WISCONSIN BEAR HUNTERS

[ridgerunner]

I have been dealing with an issue of whether using a dog (on a leash, and never turned loose) to recover a bear shot by a Class C hunter in Zone C is legal in Wisconsin or not. I have looked into the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code for the Department of Natural Resources, and have come up empty with no answer to this question. I've always heard, and have been lead to believe it was legal to recover a bear in Zone C with a dog/dogs as long as they remain on a leash less than 8 feet. (As well as using a dog on a leash to recover a deer)

I've consulted with local wardens, never coming up with a straight forward answer. Verbal or in writting.

My questions to all other houndsmen on here are as is....

1.) Can you hyperlink or post a resource proving this act either legal or illegal?

2.) What are your thoughts on this, should you be able to use a dog or dogs to recover a legaly shot bear in Zone C (bait only zone)

3.) Is it legal to recover a deer with aid of dog or dogs on a leash? Can you provide a hyperlink or post a source?


Thank you to all who view and comment on this.
Goodluck hunting this fall

[Holzy]

Sorry i dont know the answers but i d be really interested in the legality of it. The deer thing has me worried tho. Dont get me wrong i like the idea and it not the guys with hounds that worries me(because there so of the best patrons and some of the most knowledgeable guy in the woods). its guys that have no respect for the rules and i know people like that and i wont hunt with them any more and they would use it as an excuses to let dogs chase the deer. Just my thoughts.
best of luck. Mitch

[ridgerunner]

A lot of people looking at this thread. Not many thoughts on it i guess.


As for the deer thing I've heard it's legal to use a dog on a leash to follow the blood trail of a deer thats been shot. But have NO WRITTEN proof of its legality, as far as no striaght forward answer from a warden.

[Nolte]

ridgerunner,

Sorry I can't be of any help, but if the wardens can't give you a straight answer I doubt any of us can. I would be that it would vary from warden to warden. I'd ask the one in the area you might try it and see what he says.

Personally I'd do it if it was my last resort to find a wounded/lost critter, regardless of legality. If it's wrong and I got pinched I'd pay the ticket. At least I could sleep at night knowing I tried what I could. There are quite a few instances where the legal/moral issue resides in that grey area.

[Jordan Run Walkers]

Can't help you much with Wisc. Laws but here is what went into the game regulations this past season for Va. Before the law went into affect we ask the DGIF the very same question and they told us as long as the dog was on a lead we were good. So they finally put it in writing.

Tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead may be used to find a wounded or dead bear or deer state - wide during any archery, muzzleloader, or firearm bear or deer hunting season, or within 24 hours of the end of such season, provided that those who are involved in the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being searched and do not have any weapons in their possession.

[mondomuttruner]

My money goes on it's legal, people advertise for finding deer with dogs and finding bear is no different. I've talked to our warden on different issues and he couldn't give me a direct answer so I'm sure there are a lot of gray area's...
Keep em on a leash and no law can stop you..

[ridgerunner]

Thanks for the replies. The DNR should be calling me back sometime this coming week. Hopefully coming up with a answer to my questions.

I believe they worded that law they passed in VA very well.

[Holzy]

I've seen guys advertising it. And from what i've read they cant be on a leash any longer than 50ft

[bearhntwi]

It is legal to recover both deer and bear with a leashed dog. That was confirmed by John Windt the game warden here in Iron County,also check out united blood trackers.org they have a map of all the states and the laws for each.

[ridgerunner]

I wish the DNR could come to and agreement in writting on this issue. I have in a signed letter stating that there is no law for or against using a dog to track either bear or deer. Pressuming it is illegal then, unless given special permission from the DNR. That permission only being given on a case to case basis. As far as tracking deer with a dog I was told it is illegal.

This is the wording in the letter. It is illegal to hunt bear in zone C with dogs. The word hunt is defined by the word "pursue" So tracking a bear with a dog means your pursuing it whether the bear is dead or alive at the end of the track. So once again you can only track bear with special permission from the DNR.

Using that same definition it is illegal to hunt/pursue Deer with a dog in WI.

Do i agree with any of that, heck no. I'm just stating what i was told.

Now i have no doubt in my mind that other wardens may view this differently. I would like to see them all get together and put something in writting so there isn't a different perception of the law when you cross county lines.

[muckdog]

It is completely LEGAL!! Dog must be on a leash...

Follow this link that... This is me with my dog after a tracked turkey. Take a look at the scanned document from the DNR...this was supplied to me via Larry Gohlke who is the vice president of United Blood Trackers..he was sent this via the DNR. It states that using a dog on a leash to retrieve wounded game that otherwise isn't legal to hunt with a dog is legal provided the listed rules are followed. I've personally spoken with several wardens and they have all told me it is legal provided the dog is on a leash and that no one is carrying a weapon while tracking.....see the document listed in the story..

http://borntotracknews.blogspot.com/201 ... h-dog.html