Current through August 26, 2024
(1) DEER MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM. The department shall manage the state deer population by all of the
following:
(a) Establishing deer management
unit boundaries within the state.
(b) Establishing deer population objectives
for each deer management unit.
(c)
Monitoring the performance of the deer populations within each deer management
unit.
(d) Establishing deer hunting
seasons and quotas with the appropriate antlerless deer permit levels to move
the deer population in the direction of the established deer population
objective for each deer management unit.
(2) DEER MANAGEMENT UNITS; WHERE ESTABLISHED.
The deer management unit boundaries are the boundaries established in s.
NR 10.28 (1) except for areas that are subdivided as:
(a) Metropolitan deer management
subunits.
(b) Islands of the
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
(c) Madeline Island in Ashland
County.
(d) Being within the
exterior boundaries of the Bad River, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau,
Menominee, and Red Cliff reservations.
(3) THREE YEAR REVIEWS. The department shall
review, and seek public comment, regarding the need to modify the boundaries
and population objectives for all deer management units every 3 years. For deer
management units in the ceded territory as defined by s.
NR 13.02 (1), the department shall also provide the
Wisconsin Chippewa bands those opportunities for tribal input described in and
required by the parties' stipulations in the case of Lac Courte Oreilles Band
of Lake Superior Indians, et al., v. State of Wisconsin, et al., Case No.
74-C-313-C in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Wisconsin.
(4) DEER POPULATION
OBJECTIVES. A deer population objective shall be established for each
management unit except for tribal reservation units identified in s.
NR 10.28 (1). The department may establish a separate
deer population objective and issue unique antlerless permits for areas which
are subdivided into metropolitan deer management subunits and lands within the
tribal reservation units identified in s.
NR 10.28 (1) which are not owned by Indian tribal
members or held in trust for the Indian tribe or for members of an Indian
tribe. Deer population objectives will be expressed as a goal statement to do
one of the following:
(a) Increase the deer
population.
(b) Maintain the
current deer population.
(c)
Decrease the deer population.
(5) DEER POPULATION MONITORING.
(a)
Metrics. The department
shall monitor progress towards each management unit's objective of increasing,
maintaining, or decreasing the deer population. The department shall consider
all of the following:
1. Deer
health.
2. Deer impacts on natural
resources.
3. Deer impacts on
society.
4. Deer hunter
success.
5. Car killed deer
information.
6. Deer population
trends and public perception of population trends.
a. In 2014 and continuing until the
department determines that evaluation of the metrics are providing information
that is comparable, the department shall utilize the sex-age-kill method for
calculating deer densities. The sex-age-kill method uses the following
quantitative data for each deer management unit: proportion of yearling bucks
in the harvest, proportion of yearling does in the harvest, proportion of males
and females at birth, the number of fawns seen per doe during the summer, the
proportion of total buck mortality due to hunting harvest, and the harvest by
sex as registered during the hunting seasons.
b. The department may make a determination
that alternative methods of population evaluation are comparable, which shall
become effective in lieu of or in addition to the sex-age-kill method after
approval by the Natural Resources Board, and upon issuance of an order and
publication in the official state newspaper.
Note: A determination under this paragraph does not prevent
continued utilization of the sex-age-kill method as the department determines
is valuable or necessary.
(b)
County deer management advisory
councils. The department shall establish county deer management
advisory councils for the purpose of seeking comment from members of the public
on the status of the deer herd at the county level. The council shall be
chaired by the chairperson for the county delegation of the Conservation
Congress established under s.
15.348, Stats., or a designee
who shall be approved by the department. At least 3 members shall be
individuals who held an annual license authorizing deer hunting in this state
or another state in at least 7 of the 10 years previous to the year in which
the individual is nominated, except if the individual served on active duty in
the U.S. armed forces or national guard during the 10 years previous to the
year in which the individual is nominated. If the individual served on active
duty in the U.S. armed forces or National Guard, the number of years in which
he or she is required to have held a deer hunting license equals 7 minus the
number of years of active duty served during those 10 years. The advisory
council may also be comprised of a representative of any of the following
entities:
1. For deer management units in the
ceded territory as defined by s.
