SS 082-18

4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):

The chapter on wild animals and plants, in s. 29.014, “rule making for this chapter”, establishes that the department shall maintain open and closed seasons for fish and game and any limits, rest days, and conditions for taking fish and game.

5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:

Employees will likely spend roughly 40 hours developing these rules.

6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:

These rules will impact hunters who pursue ruffed grouse and small businesses for whom ruffed grouse hunters and their associated expenditures generate revenue. However, the closure will occur after the peak period for ruffed grouse hunting activity which is in October and November and no significant impacts are expected. Research indicates that late season harvest can have negative impacts on grouse populations.

7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:

States possess inherent authority to manage the wildlife resources located within their boundaries, except insofar as preempted by federal treaties and laws, including regulations established in the Federal Register. None of these rule changes violate or conflict with the provisions established in the Federal Code of Regulations.

8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):

These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule. However, there might be an economic impact to small business who depend on ruffed grouse hunters for revenue. This rule may shorten the ruffed grouse season by almost two months, which could result in decreased revenue during that time.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-2011 (USFWS 2011), grouse hunting in Wisconsin accounts for only 7% of the total hunting effort (hunting days) in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR or the USWFW does not keep specific data on hunting expenditure related to grouse hunting. Additionally, the closure will occur after prime portions of the season that are most desirable to travelling hunters. Based on the limited number of days that hunters dedicate to grouse hunting relative to other types of hunting in Wisconsin, we do not expect that the impact of limiting the grouse hunting season in Wisconsin on hunting expenditure (reduced expenditure) will be significant.

9. Anticipated number, month and locations of public hearings:

The Department anticipates holding one public hearing in the month of October 2018 in Park Falls, WI.

The Department will hold this hearing in this location to give businesses and residents of northern Wisconsin, where most of the ruffed grouse habitat exists, the opportunity to comment on the impacts of closing the ruffed grouse season early.

Contact Person: Mark Witecha, Upland Game Ecologist, 101 South Webster Street, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, [phone], [e-mail]