Section 17.04. Dog training on free roaming wild animals and additional restrictions on dogs.

 

(1)   Authority. Except as described in subs. (2) and (3) , any person may train dogs on free-roaming wild animals without a dog training license.

(2)   Prohibitions.

(a) Department lands. On department lands open to public hunting that are not designated open to dog training under s. NR 17.05 , dogs shall be controlled by a person using a leash which is no more than 8 feet in length from April 15 through July 31 except as described in sub. (3) .

(b) Northern restricted zone. Dog training on any free roaming wild animal is prohibited May 1 to June 30 on all lands within the northern restricted zone except as described in sub. (3) (a) .

(c) Bear dog training. A person may not use dogs to pursue wild bear except as provided in sub. (3) (c) .

(d) Killing wild animals. No person engaged in training dogs may kill or cause to be killed any free roaming wild animal including unprotected wild animals as defined in s. NR 19.001 (17) without department approval.

(3)   Exceptions.

(a) Northern restricted zone hound dog training on raccoon and rabbits. A person may train dogs on captive or free-roaming raccoons and rabbits in the northern restricted zone May 1 to June 30 provided all the following apply:

1. The licensee applies for and receives a hound dog training license.

2. The licensee shall list no more than 3 townships in the same or adjoining counties.

3. The department approves the property locations listed.

4. No more than 2 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue raccoon or rabbit regardless of the number of persons assisting or accompanying the hound dog training license holder and regardless of the dog ownership.

5. The licensee complies with any restrictions placed on a license to prevent the intentional or unintentional pursuit of wild bear.

(b) Hound dog training on free-roaming raccoons and rabbit. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06 , from July 1 to the following April 14 th , hound dogs may be trained on free-roaming raccoons and rabbits on department lands without a leash.

(c) Bear dog training. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06 , an individual may use dogs to pursue wild bear without a leash from July 1 to August 31 and at times when the season for hunting bears is open in places where it is legal to hunt bear with aid of dogs provided the individual possesses a class A or B bear license issued under s. 29.184 , Stats., or is exempt under s. 29.184 (5) , Stats., and:

1. Each dog is uniquely tattooed or wears a collar with the owner's name and address attached.

2. No more than 6 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue bear regardless of the number of persons assisting the bear hunting licensee and regardless of the dog ownership.

3. Training during the open season for hunting bears only occurs during the hours when it is also legal to hunt bears with dogs as established in ch. NR 10 .

(4)   Revocations. Pursuant to s. 169.45 (7) , Stats., the department may revoke a dog training license issued under s. 169.20 , Stats., when dogs are found to be running bear in the northern restricted zone at times other than the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period established under s. NR 10.101 (2) (b) .

History: CR 03-031 : cr. Register October 2003 No. 574 , eff. 11-1-03; CR 08-011 : am. (2) (b) Register September 2008 No. 633 , eff. 2-1-09; CR 08-021 : am. (3) (a) (intro.) Register November 2008 No. 635 , eff. 12-1-08; CR 13-021 : am. (3) (c) (intro.), cr. (3) (c) 3. Register October 2013 No. 694 , eff. 11-1-13.

Note

Section 29.184 (5), Stats., was repealed by 2015 Wis. Act 55 , which eliminated class B bear licenses. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 A hound dog training license issued under ch. 169 , Stats., is not required to train on free roaming bear during the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period or as authorized by s. 29.184 (3m) , Stats. A class A or B bear hunting license is required to train during these periods. Bear may be hunted with the aid of dogs during the seasons described in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g) . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1