Section 17.02. Hound dog training license.

 

(1)   Authority. A hound dog training license authorizes the licensee to possess and use captive bobcat, coyote, fox, raccoons or rabbits for dog training purposes, and use captive black bear possessed under the authority of a captive wild animal farm license for dog training purposes. The license does not authorize commercial or organized shoots, selling, breeding or propagating of animals or training of dogs with the use of captive bear on department lands.

(2)   Conditions . The licensee shall be subject to all of the following conditions:

(a) Display of license. Be in possession of a hound dog training license while engaged in dog training activities and make the license available to any authorized department agent upon request.

(b) Location. Train only on the properties identified on the license. The properties shall be identified by township, range, section and name of the property owner or by specific department property name.

(c) Private property owner identification. On properties other than department lands the application shall include the name, address and phone number of the owner of the property where dogs are being trained.

(d) Proof of legal possession. Any person using captive wild animals for dog training shall possess a receipt or invoice meeting the requirements of s. NR 17.11 and indicating the captive animals were purchased or obtained from a licensed captive wild animal farm, wild fur farm or other legal source. The licensee shall make the receipt or invoice available to any authorized department agent upon request.

(3)   Care and housing.

(a) Captive coyote, fox and rabbit. Captive coyote, fox and rabbit obtained in accordance with s. NR 17.047 and possessed for dog training purposes may only be kept within a hound dog training enclosure that is permitted and that meets the requirements established under s. NR 17.045 , except that these species may be confined or controlled on a temporary basis in accordance with ss. NR 16.30 and 16.38 for the purpose of health care or treatment, transportation from one enclosure to another or special handling needs when not being used for training dogs. For special handling needs and transportation, coyote, fox and rabbit shall be housed in accordance with ss. NR 16.30 and 16.38 .

(b) Captive bear, bobcat and raccoon. Captive bear, bobcat and raccoon obtained in accordance with s. NR 17.047 may be used for dog training purposes provided:

1. The bear is possessed under authority of a captive wild animal farm license.

2. Bear, bobcat and raccoon, when not being used for training purposes, are housed in accordance with ss. NR 16.30 and 16.38 .

3. The bear, bobcat or raccoon is kept in a cage at all times. The cage shall be constructed so that all of the following requirements are met:

a. The cage is strong enough to contain the bear, bobcat or raccoon securely and comfortably and to withstand the normal rigors of training.

b. The interior of the cage has no sharp points or edges and no protrusions that could injure the bear, bobcat or raccoon contained in it.

c. The bear, bobcat or raccoon is at all times securely contained within a cage in a way that it is not likely to result in injury to itself, to handlers, or to persons or animals nearby.

d. The cage containing the bear has a mesh size no greater than 2 inches square.

e. The cage shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space to allow the bear, bobcat or raccoon to make normal postural adjustments with adequate freedom of movement to sit, stand on all 4 legs, turn around and lie in a normal manner.

f. The cage shall be designed to allow urine and feces to drain from the cage.

g. Permanent devices such as handles or handholds shall be provided on the exterior that enables the cage to be lifted and ensures that anyone handling the cage will not come into physical contact with the bear, bobcat or raccoon contained inside.

h. When the cage is elevated in a tree or on a pole for training purposes, the cage shall be raised a minimum of 10 feet off the ground.

4. All individuals except the owner of the captive animal, the owner's designee or the dog handler shall be kept at least 4 feet from the cage. For bear, a barrier shall be provided to assure that individuals other than the owner, designee or handlers are kept 4 feet from the cage.

5. Dogs shall be kept a minimum of one foot from the cage at all times by restraint, cage design or barrier fence except where the cage is covered by solid material, which prevents all physical contact between the dog and the captive animal. The one foot minimum distance does not apply to raccoon training with the use of roll cages.

6. The cage shall be adequately shaded at all times.

7. The bear, bobcat or raccoon shall have access to fresh water.

8. Roll cages may not be used for dog training with bear or bobcat.

(c) Training periods.

1. The length of time that captive wild bear, bobcat or raccoon may be used for training exercises may not exceed 12 hours within a 24-hour period. Captive wild bear, bobcat and raccoon shall be provided with a minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest within a 24-hour period. Additionally, a bear, bobcat or raccoon used for training, may not be housed in an enclosure that does not meet the primary enclosure standards in s. NR 16.30 (4) for a period of more than 72 hours.

2. The length of time that training activity may occur in a hound dog training enclosure containing captive coyote or fox may not exceed 16 hours within a 24-hour period. A minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest within a 24-hour period shall be provided during which no dog training or trialing may take place within an enclosure containing captive coyote or fox.

History: CR 03-031 : cr. Register October 2003 No. 574 , eff. 11-1-03; CR 05-104 : am. (1), r. and recr. (3), Register June 2007 No. 618 , eff. 7-1-07; CR 10-051 : am. (3) (a) Register December 2010 No. 660 , eff. 1-1-11.

Note

Unintentional reproduction of rabbits in pens is not a violation of this section. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 The unintentional breeding of rabbits in training enclosures is not a violation of this section. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1