Section NR 17.08 - Dog trialing on free roaming wild animals and additional restrictions on dogs(1) AUTHORITY. Except as described in subs. (2) and (3), any person may trial dogs on free-roaming wild animals without a dog trialing license.(2) PROHIBITIONS. (a)Department lands. On department lands open to public hunting that are not designated open to dog trialing under s. NR 17.10, dogs shall be controlled by a person using a leash which is no more than 8 feet in length from April 15 through July 31 except as described in sub. (3).(b)Northern restricted zone. Dog trialing on any free roaming wild animal is prohibited May 1 to June 30 on all lands north of the highway described in s. NR 10.07 (1) (i) except as described in sub. (3) (a).(c)Bear dog trialing. A person may not use dogs to pursue wild bear for dog trialing purposes except as provided in sub. (3) (c).(d)Killing wild animals. No person engaged in trialing dogs may kill or cause to be killed any free roaming wild animal including unprotected wild animals unless otherwise authorized.(3) EXCEPTIONS. (a)Northern restricted zone hound dog trialing on raccoon and rabbits. An individual may trial dogs on captive or free-roaming raccoons and rabbits May 1 to June 30 provided all the following apply:1. The individual applies for and receives a hound dog trial license.2. The location of the master of hounds and the name of any approved state properties where the dog trials are to be held shall be listed on the hound dog trial license. Note: Private lands need not be listed on the trial license.
3. The applicant complies with any restrictions placed on a license to prevent the intentional or unintentional pursuit of wild bear.(b)Hound dog trialing on free-roaming raccoons and rabbit. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06, from July 1 through the following April 14, hound dogs may be trialed on free-roaming raccoons and rabbits on department lands without a leash.(c)Bear dog trialing. Except where prohibited by s. NR 45.06, an individual may use dogs to pursue wild bear without a leash from July 1 to August 31 and at times when the season for hunting bears is open in places where it is legal to hunt bear with aid of dogs provided the individual possesses a class A or B bear license issued under s. 29.184, Stats., and: 1. Each dog is uniquely tattooed or wears a collar with the owner's name and address attached.2. No more than 6 dogs in a single pack may be used to pursue bear regardless of the number of persons assisting the bear hunting licensee and regardless of the dog ownership.3. Trialing during the open season for hunting bears only occurs during the hours when it is also legal to hunt bears with dogs as established in ch. NR 10. Note: A hound dog trial license issued under ch. 169, Stats., is not required to trial on free roaming bear during the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period or as authorized by s. 29.184 (3m), Stats. A class A or B bear hunting license is required to participate in a trial during these periods. Bear may be hunted with the aid of dogs during the seasons described in s. NR 10.01 (3) (g).
(4) REVOCATIONS. Pursuant to s. 169.45 (7), Stats., the department may revoke a dog trialing license issued under s. 169.21, Stats., when dogs owned or under control of the licensee are found to be running bear in the northern restricted zone at times other than the July 1 to August 31 bear dog training period established under s. NR 10.101 (2) (b).Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 17.08
CR 03-031: cr. Register October 2003 No. 574, eff. 11-1-03; CR 08-011: am. (2) (b) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 2-1-09; CR 08-021: am. (3) (a) (intro.) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; CR 13-021: am. (2) (c), (3) (c) (intro.), cr. (2) (c) 3. Register October 2013 No. 694, eff. 11-1-13.Amended by, correction in (3) (c) (intro.) (Note) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register November 2015 No. 719, eff.12/1/2015.Amended by, CR 23-025: am. (3) (c) (intro.) Register February 2024 No. 819, eff. 4/1/2024