NR 12.10 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (1) (a) (intro.), (2) (intro.), (c), (d), (3) (c) and (d), cr. (1) (c) and (4), Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94.; am. (3) (a), cr. (3) (e), Register, July, 1995, No. 475, eff. 8-1-95; CR 01-006: cr. (1) (b) 4., Register August 2001 No. 548, eff. 9-1-01; emerg. am. (3) (c), eff. 7-3-02; CR 03-016: am. (3) (c) Register August 2003 No. 572, eff. 9-1-03; CR 03-018: am. (1) (a) 4., (b) 2. and (2) (b) 2. Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 04-046: cr. (5) Register September 2004 No. 585, eff. 10-1-04; CR 05-031: am. (3) (intro.) and (e) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 05-104: cr. (1) (a) 5. and (1) (b) 5., am. (1) (b) 2. Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07; CR 07-055: am. (1) (b) 4., cr. (1) (b) 6. Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 2-1-08; CR 07-035: am. (3) (intro.) Register April 2008 No. 628, eff. 5-1-08; CR 09-052: am. (1) (b) 2. Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 10-051: am. (1) (a) 1. (intro.), (b) 1. b., cr. (1) (b) 2m. and 7. Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; renumber of (1) (b) 2m. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register December 2010 No. 660; CR 16-037: am. (3) (d) Register April 2017 No. 736, eff. 5-1-17; EmR1613: emerg. cr. (12), eff. 3-12-16; 2023 Wis. Act 51: cr. (3) (f) Register December 2023 No. 816, eff. 1-1-24; CR 23-025: cr. (1) (a) 6., am. (1) (b) 2. Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24; CR 24-055: am. (1) (a) 1. a., 3., 4., (b) 1. b., cr. (1) (b) 1. e., am. (1) (b) 2., 4. to 6. (intro.), r. (1) (b). 6. a., am. (1) (b) 7., (c), (2) (b) 1., (3) (b), (c) Register April 2025 No. 832, eff. 5-1-25; correction in (1) (b) 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 2025 No. 832.

NR 12.15 NR 12.15 Conditions of permits to shoot or trap wild animals causing damage. The following general conditions apply to all permits to remove wild animals causing damage:

NR 12.15(1) (1) Public use during open seasons. All lands described on the application and any contiguous lands under the same ownership suitable for hunting or trapping shall be open to public hunting or trapping of the species causing the damage for a period of one year from the effective date of the permit. Public access is only required during the open hunting or trapping season for the species causing damage. These lands may be posted to indicate that hunting permission is required from the permittee. The department may require a permittee to keep a daily log of hunter’s names and telephone numbers on forms provided by the department as a condition of the permit.

NR 12.15(2) (2) Use refusal. Permittees may refuse access to hunters or trappers for reasonable cause. Reasonable cause may not be based on age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, physical condition, development disability, creed, sexual orientation, marital status, gender, ancestry, military service, or national origin. The presence of at least 2 hunters or active trapping of at least one trapper per each 40 acres suitable for hunting or trapping, respectively, shall constitute a reasonable cause for refusal under s. NR 12.31 (7).

NR 12.15 Note Note: Other examples of reasonable cause may include drunkenness, vandalism, littering, or reckless conduct.

NR 12.15(3) (3) Rule compliance. The permittee and all participants shall comply with all hunting and trapping rules specified under ch. NR 10 or ch. 29, Stats., unless otherwise provided under this chapter, ch. 29, Stats., or by permit. Permittees and participants who fail to comply shall be subject to the penalty applicable to the appropriate ch. NR 10 or ch. 29, Stats., violation.

NR 12.15(4) (4) Reporting. Each permittee shall keep a current, correct and complete record of all participants and permit activities as required by the department on forms furnished by the department. Permit records may be inspected by the department at any time. Copies of records shall be provided to the department upon request. The permittee shall report the total number of wild animals or structures removed and return all unused permit materials and any participant authorizations issued, to the department within 10 days after the permit expiration date.

NR 12.15 Note Note: Permit materials may include carcass tags, harvest authorizations and hunter permission slips.

NR 12.15(5) (5) Carcass care and disposition. Unless otherwise directed by the department, each animal shall be:

NR 12.15(5)(a) (a) Tagged with a carcass tag provided by the department immediately upon killing;

NR 12.15(5)(b) (b) Field dressed and stored in a cool location; and

NR 12.15(5)(c) (c) As soon as practical, turned over to the department designee authorized to receive the carcass.

NR 12.15(7) (7) Permit materials possession. Each participant shall have in their possession while hunting or trapping under the authority of a permit to remove wild animals causing damage any materials issued to the participant by the department or permittee.

NR 12.15(8) (8) Permit materials restriction. Permit materials are not transferable and may not be altered or defaced.

NR 12.15(9) (9) Permit removal limit. The department may specify the sex and age of the animals to be removed and limit the number of carcass tags or harvest authorizations issued under this section after consultation with the applicant and, if the damage is occurring in a county participating under s. 29.889, Stats., the appropriate county wildlife damage program personnel.

NR 12.15(10) (10) Authorized area. The permit applies to all lands subject to public use under sub. (1) and may extend 1/4-mile onto adjoining lands of consenting landowners. Any person engaged in removal pursuant to a shooting permit must possess a valid harvest authorization while so engaged.

NR 12.15(11) (11) Licenses, stamps and permits.

NR 12.15(11)(a) (a) Except as provided under s. 29.337, Stats., and excluding the permittee, all participants shall possess the appropriate state and federal hunting or trapping license, and stamps for hunting or trapping for that animal.

NR 12.15(11)(b) (b) Bear damage shooting permits. Participants shall possess a current Class A hunting license or any valid license authorizing hunting with a firearm when engaged in bear damage shooting permit activities, such as hunting or baiting.

NR 12.15(11)(c) (c) Elk damage shooting permits. Unless as authorized by the department, participants shall possess a valid elk license or a valid license that authorizes hunting with a firearm, bow, or crossbow and a valid shooting permit when engaged in elk damage shooting permit activities.

NR 12.15(11)(d) (d) Turkey damage shooting permits. Others participating under a turkey damage shooting permit shall possess a license authorizing small game and turkey stamp or turkey hunting license and stamp, during that license year, and a valid shooting permit when engaged in turkey damage shooting permit activities.

NR 12.15(11)(e) (e) Spring goose shooting permits. Others participating under a goose damage shooting permit shall possess a license authorizing small game when engaged in goose damage shooting permit activities. No state or federal migratory bird stamps are required.

NR 12.15(12) (12) Violations. No person may violate the terms and conditions of any permit issued under this chapter. The department may suspend or revoke any shooting permit if the terms or conditions of the shooting permit are violated.

NR 12.15(13) (13) Use restrictions. Hunting bear with the aid of dogs under this chapter is prohibited, unless the department determines there are extraordinary conditions which warrant an exemption. When the department grants an exemption, permittees may restrict hunting access of bear hunters using dogs if trespass problems on adjoining private properties are likely to occur.

NR 12.15 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; am. (intro.), (1), (3) and (4), cr. (12), Register, May, 1994, No. 461, eff. 6-1-94; renum. (11) to be (11) (a), cr. (11) (b) and (13), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; CR 03-018: cr. (11) (c) Register December 2003 No. 576, eff. 1-1-04; CR 05-017: am. (11) (b) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; CR 05-031: cr. (11) (d) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 11-1-05; EmR1613: emerg. am. (5) (a), eff. 3-12-16; CR 19-146: am. (2), (11) (b), cr. (11) (e) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; CR 23-025: am. (11) (b) Register March 2024 No. 819, eff. 4-1-24; CR 24-055: am. (1), (2), r. (6), am. (9), (10), (11) (c), (d), (12) Register April 2025 No. 832, eff. 5-1-25.

NR 12.16 NR 12.16 Conditions of permits to shoot deer causing damage. In addition to s. NR 12.15, the following conditions shall apply to all shooting permits for deer causing damage.

NR 12.16(1) (1) Shooting hours. Permittees and participants shall comply with shooting hours described in s. NR 10.06 (5), unless exempted by the department. Exemptions shall be granted to allow hunting of deer one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset during the closed season in situations where permit eligibility is based under s. NR 12.10 (2) (b) 2. and with permit conditions restricting permit shooting of deer to within the fenced area.

NR 12.16 Note Note: Copies of shooting hours tables showing these hours shall be provided to all permittees for their reference and for distribution to participants.

NR 12.16(2) (2)