Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 23.09 (2) (b), 29.014, 29.089 (3), 29.091, 29.164 (4) (b), 29.184 (6) and 29.197 (2), Stats., interpreting ss. 23.09 (2) (b), 29.014, 29.089 (3), 29.091, 29.164 (4) (b), 29.184 (6) and 29.197 (2), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 10, 15, 17 and 19, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to deer and turkey hunting, hunting and trapping techniques, permit and license issuance, dog training and learn-to-hunt programs. The proposed changes:

1. Extend the closing date of the ruffed grouse season in Zone A from December 31 to January 31, thereby consolidating ruffed grouse hunting zones from 3 to 2.

2. Expand the fall wild turkey hunting season from October 1 – November 10 to the Saturday nearest September 15 and continuing through the Thursday immediately prior to the opening of the deer gun season. This would be the same as the early archery deer season dates.

3. Create a 2-day youth turkey hunt on the weekend before the regular spring turkey season begins.

4. Extend the ending of the spring wild turkey hunting hours from 5:00 p.m. to sunset.

5. Prohibit possession of electronic turkey calling equipment while turkey hunting, and prohibit possession of electronic waterfowl calling equipment while waterfowl hunting.

6. Create consistent standards for body-gripping type traps, where traps 75 square inches or larger would be illegal as dry land sets, traps between 60 and 75 square inches would be legal only when half the trap in below water at all times, or when at least 5 feet off the ground, or when properly enclosed, and creating a maximum allowable height dimension of 7½ inches for dry land body-gripping traps.

7. Issue turkey carcass tags remaining after the initial special license drawing over-the-counter at a rate of one carcass tag per customer per day.

8. Change the “no dog training" period from April 15-July 31 to April 1-July 31.

9. Change the minimum age of the Youth Learn to Hunt Program from age 11 to age 10 to be consistent with current department policy.

10. Allow Class A bear licenses to be purchased up to the day prior to the ear season, and allow the purchase of a Class A bear license during the bear season, provided the license is not effective until three days after the date of purchase.

11. Allow the use of rifles in Kewaunee County during the gun deer season.

12. Create a limited entry nine-day shotgun deer gun season, followed by a ten-day muzzleloader season and late archery season at High Cliff State Park.

13. Eliminate the Greenwood “No Entry Wildlife Refuge" in Waushara County.

14. Require a pheasant stamp statewide for anyone who wishes to hunt pheasants.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 29.014 (1), 29.039, 29.041 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss. 29.014 (1), 29.039, 29.041, 29.161, 29.204, 29.207, 29.219, 29.228, 29.231, 29.235, 29.531, 29.533 and 29.624, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 20, 21, 23 and 24, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to fishing on the inland, outlying and boundary waters of Wisconsin. The proposed changes:

1. Consider 50" minimum size limit for muskellunge in Lake Winnebago, to be consistent with Great Lakes spotted musky rehabilitation protocol in connected waters.

2. Consider 50" minimum size limit for muskellunge in Little Lake Butte des Morts and the Fox River downstream from the Neenah and Menasha dams to the DePere dam, to be consistent with Great Lakes spotted musky rehabilitation protocol in connected waters.

3. Extend sunset provision of Wisconsin, Lemonwier and Yellow River experimental regulations for walleye and sauger, from the Grandfather dam downstream to the Prairie du Sac dam. The experimental 15" minimum/20-28" no harvest slot will be extended until 2014 to enable the Department to fully evaluate the efficiency of the regulation.

4. Prohibit recreational harvest of live freshwater mussels from inland waters of the state, excluding the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

5. Establish a catch-and-release only fishery for lake sturgeon in the Menominee River downstream from the Hattie St. dam, and modify the minimum length limit for lake sturgeon above the Hattie St. dam to coincide with recently approved changes to Michigan regulations.

6. Simplify walleye regulations in the Menominee River below the Hattie St. dam and in waters of Green Bay, to provide consistent regulations for anglers fishing either Wisconsin or Michigan waters.

7. Revise opening date for game fish season on the St. Croix River to provide anglers with an opening date consistent between Wisconsin and Minnesota waters.

8. Revise the minimum length limit for sauger on the St. Louis River to provide anglers with a regulation consistent in Wisconsin and Minnesota waters.]

9. Prohibit possession or use of a sinker release device while fishing in waters of the state.

10. Revise code to allow individuals younger than 16 years old to take, possess and control turtles without the requirement to hold a valid fishing or small game license.

11. Modify removal dates for ice shanties from March 1 (south of Hwy. 64) and March 15 (north of Hwy. 64) to “the first Saturday following March 1 and the first Saturday following March 12, respectively".

12. Expand the list of waters where bowfishing is permitted between sunset and sunrise.

13. Replace the 14" minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Pigeon Lake, Bayfield County, with a 14-18" no-harvest slot regulation and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to 3 fish.

14. Extend sunset provision for 18" minimum/3 fish daily bag limit for walleye in Beaver Dam Lake, Dodge County, to enable the Department to fully evaluate the impacts of the regulation. This proposal will also encompass all Beaver Dam Lake tributary streams, which were inadvertently excluded from the original rule.

15. Increase the minimum length limit for walleye in Kangaroo Lake, Door County, from 15" to 18" and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to 3 fish.

16. Increase the minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Muskellunge Lake, Lincoln County, from 14" to 18" and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to one fish.

