Section 10.102. Bear hunting quota and license issuance.

 

(1)   Bear quotas. Bear quotas are based on the status of zone black bear populations in relation to established population goals as determined by inventories.

(a) Purpose. The department shall issue Class A bear licenses in sufficient numbers to assure maintenance of bear populations for each zone indicated in par. (d) .

(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: - See PDF for diagram

(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: - See PDF for diagram

(d) Population goals. The fall pre-hunt black bear population goal is as follows: - See PDF for table

(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.

(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.

(4m)   Effective date.

(a) Licenses issued prior to the season . Any Class A bear license issued prior to the opening date of the bear season established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 2. , shall be effective beginning on the opening date of the season specified in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 2.

(b) Licenses issued during the season . Except as provided in par. (c) , a Class A bear license issued during the open season for hunting bear established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 2. , does not authorize hunting until the third day after the day the license is purchased.

(c) Exception. A Class A bear hunting license issued during the open season for hunting bear as established in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) 2. , authorizes bear hunting beginning the date of issuance if issued to a person to whom any of the following applies:

1. The person is a member of the U.S. armed forces who exhibits proof that he or she is in active service with the armed forces and that he or she is stationed in this state or is a resident on furlough or leave.

2. The person turns 10 years of age during the open season for hunting bear.

(5)   Bear pursuit. No person may handle a dog or dogs used for tracking or trailing bear unless he or she possesses a Class A or Class B 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.

Cr. Register, June, 1986, No. 366 , eff. 7-1-86; am. (1) (a) to (d), Register, July, 1987, No. 379 , eff. 8-1-87; am. (1), Register, June, 1988, No. 390 , eff. 7-1-88; r. and recr. (1) (a), renum. (1) (b) to (e) and (2) to be (2) to (6), Register, October, 1988, No. 394 , eff. 1-1-89; am. (1) (b), Register, September, 1991, No. 429 , eff. 10-1-91; am. (1) (d), Register, February, 1993, No. 446 , eff. 3-1-93; cr. (1) (e), Register, December, 1993, No. 456 , eff. 1-1-94; am. (1) (d), cr. (1) (f), Register, August, 1996, No. 488 , eff. 9-1-96; am. (1) (a) to (c), (e) 2., 3., (f), (3) and (4), renum. (2) to be (2) (a), cr. (2) (b), r. and recr. (5) and (6), Register, July, 1998, No. 511 , eff. 8-1-98; CR 02-017 : am. (1) (d) Register September 2002 No. 561 , eff. 1-5-03; CR 02-018 : am. (2) (b) and (4) Register September 2002 No. 561 , eff. 10-1-02; CR 04-011 : am (4) Register September 2004 No 585, eff. 11-1-04; CR 05-017 : am. (2) (a) Register October 2005 No. 598 , eff. 2-1-06; CR 06-012 : am. (4), cr. (4m) Register December 2006 No. 612 , eff. 2-1-07; CR 07-015 : am. (1) (d) Register September 2007 No. 621 , eff. 11-1-07; CR 09-024 : am. (4m) (c) 2. Register May 2010 No. 653 , eff. 6-1-10; CR 13-071 : am. (1) (e) 4. Register July 2015 No. 715 , eff. 8-1-15; correction in (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2015 No. 719 .

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. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1