(a) Upon approval of the wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan, the department shall issue a license, which shall be valid for five calendar years, authorizing the taking of those species of fish, game birds, and game mammals designated in the wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan, pursuant to the plan and regulations of the commission for the operation of the wildlife habitat enhancement and management area. Regulations adopted pursuant to this section may supersede any provision of this code designated by number in the regulation, but shall do so only to the extent specifically provided in the regulation.

(b) During the first year of operation of a wildlife habitat enhancement and management area under a wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan and, thereafter, until the operator demonstrates habitat enhancement in the area acceptable to the department, no person shall take, and the plan shall not authorize the taking, of deer except during the general open season and consistent with the bag and possession limits for the fish and game district or the zone in which the wildlife habitat enhancement and management area is located.

(c) The activities conducted pursuant to each wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan shall be reviewed annually by the department and reviewed by the commission at a public hearing. Each licensee shall annually submit information to the department about past activities and the activities intended to be conducted in the succeeding year. Any change to the wildlife habitat enhancement and management plan or the regulations applicable to the wildlife habitat enhancement and management area shall be proposed to the commission by the department or the licensee at the license review hearing.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 818, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1993.)