Those interested in seeing proposed hunting and trapping maps for Wisconsin's state parks can now view them online.
#parkmaps" target="_blank">Maps of the proposed open and closed areas can now be reviewed on the parks pages of the Department of Natural Resources website.
Included are the five state parks in Door County: Potawatomi, Peninsula, Whitefish Dunes, Newport, and Rock Island.
Act 168, known as the Sporting Heritage Bill, expands hunting and trapping in Wisconsin state parks. It was approved by the Legislature last session and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013.
The law allows the DNR to prohibit hunting and trapping within 100 yards of a designated use area such as a campground, picnic area, or beach. A determination to prohibit hunting and trapping in any other areas of a state park, a portion of a state park, or during certain time periods must be approved by a majority of the Natural Resources Board, and can only be approved to protect public safety or unique natural resources such as fragile plant or animal habitat.
While Act 168 allows hunting when any season is open, the department is proposing that the board allow hunting in parks from Oct. 15 through the Thursday prior to the Memorial Day weekend.
The DNR is now taking public comment on the proposed implementation of the law and has scheduled listening sessions. You can read more about that in our earlier story on DoorCountyDailyNews.com.
