By Bruce Ross, Executive Director

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September Volunteer Newsletter edition.

If you follow WWA on Facebook,  you may have recently noticed a spirited discussion on the need for an increase in the Wisconsin waterfowl stamp from $7 to $12.  In our last poll, WWA members overwhelmingly supported this increase, and we were recently in Madison to promote the introduction of legislation that might accomplish this increase.  Some followers on Facebook had different opinions and expressed them.  Regardless of the difference of opinions, it was a great opportunity to get accurate information out to the waterfowling “public” – at least those who follow us on Facebook.  If you want to learn more about this initiative check out this link.

But my note this month is not really about the legislation, or the waterfowl stamp, or even those Facebook dialogues.  It IS about how this one effort shows the interconnectedness of our missions – Habitat, Education, and Advocacy – and illustrates how committed waterfowlers can make a difference for the sport that is beginning to attract them to the marsh this month.

Students paddling out for Wild Rice seeding. Photo credit: Jennifer West, Three Lakes School District

Habitat – The waterfowl stamp fund is a significant contributor to the restoration work WWA does – we use it, together with the monies raised at grassroots fundraising events and other partner’s contributions to conduct small-scale restoration work around the state.  For the most part, this is done by our Habitat Ecologist, Peter Ziegler.  But WWA volunteers contribute to the effort by identifying potential projects, and wild rice seeding is conducted by volunteers – frequently high school students – in the area of those projects.  WWA’s Habitat Committee is looking at how they can help these efforts, and looking for volunteers who might want to play a role.

Valley chapter volunteers Pete Strenn, Doug Helm and Keven O’Brien installed 15 wood duck boxes in May to support breeding in Outagamie county

Education – The Facebook discussion I mentioned above is an example of one of WWA’s educational missions.  We’re trying to pass the waterfowling ethic to the next generation of waterfowlers.  While the stamp fund “education” effort doesn’t teach someone how to waterfowl, it does help them appreciate what goes into WIWaterfowling beyond having a gun, shells, and decoys.

• Where do our harvested ducks come from? (Most of them are bred right here in Wisconsin.)
• What type of habitat do they need for breeding success? (Small marshlands adjacent to uplands.)
• Where can such restoration opportunities be found? (85% of restorable wetlands are on private lands.)

WWA’s Education Committee needs help spreading these messages – and others that are important for our waterfowling community to embrace,  as well as more traditional Learn-to-hunt education efforts.

Photo courtesy Patrick McCutcheon

Advocacy – 35 years ago, WWA was specifically founded to ensure that policy maker taking decisions that affect WIWaterfowlers consider WIWaterfowlers’ input.  I felt like we were channeling WWA founders Solsrud and Kieckhefer (and others) as we stood in front of legislators last week telling them that WWA members support an increase in this stamp fund – and since WIWaterfowlers are paying for it, why wouldn’t WI’s legislators support it too!   Imagine having a network of the 70,000 WIWaterfowlers saying something like that in unison to the DNR or lawmakers!!  That’s our advocacy mission in a nutshell – understanding what policy decisions may impact our sport, then effectively moving the needle with those policy makers.  If you have a phone, you can be on our Policy Committee, to engage your legislators with a grassroots message that is as loud as the number of members willing to get involved.

Bottom line:  Volunteers (like you reading this newsletter) are making a difference in the waterfowling equation today – but there’s a lot more opportunity.  Know someone who might get a kick from one or all of these missions? Bring them into the WWA fold!