Chapter NR 17

NR 17.07(3)(b)3.d. d. The cage containing the bear has a mesh size no greater than 2 inches square.

NR 17.07(3)(b)3.e. e. The cage shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space to allow the bear, bobcat or raccoon to make normal postural adjustments with adequate freedom of movement to sit, stand on all 4 legs, turn around and lie in a normal manner.

NR 17.07(3)(b)3.f. f. The cage shall be designed to allow urine and feces to drain from the cage.

NR 17.07(3)(b)3.g. g. Permanent devices such as handles or handholds shall be provided on the exterior that enables the cage to be lifted and ensures that anyone handling the cage will not come into physical contact with the bear, bobcat or raccoon contained inside.

NR 17.07(3)(b)3.h. h. When the cage is elevated in a tree or on a pole for training or trial purposes, the cage shall be raised a minimum of 10 feet off the ground.

NR 17.07(3)(b)4. 4. All individuals except the owner of the captive animal, the owner’s designee or the dog handler shall be kept at least 4 feet from the cage. For bear, a barrier shall be provided to assure that individuals other than the owner, designee or handlers are kept 4 feet from the cage.

NR 17.07(3)(b)5. 5. Dogs shall be kept a minimum of one foot from the cage at all times by restraint, cage design or barrier fence except where the cage is covered by solid material, which prevents all physical contact between the dog and the captive animal. The one foot minimum distance does not apply to raccoon training with the use of roll cages.

NR 17.07(3)(b)6. 6. The cage shall be adequately shaded at all times.

NR 17.07(3)(b)7. 7. The bear, bobcat or raccoon shall have access to fresh water.

NR 17.07(3)(b)8. 8. Roll cages may not be used for dog training with bear or bobcat.

NR 17.07(3)(c) (c) Training periods. The length of time that captive wild bear, bobcat, coyote, fox or raccoon may be used for training exercises may not exceed 12 hours within a 24-hour period. Captive wild bear, bobcat, coyote, fox and raccoon shall be provided with a minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest within a 24-hour period, when no dog training or trialing may take place. Additionally, a bear, bobcat or raccoon used for training, may not be housed in an enclosure that does not meet the primary enclosure standards in s. NR 16.30 (4) for a period of more than 72 hours.

NR 17.07 History History: CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 05-031: am. (2) (a) Register November 2005 No. 599, eff. 12-1-05; CR 05-104: am. (1), r. and recr. (3), Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07.

NR 17.08 NR 17.08 Dog trialing on free roaming wild animals and additional restrictions on dogs.

NR 17.08(1) (1) Authority. Except as described in subs. (2) and (3), any person may trial dogs on free-roaming wild animals without a dog trialing license.

NR 17.08(2) (2) Prohibitions.

NR 17.08(2)(a) (a) Department lands. On department lands open to public hunting that are not designated open to dog trialing under s. NR 17.10, dogs shall be controlled by a person using a leash which is no more than 8 feet in length from April 15 through July 31 except as described in sub. (3).

NR 17.08(2)(b) (b) Northern restricted zone. Dog trialing on any free roaming wild animal is prohibited May 1 to June 30 on all lands north of the highway described in s. NR 10.07 (1) (i) except as described in sub. (3) (a).

NR 17.08(2)(c) (c) Bear dog trialing. A person may not use dogs to pursue wild bear for dog trialing purposes except as provided in sub. (3) (c).

NR 17.08(2)(d) (d) Killing wild animals. No person engaged in trialing dogs may kill or cause to be killed any free roaming wild animal including unprotected wild animals unless otherwise authorized.

NR 17.08(3) (3) Exceptions.

NR 17.08(3)(a) (a) Northern restricted zone hound dog trialing on raccoon and rabbits. An individual may trial dogs on captive or free-roaming raccoons and rabbits May 1 to June 30 provided all the following apply:

NR 17.08(3)(a)1. 1. The individual applies for and receives a hound dog trial license.

NR 17.08(3)(a)2. 2. The location of the master of hounds and the name of any approved state properties where the dog trials are to be held shall be listed on the hound dog trial license.

NR 17.08 Note Note: Private lands need not be listed on the trial license.

NR 17.08(3)(a)3. 3. The applicant complies with any restrictions placed on a license to prevent the intentional or unintentional pursuit of wild bear.

