DNR OKs Leaving Tree Stands Overnight On Public Land

DNR Board Unanimously Approves Allowing Tree Stands Overnight In Northern Wisconsin

Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ board has agreed to let hunters leave their tree stands and blinds overnight on agency land in northern Wisconsin.

The public supported the idea at the 2016 Conservation Congress spring hearings. The board adopted a motion unanimously Wednesday allowing overnight placement on DNR-owned land north of State Highway 64. The highway runs from Stillwater, Minnesota, to Marinette.

The stands have been allowed to be left up overnight on federal and county hunting grounds in Wisconsin, now the DNR Board has approved the same thing on DNR property in about the northern third of Wisconsin from September through January.

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Board member Gary Zimmer of Rhinelander said hunters won’t be putting long claims on public land.

“If people are concerned, and I’ve heard this repeatedly in my part of the world, ‘Somebody’s going to own that piece of the woods.’ Well, you can sit in the next tree and it’s totally legal,” Zimmer said.

The board did agree to limit hunters to two overnight tree stands or blinds per county.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include original reporting from WPR. It was last updated at 1:41 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.