(1) BEAR QUOTAS.
The department shall establish black bear quotas based on the status of zone
black bear populations in relation to population management goals. Quotas shall
be approved by the Natural Resources Board.
Note: Population management goals may take
into account annual data regarding agricultural damage, nuisance complaints,
hunter crowding or conflict, hunter success, hunter satisfaction, and bear
disease/health issues.
(b)
Quota formula. In each black bear management zone, the number
of Class A bear licenses to be issued to harvest the desired numbers of bear
shall be based on hunter success rates from previous seasons. In establishing
licenses for a zone without an adequate history of licenses, the average
success rates of similar zones shall be applied or the department shall
estimate an anticipated success rate. The license number formula is:
License number = Bear to be harvested / Hunter success
rate
(c)
Success
rate formula. Hunter success rates used to compute the number of Class
A bear licenses to be issued for each zone shall be those calculated by the
department from annual bear season harvest reports except where no previous
history of success rates exist. The license rate formula is:
Hunter success rate = Number of bear harvested / Number of
licenses issued
(e)
Temporary bear harvest subzones.
1. The department may establish temporary
bear harvest subzones within each black bear management zone to increase or
decrease harvest within specific subzones to assure maintenance of bear
populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management
zone.
2. The department may require
that a portion of the Class A bear licenses available within a bear management
zone be specific to a temporary bear harvest subzone to assure maintenance of
bear populations at a density level equivalent to that of the bear management
zone.
3. Class A bear licenses for
the temporary subzones shall be used only within the subzone.
4. Temporary subzone boundaries shall follow
game management unit boundaries as identified in s.
NR 10.285.
5.
Temporary subzones may be established to increase bear harvest when either of
the following 2 conditions exist within the area considered for a subzone:
a. The bear population density within the
subzone for the previous 3 year period exceeds by 20% the zone population
density goal as indicated by indexes or models, or both.
b. Bear nuisance or agricultural damage
complaints per square mile within the subzone exceed the zone average by 20% or
more for the previous 3 year period.
6. Temporary subzones may be established to
decrease harvest when either one of the following conditions exist:
a. The mortality rate of adult bears within
the subzone exceeds 22% for the previous 3 year period.
b. The bear population density within the
subzone for the previous 3 year period is below the zone population density
goal by 20% or more as indicated by indexes or models, or both.
7. Each temporary bear harvest
subzone may be established for a period not to exceed 2 years.
(f)
Permanent bear harvest
subzones. Class A bear licenses for subzones shall be used only in the
subzone.
(2) APPLICATION
PROCEDURE.
(a)
Application
submittal. Application for Class A bear licenses shall be on forms
provided by the department. Applications shall be postmarked no later than the
deadline date indicated on the form or received by a department service center
location on the deadline date to be considered for selection. The annual
deadline may not be sooner than December 1 each year.
Note: The department conducts extensive
publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to the
deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, license
outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center
hours may vary by location.
(b)
Group applications.
Group applications for a maximum of 4 hunters may be submitted for Class A bear
hunting licenses provided each applicant completes the application form. The
group's preference standing shall be that of the member with the lowest number
of preference points. If the group is selected, the group shall accept or
reject Class A bear licenses for all members of their
group.
(3) LICENSE
ISSUANCE. The department shall select successful applicants and issue Class A
bear license approval notices no later than February 15 of each year. The
department may reissue a Class A bear license if the license is returned or if
the applicant fails to or cannot comply with s.
29.184, Stats.
Selection shall be by random drawing.
(4) FEES. A successful applicant shall submit
the appropriate license fee established by s.
29.563(2) (a) 6. or (b) 4., Stats., to the department before
receiving a Class A bear license.
(6) EDUCATIONAL PERMIT ISSUANCE. Upon receipt
of proper application, the department shall issue an educational permit for
bear observation. The applicant shall include the location to the quarter
section, times and dates of the activity, name of person and bear eco-tourism
business or educational institution they are representing. The educational
permit authorizes the permittee to observe or shine bear for educational
purposes only pursuant to s.
29.314(3) (b) 3. and (5) (b) 1, Stats.
(a) No person may be engaged in shining bear
for educational purposes without being in possession of an educational
permit.
(b) Only the named person
on the permit may possess a firearm when participating in the actions
authorized by the permit.
(c) The
permit is restricted to use in a ground blind or elevated stand.
(d) The permit is not valid during the
seasons established in s.
NR 10.01(3) (e) and
(g) and the 7 consecutive days prior to those
seasons.
