BEFORE THE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
WM-14-07
FH-15-07
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 29.014(1), 29.039, 29.041 and 227.11(2)(a), Stats., interpreting ss. 29.531, 29.533, 29.014(1), 29.039 and 29.041, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 20 and 26, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to fishing on the inland, outlying and boundary waters of Wisconsin. The proposed changes:
1. Eliminate restriction on maximum allowable size of landing nets. Current administrative code stipulates that landing nets may not exceed 36” diameter.
2. Implement 50” minimum size limit for muskellunge on the St. Louis River. This proposal is being made concurrently with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
3. Stipulate that spears and arrows used for fishing have barbed tips.
4. Increase the daily bag limit for walleye, sauger and their hybrids in Mineral Lake, Ashland County from 3 fish to 5 fish and replace the current 18” minimum size limit with no minimum, but only one fish larger than 14” may be kept.
5. Authorize seining and dipnetting for rainbow smelt in Beaver Dam Lake, Barron County with a continuous open season and no restrictions on harvest hours. A maximum allowable size for seines is specified.
6. Create a 26” minimum size limit for trout in Beaver Dam Lake, Barron County with a one fish daily bag limit, and create a 15” minimum size limit for trout in the Hay River, Barron County, with a one fish daily bag limit.
7. Create an 18” minimum size limit for walleye in the Red Cedar chain of lakes (lakes Balsam, Red Cedar and Hemlock), Barron and Washburn Counties.
8. Reduce the daily bag limit for panfish in Middle Eau Claire and Bony Lakes, Bayfield County, from 25 fish to 10 fish.
9. Extend the 45” minimum length limit for muskellunge in Lakes Monona, Waubesa and Wingra, Dane County to tributaries and connecting waters of those lakes.
10. Implement minimum size and bag limits for brown trout and lake trout, and an 18” minimum size limit and 3 fish daily bag limit for walleye in Keyes Lake, Florence County.
11. Remove the 26” minimum size limit and 2 fish daily bag limit for northern pike in Kettle Moraine and Long Lakes, Fond du Lac County and replace those restrictions with no minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily bag limit.
12. Increase the daily bag limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Gile Flowage, Iron County, from 2 fish to 3 fish, aggregate, and change the 15” minimum size limit to no minimum, but no fish between 14” and 18” may be kept and only one fish larger than 18” may be kept.
13. Remove the 26” minimum size limit and 2 fish daily bag limit for northern pike in the Buffalo (upstream of highway 93) and Trempealeau Rivers (upstream of the dam in Blair), Jackson and Trempealeau Counties, and replace those restrictions with no minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily bag limit.
14. Eliminate the continuous open season for game fish on the Yellowstone River, Lafayette County.
15. Eliminate special regulations for trout on a section of the Prairie River, Lincoln County.
16. Implement a 3 fish aggregate daily bag limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Big Bass and Mission Lake, Marathon County, with no minimum size limit but no fish between 14”and 18” may be kept and only one fish larger than 18”may be kept.
17. Eliminate special regulations for trout in Plum Creek, Pepin County, eliminate special regulations for trout in the Kinnickinnic River and Plum Creek in St. Croix County, and change trout regulations on reaches of the Kinnickinnic River in Pierce County.
18. Implement a 3 fish aggregate daily bag limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Pipe Lake, Polk County with no minimum size limit but no fish between 14” and 18” may be kept and only fish larger than 18” may be kept.
19. Reduce the daily bag limit for panfish from 25 fish to 10 fish in all inland waters of St. Croix County and Cedar Lake, which is in Polk and St. Croix Counties.
20. Implement a 3 fish daily bag limit for walleye in Cedar Lake, Polk and St. Croix Counties, with no minimum size limit but no fish between 14” and 18” may be kept and only one fish larger than 18” may be kept.
21. Implement a 5 fish daily bag limit for walleye in Butternut Lake, Price County, with no minimum size limit but only one fish larger than 14” may be kept.
22. Implement restrictive bag and size limits for panfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass and northern pike in Eagle Lake, Racine County.
23. Remove the 26” minimum size limit and 2 fish daily bag limit for northern pike in Crystal Lake, Sheboygan County and replace those restrictions with no minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily bag limit.
24. Remove the 26” minimum size limit and 2 fish daily bag limit for northern pike in Little Cedar Lake, Washington County and replace those restrictions with no minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily bag limit.
