaints per square mile within the subzone exceed the zone average by 20% or more for the previous 3 year period.
NR 10.102(1)(e)6.
6. Temporary subzones may be established to decrease harvest when either one of the following conditions exist:
NR 10.102(1)(e)6.a.
a. The mortality rate of adult bears within the subzone exceeds 22% for the previous 3 year period.
NR 10.102(1)(e)6.b.
b. The bear population density within the subzone for the previous 3 year period is below the zone population density goal by 20% or more as indicated by indexes or models, or both.
NR 10.102(1)(e)7.
7. Each temporary bear harvest subzone may be established for a period not to exceed 2 years.
NR 10.102(1)(f)
(f) Permanent bear harvest subzones. Class A bear licenses for subzones shall be used only in the subzone.
NR 10.102(2)(a)(a) Application submittal. Application for Class A bear licenses shall be on forms provided by the department. Applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline date indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on the deadline date to be considered for selection. The annual deadline may not be sooner than December 1 each year.
NR 10.102 Note
Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to the deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.
NR 10.102(2)(b)
(b) Group applications. Group applications for a maximum of 4 hunters may be submitted for Class A bear hunting licenses provided each applicant completes the application form. The group's preference standing shall be that of the member with the lowest number of preference points. If the group is selected, the group shall accept or reject Class A bear licenses for all members of their group.
NR 10.102(3)
(3) License issuance. The department shall select successful applicants and issue Class A bear license approval notices no later than February 15 of each year. The department may reissue a Class A bear license if the license is returned or if the applicant fails to or cannot comply with s.
29.184, Stats. Selection shall be by random drawing.
NR 10.102(4)
(4) Fees. A successful applicant shall submit the appropriate license fee established by s.
29.563 (2) (a) 6. or
7. or
(b) 4. or
5., Stats., to the department before receiving a Class A bear license.
