CWD-affected area deer removal permits

CWD-affected area deer removal permits. (1) Findings. Pursuant to s. 29.885 (4) , Stats., the natural resources board finds that deer within any CWD-affected area cause a nuisance and that the shooting of deer with nuisance permits is necessary within any CWD-affected area defined in s. NR 10.001 (6p) in order to reduce the spread of disease within the CWD-affected area and to reduce the risk of disease spreading outside any CWD-affected area. (2) Permits. Unless otherwise authorized by the department, landowners, lessees, occupants or their duly authorized agents of a parcel of land at least 5 contiguous acres in size, all within the CWD-affected area may, under a department issued permit, remove deer from lands under their ownership or control in accordance with this section. Both antlerless and buck deer may be harvested unless otherwise restricted as a condition of the permit. A landowner with less than 5 contiguous acres may be issued a permit at the discretion of the issuing department staff. Factors for issuing a permit to a landowner with less than 5 contiguous acres may include likelihood of success, public health and safety, and appropriateness of the property for hunting. (3) Participation by others. Persons other than the permittee may assist as a participant in the removal of deer in accordance with this section on the land for which the permit is valid. (a) Number and selection of participants. All participants shall be selected by the permittee. (b) Age and safety training. All participants, including the permittee shall meet the requirements of ss. 29.304 and 29.593 , Stats., pertaining to hunter safety and age. (c) Approval. All participants shall possess written approval obtained from the permittee and the appropriate, valid hunting license unless exempted under sub. (4) when carrying on removal activities. Written approval may include: name, address and phone number of landowner; name, address, phone number and DNR customer identification number, if applicable, of the person removing wild animals; property location and removal activities, authorized period of removal, signature of the permittee, or other form of approval authorized by the department. (d) No fees. The permittee may not charge any form of fee to a participant. (4) Licenses, stamps and permits. The permittee and participants are not required to possess the appropriate state hunting license or harvest authorization for deer, unless otherwise required as a condition of the permit. (5) Carcass disposition. Unless otherwise directed by the department, carcasses shall be disposed of in accordance with the procedures outlined on the permit issued by the department. Any part of any deer harvested under this section may be collected by the department for disease testing purposes. (6) Harvest periods. Permits issued to landowners under this section are valid only for the periods specified by the department on the permit. (7) Shooting hours. Permittees and participants shall comply with shooting hours described in s. NR 10.06 (5) , unless exempted by the department. (8) Firearm use. The following conditions shall apply to the use of firearms, bows or crossbows on deer shooting permits: (a) Permittees and participants shall comply at all times when hunting with the blaze orange clothing regulations of s. 29.301 (2) , Stats., unless exempted by the department. Exemptions to the blaze orange requirement are allowed where local ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms and bow hunting by the general public, or a trained sharpshooter during the closed deer gun season is the only methods available to remove deer. (b) Except as provided under par. (c) , and unless otherwise directed by the department, the weapons designated by the department on the permit shall be valid to harvest deer under the authority of the permit under sub. (2) . (c) In counties with deer shotgun seasons, a permittee and participants that have been authorized by the permittee may use a rifle that is not otherwise prohibited by s. NR 10.09 (2) (c) . (9) Registration. Permittees and participants shall register deer taken under this section in accordance with the procedures designated by the department on the permit. (10) Validation. Any person who kills a deer or if s. 29.324 , Stats., applies, the person providing the carcass tag shall immediately validate and attach the carcass tag as designated by the department. The requirements for registration of deer established under s. NR 10.086 apply unless otherwise indicated by the department on the permit. (11) Baiting. The use of bait to attract or hunt deer for removal purposes by the permittee and participants is not allowed unless specifically authorized by the department and under the conditions specified in the permit.