25. Create 3 fish refuges below dams in the Sugar River, Green County and create a fish refuge on the Yahara River below the Dunkirk Dam, Dane County.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 23.09(2)(b), 29.014, 29.089, 29.091, 29.164(4)(b), 29.184(6), 29.197(2) and 29.597, Stats., interpreting ss. 23.09(2)(b), 29.014, 29.089, 29.041, 29.091, 29.164(4)(b), 29.184(6), 29.197(2) and 29.597, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 10, 15, 17 and 19, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to hunting and trapping regulations. The proposed changes:
1. Reduce the number of turkey management zones from the current 46 to 7.
2. Rename Bear Hunting Zone A1 as Zone D.
3. Eliminate the open season for jackrabbits.
4. Establish a nonresident trapping season for raccoons that begins 2 weeks after the start of the season for residents.
5. Legalize the use of shotgun slugs for hunting species other than game birds and allow the use of buckshot for hunting bobcat at all times during that season.
6. Require the display of blaze orange on ground blinds used on department lands during seasons when hunters are required to wear blaze orange.
7. Prohibit deer feeding near dwellings and businesses when feed is being used by bear or elk.
8. Prohibit open water hunting on Mississippi River Pool 11 to match U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations for the Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge.
9. Change closed area boundaries and create new closed areas on the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge to make them consistent with those adopted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
10. Establish a closed area at the Wisconsin River Delta of the Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge beginning on November 1 each year for consistency with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
11. Expand the time when cable restraints may be used for coyote and fox, allow their use for a portion of the bobcat season, and modify cable size standards.
12. Establish a fee of $12.00 for the course of instruction under the trapper education program and $28 for correspondence courses that require out-of-state mailing.
13. Apply existing trap size, type and placement regulations to licensed wild fur farms.
14. Create an archery season for deer and special tags in Unit 79, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
15. Create a 9-day, shotgun-only deer hunting season at Lake Wissota State Park and create Deer Management Unit 59E.
16. Eliminate the 19-day muzzleloader-only deer hunting season at Brunet Island State Park and create a 9-day shotgun-only season in its place.
17. Establish a 2:00 p.m. closing time for pheasant hunting at Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County and Pine Island Wildlife Area in Sauk and Columbia Counties.
18. Create a pilot program to allow fall turkey hunting with the aid of dogs in certain counties.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rules will have an economic impact on small businesses. The Department’s Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at SmallBusiness@dnr.state.wi.us or by calling (608) 266-1959.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an
environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department’s consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2007, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will hold its election of county delegates in each county. Upon completion of the delegate elections, the joint Spring Hearing/Conservation Congress meeting will convene to take comments on the foregoing rule modifications.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Adams Adams County Courthouse, Board Room, 402 Main Street, Friendship
Ashland Ashland Senior High School, Auditorium, 1900 Beaser Ave., Ashland
Barron Old Courthouse Building Lower Level, Auditorium, 330 E LaSalle Ave., Barron
Bayfield Drummond High School, 40 Eastern Ave., Drummond
Brown Green Bay Southwest High School, Auditorium, 1331 Packerland Drive, Green Bay
Buffalo Alma High School, Auditorium, S1618 State Rd. 35, Alma
Burnett Siren Government Center, Room 165, 7410 County Road K, Siren
Calumet Calumet County Courthouse, B025, 206 Court Street, Chilton
Chippewa Chippewa Falls Middle School, Student Commons, 750 Tropicana Blvd., Chippewa Falls
Clark Greenwood High School, Cafetorium, 306 W. Central Ave., Greenwood
Columbia Turner Junior High School, 2505 New Pinery Road, Portage
Crawford Crawford County Courthouse, Court Room, 220 N. Beaumont Road, Prairie cu Chien
Dane Dane County Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Madison
Dodge Horicon City Hall, 404 Lake Street, Horicon
Door Sturgeon Bay High School, Auditorium, 1230 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay
Douglas Superior Senior High School, 2600 Catlin Avenue, Superior
Dunn Dunn County Fish And Game Club, 1900 Pioneer Ave., Menomonie
Eau Claire South Middle School, Auditorium, 2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire
