Section 52.01. Purpose and applicability.

 

(1)  Pursuant to s. 23.0916 , Stats., lands acquired in whole or in part with funding from the stewardship program are open for public hunting, trapping, hiking, fishing and cross country skiing unless public access is prohibited pursuant to this chapter. Decisions to prohibit public access for these activities will be reviewed by the department using professional judgment and will be based on sound science, legitimate safety issues, factual data and relevant information. A restriction of a nature based outdoor activity may be considered a prohibition if the restriction prevents a major or a significant amount of the nature based activity from occurring.

(2)  The purpose of this chapter is to implement s. 23.0916 , Stats., which directs the department to establish standards and criteria for prohibiting public access for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking and cross-country skiing, defined as nature based outdoor activities under s. 23.0916 (1) (b) , Stats. This chapter applies to land acquired in whole or in part with funding from the stewardship program under ss. 23.0915 and 23.0917 , Stats. The rules in this chapter are intended to maximize the number of compatible users and uses, to the extent practical, on lands subject to s. 23.0916 , Stats.

(3)  Pursuant to s. 23.0916 (5) (a) , Stats., the natural resources board has determined that ss. NR 1.61 and 51.07 (3) (e) govern public access on all other lands funded in whole or in part with funding from the stewardship program under ss. 23.0915 and 23.0917 , Stats., that are not referred to in sub. (1) or (2) .