DNR, WCC spring hearings will be online, starting at 7 p.m. April 12

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will once again hold their annual spring hearings online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 Spring Hearing online input webpage will go live at 7 p.m. on April 12 and will remain open for three days (72 hours). Results will be posted as soon as they are available.

Last year’s virtual hearings received a record-setting 64,943 responses, including 432 from Taylor County residents and 1,958 from respondents who indicated they recreate in the county.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input on proposed natural resources rule changes from the DNR as well as advisory questions from the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and WCC through the online input opportunity.

This year there are 23 proposed rule changes related to fisheries and five proposed rule changes related to wildlife management. There are also advisory questions from DNR Fisheries Management, the Natural Resources Board and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. All questions are available to preview at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/ springhearing. This is also where you’ll find the online input page when it goes live.

Wisconsinites can also recommend changes to natural resource issues by submitting citizen resolutions online. Review the Frequently Asked Questions link on the spring hearing webpage, click the submit a resolution button and follow the directions to enter your resolution. All citizen resolutions must be received by 5 p.m. April 5. Those who complete the online input form (April 12- 15) will be able to see the resolutions that were submitted by individuals indicating they reside in that county.

“This has been a challenging year for everyone around the state and the country,” said Tony Blattler, chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. “We want to continue to do our part to minimize the spread and impact of this virus on our communities while continuing to provide an opportunity for the public to weigh in on these important natural resources issues. I hope that everyone interested in the issues being discussed will use the online option to provide their input. We understand the value of the in-person meeting for discussion and sharing of ideas, but our top priority is the health and safety of Wisconsinites.”

Typically, county residents would 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. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, 2021 elections are canceled.

“We will be extending the terms of each of the WCC delegates by another year,” Blattler said. “If a current delegate no longer wishes to serve, the seat will become vacant and the county chair can appoint someone to fill the remainder of the term.”

The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is the only statutory body in the state where the public elects delegates to advise the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources for present and future generations. The Congress accomplishes this through open, impartial, broadranged actions.

Fisheries Management

The 23 rule changes proposed by Fisheries Management are localized in nature, mainly focused on size and bag limits on particular bodies of water. Questions on the agenda that may draw some interest among people in Taylor County include:

_ Question 1, which would apply the Ceded Territory standard walleye regulation (minimum length limit of 15 inches but fish from 20-24 inches may not be kept and only one walleye over 24 inches may be kept and a daily bag limit of three) to multiple waters in Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer and Vilas counties. The DNR’s position is that the current regulation allowing anglers to keep three walleyes of any size with one larger than 14 inches is no longer appropriate amid declining trends in natural recruitment. Price County waters on the list include the Elk River, Crowley Flowage, Grassy Lake, Lac Sault Dore, the Phillips Chain, the Pike Lake Chain, Pixley Flowage, Solberg Lake and the Park Falls Flowage (Lower and Upper). The Flambeau River and South Fork of the Flambeau River are included. In Rusk County, Big Falls and Thornapple flowages and the Dairyland Reservoir are included.

_ Question 13, which would reduce panfish daily bag limits from 25 to 10 in aggregate for waters such as the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir in Marathon County, Cranberry Lake in Price County and Lake Chippewa in Sawyer County.

_ Question 15, which would reinstate the statewide 40-inch minimum length limit to muskellunge on Butternut Lake and replace the current 28inch size limit. The lake is located on the Price/Ashland county line. The bag limit would remain one.

Wildlife, NRB advisory

Statewide wildlife rule change proposals on the agenda include:

_ Question 2, which asks for support to allow cable restraints for trapping beginning the Saturday nearest Oct. 17. Currently, trappers cannot use cable restraints until Dec. 1. This change allows for use of cable restraints on the dryland opener for bobcats, foxes and coyotes.

_ Question 3, which proposes a return to a three-zone framework for mink and muskrat trapping. The Northern Zone and Central Zone would be split at Hwy 64. There also would be a Southern Zone and a Mississippi Zone. The Northern Zone would open on Oct. 18 or the first Saturday following that date and close on April 15. The Central Zone would open on Oct. 25 or the first Saturday following that date and close on March 22.

_ Question 5, which would extend the gray and fox squirrel hunting seasons through the last day of February. The seasons currently start on the second Saturday of September and run through Jan. 31.

_ The Natural Resources Board added one advisory question to this year’s agenda. It asks if the public supports the formation of a collaborative scientifi c working group to address healthrelated issues leading to the development of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk in Wisconsin.

Congress questions

There are 27 advisory questions this year from various committees of the Conservation Congress. These include:

_ Questions 7 and 8, which will seek input on requiring an in-person, hands-on opportunity as part of ATV/ UTV safety training as well as hunter safety training for individuals over the age of 18.

_ Question 12, which asks if there is support for the governor, Wisconsin legislators, the Natural Resources Board and DNR secretary uniting to implement the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Best Management Practices for Prevention, Surveillance and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease.

_ Question 14, which asks if there is support for legalizing the harvest of white (not albino) deer.

_ Question 17, which asks if the public favors allowing trappers to use foot hold traps in water sets with jaw spreads up to 9.5 inches.

_ Question 18, which asks if the beaver trapping season in Zones A, B and C should run concurrently through April 30.

_ Question 19, which asks if voters would like to see the DNR and Legislature work toward authorizing conservation wardens to investigate trespass complaints and issue citations when it involves recreational and natural resource trespassing.

_ Question 24, which will gauge support for allowing dog training, trialing and hunting on state-owned land from April 15 through July 31 without requiring the use of an 8-foot leash.