| Brad Heidel
WWA: Executive Director |
| Heck yeah, they do! And here’s hoping they shine on you as our seasons get into full swing.
Nobody does more for Wisconsin Ducks and Wisconsin Duck Hunters than the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. Your organization represents roughly 63,000 WI waterfowl hunters and advocates for your interests. WWA does this through what I like to call our three organizational pillars.
First is Conservation, or what we also call Habitat. Ask any waterfowl hunter what he wants, and chances are you’re always going to get the same answer: MORE DUCKS! |
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| Second is Education, which we call our Waterfowler’s Academy. This is where we work to create the next generation of waterfowlers while maintaining the heritage and traditions that we all hold so close to our hearts. We accomplish this through our Learn to Hunt programs, educational outreach, and the Waterfowl Hunters Expo. These programs have an impact on more than 10,000 people each year! |
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| The third pillar is Advocacy. This is where WWA fights for what is important to our members and supporters at the State Capitol in Madison. Here, I want to make a couple of quick points. Sportsmen and women historically tend not to vote. We have a very significant election coming up in November, and your vote does make a difference. I am not going to ask you to vote for a particular candidate. I am only asking you to please VOTE! |
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| Moving forward, we have a couple of issues that stand out organizationally that we will be continue working hard to drive to the Governor’s desk for signature: funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and a responsible Sandhill crane hunt here in Wisconsin. Know that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election, WWA has worked, and will continue to work with all parties toward ensuring these two priorities come to fruition.
As you already know, we can’t do this work without you. Your support makes all of this happen. Support comes in many different forms – time, talent, and treasure. |
| We talked about the Duck Gods at the beginning, and yes, they are real! Please show your support for the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association by becoming a member, making a donation, or volunteering your time.
Right now, the simplest way to do that is by purchasing one, or several of our annual fundraising calendars. Your purchase not only gets you membership in WWA, but also gives you the chance to win more than 120 firearms, with a total of 365 prizes given away over the course of the year. |
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15th Annual WWA
Craig Martin Legacy Youth Duck Hunt
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| By Matthew Martin, Southwest Wisconsin Chapter
All photos credited to Matthew Martin |
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| On September 19th, 2026, members of the Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association introduced four area youth to duck hunting. The participants were invited out to the Duck Inn Lodge, where they learned about local duck species, duck hunting methods, and gun safety. The afternoon’s activities included broasted chicken lunch catered by Huckleberry’s Restaurant, a gun safety review, a clay pigeon shoot in a variety of duck hunting situations, and a duck hunt in the Mississippi River bottoms. Before the hunt, each youth hunter received a hunting bag filled with hunting supplies and other goodies purchased with funds donated by our generous donors. After the hunt, one lucky youth hunter, Grady Elvert (pictured right), was drawn as the winner of a 12 Gauge pump shotgun, which Mark and Kati Forsythe donated. |
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| This event would not be possible without our volunteer mentors. Many thanks to Nate Cejka, Mike Pettit, Ryan Stram, Ryan Deegan, Dylan Varo, Mikey Pettit, Matt Martin, Grant Martin, and Hope Martin. Special Thanks go out to Nate Cejka and the entire Cejka and Yeomans families for hosting the event at the Duck Inn Lodge |
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| The Craig Martin Legacy Fund sponsored this event, created to keep Craig’s passion for youth in the outdoors alive and well after his passing in 2012. Over the years, this fund has received generous donations from the Carolyn M and Leary E Peterson Family Foundation Inc., Mark & Kati Forsythe, Tom & Cheryl Olson of Big River Campground, Mark Fillback and The Fillback Family of Dealerships, Rick Lange Taxidermy, Mike Pettit via the 3M Foundation Volunteer Match program, Steve and Angie Jones of Jones’ Black Angus, Scott Yeomans of Sports World, Todd Lensing of Flyway Fowling Guide Service, Keith and Jenny Coleman, Josh and Katie Tonne, Matt & Gina Otts, Aaron and Bonnie Martin, Jeff Long, Jason and Cassie Hubanks, and the Skemp Family of Huckleberry’s Restaurant. To donate to the Craig Martin Legacy Fund, contact Matt Martin at 608-412-1249. Other outdoor-related youth organizations needing support can also contact Matt at the same number. |
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| The Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of the WWA thanks all Sponsors, Donors, and past banquet attendees for making events like this possible. Wisconsin Waterfowl Association – Dedicated to the conservation of Wisconsin’s Waterfowl and Wetland Resources. |
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Public Lands Update: WWA Wetland Restorations Take Shape
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| By Anna Rzchowski, Public Lands Ecologist |
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| There’s a lot to look forward to this year on the public lands front at WWA. We are nearing the home stretch on wetland restorations at Deer Creek Wildlife Area, Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area, and the Ertmer Glacial Habitat Restoration Area. Final design adjustments and permitting discussions are in the works. As with any good project, it takes a village. We are thankful to our partners at WDNR and Ducks Unlimited for the collaboration on these projects, as well as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) providing funding. Come winter, we’ll be breaking ground on these projects! |
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| At Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area, a maze of ditches visible in the 1957 aerial photograph winds its way through the wetlands, eventually emptying into Lake Poygan to the east. Wrapping our heads around how water is flowing across the site. We are nearing permitting with construction slated for this upcoming winter. |
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| Deer Creek Wildlife Area, Outagamie County
The wetland restoration at Deer Creek Wildlife Area is also nearing construction. Miles of ditches span the majority of the wildlife area, draining the wetlands and degrading wildlife habitat and unique plant communities. |
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| Ertmer Glacial Habitat Restoration Area, Winnebago County
The wetland restoration at Ertmer Glacial Habitat Restoration Area (Ertmer GHRA) in Winnebago County has been ready to go for a while now. We will be disabling four small ditches on the property that seasonally drain. |
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| The DNR wishes Wisconsin hunters a safe and successful season.
