Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation
Chapter NR 17 - Dog Trials And Training
Section NR 17.07 - Hound dog trial license

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 17.07

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) AUTHORITY. A hound dog trialing license authorizes the licensee and participants in an organized competitive field event that involves sporting dog breeds and that is sanctioned, licensed or recognized by a local, state, regional or national dog organization to possess and use captive bobcat, coyote, fox, raccoons or rabbits for dog trialing purposes and use captive bear possessed under the authority of a captive wild animal farm license issued under s. 169.15, Stats., for dog trialing purposes. The license does not authorize commercial shoots or selling, breeding or propagating of animals or trialing of captive bear on department lands.

(2) CONDITIONS. The licensee and participants authorized by the hound dog trial license shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) Display of license. The license shall be in possession of the master of hounds during the trial event. The license shall be made available to any authorized department agent upon request.

(b) Location. The licensee and participants may trial only on the properties identified on the license. The properties shall be identified by township, range, section and name of the property owner or by specific department property name.

(c) Property owner identification. The application shall include the name, address and phone number of the owners of the property where dogs are being trialed.

(d) Proof of legal possession. Any person using captive wild animals for dog trialing shall possess a receipt or invoice meeting the requirements of s. NR 17.11 and indicating the captive animals were purchased or obtained from a licensed captive wild animal farm, wild fur farm or other legal source. The licensee shall make the receipt or invoice available to any authorized department agent upon request.

(3) CARE AND HOUSING.

(a) Captive coyote, fox and rabbit. Captive coyote, fox and rabbit obtained in accordance with s. NR 17.047 and possessed for dog trialing purposes may only be used within a hound dog training enclosure that is permitted and that meets the requirements established under s. NR 17.045.

(b) Captive bear, bobcat and raccoon. Captive bear, bobcat and raccoon obtained in accordance with s. NR 17.047 may be used for dog trials provided:
1. The bear is possessed under authority of a captive wild animal farm license.

2. Bear, bobcat and raccoon, when not being used for trailing purposes, are housed in accordance with s. NR 16.30 and 16.38.

3. The bear, bobcat or raccoon is kept in a cage at all times. The cage shall be constructed so that:
a. The cage is strong enough to contain the bear, bobcat or raccoon securely and comfortably and to withstand the normal rigors of training or trials.

b. The interior of the cage has no sharp points or edges and no protrusions that could injure the bear, bobcat or raccoon contained in it.

c. The bear, bobcat or raccoon is at all times securely contained within a cage in a way that it is not likely to result in injury to itself, to handlers, or to persons or animals nearby.

d. The cage containing the bear has a mesh size no greater than 2 inches square.

e. The cage shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space to allow the bear, bobcat or raccoon to make normal postural adjustments with adequate freedom of movement to sit, stand on all 4 legs, turn around and lie in a normal manner.

f. The cage shall be designed to allow urine and feces to drain from the cage.

g. Permanent devices such as handles or hand holds shall be provided on the exterior that enables the cage to be lifted and ensures that anyone handling the cage will not come into physical contact with the bear, bobcat or raccoon contained inside.

h. When the cage is elevated in a tree or on a pole for training or trial purposes, the cage shall be raised a minimum of 10 feet off the ground.

4. All individuals except the owner of the captive animal, the owner's designee or the dog handler shall be kept at least 4 feet from the cage. For bear, a barrier shall be provided to assure that individuals other than the owner, designee or handlers are kept 4 feet from the cage.

5. Dogs shall be kept a minimum of one foot from the cage at all times by restraint, cage design or barrier fence except where the cage is covered by solid material, which prevents all physical contact between the dog and the captive animal. The one foot minimum distance does not apply to raccoon training with the use of roll cages.

6. The cage shall be adequately shaded at all times.

7. The bear, bobcat or raccoon shall have access to fresh water.

8. Roll cages may not be used for dog training with bear or bobcat.

(c) Training periods. The length of time that captive wild bear, bobcat, coyote, fox or raccoon may be used for training exercises may not exceed 12 hours within a 24-hour period. Captive wild bear, bobcat, coyote, fox and raccoon shall be provided with a minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest within a 24-hour period, when no dog training or trialing may take place. Additionally, a bear, bobcat or raccoon used for training, may not be housed in an enclosure that does not meet the primary enclosure standards in s. NR 16.30(4) for a period of more than 72 hours.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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