Closed, open and restricted areas
Wis. Stat. § 77.83
in effect(1) Closed areas.
(a) An owner may designate land subject to a managed forest land order as closed to public access.
(am) Notwithstanding par. (a), not more than 320 acres owned by any property owner may be designated as closed managed forest land in each municipality.
(b) If any area of an owner’s managed forest land is already designated as closed, an addition to the land approved under s. 77.82 (7) (b) may be designated as closed only under the following conditions:
1. The addition does not result in increasing the closed portion of the land to an area greater than that permitted under par. (am).
2. The additional area is contiguous to the area that is already designated as closed.
(c) If all or any part of an owner’s closed managed forest land is withdrawn or transferred as provided under s. 77.88, the owner may designate a different or an additional closed area if it meets the requirements of par. (b).
(d) An owner of land designated as closed under par. (a) may permit a person who performs land management activities on the land to access the land to conduct recreational activities.
(1m) Modification of designation. For a managed forest land order that takes effect on or after April 28, 2004, the owner of the managed forest land may modify the designation of a closed or open area 2 times during the term of the order. For a managed forest land order that takes effect before April 28, 2004, the owner of the managed forest land may modify the designation of a closed or open area 2 times during the period beginning with April 28, 2004, and ending with the expiration date of the order, regardless of whether the owner has previously modified the designation as authorized by rules promulgated by the department.
(2) Open areas; restrictions.
(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c) and subs. (1) and (2m), each owner of managed forest land shall permit public access to the land for the purposes of hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing.
(b) An owner may restrict public access to any area of open managed forest land which is within 300 feet of any building or within 300 feet of a commercial logging operation that conforms to the management plan.
(c) An owner may prohibit the use of motor vehicles, as defined under s. 340.01 (35), or snowmobiles, as defined under s. 340.01 (58a), or both on any open managed forest land. At the request of an owner, the department may provide assistance in enforcing the prohibition.
(2m) Proposed ferrous mining sites.
(a) The requirement under sub. (2) (a) that public access be permitted on managed forest land designated as open does not apply to an area of land within a proposed ferrous mining site that is located within 600 feet of fixed sampling equipment or within 600 feet of either side of a road that is used for purposes associated with ferrous mining.
(b) In addition to any managed forest land for which access is restricted under par. (a), the department may restrict public access to open managed forest land within a proposed ferrous mining site for any of the purposes specified in sub. (2) (a) if the department determines that it is necessary to ensure the safety of the public, the employees and agents of the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining, or the employees and agents of regulatory bodies.
(c) No restriction under par. (a) or (b) applies after whichever of the following 3 dates occurs first:
1. The date on which the department approves or denies the application for a ferrous mining permit for the proposed ferrous mining site.
2. The date on which the department determines that the person who proposed to engage in ferrous mining has ceased to pursue a mining permit for the proposed ferrous mining site.
3.
a. The 730th day after the date on which the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining provides to the department a preapplication notification under s. 295.465, except as provided in subd. 3. b.
b. December 14, 2015, if the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining has provided to the department the preapplication notification before December 14, 2013.
(d) The department may extend the date under par. (c) 3. for a period of up to 2 additional years if the department determines, after consulting with the person proposing to engage in ferrous mining and other regulatory bodies, that it is likely that the person, the department, or another regulatory body will need additional time to conduct evaluation activities at the proposed ferrous mining site during that period.
(e) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b), public access shall always be permitted on open managed forest land within a proposed ferrous mining site for any of the following:
1. Fishing that occurs within 50 feet of the water’s edge of a class I or class II trout stream.
2. Deer hunting during the regular fall open season for hunting deer with firearms that begins on the Saturday immediately preceding the 4th Thursday in November.
(g) The department shall post information regarding public access to managed forest land located in a proposed ferrous mining site on the department’s Internet site. The information shall include all of the following:
1. The areas where public access is permitted, and which activities, as specified in sub. (2) (a), are allowed in each area.
2. The dates and times that each activity allowed under subd. 1. is permitted in a given area.
(3) Signs. An owner may post signs specifying the designation of or restrictions applicable to any area of managed forest land. The department may, by rule, specify design standards for these signs.
(4) Penalty. Any person who fails to comply with sub. (2) (a) or any rule promulgated under sub. (3) shall forfeit not more than $500.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/77.83Fetched: 10/7/2026