Wildlife Damage

Wisconsin Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims ProgramThe Wisconsin Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP) is a hunter funded program. All monies that support the WDACP come from a surcharge on hunting licenses and a portion of antlerless deer tag sales. Currently, six species are covered by the WDACP - wild deer, bear, geese, turkeys, cougar, and elk. Four of those species have established hunting seasons and therefore can be hunted through the WDACP - deer, bear, geese, and turkeys.

The WDACP was established to assist agricultural/commercial growers in Wisconsin who are experiencing wildlife damage to their crops and/or livestock by the species listed above. The primary emphasis of the WDACP is abatement, trying to reduce ongoing damage. If the implemented abatement is unsuccessful, compensation may be available to offset the loss incurred by growers. As part of the abatement recommendations, public hunting access on the enrolled land is required for the species causing damage in most, but not all cases. The public hunting access is restricted to the four species mentioned above and only during the appropriate season for the specific species.

Trempealeau County participates with USDA-Wildlife Services to provide WDACP services. Currently, USDA-Wildlife Services Waupun District assists 34 counties in the southern half of Wisconsin with the WDACP (Adams, Buffalo, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond Du Lac, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewaunee, LaCrosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, and Winnebago). Additionally, in our Rhinelander District we assist 18 counties in northern Wisconsin. Annually, USDA-Wildlife Services provides a summary report to all of our 52 cooperating counties. 

If you are a Trempealeau County grower or a hunter that wishes to hunt on WDACP enrolled properties in Trempealeau County, below you will find resources to assist you with your effort.
Agricultural/Commercial GrowersFor growers who are experiencing wildlife damage to their agricultural/commercial crops (including livestock) and want additional information or assistance through the WDACP, you should contact USDA-Wildlife Services in Waupun at 800-433-0663. Below you will find a link to a general outline of the WDACP rules. Additional program information can be found on the DNR website .
HuntersFor hunters interested in hunting on properties enrolled in the WDACP, go online to the DNR website. The DNR Wildlife Damage site provides information regarding the rules that hunters must follow and how to contact growers enrolled in the WDACP . Hunters can search by county and/or species to find locations to hunt throughout Wisconsin. In most cases, hunters should expect to sign-in and out on a Hunter Log Book provided to the grower when they enrolled. Additionally, not all growers listed are required to allow public hunting access.