Annual spring fish & wildlife public hearing and WCC county meeting

On Monday, April 8, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7:00 p.m. where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) on proposed rule changes and advisory questions relating to fish and wildlife management in Wisconsin.

County residents have the option to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress and to elect delegates from their county to represent their county views regarding natural resources on the Conservation Congress. Also, individuals have the opportunity to bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process.

NEW: Online Input Option

For the first time ever, the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress will be providing an opportunity for the public to weigh-in on the Spring Hearing questions through an online option. The online input option will be provided through a link that will be posted on this page and will go live at 7:00 p.m. on April 8. The online version will remain open for three days (72 hours). Individuals in attendance at the Spring Hearings can choose to fill out the paper input form the night of the hearing or take a random verifiable number that can be submitted through the online system. The random verifiable number will allow an individual’s input to be tallied along with the input provided by in-person attendees in the county in which they attended.

Individuals who are unable to attend a Spring Hearing in person can provide input through the online version (without the random verifiable number). This input will be compiled and considered with the overall input but will be separate from the county-specific (in-person) input.

• Online input frequently asked questions [PDF]
• With the addition of the online option for providing input, the results of the Spring Hearings will not be available the following day as they have been in the past. Results will be posted on this page as soon as they are available.
• The election of WCC delegates and input on citizen introduced resolutions will remain unchanged and will require in-person participation.
• If you have questions or issues with the online input option please email staff at SpringHearingInfo@Wisconsin.gov.
• Questions or comments related to the DNR proposed rule changes should be directed to Scott Karel for wildlife questions or Meredith Penthorn for fisheries questions.

2019

• • 2019 Spring Hearing questionnaire [PDF]

* There is an error in the background of question 24. Commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon IS allowed in Wisconsin (not Minnesota). The majority of this harvest occurs on the Iowa/Wisconsin boundary waters.

* There is an error in the background for question 11. It currently reads, “Our surrounding states do not have closed seasons for bass.” However, Minnesota has a closed season for bass. Michigan, Iowa and Illinois all have a year-round season for bass, though it is a catch-and-release season on some waters.

*Note for question 16: The Winnebago System is defined in NR 20.03 (19) Wis. Admin. Code:
” ‘Lake Winnebago system’ means Lakes Buttes des Morts, Winneconne, Poygan, Winnebago and all their tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam including the Fox river from Lake Winnebago upstream to the dam above Princeton and all its tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam and the Wolf river from its mouth upstream to the dam in the city of Shawano and all its tributaries from their mouths upstream to the first dam including Cincoe lake, Partridge Crop lake adn Partridge lake in Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties.”

REMEMBER EVERYONE, YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER.  SO IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND THE HEARING IN PERSON, PLEASE FILL OUT THIS HEARING QUESTIONNAIRE.  I WISH MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE WERE AT THE HEARING. NOT MANY YOUNGER PEOPLE SEEM TO CARE FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR HUNTING. REMEMBER OLDER SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, WE NEED TO GET MORE YOUTHFUL HUNTERS, FISHERS, AND TRAPPERS INVOLVED IN THE HEARINGS ALSO.