NR 13.02 (1), the department shall provide the
Wisconsin Chippewa bands those opportunities for tribal input into the
department's deer management decisions described in and required by the
parties' stipulations in the case of Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake
Superior Indians, et al., v. State of Wisconsin, et al., Case No.
74-C-313-C in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Wisconsin.
2.
Agriculture.
3. Forestry.
4. Tourism.
5. Transportation.
6. Local government.
7. A local organization representing hunting
interests.
8. A person who is
enrolled as a participant in the Deer Management Assistance Program as
established under subch. II.
(c)
Deer management
functions. County deer management advisory councils will:
1. Gather public input on deer population
objectives, antlerless deer harvest quotas, and hunting season framework
options.
2. Review and consider
metrics on deer herd trends, impacts, and human interactions.
3. Make recommendations to the department for
deer population objectives every three years and will annually recommend
antlerless deer permit quotas and hunting season framework options necessary to
maintain the deer herd in balance with its range, population objective and
sustainable harvest objectives. The recommendations of county deer management
councils shall be presented to the board by the chair of the Conservation
Congress.
(d)
Operation of county deer management advisory councils.
1. The department shall establish guidance
for the operation of county deer management advisory councils. Guidance may
include, but is not limited to, any conditions which are necessary for the
operation of meetings, selecting members, and establishing terms of service for
members.
2. Whenever application is
made to the department by a person interested in becoming a member of a
council, the bureau of law enforcement may conduct a criminal history,
character, and background check on the applicant. Upon becoming aware of
information indicating prior illegal activity, the department shall make
appropriate inquiry into criminal history and character of applicants for
council membership and determine their suitability for the proposed
activity.
(e)
Effective term of season framework modifications recommended by deer
management advisory councils. Modifications to the deer hunting season
framework in a unit shall be effective for one year of annual deer hunting
seasons.
(6) ANTLERLESS
DEER HARVEST AUTHORIZATIONS. The department may issue deer harvest
authorizations that are valid for the harvest of antlerless deer that are in
addition to those established in sub. (7). If the department issues antlerless
deer harvest authorizations, the department shall issue antlerless deer harvest
authorizations in sufficient numbers to achieve the population objective
established in sub. (4), after evaluating the results of population monitoring
required under sub. (5).
(7) DEER
HARVEST AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a)
Archer
license deer harvest authorizations.
1. Except as established in s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ex), each license that authorizes the
hunting of deer with a bow and arrow, and not with a firearm or crossbow, shall
include one deer harvest authorization that is valid for taking one buck deer
in any unit or subunit statewide with a bow and arrow. When purchasing an
archer hunting license, a person who has already been issued a license
authorizing deer hunting with a crossbow during a crossbow-only season
established under s. 29.014 (1m) (b), Stats., or s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep) will not receive the harvest
authorization established in this subdivision. A person may use a harvest
authorization issued with a license authorizing hunting with a crossbow during
a crossbow-only season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep) under the authority of an archer license
during the archery deer season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(em).
2. Licenses that authorize the hunting of
deer with a bow and arrow, and not with a firearm or crossbow, may include one
or more harvest authorizations that are valid for the taking of one antlerless
deer in a management zone, unit, or portion of a unit specified on the harvest
authorization that is in a farmland zone or a metropolitan deer management
subunit established in s.
NR 10.28 (2) and
(4) except that, where the department has
established an objective to increase or maintain the deer population under sub.
(4), the department may establish that the antlerless harvest authorizations
under this subdivision are not valid. This antlerless deer harvest
authorization is not weapon or season specific, but the holder must possess the
correct license for the method of harvest and season. This harvest
authorization is valid statewide for a person holding a Class A or Class C
disabled permit issued under s.
29.193 (2) (b),
Stats., or a person who obtains the harvest authorization while under 18 years
of age except that, in units where the department has not established a quota
allowing the harvest of antlerless deer, the department may establish that
harvest authorizations obtained under this subdivision by people who are under
18 years of age are not valid. These harvest authorizations are valid as
indicated on the permit only for harvesting antlerless deer on public access
lands or only for harvesting antlerless deer on private land as defined in s.