NR 17.08(3)(b) (b) Hound dog trialing on free-roaming raccoons and rabbit. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06, from July 1 through the following April 14, hound dogs may be trialed on free-roaming raccoons and rabbits on department lands without a leash.

NR 17.08(3)(c) (c) Bear dog trialing. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06, an individual may use dogs to pursue wild bear without a leash from July 1 to August 31 and at times when the season for hunting bears is open in places where it is legal to hunt bear with aid of dogs provided the individual possesses a class A or B bear license issued under s. 29.184, Stats., and:

NR 17.08(3)(c)1. 1. Each dog is uniquely tattooed or wears a collar with the owner’s name and address attached.

NR 17.08(3)(c)2. 2. No more than 6 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue bear regardless of the number of persons assisting the bear hunting licensee and regardless of the dog ownership.

NR 17.08(3)(c)3. 3. Trialing during the open season for hunting bears only occurs during the hours when it is also legal to hunt bears with dogs as established in ch. NR 10.

NR 17.08 Note Note: A hound dog trial license issued under ch. 169, Stats., is not required to trial on free roaming bear during the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period or as authorized by s. 29.184 (3m), Stats. A class A or B bear hunting license is required to participate in a trial during these periods. Bear may be hunted with the aid of dogs during the seasons described in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g).

NR 17.08(4) (4) Revocations. Pursuant to s. 169.45 (7), Stats., the department may revoke a dog trialing license issued under s. 169.21, Stats., when dogs owned or under control of the licensee are found to be running bear in the northern restricted zone at times other than the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period established under s. NR 10.101 (2) (b).

NR 17.08 History History: CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 08-011: am. (2) (b) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09; CR 08-021: am. (3) (a) (intro.) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; CR 13-021: am. (2) (c), (3) (c) (intro.), cr. (2) (c) 3. Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13; CR 23-025: am. (3) (c) (intro.) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24.

NR 17.09 NR 17.09 Dog trials on department lands.

NR 17.09(1) (1) Applications. Applications shall be made before March 1 for trials held on or prior to July 31 and before July 1 for trials held after July 31 to coordinate scheduling with other events. Thereafter, applications for open dates shall be considered by the department on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be submitted at least 10 days prior to the date of the trial.

NR 17.09(2) (2) Department stock. Captive wild pheasants provided by the department may only be used on department lands and may not be shot at dog trials unless authorized by the department. Live game birds provided by the department shall be released on the trial grounds at the end of the event. All animals, which are no longer alive, shall be consumed or promptly disposed.

NR 17.09(3) (3) Grounds condition. The department may cancel or reschedule dog trial events and restrict or prohibit dog trial equine or vehicle use if excessive damage occurs or is likely to occur to soils or vegetation on department lands. License fees shall be refunded if a trial is canceled by the department and an alternative site or date cannot be established.

NR 17.09(4) (4) Litter. The licensee, at the completion of the field trial, shall remove all waste material including field trial markers.

NR 17.09(5) (5) Grounds marshal. A grounds marshal or master of hounds responsible for the dog trial coordination, supervision, clean up and regulation compliance shall be designated by the licensee for each field trial.

NR 17.09(6) (6) Equines. Equines may be used only as authorized by the trial license.

NR 17.09 History History: CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

NR 17.10 NR 17.10 Classes of field trial grounds.

NR 17.10(1) (1) Class 1 field trial grounds. Class 1 field trial grounds are those posted, marked or designated department lands where dog trials are authorized year-round, except hunting shall have priority. Class 1 field trial grounds include the following:

NR 17.10(1)(a) (a) Richard Bong state recreation area — the west unit of the special use zone.

NR 17.10(1)(b) (b) George W. Mead wildlife area.

NR 17.10(1)(c) (c) Lower Wisconsin River wildlife area — Mazomanie unit.

NR 17.10(1)(d) (d) Kettle Moraine state forest — Ottawa unit.

NR 17.10(1)(e) (e) Pine Island wildlife area.

NR 17.10(2) (2) Class 2 field trial grounds. Class 2 field trial grounds are those department lands not established in sub. (1), and designated on the field trial license and approved by the department. The department may deny or restrict dog training on department lands if dog training is determined to be inconsistent with the master plan, property plan, wildlife management objectives, or federal requirements.

NR 17.10 History History: CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03.

NR 17.11 NR 17.11 Records and reporting.

