Current through August 26, 2024
(1) ELK MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS.
(a) The department shall manage the
state elk population by:
1. Establishing elk
management zone boundaries within the state.
2. Establishing elk population goals for each
elk management zone.
3. Monitoring
the performance of the elk population within each elk management
zone.
4. Establishing elk hunting
seasons and annual harvest quotas with the objective of maintaining elk
populations at the established elk population goals for each elk management
zone.
(b) In addition to
the management objectives listed under par. (a), the department may trap and
relocate elk within the state to establish new elk herds and management
zones.
(2) ELK
MANAGEMENT UNITS. The elk management zone boundaries are described in s.
NR 10.37.
Unit boundaries shall be readily identifiable features of the landscape such as
roads and rivers. When road boundaries are used, the department shall give
priority to use of numbered and lettered highways.
(3) ELK POPULATION GOALS.
(a) The overwinter elk population goal for
elk management zones described in s.
NR 10.37
shall be expressed as the total number of elk per zone as follows:
|
Zone
|
Population Goal
|
|
Clam Lake elk management zone
|
1,400
|
|
Black River elk management zone
|
390
|
(b)
The department shall manage the elk population in Zone X, as described in s.
NR 10.37, at
a population level of zero elk. If the department determines that elk are
causing agricultural damage, are a nuisance or are frequenting an area in Zone
X, the department shall remove the elk in a manner determined by the
department, in accordance with the procedures outlined ss.
NR 12.10 and 12.15 and may include trapping and
relocating, hazing, hunting or shooting.
(c) If the department determines that hunting
is an appropriate removal method for elk subject to par. (b), the department
may designate any elk tag as being valid on specified properties in Zone X,
during the elk season.
(4) ANNUAL ANTLERLESS ELK KILL QUOTAS.
(a)
Annual population
estimate. The overwinter elk population goal shall be determined based
on biological, ecological and sociological factors, including: reproductive
success, winter severity, herd age and sex structure, non-hunting mortality,
and agricultural damage.
(b)
Quota objectives. Using the overwinter elk population estimate
established under par. (a), the department shall annually calculate an
antlerless elk kill quota for each zone with the objective of maintaining the
elk herd at the established elk population goal.
(c)
Quota adjustment in ceded
territory. For the elk management units in the ceded territory as
defined in s.
NR 13.02(1), expected tribal harvest
shall be deducted from the elk kill quota established in par.
(b).
(5) ELK LICENSES.
(a)
Purpose. The department
may issue elk licenses in numbers to assure maintenance of elk populations for
each zone indicated in sub. (3).
(b)
Bull elk tag formula.
The department shall determine the number of bull elk tags which shall be
issued at a level that will maintain the elk population at the goal established
for each elk management zone listed in sub. (3).
(c)
Antlerless elk tag
formula. The department shall determine the number of antlerless elk
tags which shall be issued at a level that will maintain the elk population
goal established for each elk management zone listed in sub. (3).
(6) LICENSE ISSUANCE.
(a)
License requirements.
Elk hunting licenses may only be issued to those who have earned a certificate
of accomplishment under s.
29.595,
Stats., and have obtained authorization for either a bull tag or antlerless elk
tag. Successful applicants will be limited to one elk license per lifetime as
established in s.
29.182(4m),
Stats. The department may reissue an elk license if the license is returned or
if the applicant fails to or cannot comply with s.
29.182,
Stats. Selection shall be by random drawing.
(b)
Success rate formula.
Hunter success rates used to compute the number of elk licenses to be issued
for each zone shall be those calculated by the department from annual elk
season harvest reports except where no previous history of success rates exist.
In establishing licenses for a zone without an adequate history of licenses,
the department shall estimate an anticipated success rate. The license rate
formula is: -
(c)
The number of elk licenses to be issued to harvest the desired number of elk
shall be based on the hunter success rates from previous seasons. The license
number formula is: -
(7) APPLICATION PROCEDURE. Applications for
elk licenses shall be on forms provided by the department. Applications shall
be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the form or
received by a department service center location no later than those dates to
be considered for selection.
The department conducts extensive publicity on the
application deadlines beginning several months prior to any deadline.
Application deadline dates are published in news releases, the department web
site at http://dnr.wi.gov, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation
pamphlets. Department service center office hours may vary by
location.
