Section 10.111. Elk population management.

 

(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: - See PDF for table

(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 by the formula:

Number of bull elk tags available = total elk population in a zone x 5%

(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: - See PDF for table

(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: - See PDF for table

(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.

CR 03-018 : cr. Register November 2003 No. 575 , eff. 1-1-04; CR 05-031 : am. (7) Register October 2005 No. 598 , eff. 11-1-05; CR 11-030 : am. (7) Register February 2012 No. 674 , eff. 3-1-12; CR 13-067 : r. and recr. (3) (a), am. (3) (c), (5) (b) Register August 2014 No. 704 , eff. 9-1-14.

Note

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. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1