29.889(4)(a)(a) Participating county. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, the land for which assistance is sought is required to be located in a county which is participating in the administration of the wildlife damage abatement program.

29.889(4)(b)(b) Filing of application. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, a person is required to file an application with the participating county in a form acceptable to the county. An owner or lessee of land, a person who controls land or an owner of an apiary or livestock may file an application.

29.889(4)(bn)(bn) Type of wildlife damage. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, the type of wildlife damage to be abated shall be limited to damage to commercial seedings or crops growing on agricultural land, damage to crops that have been harvested for sale or further use but that have not been removed from the agricultural land, damage to orchard trees or nursery stock, damage to apiaries or livestock, or damage to crops or grasses grown for use by a bird hunting preserve licensed under ch. 169.

29.889(4)(c)(c) Other eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage abatement assistance, a person is required to comply with eligibility requirements adopted by the department under sub. (2) (b) and with eligibility requirements specified in the plan administration under sub. (3) (c).

29.889(5)(a)(a) Review. A participating county shall review each application for wildlife damage abatement assistance to determine if wildlife damage is occurring or likely to occur.

29.889(5)(b)(b) Assistance. A participating county may provide wildlife damage assistance where wildlife damage is occurring or is likely to occur for the reimbursement of costs associated with wildlife damage abatement measures if the measures are authorized in the plan of administration under sub. (3) (c) 2.

29.889(5)(bm)(bm) Cost-effectiveness of abatement. A participating county may recommend only those wildlife damage abatement measures that are cost-effective in relation to the wildlife damage claim payments that would be paid if the wildlife damage abatement measures are not implemented.

29.889(5)(bs)(bs) Abatement authorized. Notwithstanding par. (bm), for damage caused by elk to crops or grasses grown for use by a bird hunting preserve licensed under ch. 169, a participating county may recommend fencing the affected property as a damage abatement measure.

29.889(5)(c)(c) State aid. The department shall pay participating counties 75 percent of the actual cost of providing wildlife damage abatement assistance if wildlife damage abatement measures are carried out in full compliance with the direction of the county and with funding requirements adopted under sub. (2) (b).

29.889(6)(a)(a) Participating county. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, the land where the wildlife damage occurred is required to be located in a county which is participating in the administration of both the wildlife damage abatement program and the wildlife damage claim program.

29.889(6)(b)(b) Filing of claim; form. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, a person is required to file a statement of claim with the department in a form acceptable to the department. An owner or lessee of land, a person who controls land or an owner of an apiary or livestock may file a statement of claim.

29.889(6)(c)(c) Time of filing; deduction. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, a person shall file a statement of claim within 14 days after the time the wildlife damage first occurs.

29.889(6)(d)(d) Compliance with wildlife damage abatement measures. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments for an occurrence of wildlife damage, a person seeking wildlife damage claim payments shall have complied with any wildlife damage abatement measures to abate that wildlife damage that were recommended by the county.

29.889(6)(dm)(dm) Compliance with normal agricultural practices. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, a person seeking wildlife damage claim payments shall have managed the seedings, crops, orchard trees, nursery stock, apiaries or livestock which the person is seeking the claim payments in accordance with normal agricultural practices.

29.889(6)(em)(em) Type of wildlife damage. The type of wildlife damage that is eligible for wildlife damage claim payments shall be limited to damage to commercial seedings or crops growing on agricultural land, damage to crops that have been harvested for sale or further use but that have not been removed from the agricultural land, damage to orchard trees or nursery stock or damage to apiaries or livestock.

29.889(6)(f)(f) Other eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible for wildlife damage claim payments, a person is required to comply with eligibility requirements adopted by the department under sub. (2) (b) and with eligibility requirements specified in the plan of administration under sub. (3) (c).

29.889(7)(a)(a) Investigation. A participating county shall investigate each statement of claim and determine the total amount of the wildlife damage that occurred, regardless of the amount that may be eligible for payment under par. (b).

29.889(7)(b)(b) Calculating amount of payment. In calculating the amount of the wildlife damage claim payment to be paid for a claim under par. (a), the participating county shall determine the amount as follows:

29.889(7)(b)2.2. If the amount of claim is more than $500 but not more than $5,250, the claimant will be paid 100 percent of the amount of the claim that exceeds $500.

29.889(7)(b)3.3. If the amount of the claim is more than $5,250, the claimant will be paid the amount calculated under subd. 2., plus 80 percent of the amount of the claim that exceeds $5,250, subject to subd. 4.

29.889(7)(b)4.4. The total amount paid to a claimant under this paragraph may not exceed $10,000 for each claim.

29.889(7)(bm)(bm) Multiple counties. If the land where the wildlife damage occurred is located in more than one participating county and the person files a statement of claim with more than one participating county, the amount of the claim, as determined under par. (a), shall be prorated between or among the participating counties based on the amount of wildlife damage occurring in each county.

29.889(7)(d)(d) State aid.

29.889(7)(d)1.1. Except as provided under subd. 2., the department shall pay claimants the full amount of wildlife damage claim payments calculated in accordance with par. (b) and funding requirements adopted under sub. (2) (b) no later than June 1 of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the statement of claims were filed.