Photo credit: Tom Koerner, USFWS |
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| MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to prepare for the opening of several hunting and trapping seasons in October.
There are six dates throughout October when seasons open, so hunters are encouraged to double-check the hunting season dates and trapping season dates and confirm that they have acquired all necessary licenses and stamps before heading into the field. |
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Lessons From the Field: New Warden Shares Safety and Regulation Reminders from Encounters on Patrols
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| By DNR Warden Christian Fischer |
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| I appreciate the opportunity to be in this newsletter to share life-saving safety tips and other information I have learned from encounters with enthusiastic hunters during my first two waterfowl patrols as a member of the Ashland Warden Team.
As a still-new conservation warden, and like all my warden teammates, my mission is to help you make your hunt safe and enjoyable so you return home with engaging stories.
- Top Easy-To-Do Safety Action
- Light It Up, Current Decal
- Gun Ready for Transport?
- Safety Is Worth Your Time – And All Others Around You
The safety of hunters, boaters, and all other recreators is a top priority for the wardens, and it should be for you, too.
Before you go hunting, browse through the most current regulations to refresh yourself on the rules that I didn’t cover above.
If you have any questions about boating, hunting, or anything else in the great outdoors, you can always contact your local warden or reach out to me. We’re happy to provide the answers you need for a safe and effective hunt.
Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you in the field! |
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| Courtesy of
Connie Markham |
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Pan-Seared Duck Breasts with Cherry Bourbon Sauce
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| Bruce Urben,
WWA President |
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Robert Thomas Coats – A Winnebago, WI Decoy Carver
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| I have written about many of the great decoy carvers from the Winnebago Lakes area of yesteryear in Decoy Corner—those who carved from the late 1800s to the 1950’s. I am happy to report that the tradition continues with young waterfowlers carrying on the heritage of those vintage carvers. This month’s Decoy Corner spotlight is on one of those up-and-coming carvers!
Robert Thomas Coats was born in Oshkosh, WI, in 1991. Robert has two younger siblings. He currently lives in the same family home he grew up in Winnebago County, WI. Only a stone’s throw from some great waterfowling marshes. |
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| While he was always interested in the outdoors and hunted deer with his father, his uncle really introduced him to waterfowl hunting at a young age. Robert began decoy carving about 10 years ago when he wanted to lure ducks with his own handmade decoys! You can describe Robert as a self-taught decoy carver, as no family members were involved in carving. This seems to be an exception among decoy carvers. He had a mentor he met at a decoy show; Bob Badtke from Shiocton, WI, was instrumental in helping Robert fine-tune his carving methods. Robert is a natural artist and credits his High School art classes that brought out his potential in painting decoys and in his flat art!
Robert has entered several decoy competitions in the last two years to see how he could do. While he enjoys the camaraderie of the carvers, he doesn’t like the pressure of judging! I can say that he has done well in the competitions he has entered. In his own words, however, “I shoot the best judges of my decoys”… the ducks! |
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| Robert enjoys collecting vintage decoys but claims to be a novice at collecting currently.
You won’t have much trouble identifying one of Robert’s decoys, as he brands each on the bottom with RTC, and they are excellent floating sculptures based on his judges (the ducks).
Robert Thomas Coats, a Decoy carver carrying on the tradition in Winnebago, WI. |
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Need Not Be Present To WIN
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| Drawing Oct 8th 2026:
WWA’s Class A Sig Sauer P365 Raffle
- Tickets just $10 each, only 200 sold
- Drawing 4:30 pm October 8, 2026 at the SE WI Golf Outing Scramble at Ironwood Golf Course, W270 N6166 Moraine Drive, Sussex, WI
Get your tickets securely online below. Tickets will be available until 4:30 pm October 7th or until the raffle sells out. Any remaining tickets available for sale will be at the SE WI Outing until the time of the drawing |
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