dnr.wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website (dnr.wisconsin.gov) is the state's official hub for outdoor recreation planning: you can find hunting prep information, review ATV/UTV regulations before riding, locate state wildlife areas open to hunting, fishing, and hiking, and get fall fishing and water safety guidance. Use it as your first stop when you need licensing, rules, or places to go on Wisconsin public lands. The site is organized around seasonal prompts and topic pages rather than a single trip-planning tool, so knowing which section answers which question saves time.

Find licenses and prep-for-the-hunt information

The homepage surfaces a "Prep for the hunt" entry point, which is where hunting-related preparation content lives. Licenses also appear as a top-level navigation item, alongside Events and Financial Assistance.

To use these sections:

1. Start at the homepage and scan the main navigation for Licenses.
2. For hunt-specific preparation, follow the Prep for the hunt link on the homepage.
3. Expect to move from general pages into more specific topic pages — the homepage is a gateway, not the full rulebook.

Expected result: you reach the licensing and hunting-preparation pages relevant to your trip. Common sticking point: the homepage excerpt doesn't spell out fees, season dates, or application deadlines, so treat those pages as the starting point and confirm specifics on the linked topic pages rather than assuming the homepage summary is complete.

Review ATV/UTV rules before you ride trails

The site explicitly flags trail safety with a "Ride Safe, Ride Smart" section: "Review Wisconsin's ATV/UTV regulations before you head out on the trails." That wording tells you the intended order of operations — check regulations first, then ride.

• Input: your planned vehicle type (ATV or UTV) and the trails you intend to use.
• Action: open the ATV/UTV regulations content linked from the homepage.
• Expected result: you know which regulations apply before you leave, rather than discovering a violation on the trail.

This is the single most important pre-trip check for trail riders, because regulations — not just trail maps — determine whether your ride is legal.

Locate a state wildlife area for hunting, fishing, or hiking

The "Visit A State Wildlife Area" section states that all wildlife areas are open to outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing, hiking and more, and invites you to "find one to visit today." That makes it the right entry point when your main question is where to go rather than what rules apply.

Use it when:

• You want public land that supports multiple activities on the same trip.
• You haven't picked a destination yet and want to browse options.
• You want a location that works for a mixed group (e.g., one person hunting, another hiking).

The homepage doesn't list individual properties or their facilities, so plan to follow through to the location-finding pages for specifics on any single area.

Plan fall fishing and check water safety

Two homepage features serve anglers and paddlers:

The life jacket message is worth treating as a planning item, not just a slogan: cold-water conditions change what gear you pack and how you brief anyone joining you.

Know the support channels before you go

The site publishes contact routes that are useful when a plan hits an edge case — a rule you don't understand, a spill, or a suspected violation:

• General questions: 1-888-936-7463, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Spills: 1-800-943-0003, 24-hour spill emergency hotline.
• Violations: 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367) for confidential reporting of suspected wildlife, recreational, and environmental violations.

Save the general line before a trip; the spill and violation lines are for incidents, not planning questions.

Other sections worth knowing

A few homepage features go beyond a single trip but are relevant to repeat visitors:

• Enviro-Nav (Environmental Responsibility Navigator): described as your guide to environmental compliance in Wisconsin — useful if your activity involves permits or business obligations.
• Business Resources: a one-stop shop for permit information and regulations.
• Natural Resources Board and Conservation Congress: the policy-setting body and the public-input channel for natural resources management, if you want to participate beyond recreation.
• DNR merch: proceeds support conservation and environmental education in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine: published quarterly in spring, summer, fall, and winter.

A practical planning sequence

For a single trip, work in this order: confirm licensing and season details through Licenses and Prep for the hunt; if trails are involved, read the ATV/UTV regulations before anything else; choose public land through Visit A State Wildlife Area; then check fall fishing guidance and pack for cold water with the life jacket reminder in mind. Keep the general customer service number handy for anything the pages don't resolve.

The Wisconsin DNR website (dnr.wisconsin.gov) offers four main public-facing resources beyond permits and regulations: an environmental education program for kids, a quarterly magazine, DNR merchandise that funds conservation and education, and several contact channels for questions and media requests. All of these are described on the DNR homepage, and none of the page evidence indicates a fee or login requirement to read about or access them — though merchandise purchases and magazine subscriptions naturally involve a transaction.

Environmental Education for Kids (EEK!)

The EEK! program is the DNR's youth-focused environmental education resource. According to the homepage, it is "Brought to you now by FIELD Edventures, after 18 years of support by the Wisconsin DNR." That wording matters: the program continues under a partner organization rather than the DNR itself, so if you're a teacher or parent following an old DNR link, expect to land on FIELD Edventures content.

Who it's for: K–12 students, teachers building environmental units, and families looking for kid-level explanations of Wisconsin wildlife and ecosystems.

