Most 2021 spring hearing questions get positive responses

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Monday released the results from the 2021 spring hearing questions with 55 of the 57 rule proposals and advisory questions gaining statewide majority yes votes.

Due to COVID-19, the in-person public meetings conducted by the DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress were cancelled for the second straight year, but the public was still able to participate online April 1215. More than 12,600 people provided input, including 85 who indicated they were residents of Taylor County and 424 who indicated they recreate in Taylor County.

Participation numbers were a far cry from last year’s records of 64,943 online respondents, including 432 Taylor County residents and 1,958 people who recreated in the county. But they were above typical in-person averages of the past decade.

Statewide hearing results and the questions are available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/ springhearing.

“I’m really happy the Wisconsin Conservation Congress has this online option for allowing citizens to weigh in, given the current situation related to COVID- 19,” said Wisconsin Conservation Congress Chair Tony Blattler. “There are a lot of competing interests vying for the time and attention of Wisconsinites and I’m thrilled with the input and public discussions we had around the Spring Hearing questions this year. We had a record number of citizens submit resolutions to the process — roughly 400 — and that tells me the public is interested and engaged in resource management. It’s great to see.”

One of those citizen resolutions was submitted by Linda Hraby of Medford and approved by Taylor County voters 32-18 with nine showing no opinion. The resolution proposes changing the statewide minimum length for muskellunge from 40 inches to include a slot size to better promote both harvest potential and trophy potential. The proposed slot limit would allow anglers to keep muskies 30-36 inches as well as 50 inches and above, protecting fish in the 37- to 49-inch range. Rules wouldn’t change on lakes that already have special regulations.

“A restrictive slot limit could better balance the harvest of male muskies while protecting both the mature female population capable of reproducing and fish on the cusp of trophy status,” the resolution states. Two slot limit resolutions also passed in Chippewa County.

The spring hearing provides Wisconsinites with an opportunity to provide their input on a wide range of natural resource related proposed rule changes and advisory questions presented by the DNR, Natural Resources Board (NRB), and Conservation Congress advisory questions, and to provide input on resolutions that citizens had previously submitted for inclusion.

Public input received through this process is advisory to members of the Natural Resources Board, department staff, and anyone who is working on these issues. No final decisions have been made at this time. Results of this public input will be considered by the Conservation Congress, DNR and Natural Resources Board in the coming months.

A sampling of the 2021 results follows.

Wildlife, NRB advisory

Among statewide wildlife rule change proposals:

_ Question 26, which asked for support to allow cable restraints for trapping beginning the Saturday nearest Oct. 17, rather than Dec. 1. This change would allow for use of cable restraints on the dryland opener for bobcats, foxes and coyotes. It was approved overall 4,383-3,021, 48-19 by Taylor County residents and 199-117 by those recreating in the county.

_ Question 27, which proposed a return to a threezone framework for mink and muskrat trapping passed 4,123-1,392 overall, 38-13 among Taylor County residents and 176-66 by those who recreate in the county. 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 29, which would extend the gray and fox squirrel hunting seasons through the last day of February was approved 6,401-2,039 statewide, 53-14 by Taylor County residents and 259-67 by those recreating here. The seasons currently start on the second Saturday of September and run through Jan. 31.

_ A Natural Resources Board advisory question asked if the public supports the formation of a collaborative scientific working group to address health-related issues leading to the development of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk in Wisconsin. It was overwhelmingly supported 7,347-1,655 overall and 236-92 by those recreating in Taylor County. It got a 33-30 yes vote with 13 “no opinions” from county residents.

Fish management

The 23 rule changes proposed by DNR Fisheries Management were localized in nature, mainly focused on size and bag limits on particular bodies of water.

_ Question 1 proposed to 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 contends current regulations 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.

The proposal easily passed 7,109-877 statewide, 54-11 among Taylor County residents and 269-51 and county users.

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, was approved 6,241-1,401 statewide, 44-21 among Taylor County residents and 252-73 among those recreating here.

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

Taylor County residents gave a 40-18 yes vote, recreation users approved it 213-77 and the statewide total count in favor was 6,034-1,054.

Congress questions

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

_ Question 31, which drew one of the agenda’s nine no votes from Taylor County residents. It asked if there was support for the governor, Wisconsin legislators, the Natural Resources Board and DNR secretary to unite to implement the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Best Management Practices for Prevention, Surveillance and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease. It failed 38-26 among county residents but passed 190-137 among those recreating here. It was supported 6,585-2,765 statewide.

_ Question 33, which asked if there was support for legalizing the harvest of white (not albino) deer. It was one of the two questions rejected statewide by a count of 4,895-4,704. However, Taylor County residents gave it a 58-20 thumbs up and county recreational users OK’d it 223-135.

_ Question 36, which gauged 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. That got the other statewide no vote, 4,870-3,934. Taylor County residents supported it 41-26 and it got a 183-151 approval from those recreating in the county.

_ Questions 42 and 43, which sought input on requiring an in-person, hands-on opportunity as part of of ATV/UTV safety training as well as hunter safety training for individuals over the age of 18. The ATV/ UTV question was supported 7,188-2,259 statewide, 4129 by county residents and 229-107 by county users. The hunter safety question got similar results, 7,428-2,132, 46-27 and 243-102.

_ Question 47, which asked if the public favored allowing trappers to use foot hold traps in water sets with jaw spreads up to 9.5 inches, was supported 4,4652,330 statewide, 49-13 by county residents and 198-74 by those recreating in the county.

_ Question 48, which asked if the beaver trapping season in Zones A, B and C should run concurrently through April 30 got approval statewide 4,676-2,631, from Taylor County residents 55-14 and from Taylor County users 221-81.

_ Question 53, which asked 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, drew statewide support 7,968-1,574. Taylor County residents liked it 53-17 and users approved it 257-88.