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Regulations for Hunting on Lands Enrolled in Wisconsin’s Wildlife Damage Programs

Contact the farmer to ask permission to hunt on his/her land. Hunting on lands not enrolled in the program, without permission of the landowner, is trespassing. Farmers enrolled in the WDACP and/or possessing deer damage shooting permits cannot charge any fees for hunting, hunting access, or any other activity that includes hunting the species causing damage. In all cases, the hunter is responsible for limiting their hunting only to properties enrolled in the program.

Please be courteous to farmers! Call ahead to plan your hunt, and please refrain from calling them after 8 pm.

If you are hunting during the open season (using your own back tag):

  • If the farmer has chosen Open Access, notify the farmer of your plans to hunt.
  • If the farmer has chosen Managed Access, ask permission to hunt on the farmer’s land. The farmer may limit hunters to a presence of 2 hunters/40 acres of huntable land. The farmer may not deny permission to hunt unless there is already a presence of 2 hunters/40 acres of huntable land on his/her property at that exact time.
  • If you are hunting on Managed Access lands, you must sign the farmer’s log book.
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    If you wish to participate in a damage hunt (using the farmer’s damage back tag):

  • Contact farmer to ask if he/she would like your assistance in filling his/her damage back tags.
  • Meet with the farmer to get his/her written approval to participate in the damage hunt (Form 2300-200, Authorization to Shoot Deer causing Agricultural Damage). All hunters participating in damage hunts must possess this written authorization and agree to comply with all restrictions printed on the form and the farmer's or landowner's permit.
  • All hunters participating in damage hunts must possess the appropriate valid hunting license and display the purple damage back tag, at all times while hunting. Blaze orange is required whether hunting with a firearm or bow.
  • If you are participating in a damage hunt, you must sign the farmer’s log book.
  • Shooting hours for damage hunts are 30 min. before sunrise to 20 min. after sunset during the closed deer gun season. During the open deer gun season, gun season hunting hours apply. Unless otherwise written on the farmer’s permit, only antlerless deer may be shot, and deer must be shot with a gun. Northern Hunting Hours Table (PDF, 84KB)
    Southern Hunting Hours Table (PDF, 86KB)
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    In all cases, unless specific permission is granted by the farmer:

    • Parking is restricted to designated areas
    • Vehicular access is prohibited
    • Use of existing hunting stands or blinds is prohibited
    • Hunting is only allowed for the species causing damage

    If you feel you are wrongfully denied access

    If a hunter is refused access and feels that the farmer was not in compliance with the hunting requirement, or the farmer has charged some type of hunting fee for the species causing damage, please file a complaint with the USDA-Wildlife Services or county official listed on the back of this sheet. Complaints should be in writing and contain the name of the farmer, the date and time of the alleged violation, any circumstances relevant to the alleged violation, the name, telephone and address of the hunter, and the hunter’s signature. The county damage specialist or WDNR will investigate these complaints. Remember, farmers may deny access for reasonable cause to individuals who exhibit intoxication, vandalism, littering, reckless conduct, or property damage, or who do not comply with the 11 listed requirements on the Log Book agreement form. Reasonable cause may not be based on age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability, creed, sexual orientation or national origin. Complaints should be filed within 10 days of the denial. Direct complaints to USDA-Wildlife Services or the county official listed in the green handout. You can also obtain the name, address, and telephone numbersof the appropriate county official by contacting the Wildlife Damage Specialist, WDNR, GEF 2, WM/4, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI, 53707.

    For more information on this topic, send mail to: Assistant Wildlife Damage Biologist

    Questions for Wildlife Management

    Last Revised: Thursday May 22 2008