Hunters must get permission to enter land
A safe and successful hunting season begins with hunters and rural landowners understanding Wisconsinâs trespass law. According to the law, individuals who wish to hunt on land owned by someone else, must obtain written or verbal permission.
âGood communication between rural landowners and hunters is one of the biggest ways you can ensure a safe and enjoyable hunting season,â said Wisconsin Farm Bureauâs Executive Director of Governmental Relations Karen Gefvert. âIf landowners are having issues with trespassers, they should call their county sheriffâs office as DNR wardens do not have the authority to investigate trespassing complaints.â
Hunters are required to make a reasonable effort to retrieve game they have killed or injured, but hunters may not trespass to retrieve such game.
âIt is also a good idea to contact surrounding landowners to get permission to retrieve killed or injured deer that have crossed property lines,â Gefvert added.
There are two exceptions to when permission is not needed to enter private land: Land enrolled as âopenâ in the Managed Forest Law program; however, land enrolled in the âclosedâ Managed Forest Law program does require permission.
Land considered âinholdingsâ, which is private land that is surrounded by public land. Landowners must post a sign to prevent hunting by the public on such land. This is primarily found in northern Wisconsin.
âHunters play an important role in managing our stateâs deer herd, which is important to farmers,â said Gefvert.