Wisconsin Administrative Code

NR 1.25 Generally accepted forestry management practices. (1) PURPOSE. Section 823.075 (1) (d), Stats., requires the department to define generally accepted forestry management practices. (2) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of natural…

NR 1.26 Contracting with cooperating foresters for timber sale establishment. (1) PURPOSE. The department may contract with private cooperating foresters to assist the state in the harvesting and sale of timber from state forest lands to meet the annual allowable timber harvest e…

NR 1.27 Contracting with cooperating foresters and private contractors for regeneration services. (1) PURPOSE. The department may contract with private cooperating foresters and private contractors to assist the state in the regeneration of state forest lands to meet the annual a…

NR 1.29 Ice Age and North Country trails. (1) FOOTPATHS. The Ice Age Trail and North Country Trail shall be managed primarily as footpaths for pedestrian use: walking, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and ungroomed cross-country skiing. (2) PURPOSE. (a) The purpose of the Ice Ag…

NR 1.30 State park system. (1) State parks shall be classified, as follows, into their most logical employment and greatest usefulness: (a) Scenic parks. Parks having unusual scenic charm and beauty, distinctive landscapes, and particular appeal to nature lovers, and of sufficien…

NR 1.31 State-owned islands. The department shall maintain state-owned islands in natural and undisturbed condition consistent with controlled public use on islands suited for recreational purposes. Each state-owned island shall be classified for its most desirable use such as ca…

NR 1.32 Natural areas and scientific areas. (1) The legislature has indicated its intent to acquire, establish and preserve natural areas and scientific areas by creating ss. 15.347 (4), 23.27 and 23.092, Stats. The natural resources board agrees that such areas, by their preserv…

NR 1.33 Policy on rock climbing. Rock climbing is a traditional recreational activity that may occur on non-designated use areas on department lands, and is consistent with the department’s mission to provide recreational opportunities to the public. Rock climbing should be consi…

NR 1.40 Acquisition of recreational land. (1) In the acquisition of recreational lands, the department shall place principal emphasis on the acquisition of lands in the heavily populated areas of the state and in places readily accessible to such areas. (2) Projects under this se…

NR 1.41 Land acquisition authorization. (1) The following land transactions of the department shall require board approval: (a) Acquisitions where the purchase price is $150,000 or more. (b) Acquisitions where more than 40 acres are outside of an established project boundary. the…

NR 1.415 Policy on redesignation of department land uses. (1) The department shall conduct a periodic review of land use designations in order to determine whether a redesignation will secure better management. (2) Each redesignation of land use shall be subject to approval of th…

NR 1.42 Acquisition of state forest land. (1) Within established state forest boundaries, the department shall acquire suitable forest lands for the purpose of better blocking, consolidation of ownership and improvement of management possibilities. In the acquisition program, the…

NR 1.43 Acquisition of fish and game lands adjacent to water. (1) Lands on certain streams and lakes have been designated for acquisition by the board. Adequate land area, associated with the water, shall be acquired in connection with the acquisition of water frontage for preser…

NR 1.44 Cooperation with county, town and munic- NR 1.45 ipal boards on land acquisition. The department shall inform county, town and municipal boards of proposed boundaries of land purchase projects in their areas. If these boards officially object, they shall be afforded an op…

NR 1.445 County board approval of land purchase. (1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to implement the provisions of s. 23.0917 (8) (d), Stats. (2) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Land” means any ground considered as real property, but does not include the beds of lakes…

NR 1.45 Disposition of state forest lands. (1) State forest lands and other state-owned islands within state forest the chapter was last published. NR 1.45 WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE boundaries and lands which provide desirable public access to waters may be sold for the follo…

NR 1.46 Disposition of state fish and game lands. (1) State-owned fish and game management lands may be sold only when the natural resources board determines such lands are no longer necessary for the state’s use for conservation purposes and only in accordance with the following…

NR 1.47 Disposition of state park lands. (1) Stateowned lands within state park boundaries shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of. (2) State-owned lands outside state park boundaries and not within any other department project which serve no project purpose may be sold when t…

NR 1.48 Leasing department lands. (1) No leases for private use shall be executed, extended or renewed. (2) The secretary may execute leases for public use or public benefit, including leases of department houses to department employees as a condition of employment for the benefi…

NR 1.483 Leasing department tower sites for telecommunications systems. (1) This rule establishes department policy regarding leasing of department tower sites to others for telecommunications systems not presently installed at department tower sites. These provisions apply to al…

NR 1.485 Granting easements. (1) Each conveyance across state lands for a right-of-way for public or private roads, public utility lines, other public purposes, or for flowage rights where such use does not conflict with the planned development by the department, may be granted b…

NR 1.49 Trespass. (1) The natural resources board may cure unintentional trespasses by purchase or sale where practicable subject to state laws relating to purchase, sale, lease or exchange of lands not withstanding any other provisions of this chapter. (2) Improvements may be re…

NR 1.50 Policy on issuance of environmental pollution orders. (1) DEFINITIONS. (a) “Department” means the department of natural resources. (b) “Board” means the natural resources board. (c) “Air pollution” means the presence in the atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in su…

NR 1.51 Management of state wildlife areas. Section 23.09 (2) (d) 3., Stats., provides legislative authority and direction for the acquisition and management of wildlife areas. The the chapter was last published. NR 1.51 WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE primary purpose as stated in …

