NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 29.014 (1), 29.041 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., interpreting ss. 29.014 (1) and 29.041, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to ch. NR 20, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to fishing on the inland, outlying and boundary waters of Wisconsin. The changes proposed include:

1. Prohibiting the placement of setlines, set or bank poles or any part thereof prior to the opening of the setline, set or bank pole season and requires that they be removed after the season is closed.

2. Increasing the minimum length limit from no minimum to 26 inches and decreases the daily bag limit from 5 to 2 for northern pike on Bass Lake (T33N, R10W, S34), Barron County and Horseshoe Lake (T34N R14W S7), Barron and Polk Counties.

3. Restricting hook and line fishing to artificial lures only and creates a catch and release only regulation for all fish species on Inch Lake, Bayfield County.

4. Eliminating the 26-inch minimum length limit and increases the daily bag limit from 2 to 5 for northern pike on Ellison Lake, Bayfield County.

5. Reducing the daily bag limit from 25 in total to 10 in total for panfish on Lake Arbutus and connected waters, Clark and Jackson Counties.

6. Reducing the daily bag limit from 25 in total to 10 in total for panfish on Lake Menomin and Tainter Lake, Dunn County.

7. Eliminating the 32-inch minimum length limit and increases the daily bag limit from 1 to 5 for northern pike on Butternut and Franklin Lakes, Forest County.

8. Extending the open season for trout on Lake Wazee by changing the closing date from September 30 to the first Sunday in March, Jackson County.

9. Increasing the minimum length limit from 12 inches to 30 inches, decreases the daily bag limit from 5 in total to 1 in total, and shortens the open season by changing the closing date from the first Sunday in March to September 30 for trout on Big Carr and Clear (T39N R7E S16) Lakes, Oneida County.

10. Establishing a 15-inch minimum length limit and eliminates the restriction of only 1 fish longer than 14 inches allowed for walleye on Pelican Lake, Oneida County.

11. Increasing the minimum length limit from no minimum to 26 inches and decreases the daily bag limit from 5 to 2 for northern pike on Horseshoe Lake (T34N R15W S1, S12, S13, S14), Polk and Barron Counties.

12. Increasing the minimum length limit from 40 inches to 45 inches on the Chippewa river from the Chippewa flowage dam (Winter dam) downstream to and including the Radisson Flowage, Sawyer County.

13. Increasing the minimum length limit from 7 inches to 30 inches and decreases the daily bag limit from 5 in total to 1 in total for trout on Long Lake, Vilas County.

14. Eliminating the 28-inch minimum length limit and establish a restriction of 1 fish longer than 14 inches allowed, and increase the daily bag limit from 1 to 5 for walleye on Kentuck Lake, Vilas County.

15. Eliminating the catch and release only with artificial lures only season and replaces it with the Waushara County base regulation of a 7-inch minimum length limit and a 5 in total daily bag limit for trout on the Pine River upstream from the Wild Rose mill pond, Waushara County.

16. Increasing the minimum length limit from 15 inches to 18 inches and reduces the daily bag limit from 5 in total to 3 in total for walleye, sauger and hybrids on Nepco and Wauzeecha Lakes, Wood County.

17. Making it illegal to hook and line fish at night (1/2 hour after sunset to1/2 hour before sunrise) on the Little River in Oconto County from October 1st through the Friday immediately preceding the opening of the general fishing season. If the September 15 closure starting date is adopted, the October 1 date will be changed to September 15 to make it consistent.

18. Beginning the current night fishing closure and hook gap size restrictions on September 15 rather than October 1 each year to better coincide with the runs of migratory salmonids on tributaries to Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The prohibition of hook and line fishing at night will continue to end on the first Saturday in May. In addition, these sections prohibit fishing by any methods from September 15 – December 31. Thus, on January 1, authorized fishing methods other than hook and line fishing reopen. For example, under the proposal, dip netting for suckers at night in the spring would remain open to sport fishers.

19. Providing anglers with the ability to legally possess a non-indigenous detrimental fish for the purpose of transporting it to a DNR office for identification. An angler is restricted to one specimen and it must be immediately killed.

20. Changing the open season for northern pike on small Lake Michigan tributaries north of U.S. Highway 10 from a continuous open season to the general fishing season of the first Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March to protect northern pike during the spawn. The northern pike fishing season on the East Twin River, West Twin River, Ahnapee River and Kewaunee River will remain open all year.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 23.09 (2) (b), 29.014, 29.089 (3), 29.091, 29.193 (2) and 29.889 (2), Stats., interpreting ss. 1.026 (1) (b), 23.09 (2) (b), 29.014, 29.089 (3), 29.091, 29.193 (2) and 29.889 (2), Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to chs. NR 10, 12, 15 and 45, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to hunting and trapping regulations. The proposed rules:

1. Allowing landowners on private land to shoot and kill any gray wolf in the act of attacking domestic animals provided that they report the shooting to the department within 24 hours and turn the carcass in to the Department.

2. Prohibiting the tagging, collaring or marking and release of wild animals without the Department's authorization.

3. Eliminating the bear hunting “no dog zone" in bear management zone A.

4. Creating a subzone in bear management zone C where the use of dogs would be allowed.

5. Modifying the bear hunting license application deadline and updating application submission information.

6. Creating consistent standards for body-gripping type traps (conibear size restrictions).

7. Prohibiting the use of electronic turkey decoys for turkey hunting.

8. Establishing a deer hunting season at Kohler-Andrae State Park and correct a drafting error relating to the hunting season at Yellowstone State Park.

9. Allowing “Long Term" Class B disabled permit holders to participate in disabled hunts.

10. Allowing the hunting of other game species on lands open to disabled hunts.

11. Eliminating the requirement for bear hunters to declare their willingness to participate in agricultural damage and nuisance situations and modification of the application deadline.

12. Establishing a “no entry wildlife refuge" at the Turtle Valley Wildlife Area.

13. Requiring the owner to identify tree stands used on state-owned lands and lands under the management of the department.

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:
SmallBusinessReg.Coordinator@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 11, 2005, the County Conservation Congress for each county will hold its election of delegates. Upon completion of the delegate election, 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 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the following locations: