Waterfowl public hearings begin next week

Public hearings for Wisconsin’s proposed 2020 waterfowl season structure will be held March 9-12. After public comments have been collected, the final season structure will be set by the Natural Resources Board at its April 9-10 meeting in Madison.

The 2020 waterfowl seasons will be based on the 2019 continental waterfowl population estimates, which were at near-record estimates since U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) surveys began 64 years ago. With above-average precipitation last fall and this winter in Wisconsin, we expect populations to remain high in 2020. If we have favorable conditions this fall, hunters can expect good waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Waterfowl hunting season public hearing schedule:

• Monday, March 9, 7 p.m., La Crosse. – State Office Building, Rooms B-19 and B-20, 3550 Mormon Coulee Rd.;
• Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m., Rice Lake – AmeriVu Inn, 1710 South Main Street;
• Wednesday, March 11, 7 p.m., Appleton – Fox Valley Technical College, D.J. Bordini Center, Room BC141., 5 N. Systems Dr.; and
• Thursday, March 12, 7 p.m., Pewaukee – Wildwood Lodge, N14 W24121 Tower Place.

The department will accept public comments on the proposed waterfowl season structure at each public hearing. If you would like to provide input directly or are unable to attend a hearing, comments will be accepted through midnight on Friday, March 13.

Written comments can be sent to Taylor Finger or Jeff Williams, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, via email to Taylor Finger or Jeff Williams or by calling 608-266-8841 or 608-261-6458.

The 2020 season proposals and ability to provide public input online will be available starting Monday, March 9th on the DNR website here.

Wisconsin turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamp design contests now open

Wisconsin has a lot of talented artists. If you’re one of them, now’s the time to submit your art for the 2021 wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamp design contests.

Submit your best work by July 15th!

Turkey, pheasant and waterfowl hunters in Wisconsin are required to buy a stamp before they go afield. The funds gathered from these programs contribute to the management and restoration of upland and wetland habitat critical to these species and many others.