NR 1.52 Policy on promulgation of environmental quality standards. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section, “environmental quality standard” means a regulatory measure 20 needed to prevent or reduce environmental pollution as that term is defined in s. 299.01 (4), Stats. (2) INF…

NR 1.60 Master planning for department land. (1) MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT. In addition to the requirements of ss. 23.091 and 28.04, Stats., the natural resources board shall determine whether a master plan will be developed for any department managed property or group of propertie…

NR 1.61 Public use of department land. Wisconsin is a state of diverse people with many backgrounds and abilities. Public lands are shared spaces belonging to everyone. The department will consider the needs of all people in decisions about department land and is committed to adv…

NR 1.70 Policy on education. (1) Wisconsin has a unique abundance of varied and high quality natural resources. The successful stewardship of those resources is largely dependent upon enlightened and responsible decision-making by Wisconsin citizens, government and private intere…

NR 1.71 Policy on friends groups. (1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to encourage and provide for the establishment of friends groups, including not-for-profit concession corporations and cooperating associations. The department may work with a friends group established …

NR 1.80 Policy on integrated pest management. (1) STATEMENT OF POLICY. It is the goal of the state of Wisconsin to promote the use of integrated pest management on all managed lands and waters in the state. Integrated pest management is a sustainable, science-based decision-makin…

NR 1.90 Public access policy for waterways. (1) It is the goal of the state of Wisconsin to provide, maintain and improve access to the state’s navigable lakes, rivers and streams for the public. Public access facilities shall allow for public rights of navigation, related incide…

NR 1.91 Public boating access standards. (1) APPLICABILITY. Sections NR 1.91 to 1.93 shall apply to department decisions related to acquiring, developing, maintaining and improving public boating access sites, providing natural resources enhancement services and to other departme…

NR 1.92 Abandonment of access. (1) NOTICE OF INTENT TO ABANDON AN ACCESS. (a) Any municipality subject to s. 66.1006, Stats., which proposes to abandon or discontinue any highway, street, alley or right-of-way, which provides public access to a navigable waterway, shall provide a…

NR 1.93 Access in platted subdivisions. Under s. 236.16 (3), Stats., the department has authority to recommend wider access at less frequent intervals than are prescribed in the statutes. The department shall consider waiver of the 60-foot access requirement only where the depart…

NR 1.95 Wetlands preservation, protection, restoration and management. (1) PURPOSE. It is the intent of the natural resources board to establish rules policy for the preservation, protection, restoration and management of wetlands in the state of Wisconsin. The administrative rul…

NR 1.98 Public and private source funding of research. (1) PREAMBLE. (a) It is the policy of the department of natural resources to seek the best, most current scientific information available on which to base its management and regulatory decisions. In keeping with this policy, …

NR 1.985 Donation of live fish or fish eggs from a private fish farm. The department may accept gifts of live fish or fish eggs from a private fish farm located within Wisconsin if all of the following apply: (1) The fish or fish eggs will be stocked into waters of the state acce…

NR 10.001 Definitions. NR 10.01 Open and closed seasons. NR 10.02 Protected wild animals. NR 10.03 Threats to humans or livestock. NR 10.04 Unprotected wild animals. NR 10.05 Highways. NR 10.06 Shooting hours. NR 10.07 General hunting. NR 10.08 Possession and transportation of ga…

NR 10.01 Open and closed seasons. A closed season is established year-round for each species of wild animal named in this section, except during the specified open season. Seasons open to legal hunting and trapping apply to the entire locality described, except as otherwise provi…

NR 10.02 Protected wild animals. The following wild animals are designated protected. No person may take, attempt to take, transport or possess any protected wild animal or its carcass at any time except as authorized by state or federal law. (1) Cougar, Canada lynx, badger, moos…

NR 10.03 Threats to humans or livestock. (1) THREATS TO HUMANS. An individual may shoot and kill any wild animal that poses an immediate threat to human health and safety. Shootings shall be reported within 24 hours to a department conservation warden. The carcass of the animal s…

NR 10.04 Unprotected wild animals. The following wild animals are designated unprotected. No closed season, bag limit, size limit, or possession limit applies to these animals. (1) Opossum, porcupine, skunk, weasel, and woodchuck. (2) Chukar partridge, coturnix quail, English spa…

NR 10.05 Highways. No person may hunt within 50 feet of a roadway’s center except as provided in s. 167.31, Stats. Note: The exceptions provided in s. 167.31 (4) (e), Stats., allow any person who is legally hunting small game with a muzzle-loading firearm or shotgun loaded with s…

NR 10.06 Shooting hours. (1) GENERAL HUNTING. All shooting hours, when specified in this chapter, mean Central Standard Time, and the daily opening (a.m.) and closing (p.m.) hours listed shall apply to the entire state. 12 (2) SHOOTING ZONES. (a) General. Two general shooting hou…

NR 10.07 General hunting. (1) PROHIBITED METHODS. No person shall: (a) Aircraft. Hunt with the aid of an aircraft, including the use of an aircraft to spot, rally or drive wild animals for hunters on the ground. (b) Devices. 1. Place, operate or attend, spread, or set any net, pi…

NR 10.08 Possession and transportation of game. (1) OPENING DAY LIMITS. On the first day of the open season, no person may possess or control more than one daily bag limit of any game species for which a bag limit is established. (2) DAILY BAG LIMIT. (a) Generally. 1. Daily bag l…

NR 10.085 Tagging of game.