NR 10.001 (23a) and
(23b), except that antlerless harvest
authorizations obtained by people under 18 years of age are valid on both
private and public access lands. A person who has already been issued a license
authorizing deer hunting with a crossbow during a season established under s.
29.014 (1m)
(b), Stats., or s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep) will not receive the harvest
authorization established in this subdivision. A person may use any harvest
authorization issued with a license authorizing hunting with a crossbow during
a crossbow deer season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep) under the authority of an archer hunting
license during the archery deer season established in s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(em).
3. Modifications by the department under
subd. 2. shall become effective upon issuance of an order of the secretary and
publication in the official state newspaper.
(b)
Firearm deer license harvest
authorizations.
1. Except as
established in s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ex), each license that authorizes the
hunting of deer with a firearm shall include one harvest authorization that is
valid for taking one buck deer in any unit statewide with a firearm, bow and
arrow, or crossbow during a season open to hunting bucks with a
firearm.
2. Licenses that authorize
the hunting of deer with a firearm may include one or more harvest
authorizations that are valid for taking one antlerless deer in a management
zone, unit, or portion of a unit specified on the harvest authorization that is
in a farmland zone or in a metropolitan deer management subunit established in
s.
NR 10.28 (2) and (4) except that, where the department has
established an objective to increase or maintain the deer population under s.
NR 10.104 (4), the department may establish that the
antlerless harvest authorization under this subdivision is not valid. This
antlerless deer harvest authorization is not weapon or season specific, but the
holder must possess the correct license for the method of harvest and season.
This harvest authorization is valid for the taking of one antlerless deer in
any unit statewide by a person holding a Class A or Class C disabled permit
issued under s. 29.193 (2) (b),
Stats., or a person who obtains the harvest authorization while under 18 years
of age except that, in units where the department has not established a quota
allowing the harvest of antlerless deer, the department may establish that
harvest authorizations obtained under this subdivision by people who are under
18 years of age are not valid. These harvest authorizations are valid as
indicated on the harvest authorization only for harvesting antlerless deer on
public access lands or only for harvesting antlerless deer on private land as
defined in s.
NR 10.001 (23a) and
(23b), except that antlerless harvest
authorizations obtained by people under 18 years of age are valid on both
private and public access lands.
3.
Modifications by the department under subd. 2. shall become effective upon
issuance of an order and publication in the official state newspaper.
(c)
Crossbow license deer
harvest authorizations.1. Except as
established in s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ex), each license that authorizes the
hunting of deer with a crossbow, and not with a firearm or bow and arrow, shall
include one deer harvest authorization that is valid for taking one buck deer
in any unit or subunit statewide with a crossbow. When purchasing a crossbow
hunting license, a person who has already been issued a license authorizing
deer hunting with a bow and arrow during an archery-only deer season
established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(em) will not receive the harvest
authorization established in this subdivision. A person may use a harvest
authorization issued with a license authorizing hunting with a bow and arrow
during an archery-only deer season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(em) under the authority of a crossbow
license during a deer season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep).
2. Licenses that authorize the hunting of
deer with a crossbow, and not with a firearm or bow and arrow, may include one
or more harvest authorizations that are valid for the taking of one antlerless
deer in a management zone, unit, or portion of a unit specified on the harvest
authorization that is in a farmland zones or a metropolitan deer management
subunit established in s.
NR 10.28 (2) and
(4) except that, when the department has
established an objective to increase or maintain the deer population under sub.
(4), the department may establish that the antlerless harvest authorizations
under this subdivision are not valid. This antlerless deer harvest
authorization is not weapon or season specific, but the holder must possess the
correct license for the method of harvest and season. This harvest
authorization is valid statewide for a person holding a Class A or Class C
disabled permit issued under s.