17. Replace the 18" minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Pigeon Lake, Bayfield County, with a 14-18" no-harvest slot regulation and increase the daily bag limit from one fish to 3 fish.

18. Increase the minimum size limit for muskellunge in Pelican Lake, Oneida County, from 34" to 50".

19. Replace the current 14" minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass with no minimum size limit in Big Butternut Lake, Polk County.

20. Replace the 14" minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass with no minimum size limit in Nelson Lake, Sawyer County.

21. Increase the minimum length limit for northern pike in Nelson Lake, Sawyer County, from “no minimum" to 32", and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to one fish.

22. Reduce the daily bag limit for panfish in Smith lake, Sawyer County, from 25 fish to 10 fish.

23. Increase the minimum size limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Kentuck Lake, Vilas County, from 14" to 18" and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to one fish.

24. Increase the minimum size limits for smallmouth bass in Pallette Lake, Vilas County, from 16" to 22" and reduce the daily bag limit from 2 fish to one fish.

25. Extend open trout season in Gilbert, Pine and Pearl Lakes, Waushara County, to coincide with regular gamefish season.

26. Remove special regulations for northern pike and muskellunge in Long Lake, Waushara County, and revert to statewide standard regulations.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rules will have an economic impact on small businesses. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at [e-mail] or by calling [phone].

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2006, the County Conservation Congress for each county will hold its election of delegates. Upon completion of the delegate election, the joint Spring Hearing/Conservation Congress meeting will convene to take comments on the foregoing rule modifications.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the following locations:

Adams - Adams-Friendship Middle School, Gymnasium, 420 North Main Street, Friendship

Ashland - Ashland Senior High School, Auditorium, 1900 Beaser Avenue, Ashland

Barron - Barron County Courthouse, Auditorium, 330 E. Lasalle Ave., Barron

Bayfield - Bayfield County Courthouse, 117 E. 5th, Washburn

Brown - West High School, Auditorium, 966 Shawano Avenue, Green Bay

Buffalo - Alma High School, Auditorium, S1618 STH 35, Alma

Burnett - Room #165, Siren Government Center, 7410 County Road K, Siren

Calumet - Chilton Public High School, Auditorium, 530 West Main Street, Chilton

Chippewa - Chippewa Falls Middle School, Auditorium A, 750 Tropicana Blvd., Chippewa Falls

Clark - Greenwood High School, West Gym, 306 W. Central Ave., Greenwood

Columbia - Portage Junior High School, 2505 New Pinery Road, Portage

Crawford - Prairie du Chien High School, Auditorium, 800 East Crawford Street, Prairie du Chien

Dane - Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Madison

Dodge - Horicon City Hall, 404 E. Lake Street, Horicon

Door - Sturgeon Bay High School, Auditorium, 1230 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay

Douglas - Solon Springs High School, Gymnasium, 8993 E. Balwin Ave., Solon Springs

Dunn - Dunn County Fish & Game Club, 1900 Pine Ave., Menomonie

Eau Claire - South Middle School, Auditorium, 2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire

Florence - Florence Natural Resource Center, Large Conference Room, Highway 101/70, Florence

Fond du Lac - Theisen Jr. High School, Auditorium, 525 E. Pioneer Rd., Fond du Lac

Forest - Crandon High School, Auditorium, 970 USH 8 W, Crandon

Grant - Lancaster High School, Hilary Auditorium, 806 E. Elm St., Lancaster

Green - Monroe Middle School, Auditorium, 1510 13th Street, Monroe

Green Lake - Green Lake High School, Multi-purpose room, 612 Mill Street, Green Lake

Iowa - Dodgeville High School, Gymnasium, 912 West Chapel Street, Dodgeville

Iron - Mercer Community Center, 2448 West Margaret, Mercer

Jackson - Black River Falls Middle School, LGI Room, 1202 Pierce Street, Black River Falls

Jefferson - Jefferson County Fair Park, Activity Center, 503 N. Jackson, Jefferson

Juneau - Mauston High School, Gymnasium, 800 Grayside Ave., Mauston

Kenosha - Bristol Grade School, Gym, 20121 83rd Street, Bristol

Kewaunee - Kewaunee High School, Theatre, 911 3rd Street, Kewaunee

La Crosse - Onalaska High School, Auditorium, 700 Wilson Street, Onalaska

Lafayette - Darlington High School, Auditorium, 11838 Center Hill Road, Darlington

Langlade - Antigo High School, Volm Theater, 900 10th Avenue, Antigo

Lincoln - Tomahawk Elementary School, Auditorium, 1048 E. Kings Road, Tomahawk

Manitowoc - UW-Manitowoc, Theater, 705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc

Marathon - Wausau West High School, 1200 West Wausau Ave., Wausau

Marinette - Crivitz High School, Auditorium, 718 Hall Hay Street, Crivitz

Marquette - Montello High School, Varsity Gym, 222 Forest Lane, Montello

Menominee - Menominee County Courthouse, Basement, Courthouse Lane, Keshena

Milwaukee - Bayfield High School, Auditorium, 2751 South Lenox Street, Milwaukee

Monroe - Tomah High School, Gym, 901 Lincoln Avenue, Tomah

Oconto - Suring High School, Cafeteria, 411 E. Algoma Street, Suring