(1) PROHIBITED
METHODS. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, kill, hunt, trap
or pursue any species of wild animal or bird at any time, or have in possession
or under control any firearm unless the same is unloaded and enclosed within a
carrying case, crossbow unless the same is unloaded and enclosed within a
carrying case, or any bow and arrow unless the same is unstrung or enclosed in
a carrying case upon that area known as the Sandhill wildlife demonstration
area in Wood county, Wisconsin, except as provided in this section. The loaded
uncased firearm restriction of this paragraph does not apply to a handgun
possessed by a person who is authorized by law to possess a concealed handgun
in Wisconsin.
(2) SANDHILL OUTDOOR
SKILLS CENTER.
(a)
Purpose.
The primary purpose of the Sandhill outdoor skills center is to teach
wildlife-related outdoor skills. Wildlife-related outdoor skills are those
relating to fishing, hunting, viewing, tracking, trapping, photography,
management, study, and conservation of wildlife.
(b)
Demonstration area use.
The department may limit use of the Sandhill wildlife demonstration area to
persons participating in outdoor skills training programs.
(c)
Training authorization.
Subject to state law and federal regulations, the department may modify or
waive hunting, trapping, and property use rules respecting participants in a
Sandhill outdoor skills training program. The modification or waiver shall be
writing delivered to each participant upon a finding that it is necessary to
achieve the objectives of the training program and consistent with the purpose
in par. (a).
(d)
Program
participation limits. The department may limit the number of
participants and establish application deadlines and prerequisites for programs
at the Sandhill outdoor skills center. The department shall publish any
applicable participation limits and program prerequisites as a part of any
training program application forms or program guides developed by the
department.
(e)
Application
procedures. Applications to participate in any Sandhill outdoor skills
center program shall be on forms supplied by the department. No person may
submit more than one application per program. All applications shall be mailed
or delivered to: Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, Box 156, Babcock, WI
54413.
(f)
Participant
selection. If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the program
participation limit, the department may select program participants using
either a first-come, first-served or random selection process.
(g)
Fees. The department may
charge program participants fees equivalent to the costs of providing the
program training. All fees shall be paid in advance of program
participation.
(3)
HUNTING.
(a)
Permit
restrictions. No person may hunt on the demonstration area without
first obtaining a permit issued by the department. Permits shall be issued
without charge.
1. `Effective dates.' Permits
are valid only for the date of issue and shall be returned to the established
check-out station immediately upon termination of hunting.
2. `Compartment limits.' All hunting is
restricted to the type of game and compartment designated on the
permit.
3. `Quotas.' Daily hunting
permits shall be limited by the department based upon environmental conditions
and annual research objectives.
4.
`Exhibition required.' All harvested game shall be exhibited at the established
check-out station as described on the permit.
5. `Limitations.' Permits issued to an
individual are not transferrable and may not be altered or defaced.
6. `Reports.' Permit holders may be required
to provide hunt information on department forms at the established check-out
station.
(b)
Permit application procedures. Any person possessing a valid
Wisconsin hunting license may apply for a hunting permit.
1. `Forms.' Application shall be made on
department forms.
2. `Issuance
period.' Daily permits may be issued by the department at established check-in
stations on a first-come, first-served basis or by random selection of mailed
applications. Mailed applications are subject to the following restrictions:
a. No person may submit more than one
application. Submission of more than one application shall disqualify the
application permit eligibility.
b.
Group applications up to and including 4 hunters will be honored provided each
applicant completes the application form and all forms are submitted in one
envelope marked "group application" on the outside.
3. `Self-completed permits.' Applications for
hunting any game species except deer shall be completed by the applicant in
person the day of the hunt. The self-completed permit portion of the
application shall be retained by the applicant until the hunt is
completed.
4. `University of
Wisconsin research.' Permits may be issued to the university of Wisconsin for
research purposes under a cooperative agreement with the department.
5. `Waiting procedure.' Hunters waiting to
apply for permits shall form a single line. Each vehicle in line may contain no
more than 5 applicants and shall be occupied at all times by all persons
applying for permits that day.
(c)
Season and bag limits.
The hunting season and bag limits for all game species are established in s.
NR 10.01
and may continue no longer than the Sunday immediately prior to the deer season
established in subd. 2. with the following exceptions:
1. `Rabbits and hares.' Snowshoe hare and
cottontail rabbit hunting shall open on the Saturday nearest September
15.
2. `Deer.' Deer hunting shall
be established at the discretion of the department and continue until the
annual harvest objective is obtained. The sex and type of legal deer shall be
established by permit.
3. `Extended
seasons.' The seasons for any game species may be resumed at the discretion of
the department and continue through December 31.
(d)
Shooting hours. The
shooting hours for all species shall be the hours established in s.
NR 10.06.
(e)
Information. Information on the availability of hunting and
trapping permits, permit application procedures, species which may be taken and
other applicable conditions of taking on the demonstration area for each
calendar year, except for extended seasons, shall be made available by the
department at the demonstration area, district and Madison offices no later
than August 1 of that year. Information relating to extended seasons shall be
made available in the same manner prior to the extended season
opening.
(f)
Deer hunting
rule compliance. Except as provided otherwise in this section or in a
permit issued under this section, the permittee shall comply with all hunting,
tagging, transportation and registration rules specified under ch. NR 10 and
ch. 29, Stats. Permittees who fail to comply with these rules shall be subject
to the penalty applicable to the appropriate ch. NR 10 or ch. 29, Stats.,
violation.
(g)
Additional
restrictions. The department may list additional restrictions on a
permit and the permittee shall comply with all additional
restrictions.
(h)
Exemptions. The department may exempt a person by permit from
any of the requirements of ch. NR 10 or ch. 29, Stats.
(4) TRAPPING.
(a)
Permits. Trapping will
be allowed by permit only and may be issued on a seasonal basis dependent upon
furbearer population levels.
(b)
Annual assessment. Each year the department shall determine:
1. The number of permits to be
issued.
2. The number of animals to
be harvested.
3. The time when such
trapping may take place.
4. The
deadline date for receipt of applications.
5. Such additional restrictions as are
necessary to preserve, protect and utilize the furbearing resources on this
area.
(c)
Permit
selection procedure. If applications for permits exceed the number of
permits available, random selection shall be used to determine successful
applicants.