Section 10.22. Sandhill wildlife demonstration area, Wood county.

 

(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) Hunting hours. The hunting 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.

Cr. Register, September, 1962, No. 81 , eff. 10-1-62; r. and recr. Register, August, 1963, No. 92 , eff. 9-1-63; r. and recr. (2), Register, August, 1964, No. 104 , eff. 9-1-64; am. (2) (a), Register, August, 1965 . No. 116, eff. 9-1-65; am. (2) (a), Register, August, 1966, No. 128 , eff. 9-1-66; am. (2) (a), Register, August, 1967, No. 140 , eff. 9-1-67; r. and recr. (2) (intro. par.) and (a), Register, August, 1968, No. 152 , eff. 9-1-68; r. and recr. (2), Register, August, 1969, No. 164 , eff. 9-1-69; renum. to be NR 10.22; r. and recr. (2) intro. par. and (a); cr. (2) (h), Register, June, 1970, No. 174 , eff. 7-1-70; am. (1) and (2), Register, July, 1971, No. 187 , eff. 8-1-71; r. and recr., Register, August, 1972, No. 200 , eff. 9-1-72; am. Register, August, 1973, No. 212 , eff. 9-1-73; am. (2) (b), Register, March, 1975, No. 231 , eff. 3-1-75; am. (b) and (c), Register, May, 1977, No. 257 , eff. 6-1-77; r. and recr. (2) (a), (b) and (c), Register, July, 1977, No. 259 , eff. 8-1-77; cr. (3), Register, May, 1978, No. 269 , eff. 6-1-78; am. (2) (b) 3.a., Register, October, 1978, No. 274 , eff. 11-1-78; am. (2) (b) (intro.), 1. and 2. and (2) (c), r. and recr. (2) (b) 3., Register, September, 1979, No. 285 , eff. 10-1-79; r. and recr. (2) (b) 1. and 2., am. (2) (b) 3. a. and (2) (c), Register, October, 1980, No. 298 , eff. 11-1-80; r. and recr. (2) (b) 3.e., Register, October, 1981, No. 310 , eff. 11-1-81; am. (2) (a), (b) 3.a. and b., Register, September, 1982, No. 321 , eff. 10-1-82; am. (2) (a) and (2) (b) 3.b., r. and recr. (2) (b) 3.a., cr. (2) (i), Register, October, 1983, No. 334 , eff. 11-1-83: r. and recr. (2), Register, September, 1984, No. 345 , eff. 10-1-84; am. (2) (a) 2., r. (2) (c) 3., renum. (2) (c) 4. to be 3., Register, August, 1986, No. 368 , eff. 9-1-86; renum. (2) and (3) to be (3) and (4), cr. (2), Register, September, 1991, No. 429 , eff. 10-1-91; CR 04-046 : cr (3) (f), (g) and (h) Register September 2004 No. 585 , eff. 10-1-04; EmR1420 : emerg. am. (1), eff. 9-12-14; CR 13-071 : am. (1) Register July 2015 No. 715 , eff. 8-1-15.