Florence Florence Natural Resources Center, Large Conference Room, Highway 70/101, Florence
Fond du Lac Theisen Middle School, Auditorium, 525 E Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac
Forest Crandon High School, Auditorium, 9750 USH 8 W, Crandon
Grant Lancaster High School, Auditorium, 806 East Elm Street, Lancaster
Green Monroe Middle School, Auditorium, 1510 13th Street, Monroe
Green Lake Green Lake High School, Small Gym, 612 Mill St., Green Lake
Iowa Dodgeville High School, Gymnasium, 912 West Chapel Street, Dodgeville
Iron Iron County Court House, Main Courtroom, 300 Taconite, Hurley
Jackson Black River Falls Middle School, LGI, 1202 Pierce Street, Black River Falls
Jefferson Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Activity Center, 503 N. Jackson Ave., Jefferson
Juneau Juneau County Courthouse, Second Floor - County Board Room, 220 E. State Street, Mauston
Kenosha Bristol Grade School, Auditorium, 20121 83rd Street, Bristol
Kewaunee Kewaunee High School, Auditorium, 911 2nd Street, Kewaunee
La Crosse Onalaska High School, Field House, 700 Hilltop Place, Onalaska
Lafayette Darlington High School, Auditorium, 11838 Center Hill Road, Darlington
Langlade Antigo High School, Media\Tech Room, 1900 10th Avenue, Antigo
Lincoln Tomahawk Middle School, 1048 East Kings Road, Tomahawk
Manitowoc UW Manitowoc, Theater, 705 Viebahn Street, Manitowoc
Marathon D.C. Everest Middle School, Auditorium, 9302 Schofield Avenue, Schofield
Marinette Crivitz High School, Auditorium, 400 South Ave, Crivitz
Marquette Montello High School, Community Room, 222 Forest Lane, Montello
Menominee Menominee County Courthouse, Basement, Courthouse Lane, Keshena
Milwaukee Greenfield High School, Auditorium, 4800 South 60th Street, Greenfield
Monroe Tomah High School, 901 Lincoln Ave., Tomah
Oconto Suring High School, Cafeteria, 411 E. Algoma St., Suring
Oneida James Williams Jr. High, Auditorium, 915 Arcadia, Rhinelander
Outagamie Riverview Middle School, Auditorium, 101 Oak Street, Kaukauna
Ozaukee Webster Middle School, Commons, W75 N624 Wauwatosa Road, Cedarburg
Pepin Pepin County Government Center, County Board Room, 740 7th Avenue W., Durand
Pierce Ellsworth Senior High School, Auditorium, 323 Hillcrest, Ellsworth
Polk Unity High School, Gymnasium, 1908 150th Street/Hwy 46, Balsam Lake
Portage Ben Franklin Middle School, Auditorium, 2000 Polk Street, Stevens Point
Price Price County Courthouse, County Board Room, 126 Cherry Street, Phillips
Racine Union Grove High School, Auditorium, 3433 S. Colony Ave., Union Grove
Richland Richland County Courthouse, Court Room, 181 West Seminary, Richland Center
Rock Janesville Moose Lodge, 2701 Rockport Ave., Janesville
Rusk Ladysmith High School, Auditorium, 1700 Edgewood Ave., East Ladysmith
Sauk UW Baraboo, R.G. Brown Theater, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo
Sawyer Hayward High School, Auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward
Shawano Shawano Middle School, LG Room, 1050 S. Union Street, Shawano
Sheboygan Sheboygan Falls High School, Auditorium, 220 Amherst Avenue, Sheboygan Falls
St. Croix WI Indianhead Technical College, Cashman Auditorium, 1019 S. Knowles Ave., New Richmond
Taylor Taylor Co. Fairgrounds, Multipurpose Building, State Hwy 13 and Hwy 64 Intersection, Medford
Trempealeau Whitehall City Center, Gymnasium, 36245 Park Street, Whitehall
Vernon Viroqua High School, Lecture Room, 100 Blackhawk Drive, Viroqua
Vilas Sayner Community Center, Golf Course Road, Sayner
Walworth Delavan/Darien High School, Auditorium, 150 Cummings, Delavan
Washburn WI Ag Research Station, Conference Room, W6646 Hwy 70, Spooner
Washington Washington County Fair Park, Exhibit Hall, 3000 Hwy PV, West Bent
Waukesha Waukesha Co. Tech. College (WCTC), C052, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee
Waupaca Waupaca High School, Auditorium, E2325 King Road, Waupaca
Waushara Waushara County Court House, County Board Room, 209 S. St. Marie, Wautoma
Winnebago Webster Stanley Auditorium, Auditorium, 915 Hazel Street, Oshkosh
Wood Pittsville High School, Auditorium, 5459 Elementary Ave., Pittsville
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of information material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call AnnMarie Kutzke at (608) 266-2952 with specific information on your request by April 9, 2007.
The proposed rules and fiscal estimates may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed fishing regulations may be submitted via U.S. mail to Mr. Joe Hennessy, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments on the proposed hunting and trapping regulations may be submitted via U.S. mail to Mr. Scott Loomans, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Written comments shall be postmarked not later than April 17, 2007. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will NOT, however, be counted as spring hearing votes.
Dated at Madison, Wisconsin ________________________________________
STATE OF WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
By _____________________________________
Scott Hassett, Secretary