29.193 (2) (b),
Stats., or a person who obtains the harvest authorization while under 18 years
of age except that, in units where the department has not established a quota
allowing the harvest of antlerless deer, the department may establish that
harvest authorizations obtained under this subdivision by people who are under
18 years of age are not valid. These harvest authorizations are valid as
indicated on the harvest authorization only for harvesting antlerless deer on
public access lands or only for harvesting antlerless deer on private land as
defined in s.
NR 10.001 (23a) and
(23b), except that antlerless harvest
authorizations obtained by people under 18 years of age are valid on both
private and public access lands. A person who has already been issued a license
authorizing deer hunting with a bow and arrow during an archery-only deer
season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3) (em) will not receive the harvest authorization
established in this subdivision. A person may use any antlerless deer harvest
authorization issued with a license authorizing hunting with a bow and arrow
during an archery-only deer season established under s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(em) under the authority of a crossbow
hunting license during the crossbow deer season established in s.
NR 10.01 (3)
(ep).
3. Modifications by the department under
subd. 2. shall become effective upon issuance of an order and publication in
the official state newspaper.
(8) BONUS ANTLERLESS HUNTING PERMIT ISSUANCE.
The department may issue bonus antlerless deer permits valid for harvesting
antlerless deer only on public access lands and bonus antlerless deer permits
valid for harvesting antlerless deer only on private land as defined in s.
NR 10.001 (23a) and
(23b). Bonus antlerless permits shall be
issued in the following manner:
(a)
General issuance. The department may issue bonus antlerless
deer permits on a first-come, first-served basis to individuals who possess a
valid deer hunting license. No person may purchase or obtain more than 1 bonus
antlerless deer permit per day except as established in subs. (9m) and (15)
(d).
Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the
day when the bonus antlerless deer permits are first available for sale
beginning several months prior to the purchase date. Bonus permit sale dates
are published in news releases, license outlet handouts, and pertinent
regulation pamphlets. Bonus antlerless deer permits are available from
department license agents, on-line through the department's website, or by
telephone.
(b)
Bonus
antlerless permits for farm owners. Eligible resident farm owners
under s. 29.181, Stats., will receive one
free bonus antlerless deer permit for each bonus antlerless deer permit they
purchase if requested at the time of purchase. When there are joint owners or
vendee names under a land contract, only one of the owners or vendees is
eligible for the free bonus permits. The free permit shall be valid for the
same type of land, either public access or private as defined in s.
NR 10.001 (23a) and
(23b) as the one that was purchased. To be
an eligible farmer under this section, a majority of the land shall be used on
a commercial agricultural basis, to produce income.
(c)
Bonus permits in a CWD affected
area. The fee for bonus permits issued in a CWD affected area shall be
the same as the fee established in s.
29.563 (2) (c) 1. and (d) 1., Stats. If the department allows the use
of bonus permits both in areas where CWD has been identified and in areas where
CWD has not been identified, the department shall use deer harvest registration
information to establish a number of permits that are issued for CWD areas for
purposes of s. 29.181 (3),
Stats.
Note: Under s.
29.181 (3) Stats., the department is required to credit an amount equal to $5 times the
number of those bonus deer hunting permits issued to an appropriation that is
established for management of, and testing for, chronic wasting
disease.
(9)
HARVEST AUTHORITY. No person may hunt antlerless deer unless the hunter
possesses a current valid antlerless deer harvest authorization or bonus
antlerless deer permit for the deer management unit or subunit or a portion
thereof in which the person is hunting, or as authorized when group hunting
with a firearm as established in s.
29.324, Stats. No person may
hunt antlerless deer under the authority of an antlerless deer harvest
authorization or bonus antlerless deer permit on public access lands or on
private lands unless the hunter possesses a current valid bonus antlerless deer
permit that is valid for the type of land, either public access lands or
private land, upon which the person is hunting.
(9m) BONUS PERMITS UNDER THE DEER MANAGEMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. The department may issue antlerless permits to level 2 and
level 3 participants, and to individuals authorized by level 2 and level 3
participants, in the deer management assistance program established under
Subchapter II. All of the following apply to the issuance and use of bonus
permits under this section:
(a)
Issuance. Permits shall be issued in the number prescribed by
the department or its agents following evaluation and harvest recommendations
under s.