How to use it: Start from the EEK! link on the DNR homepage, then browse by topic. Because the program has changed hands, verify that any classroom materials you download still match your curriculum before distributing them.

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine

The magazine is "published quarterly in spring, summer, fall and winter by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources." That gives you a predictable schedule: four issues a year, one per season.

Best for: Readers who want in-depth stories on Wisconsin conservation, wildlife, and outdoor recreation rather than the short notices found on the homepage.

Practical note: The homepage describes the publication but does not state subscription prices or whether current issues are readable online. Check the magazine's own page for subscription terms before assuming free access.

DNR Merchandise

The homepage promotes DNR-branded merchandise with a clear purpose: "Proceeds support conservation and environmental education in Wisconsin." If you want to support the department's education work beyond paying license fees, this is the direct route.

What to expect: Apparel and similar items sold through the DNR's merch channel. The homepage does not list prices or shipping details, so review those on the store page before ordering.

Contact Channels for Questions and Media

The homepage lists several ways to reach the department, each for a different purpose:

Use the general line for questions about programs, licenses, or events. Reserve the spills hotline for actual spill emergencies and the TIP line for suspected wildlife, recreational, or environmental violations — these are routed differently from general inquiries.

Other Public Resources Worth Knowing

The homepage also points to several resources that sit between education and civic participation:

• Enviro-Nav (Environmental Responsibility Navigator): described as "your guide to environmental compliance in Wisconsin" — most useful for businesses.
• Natural Resources Board: sets policy for the department; meeting information is the place to follow major decisions.
• Conservation Congress: the public input channel for natural resources management.
• Request a Speaker: lets organizations ask for Secretary's Office staff or DNR staff at events.
• Events and Public Input Opportunities: linked from the main navigation for current listings.

How to Decide Where to Start

• Educator or parent → EEK! (now via FIELD Edventures).
• Reader wanting depth → Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine; confirm subscription terms first.
• Want to support conservation financially → DNR merchandise.
• Business needing compliance help → Enviro-Nav.
• Want a voice in policy → Conservation Congress and Natural Resources Board pages.
• Just have a question → call 1-888-936-7463 during the posted hours.

One caution: the homepage is a launch point, not a full catalog. Details such as magazine pricing, merch costs, and media contact specifics live on their own pages, so follow the links before relying on any assumption about cost or access.

You can participate in Wisconsin natural resources decisions through four main channels on dnr.wisconsin.gov: the Natural Resources Board, which sets DNR policy; the Conservation Congress, which gathers public input on natural resources management; the site's Public Input Opportunities page; and speaker requests for events. Each channel serves a different purpose, so the right one depends on whether you want to influence policy, weigh in on management questions, track open comment periods, or invite DNR staff to speak.

Understand who decides what

The DNR website describes two distinct bodies, and knowing the difference keeps you from sending input to the wrong place.

The DNR itself carries out the work under that policy, which is why the site also points businesses and individuals to compliance and permit resources separately.

Use the Public Input Opportunities page

The site lists "Public Input Opportunities" alongside Customer Service, For Media, Financial Assistance, and Events in its main navigation area. This is the central place to check what comment periods or input requests are currently open.

To use it:

1. Go to dnr.wisconsin.gov.
2. Locate the Public Input Opportunities link in the site's navigation or utility links.
3. Review the current opportunities listed and follow the instructions given for each one.

Expected result: you see which decisions are accepting public comment and how to submit your input. Because the specific opportunities change over time, check back rather than relying on a single visit.

Get involved through the Conservation Congress

If your interest is natural resources management rather than a specific permit or rule, the Conservation Congress is the entry point the DNR highlights. The site frames it as the place for people interested in natural resources management to provide input. Start there when you want to raise a management concern or support a proposal rather than comment on a pending departmental action.

Request a DNR speaker

For organizations, schools, or community groups that want DNR staff or members of the Secretary's Office at an event, the site provides a speaker request form. Submit a request describing your event through that form; the DNR reviews requests and arranges speakers based on availability. This is an outreach channel, not a formal comment route, so use Public Input Opportunities or the Congress for anything you want on the record.

Know where to report problems

Public involvement also includes reporting violations and spills, and the site lists dedicated lines for each:

• Spills: 1-800-943-0003, a 24-hour spill emergency hotline.
• Violations: 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367) for confidential reports of suspected wildlife, recreational, and environmental violations.
• General questions: 1-888-936-7463, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Use these when your concern is an incident rather than a policy question.

A practical sequence

If you are new to this, a workable order is: check Public Input Opportunities for anything open now, read the Natural Resources Board and Conservation Congress pages to understand which body matches your issue, then submit input through the matching channel. For a group event, file a speaker request separately. Keep the general line handy for questions about which route fits.

