The Great Outdoors 2026

  • OnDemand seminar
  • Course manual (PDF)
  • Environmental Law
Up to 7.0 Credit Hours
View schedule and faculty
The Great Outdoors 2026

Endorsed by the Environmental Law and Indian Law Sections of the State Bar of Wisconsin

When a vacation becomes a fact pattern

Chicagoan Brett Shipley’s quiet family vacation in Northern Wisconsin is quickly spiraling into chaos—a bear encounter, property mishaps, and conflicts no one anticipated during trip planning. You’ve probably seen the movie, but in real life, similar situations can end up on your desk without the punchlines.

Wisconsin’s natural landscape raises legal questions about tribal jurisdiction, real estate, environmental law, and intellectual property (among others). A cabin, a shoreline, or an outdoor business can trigger overlapping rules, competing authorities, and disputes that don’t fit neatly into a single practice area.

The wild side of Wisconsin law

The Great Outdoors brings those topics together in one place, illustrating how the legal frameworks governing Wisconsin’s land, water, wildlife, and recreation intersect—and where conflicts are most likely to arise.

8:30 am
Tribal Rights and Natural Resources

Jennifer Vanator

  • What rights do tribal members have to hunt, fish and gather natural resources in the State of Wisconsin?
  • What tribes possess off-reservation hunting, fishing and gathering rights in the State of Wisconsin? Where can those rights be exercised?
  • What is the scope of tribal off-reservation treaty rights? More specifically, what species can they harvest? Can tribal members engage in commercial harvest? Can tribal members sell their treaty rights to non-Indians? Can tribal members use modern equipment when engaging in hunting, fishing and gathering rights?
9:20 am
Wild Animals – the DNR Regulatory Structure and Enforcement Authority

Deputy Chief Matt O'Brien, Lt. Matthew Wehn

  • What is the North American Conservation Model?
  • What authority does the DNR have to enforce the law?
  • Who has title to the wild animals of Wisconsin?
10:10 am
Break
10:25 am
The Ins and Outs of Airbnb and Cabin Rentals

Joe Andreoni, Leslie Elkins

  • What is a short-term rental?
  • Understanding the terms: What is the difference between a lease, sublease agreement, short-term rental agreement, and similar opportunities for fee owners?
  • How are short-term rentals regulated?
11:15 am
Boundary Disputes and Access Issues Involving Recreational Property

Trace P. Hummel

  • How do you establish/defend adverse possession on parcels of recreational property?
  • What constitutes actual, continuous use of waterfront property?
  • My client has an adverse possession claim. Are there any downsides to conveying an offer from the client to purchase a neighbor’s land?
  • I have a handshake deal with my neighbors to use a road on their property to get to my cabin. Good enough or do I need something in writing?
  • My realtor and the title company are asking me for my Abstract. Where would I find my Abstract?
12:05 pm
Lunch (on your own)
1:05 pm
Riparian Rights I own a house (or cabin) on a lake (or river) (or stream)

Erin K. Deeley, Zoe A. Pawlisch

  • Does the ownership of the property extend to the water, or does it extend further?
  • Can I put in a dock?
  • What rights do I have in the body of water itself?
1:55 pm
Waterfront (Lake or River) Land Use and Regulation

Klara Henry, Jane R. Landretti

  • How do I determine what regulations apply to my property?
  • Department of Natural Resources versus local government, who controls?
  • Where can I build my cabin?
2:45 pm
Break
3:00 pm
Common IP Issues Facing Outdoor Businesses

Erin Ogden

  • We want to start a new line of golf clubs. How do we know the brand name we chose won’t infringe another trademark
  • We have a new design for a snowboard binding. How do we prevent others from copying our design?
  • We sell a solar powered camp oven. Recently we received a cease and desist letter telling us the oven infringed a patent they owned and they threatened to sue us for patent infringement. What should we do?
3:50 pm
Program Concludes
Joe Andreoni
Kramer, Elkins & Watt · Madison
Erin K. Deeley
Stafford Rosenbaum, LLC · Madison
Leslie Elkins
Kramer Elkins & Watt · Madison
Klara A. Henry
Stafford Rosenbaum, LLC · Madison
Trace P. Hummel
von Briesen & Roper S.C. · Milwaukee
Jane R. Landretti
Stafford Rosenbaum, LLC · Madison
Ann McCammon Soltis
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission · Odanah
Deputy Chief Matt O'Brien
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison
Erin R. Ogden
Ogden, Glazer + Schaefer · Madison
Zoe A Pawlisch
Stafford Rosenbaum, LLC · Madison
Jennifer Vanator
Great Lakes Indian Fiah and Wildlife Commission · Odanah
Lt. Matthew When
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Madison

  • Recognize which laws and authorities control different outdoor-related disputes
  • Advise clients on cabin, waterfront, and recreational property matters with a clearer understanding of rights, limits, and obligations
  • Understand how tribal rights and state regulation intersect when hunting, fishing, or natural resource issues arise
  • Identify potential legal and regulatory risks for outdoor and recreation-based businesses before decisions are made
  • Apply a cohesive framework to legal questions involving natural resources, property rights, and outdoor commerce rather than treating them as isolated problems
  • Real estate lawyers
  • Environmental lawyers
  • Government, municipal, and administrative lawyers
  • Indian/tribal law practitioners
  • Civil litigators
  • Business and intellectual property lawyers
  • Animal and wildlife law practitioners
  • Rural practitioners

Book Bonus!

Animal Law Handbook
Save 15% on the Animal Law Handbook.* This practical overview of animal law in Wisconsin provides practical guidance on animal-related issues across criminal, civil, regulatory, and transactional practice areas. Use discount code CA3947 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/27. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

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