NR 10.72 (2) (b) or
(4) (b).
(b)
Fee. The fee for bonus
permits issued under this subsection shall be $6.00.
(c)
Bonus permit
distribution.1. A landowner or his
or her authorized representative for an individually enrolled property may
distribute the permits to persons who are authorized to hunt on the enrolled
property or portion of the property or may retain the permits for their own
use. The primary contact or authorized representative for a cooperative or an
individually enrolled property with multiple owners may distribute the permits
to persons who are authorized to hunt on the enrolled property or portion of
the property and may retain a portion of the allotted permits for their own
use. No person may charge any form of a fee for bonus permits issued under the
deer management assistance program except that the primary contact or
authorized representative under subch. II who is transferring a bonus permit to
other hunters for use on an enrolled property may collect no more than $6.00
for each permit in order to recover actual cost of the permit and when there is
no monetary benefit to the transferrer.
2. The department may issue the permits
directly to people who are authorized by the landowner or the landowner's
authorized representative for an individually enrolled property to purchase
them.
(d)
Locations and times when valid. Permits are valid for use only
on the property or group of properties authorized by the department during any
firearm, archery, or crossbow deer season.
(e)
Permit reporting. Every
landowner, primary contact, or authorized representative who receives or
distributes permits issued under this subsection shall keep a current, correct
and complete record of all such bonus permits as required by the department on
electronic or paper forms made available by the department. Records of bonus
permit distribution shall be provided to the department by required deadlines
or upon request. A violation of this paragraph shall be treated as a violation
of s. 29.961 (2),
Stats.
Note: The number of permits distributed will be determined
by the department following a site visit by a wildlife biologist and a
forester. Bonus antlerless deer permits issued under this subsection are
available only to level 2 and level 3 participants in the Deer Management
Assistance Program established in s.
NR 10.72. Deer Management Assistance Program enrollees
are exempt from the restriction against purchasing no more than one bonus
permit daily on a first-come-first-served basis that is established in s.
NR 10.104 (8)
(a).
(10) BAG LIMIT. The bag limit is equal to the
number of valid deer permits a person is issued.
(12) SPECIAL DISEASED DEER REPLACEMENT
PERMITS. The department may provide a free replacement tag issued under s.
29.177, Stats., to hunters who
harvest deer that are suspected of being diseased, provided that the entire
deer is surrendered to the department or is disposed of as directed by the
department. Each special permit shall be all of the following:
(a) Issued by a department employee or a
designated agent.
(b) Issued to the
hunter harvesting the suspect deer.
(c) For antlered deer, issued for the type of
deer authorized on the approval used to harvest the suspect deer. For
antlerless deer, issued for either antlered or antlerless
deer.
(15) APOSTLE
ISLANDS. The following harvest authorizations are valid for the taking of deer
in islands of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore:
(a) Archery buck deer harvest
authorization.
(b) Archery
antlerless deer harvest authorization.
(c) Gun buck deer harvest
authorization.
(d) Special harvest
authorizations for the islands of the Apostle Island National Lakeshore deer
harvest authorization. These special harvest authorizations shall be issued
free of charge at a rate of up to 2 harvest authorizations per day per hunter.
Each harvest authorization may be used to harvest any of the following:
1. An antlerless deer.
2. A buck deer if the hunter possesses an
antlerless deer registration verification earned in the federally owned portion
of the Apostle Islands in the previous year or in the current year.
3. A buck deer if the hunter possesses an
antlerless deer that has been legally harvested in the federally owned portion
of the Apostle Islands and is tagged prior to the harvest of the buck deer and
the antlerless deer accompanies the buck deer until each is
registered.
All of the land in this unit is owned and managed by the
National Park Service's Apostle Island National Lakeshore. The National Park
Service may require an access permit for the purposes of deer hunting which may
limit the dates an individual may hunt and the island or islands on which
hunting may occur.