Businesses operating in Wisconsin can start with two resources on dnr.wisconsin.gov: Enviro-Nav (Environmental Responsibility Navigator), described on the site as "your guide to environmental compliance in Wisconsin," and the Business Resources section, which the DNR bills as "your business's one-stop shop for permit information, regulations, and more." For urgent problems, the site lists a 24-hour spill hotline (1-800-943-0003) and a confidential violations tip line (1-800-TIP-WDNR / 1-800-847-9367).

Start With Enviro-Nav if You Need to Understand Your Obligations

Enviro-Nav is the DNR's front door for compliance questions. Use it when the task is to figure out which environmental rules apply to your operation — for example, a manufacturer adding a new process and unsure what air or water requirements kick in, or a business opening a location and needing to know what notifications or approvals come first.

The page evidence only confirms Enviro-Nav's stated purpose; it does not list its internal categories or forms. So treat it as a starting point: read the compliance guidance, then move to Business Resources for the specific permit or regulation.

Use Business Resources for Permits and Regulations

Business Resources is the site's consolidated entry point for permit information and regulations. Go here when you already know you need an approval — a permit application, a regulatory requirement, or a question about how a rule applies to your facility.

A practical sequence for most businesses:

1. Define the activity. Be specific: what you will do, where, and at what scale (e.g., "install a new wastewater discharge" or "store hazardous materials on site").
2. Check Enviro-Nav to identify the compliance area that matches the activity.
3. Go to Business Resources to find the permit or regulation tied to that area.
4. Confirm before acting. The site does not publish processing times or fees in the material reviewed here, so verify requirements directly with the DNR before committing to a project timeline.

What the site does not tell you

The reviewed page evidence does not include permit fees, review timelines, or online application mechanics. Do not assume a permit is free or instant based on the site's structure — confirm those details through the DNR's contact channels.

Report Spills Immediately — and Know the Difference From a Tip

Two phone lines on the site serve different purposes, and using the wrong one can delay a response:

For a business, the spill line matters most: if a release occurs at your facility, calling the 24-hour hotline is the site's stated path for reporting it. The violations line is for reporting suspected violations — including, potentially, those by others — and is described as confidential.

When to Call Instead of Browse

The website is built for self-service research, but some tasks need a person. Call the general line (1-888-936-7463, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily) when you need to confirm whether a permit applies to your specific operation, clarify a regulation's scope, or check on a submission. The site also notes that businesses can request a DNR speaker for events, which can be useful for trade associations or company training sessions on compliance topics.

A Worked Example

Suppose a small food-processing business plans to expand and will generate more wastewater. The compliance path looks like this: open Enviro-Nav to identify the wastewater-related obligations, move to Business Resources to locate the applicable permit and regulation, then call the general line to confirm which approvals are required before construction begins. If a spill occurs during the project, the 24-hour hotline is the number to call — not the general line.

The key takeaway: Enviro-Nav tells you what applies; Business Resources tells you how to get permitted; the phone lines handle time-sensitive and case-specific questions the website cannot answer.

dnr.wisconsin.gov is the official website of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the state agency that manages Wisconsin's natural resources and environmental programs. It is the place to go for outdoor recreation information (licenses, hunting and fishing, trails, state wildlife areas), environmental compliance guidance for businesses, public input opportunities, and reporting of spills or violations. Use it when you need official state information or a service from the Wisconsin DNR; it is not a general travel or commercial booking site.

What the site covers

The homepage organizes content around seasonal priorities and core agency functions. The main areas visible on the site include:

• Outdoor recreation and licenses — hunting preparation, fall fishing spots, ATV/UTV regulations, and state wildlife areas open to hunting, fishing, hiking, and more.
• Safety reminders — seasonal guidance such as wearing a life jacket on cold fall waters.
• Environmental compliance — Enviro-Nav (Environmental Responsibility Navigator), described as a guide to environmental compliance in Wisconsin.
• Business resources — a one-stop shop for permit information and regulations.
• Governance and public input — the Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the department, and the Conservation Congress for those interested in natural resources management and providing input.
• Agency information — media contacts, public input opportunities, financial assistance, events, and requests for a speaker from the Secretary's Office or DNR staff.
• Merchandise and magazine — DNR merchandise whose proceeds support conservation and environmental education, and the quarterly Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine.
• Kids' education — Environmental Education for Kids (EEK!), now provided by FIELD Edventures after 18 years of DNR support.

Who it is for

Contact channels

The site lists several phone numbers for different needs:

• General questions: 1-888-936-7463, seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Spills: 1-800-943-0003, a 24-hour spill emergency hotline.
• Violations: 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367) to confidentially report suspected wildlife, recreational, and environmental violations.

Practical notes

• The site is in English and is published by the State of Wisconsin, so it is the authoritative source for DNR rules, permits, and program details rather than a third-party summary.
• Content is organized seasonally — for example, fall fishing and cold-water life jacket reminders appear in autumn — so the most relevant links on the homepage change through the year.
• Some functions, such as license purchasing, are linked from the site; the homepage itself presents them as entry points rather than describing pricing, so check the linked pages for current fees and requirements.