Notice of Hearing
The Department of Natural Resources announces that it will hold a public hearing on an emergency rule to revise ch. NR 10, relating to establishing the 2022 migratory bird season framework and regulations at the time and place shown below. Hearing Information
Date: October 4, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Rule Information:
This rule adjusted migratory game bird seasons and regulations for 2022 to be consistent with the federal framework for the Mississippi Flyway, current biological information and public input. In general, season frameworks for migratory birds in 2022 are identical to those implemented for 2021. There are two exceptions:
This rule changes the 2022 restrictive 60-day scaup season in the North Zone and Open Water Zone. In 2021 all three duck zones had the same scaup season. This rule adjusts the North Zone and Open Water Zone scaup season structure to 2 scaup/day for the first 45 days and 1 scaup/day for the final 15 days to better match the opportunity for hunters to pursue this species in each of the two zones.
This rule also adjusts and simplifies the open water restrictions on all approved inland open water hunting lakes. In 2011 the Department identified several inland lakes that would be open to open water hunting. The decision was to set the minimum distance from shore where hunters can be without having to adhere to concealment regulations to “greater than 1000 feet” as a precaution until the Department had some time to review how this opportunity was utilized. With more than a decade of these regulations the Department feels that the 1000-foot restriction can be reduced to 500 feet which aligns the definition of open water hunting for both the inland lakes and the Great Lakes.
Finally, this rule clarifies the duck zone boundary for the Open Water Zone by updating the definition of the Open Water Zone boundary as, “waters greater than 500 feet from the mainland shore of Green Bay and Lake Michigan; for the purposes of the Open Water Zone, mainland shore includes all adjacent rooted vegetation, adjacent floating cattail and Long Tail and Little Tail points.
Accessibility
For the hearing or visually impaired, non-English speakers, or those with other personal circumstances which might make communication at the meeting/hearing difficult, DNR will, to the maximum extent possible and with reasonable advance notice, provide aids including an interpreter, or a non-English, large-print, or recorded version of hearing documents. To access these resources, please contact the email address or phone number listed below as soon as possible.
Appearances at the Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments
The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Registration will take place at the hearing by completing a Hearing Appearance form, which is available here. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to provide spoken comments during the hearing. To pre-register, please download and complete the fillable Hearing Appearance form and send it to taylor.finger@wisconsin.gov. Comments on the emergency rule must be received on or before October 4, 2022. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail, E-mail, or through the internet and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing:
Department of Natural Resources
Attn: Taylor Finger
P.O. Box 7921
101 S. Webster Street,
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis: No economic impacts are anticipated. The hunting season frameworks proposed in this rule will be comparable to those in place during the previous season. These rules are applicable to individual hunters and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.
Agency Small Business Regulatory Coordinator:
Emma Esch (608) 266-1959