NR 17.11(1) (1) Receipts and invoices required under this chapter and s. 169.36 (4), Stats., shall include all of the following:

NR 17.11(1)(a) (a) Name and address. The complete name and address of the person from whom the wild animals were purchased or acquired or of the person to whom any wild animals were transferred.

NR 17.11(1)(b) (b) License number. The number of any license issued under the authority of ch. 169, Stats., held by the seller if applicable.

NR 17.11(1)(c) (c) Date. The date of the transaction.

NR 17.11(1)(d) (d) Species information. The number, sex and species of the wild animals purchased, acquired or transferred.

NR 17.11(2) (2) Hound dog training enclosures.

NR 17.11(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the owner or operator of any hound dog training enclosure shall maintain a complete and accurate registry which shall include all of the following:

NR 17.11(2)(a)1. 1. Except for the enclosure owner and their immediate family members living with them, the name, and address or phone number of each person who releases dogs into the enclosure.

NR 17.11(2)(a)2. 2. The date and time of each dog training activity including the number of dogs released.

NR 17.11(2)(b) (b) For organized competitive field trials occurring under a valid hound dog trial license, the owner or operator shall maintain a list of participants names and phone numbers.

NR 17.11(2)(c) (c) The registry shall be kept current, accurate and retained for 3 years from the date of the record, and shall be made available for inspection by the department.

NR 17.11(2)(d) (d) The owner or operator of any hound dog training enclosure shall also maintain and report as required complete and accurate records on the number, species and source of all captive coyote, fox and rabbit released into the hound dog training enclosure including the unique individual animal identification number of each coyote or fox, attached to each animal released. The following information shall be recorded or maintained in the owner or operator’s records and correspond to the unique individual animal identification number:

NR 17.11(2)(d)1. 1. The name, address, phone number, and applicable license number of the person from whom the captive coyote, fox or rabbit was obtained.

NR 17.11(2)(d)2. 2. The origin of the coyote, fox or rabbit, including the origin of those animals existing prior to July 1, 2007.

NR 17.11(2)(d)3. 3. All veterinary care, inoculation records and copies of health certificates or certificates of veterinarian inspections.

NR 17.11(2)(d)4. 4. The date of release into the enclosure.

NR 17.11(2)(d)5. 5. The date of mortality or discovery of mortality of any coyote or fox.

NR 17.11(2)(e) (e) The owner or operator of any hound dog training enclosure shall notify the department regarding any unusual mortality or detection of any disease involving any species of wildlife within the enclosure within 24 hours of becoming aware of the mortality or disease.

NR 17.11 Note Note: To report an unusual mortality or disease, you may contact your local department wildlife biologist or call the bureau of wildlife management at [phone].

NR 17.11(3) (3) Maintenance and submittal.

NR 17.11(3)(a) (a) Copies of records or reports required to be kept under this chapter or under s. 169.36, Stats., shall be furnished to the department by required deadlines or upon request.

NR 17.11(3)(b) (b) A hound dog training or trial license may not be renewed when the licensee fails without good cause to submit all records required by s. 169.36, Stats., or this chapter by required deadlines or within 10 days of a request for the records:

NR 17.11(3)(c) (c) Each person required to hold a license which is subject to s. 169.36 (9) (b), Stats., shall provide a copy of the quarterly records required to be maintained for that license to the department as follows:

NR 17.11(3)(c)1. 1. Quarterly submission of records shall be provided to the department by April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 each year, and shall consist of a copy of all required records that shall be maintained during the 3 previous months.

NR 17.11(3)(c)2. 2. Records to be included in the quarterly report shall consist of accurate and complete records of all transactions, including acquisition, transfer, death or other information requested in writing by the department, involving any captive wild animals of the following families:

NR 17.11(3)(c)2.a. a. Canidae (coyotes, foxes).

NR 17.11(3)(c)2.b. b. Felidae (bobcat).

NR 17.11 Note Note: Section 169.36 (9) (b), Stats., states that in addition to the requirements under par. (a), the person holding a license subject to this section shall provide a copy of the record required under this section to the department on a quarterly basis, as determined by the department, if the transaction or activity involved any live wild animal of the family canidae, ursidae, mustelidae, or felidae, or any harmful wild animal.

NR 17.11 Note Note: Quarterly reports pertain to transactions involving captive animals. They are not intended to collect information regarding individual users.

NR 17.11 History History: CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 05-104: r. (intro.), renum. (1) to (4) to be (1) (a) to (d), cr. (1) (intro.), (2) and (3), Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07.