Section 10.26. Sharp-tailed grouse hunting.

 

(1)   Permits and carcass tags.

(a) Authorization to hunt. No person may hunt sharp-tailed grouse unless he or she possesses a valid sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit and carcass tag issued by the department, in addition to an approval authorizing small game hunting.

(b) Permit application procedures. Persons applying to hunt sharp-tailed grouse shall apply for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit as follows:

1. Application for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit shall be made on an application form provided by the department.

2. All applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the application form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection.

3. If a maximum of 4 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual permits and submit them together in a single envelope clearly marked "group application" on the outside. The group application shall be treated as one application for purpose of random selection or consideration for a permit. If a group contains persons who unsuccessfully applied for sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits in the previous year, and persons who successfully applied or did not apply for sharp-tailed grouse permits the previous year, the group will be placed in the preference category of those who successfully applied in the previous year.

(c) Permittee selection procedures for oversubscribed units. If the number of applications for permits for a management unit exceeds the number of available permits in that unit, successful applicants shall be randomly selected according to the preference system established in s. 29.192 (2) , Stats.

(d) Carcass tag issuance.

1. `Oversubscribed units.' Each successful applicant for a sharp-tailed grouse hunting permit shall be issued a carcass tag by the department.

2. `Undersubscribed units.' If the number of applications is less than the available permits for a management unit, the department may:

a. Randomly issue successful applicants additional carcass tags; or

b. Make available to any person the remaining permits for the unit on a first-come, first-serve basis; or

c. Use both procedures described in subd. 2. a. and b.

(e) Permit and carcass tag restrictions.

1. Permits and carcass tags issued under this section are only valid for the unit indicated on the permit during the open season established for sharp-tailed grouse.

2. Permits or carcass tags issued under this section may not be transferred to or used by any person other than the permittee.

(2)   T agging procedure.

(a) Carcass tag use. When a sharp-tailed grouse is killed and before it is carried by hand or transported in any manner, the hunter shall:

1. Immediately validate the carcass tag in the manner indicated by the department on the carcass tag. Failure to follow the validation procedure in this manner invalidates the tag.

2. Completely attach and seal the carcass tag around the leg of the sharp-tailed grouse in the manner indicated by the department on the carcass tag.

(b) Transportation and possession. No person may possess or transport a sharp-tailed grouse unless the person has lawfully killed and tagged it.

(3)  H arvest quota. The number of sharp-tailed grouse hunting permits or carcass tags issued annually for units described in s. NR 10.28 shall be based on the annual sharp-tailed grouse harvest quotas established for these units. The department shall base its determination of the annual harvest quota for each unit upon:

(a) The estimated size and distribution of sharp-tailed grouse populations.

(b) Trends in sharp-tailed grouse hunter numbers and hunter success rates.

(c) A maximum allowable harvest of no more than 25% of the projected fall population.

Cr. Register, June, 1997, No. 498 , eff. 7-1-97; CR 05-031 : am. (1) (b) 2. Register October 2005 No. 598 , eff. 11-1-05.

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 , hunting license outlet handouts, and pertinent hunting regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1