20. Increase the minimum size restriction for muskellunge harvest from 45 to 50 inches in the Chippewa flowage, Sawyer county.
21. Reduce the minimum size restriction for walleye in Sand lake, Sawyer county, from 28 inches to 18 inches and increases the daily bag limit from 1 fish to 3 fish.
22. Increase the minimum size restriction for largemouth and smallmouth bass from 14 inches to 18 inches on Big Portage, Presque Isle, Van Vliet, Averill, and Star lakes, Vilas county, and reduce the daily bag limit from 5 fish to 1 fish.
23. Extend the sunset clause on special regulations for muskellunge and walleye in Sparkling lake, Vilas county from 2008-09 to 2013-14.
24. Remove special regulations for trout in Long lake (Town of Saxeville), Waushara county.
25. Clarify regulations on Green Bay tributaries by increasing the daily bag limit for walleye, sauger and hybrids from 3 fish to 5 fish and increasing the minimum size restriction from no minimum to 15 inches.
26. Increase the daily bag limit for sauger in Lake Winnebago system waters from 0 fish to 1 fish.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rules will have a significant economic impact on small businesses. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at
SmallBusiness @dnr.state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.
Environmental Impact
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.
Fiscal Estimate for
CR 08-011,
relating to hunting and trapping, and the use of department managed land.
Summary
This rule proposal will have a negligible fiscal impact. The department already enforces trapping regulations during the period in February when raccoon hunting and trapping will be allowed. Trap type definitions and increased bobcat population goals will update furbearer management programs but do not significantly alter department activities. The department already enforces turkey hunting regulations and regulations related to firearms and airgun discharge on public lands.
New signs will be needed to indicate that dryland trapping is allowed in the Marten Closed Area. Dependable department partners, the Wisconsin Trappers Association, have volunteered to assist the department by placing new signs. It is anticipated that new signs and posts will cost approximately $800.
State fiscal effect
Indeterminate
Local fiscal effect
None
Fund sources affected
SEG
Affected Chapter
20 Appropriations
Long-range fiscal implications
No long range fiscal implications are anticipated. These rule proposals modify and modernize management and enforcement activities but do not require significant new efforts.
Fiscal Estimate for
CR 08-010,
relating to fishing on inland, outlying and boundary waters of Wisconsin
State fiscal effect
None
Local fiscal effect
None
Long-range fiscal implications
None
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—
Hearing Information
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on:
March 12, 2008
Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
|
Conference Room
DNR Office
875 South 4th Avenue
Park Falls
|
March 13, 2008
Thursday at 3:00 p.m.
|
Conference Room
DNR Office
300 W. Clairemont Avenue Eau Claire
|
March 14, 2008
Friday at 3:00 p.m.
|
Room G09
GEF #2 State Office Bldg.
101 S. Webster Street
Madison
|
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Karl Scheidegger at (608) 267-9426 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Agency Contact Person, Copy of Rule, and Submission of Written Comments
The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Mr. Karl Scheidegger, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 14, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Scheidegger.
Analysis Prepared by Department of Natural Resources
The proposed rule change would increase the minimum length limit of lake sturgeon from its current 50" limit to a 60" limit and reduce the season length from 6 weeks to 4 weeks on all inland waters where lake sturgeon are now harvested and the lower St. Croix River on the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary waters. The regulation change would significantly reduce the number of lake sturgeon harvested each year (up to 80%). The rule change would likely affect sturgeon anglers' (both resident and nonresident) opportunities to harvest a fish, but will ultimately provide protection of Wisconsin's sturgeon populations.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Pursuant to s.
227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at
SmallBusiness @dnr.state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.
Environmental Impact
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.
Fiscal Estimate
State fiscal effect
None
Local fiscal effect
None
Long-range fiscal implications
None
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss.
29.014,
29.063,
29.177 and
227.11, Stats., interpreting ss.
29.063 and
29.177, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs.
NR 10,
12 and
19, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to deer hunting as it relates to the management of chronic wasting disease.
Hearing Information
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department will hold an open house from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to each hearing. Department staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed rules.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on:
March 18, 2008 Oak Hall Conf. Room
Tuesday Fitchburg Community Center
5510 Lacy Road
Fitchburg
Big Bend/Vernon Fire Station No. 3
W223 S7475 Woodland Lane
Big Bend
March 19, 2008 A4 Lecture Hall
Wednesday UW-Baraboo-Sauk Co. Campus
1001 Connie Road
Baraboo
Black Hawk Tech. College
Central Campus-Main Entrance
6004 S. County Road G
Janesville
March 20, 2008 Room CB123 & C&D
Thursday Northeast Wis. Tech College
2740 W. Mason
Green Bay (parking in Lot F)
James Williams Middle School
915 Acacia Lane
Rhinelander
Dodger Bowl
318 King Street
Dodgeville
March 24, 2008 Conference Room
Monday DNR Service Center
1300 W. Clairemont
Eau Claire
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Scott Loomans at (608) 267-2452 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Agency Contact Person, Copy of Rule, and Submission of Written Comments
The proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail to Mr. Alan Crossley, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until March 25, 2008. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Crossley.
Analysis Prepared by Department of Natural Resources
This rule order includes the following proposed changes in the CWD hunting rules:
1. Combine the Disease Eradication Zone (DEZ) and Herd Reduction Zone (HRZ) into one zone, called the CWD Management Zone (CWD-MZ) whose outer boundary is defined by the current HRZ boundary.
2. Instead of a deer population goal of 5 deer/square mile in the DEZ and 10 deer/square mile in the HRZ, establish interim deer population goals for each DMU contained within the CWD-MZ. Those interim deer population goals would be established through a 20% reduction in the goal for those DMUs in 2001, with the exception that DMUs that had goals less than 20 in 2001, remain unchanged.
3. Authorize the use of rifles within the CWD Management Zone with the exception of metro units.
4. Restrict the import of whole cervid carcasses (deer, elk & moose) into Wisconsin from states or provinces that have CWD and restrict whole deer carcass movement from the CWD-MZ to elsewhere in the state. The Department recommends that the effective date of the carcass movement restrictions be delayed until September 1, 2009 to allow hunters time to research and evaluate their options for complying with the movement restriction if they live outside of the CWD-MZ.
5. Allow the harvest of white and albino deer in the entire CWD-MZ (formerly restricted to the DEZ)
6. Allow the shooting of deer from a farm tractor or implement of husbandry in the entire CWD-MZ (formerly restricted to the DEZ)
7. Establish a deer season framework in the CWD-MZ that is more consistent with the season framework that has been used for DMUs that are over goal in the rest of the state. Under this proposal, hunters in the CWD Zones could expect the following season framework in 2008:
• Archery season: September 13 to January 4
• Youth hunt: October 4-5
• Early firearm season: antlerless only October 16-19
• 9-day firearm deer season: November 22-30
• 10-day muzzleloader season: December 1-10
• Late firearm season: antlerless only December 11-14
